Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare

“The Gardener”

By Brett_G on June 7, 2023June 5, 2023

6.8

You’re not ready for this movie. I wasn’t ready for this movie. No one is ready for this movie.

Paul Schrader, the same man who brought the Abu Ghraib reckoning masked in a poker playing road trip coming of age film to life brings us… this. A white supremacist who falls in love with a black woman masked as a love story intertwined with a revenge tale masquerading as a film about horticulture. It’s a lot to take in, and definitely not for the faint of heart. It’s clunky at times, but similar to “The Card Counter,” this film deals in the most tense of situations. There’s really no breathing room until the credits roll.

Comedy

“Fool’s Paradise”

By Brett_G on June 6, 2023June 5, 2023

7.2

Similar to “Showgirls,” I think this film is brilliant, but there’s a lot to dig through to get to that genius. It’s an expertly executed satire of showbusiness and Hollywood, and surprisingly funny. A true case of “less is more” in practice. The cast is fantastic. There’s not a weak link in anyone’s screen time. I was especially surprised by the non-verbal performance by Charlie Day, who typically relies on over the top vocals to sell his craft. it’d be like Jim Carrey not having any lines. A big leap, but also a big payoff here. Definitely different, but well worth the runtime and experimentation.

Action Comedy

“The Machine”

By Brett_G on June 5, 2023June 5, 2023

6.5

Just watch the bit (linked below).

It may have been that I was forced to watch the red carpet for a half hour prior to watching this opening night, but I just found it okay… Which was unfortunate, because I was excited for this one. All the funniest moments were in the trailer, which I always hate. And it just seemed to drag by the end. An hour special – solid. A two hour movie? Too much Machine. Mark Hamill is just as out of place as you’d think.

Horror/Thriller

“The Boogeyman”

By Brett_G on June 5, 2023

6.7

Far better than I expected, but a bit of an enigma. For a Stephen King adaptation, it has a great ending. However, far too much of this story was missing for me. There’s a lack of connection to the characters that cheapens the experience. This bummed me out the further we got into the runtime because the film is so well crafted! The tension building and scares are top tier. But there’s nothing it’s built upon, which leaves it feeling somewhat hollow. All in all, surprisingly good that could have been great.

Action Blockbuster Drama

“The Covenant”

By Brett_G on April 25, 2023

8.1

Holy shit this is intense. From every angle. Not only does the action leave you sitting on the edge of your seat, but the emotional impact will leave you slumped in your chair trying to recover before the next barrage of violence in these 2 men’s pursuits of honor, commitment, friendship, and brotherhood. It’s a beautiful display of the best and worst of humanity, and how they often coexist side by side in our world, mixing in a gray middle at times, left to our own perceptions.

Guy Ritchie can do no wrong with the action, but where this film goes above and beyond is in the characters. The story is demonstrated expertly, instead of spoon fed to the audience. There’s an understanding reached while going on this journey together, and it leads to much more impactful twists and turns. I found myself enveloped by this film in a way not many achieve. Bravo!