One of the most enjoyable trends in recent cinema is the leitmotif of self-parody that also enhances the very tropes that are being aped. Perhaps the best examples are Knives Out and Glass Onion, which send up the conventions of the whodunit while creating genuinely ingenious whodunits. But it's not limited to just that one … Continue reading Game Night – The Blackening
Back in 2006, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan released what is arguably his worst movie, Lady in the Water. Derided for being incredibly self-indulgent, the project was rightly lambasted for Shyamalan's sanctimonious take on art, writing, and criticism, in which he essentially staged a cinematic hissy fit due to negative reactions to his previous work. He … Continue reading The Play’s the Thing – Asteroid City
Despite the fact that Elemental is the third straight Pixar film to have its trailer earn a place in the monthly TFINYW column, I went into it as I do every entry from this studio, with the hope that it'll dazzle the eyes, fill them with tears, and leave the audience breathless with a combination … Continue reading Happy Father’s Day! Here’s 10,000 Dad Jokes Instead of a Plot! – Elemental
For anyone who has been shivering with anticipation over this review, I do apologize for its lateness. The long-awaited follow-up to the Oscar-winning Into the Spider-Verse was certainly one of the most anticipated releases for the year, and its critical and box office reception shows that it did not disappoint. However, it did take me … Continue reading The Tangled Web – Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
I've pretty much always conducted myself as an adult with the philosophy of being honest. My basic litmus test is that I only lie if the benefits of doing so significantly outweigh the consequences of getting caught. This applies to things ranging from how I'd approach a reality show like Survivor or Big Brother to … Continue reading The Best Policy – You Hurt My Feelings
In this month's edition of TFINYW, I was excited to declare Fool's Paradise as the "Redemption Reel," as it appeared to potentially be the only shred of quality in a weekend filled to the brim with the artistic and cinematic equivalent of rancid feces. And I was right about the output itself, which averages only … Continue reading Better to Remain Silent – Fool’s Paradise
Throughout the entirety of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, there have been two subseries that have been my absolute favorites, namely Black Panther and Guardians of the Galaxy. The two are vastly different in terms of tone, story, and character, but at their absolute core, they kept the same high points throughout. More than anything else, … Continue reading Rocket’s Man – Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 3
Anyone who knows me knows that I absolutely abhor violence in real life. I got goaded into a lot of fights as a kid, losing basically all of them, because it was nearly always me on my own being ganged up on by three or four others, if not more. Not only did I routinely … Continue reading Gold Slaughter – Sisu
Before I get started, I'd like to thank all of you for bearing with me over the last few weeks. My mother's death hit me harder than I expected it to, and the final arrangements were much more difficult to handle than I had anticipated. Still, spending time with my family helped, including making good … Continue reading Shut the Front Door! – Suzume
A programming note before I get started. The blog is going on a little bit of a hiatus for reasons that will become apparent very quickly. I'll be stepping aside for a couple of weeks, during which time I have no plans to see any new movies or post any content. It's my hope to … Continue reading The Ultimate Bonus Level – The Super Mario Bros. Movie
I Actually Paid To See This 