While this year’s Oscar slate isn’t as great as last’s (to be fair, that is an unfair high bar), the awards show itself should be more interesting, with the winners not seemingly locked headed into Sunday. Several of the Best Picture nominees appeared on my year-end Top 10 (though my #1 “Challengers” was snubbed across… Continue reading 97th Academy Awards: Who Could, Should, and Will Win
At a certain point, I think we all need to fully come to grips with the fact that the MCU we know and love from the 2010s isn’t coming back… “Captain America: Brave New World” is the 35th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and follows Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) trying to piece together… Continue reading ‘Captain America: Brave New World’ Review: An Average MCU Joint with Some Highs and Lows
If I ever run for President, I will make it a law that every holiday must have its own slasher film! “Heart Eyes” follows a serial killer who targets couples every Valentine’s Day, and when a pair of coworkers (Mason Gooding and Olivia Holt) are mistaken as boyfriend/girlfriend, they become his next target. Gigi Zumbado,… Continue reading ‘Heart Eyes’ Review: A Fun Rom-Com/Slasher Hybrid
note: this is a film that if possible, you should go into fully blind. So if you have avoided trailers and the plot summary and plan on seeing this, my summarized review is you should. Sometimes it’s ok to be clearly influenced by a half dozen other films! “Companion” follows a young couple (Jack Quaid and Sophie… Continue reading ‘Companion’ Review: Charming Cast a Dark and Funny Sci-Fi Romp
Never a good sign when your biopic film opens with the central character saying “who is Robbie Williams?” and I have to ask myself the same question. “Better Man” tells the life story of UK pop singer Robbie Williams, who in the film is depicted as a chimpanzee (because he’s always felt “less evolved” than everyone else).… Continue reading ‘Better Man’ Review: Monkey-Led Musical Biopic Should’ve Been a Better Film
Following the Actors and Screenwriters’ Guilds both going on strike last July, a dip in the quality and quantity of films in 2024 was going to be inevitable. This wasn’t a bad year for movies but there were just not many (if any) game-changers, compared to as many as five last year (including the eventual… Continue reading Top 10 Best Films of 2024
If it wasn’t clear before, I think we can officially name Timothée Chalamet as the best movie star of his generation. “A Complete Unknown” follows the early career of folk singer Bob Dylan (Timothée Chalamet), from his humble beginnings at open mics leading up to the 1965 Newport Folk Festival. Edward Norton, Elle Fanning, Monica Barbaro, Boyd… Continue reading ‘A Complete Unknown’ Review: Great Performances Elevate Bob Dylan Biopic Above Tropes
Maybe sometimes remakes are a good thing! “Nosferatu” is a remake of the 1922 silent film of the same name, following a 19th-century vampire (Bill Skarsgård) that brings a plague upon a small German town. Lily-Rose Depp, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Emma Corrin, Ralph Ineson, Simon McBurney, and Willem Dafoe also star, while Robert Eggers writes and directs.… Continue reading ‘Nosferatu’ Review: A Creepy Gothic Treat
Sometimes, good intentions just aren’t enough. “Nickel Boys” is based on the 2019 novel of the same name and follows two young men at a 1960s reform school who must overcome the abuses and segregation of the staff. Ethan Herisse, Brandon Wilson, Hamish Linklater, Fred Hechinger, Daveed Diggs, and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor star, while RaMell Ross makes… Continue reading ‘Nickel Boys’ Review: Questionable Techniques Numb a Possibly Powerful Story
Close enough; welcome back, the 1970s studio picture! “The Brutalist” is a historical epic that follows a European Holocaust survivor (Adrien Brody) who immigrates to America, and takes up work as an architect for a rich businessman (Guy Pearce). Felicity Jones, Joe Alwyn, Raffey Cassidy, Stacy Martin, Emma Laird, Isaach de Bankolé, and Alessandro Nivola also star, while… Continue reading ‘The Brutalist’ Review: A Sprawling Epic About the American Dream
The Reel Deal 