Any regular reader of this blog knows my feelings on remakes. In short, I'm not a fan. In long, I'll give them a go if there's a compelling reason, typically a great actor leading the affair or a very creative director giving the audience their unique take on the material. There is an additional circumstance … Continue reading The Kindness of Strangers – Speak No Evil
The 1980s were an interesting time for movies. Advances in visual effects allowed for new avenues in storytelling to be explored. Studios weren't afraid to give younger audiences a bit of a scare. The advent of the PG-13 rating by the MPAA helped to set a middle ground between PG and R, telling audiences that … Continue reading Let the Dead Rest – Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Okay, folks, time to get back on track. I've worked my ass off, got sick, got better, and had my first vacation in over a decade. August has been weird to say the least, but as we approach the autumn months and Awards Season, I'm turning on the afterburners and getting things back where they … Continue reading Panic Station – Alien: Romulus
It's been a hot minute since I've reviewed anything, mostly because I haven't really seen all that much. August tends to be a wasteland for the studios, churning out crap that's flashy enough for Blockbuster Season, but still so creatively bankrupt and repugnant (evidenced by Borderlands hovering around 10% on Rotten Tomatoes and The Crow … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Animation Preparation
A little more than 20 years ago, rap superstar Eminem starred in 8 Mile, a semi-autobiographical look at his rise to the top of the hip hop world, focusing on his upbringing, broken household, and unwavering zeal to make a better life for himself. In addition to being a commercial and critical success, the film … Continue reading The Beastie Boyos – Kneecap
The Marvel Cinematic Universe began as an ambitious experiment in shared worldbuilding, a multi-year gamble that could have gone bust at any moment. The idea of creating a massive overarching narrative that allowed for cross-pollination, cameos, and a climactic showdown of dozens of superheroes was completely unheard of, and the fact that the entire plan … Continue reading Make Me Lose Control – Deadpool & Wolverine
Director Osgood Perkins is quite adept at establishing mood. This makes sense, as he's the son of Norman Bates himself, Anthony Perkins. Despite a relatively small body of work, Oz knows how to use his camera and lighting schemes to properly set the emotional tone. Even lesser works like Gretel & Hansel are still able … Continue reading Sata-Nic Cage – Longlegs
I've said many a time before that one of my basic philosophies when it comes to film criticism is that I'm much more forgiving of an ambitious failure than I am a safe mediocrity. Essentially, if you take a risk and fall short, that's still better for me than playing things by the numbers and … Continue reading Trouble with the Curve – Despicable Me 4
Over the last decade, Yorgos Lanthimos has gone from a celebrated director of Greek films to one of the most revered cinematic auteurs in the world. With his signature combination of intentionally stilted dialogue, darkly comic analogs to the human experience, bonkers depictions of abstract relationship concepts, and refreshingly frank discussions and depictions of sexuality, … Continue reading The Circle of Life – Kinds of Kindness
We're at the midway point of the year, where Summer Blockbusters and various studio tentpole films dominate the multiplexes. However, away from the typical glitz and glamor, we're also smack dab in the middle of Festival Season, where high profile independent works compete for hardware and distribution, clamoring for those precious moments of attention that … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Festive Tykes
I Actually Paid To See This 