Cinematic Sommelier
6.5
All 6.5 points are for Ana De Armas. She’s phenomenal and deserves every bit of praise and all the awards for this one. Everything else about this film was unnecessary and uncomfortable, to put it mildly. I believe they were aiming for portraying the harsh reality of Marilyn’s life, but it goes overboard. It blows past the line that “Showgirls” drew in the sand. And that’s saying something.
5.8
It’s female “Boogie Nights.” But with a harsh realism that leaves you with a sense of discomfort and confusion by the end about the purpose of the film. But that may also be the purpose of the film. It’s a coin flip.
7.1
It’s “Stepford Wives.” Don’t worry about wracking your brain trying to figure out why this whole thing seems familiar. That’s the secret.
That being said, it’s a beautifully shot movie, with some great tension-building sequences and a phenomenal performance from Florence Pugh.
To the good stuff – the drama – you could tell there was something going on on set. Not since seeing Journey live in concert have I seen an ensemble this distant and clearly uncomfortable with each other sharing the stage or the screen. It sadly takes away from some parts, but not necessarily the totality of the movie.
7.3
It’s all fun and games until your car ends up in a lake and some yoga instructors trying to host private lessons with your wife.
Paul Rudd and Jennifer Anniston at the height of their powers, leading a fantastic supporting cast in creating comedic gold in this one. Everyone plays their part perfectly and the story is just the right amount of strange. I found it hilarious, yet totally believable in a weird way.
7.4
I was a little worried in the first act with this one. They heavily overplay their shtick of “divorced couple who hates each other.” However, they pull out of the tailspin just in time to recover and make this a really sweet love story mirroring another love story, set inside a family drama-comedy. Similar to “Couples Retreat,” this film uses the tropical locale and all-star cast to its advantage, but doesn’t make it feel like cheating.
Julia Roberts and George Clooney end up having a great chemistry, and Clooney turns the charm up to 11. Nothing short of expectations there. Partially a “turn your brain off and enjoy the cheese factor” movie, but a great popcorn flick.
Brett Garten, Movie Extraordinare 