Reviews

One of the greatest 21st century action-crime movies. Muy bien.

Awesome

How I imagine the inside of Jon Bernthal's mind.

This is a really good movie with a lot of intricacies. Memory and history both play an influential part, but what ties it together its its mystery-esque story and its gripping acting performances. I was especially impressed by the man that played Bobbi. This is a must-watch for neo-noir fans and people interested in 1970s' history.

good!

lol

If I had to call it, I would say that Jordan Peele has spent most of his life living the life that I have lived: a love of horror from a young age; posing of difficult questions about race and my place in society; the use of film to delve deeper into these and other issues, etc. Yes, I think I can say that. And I can also say that 'Get Out' deserves it's place on the list of the best films of this century. I went to see it at a matineé...and then I headed back to the same theatre in less than a week to watch it again. I knew that the layers were there, the story had to be told, and that I had never seen anything like this before. It began a very interesting line of work from one of the best young filmmakers of our time. And I may have to take another peak...
...After I take a long sleep.

Being in a relationship can be difficult, no matter how long you’ve been in it. In IS THIS THING ON?, which is loosely based on a true story, Alex (Will Arnett) and Tess (Laura Dern) have mutually decided to separate after over 20 years of marriage. Alex finds out he loves stand-up comedy, while Tess pursues her passion for coaching volleyball. Both start to work on themselves outside the relationship. This movie is a dissection of a realistic relationship. No dramatizing, only real conversations between two people trying to figure things out. It has familiar story elements, but they feel fresh because the characters are complex and believable. Even though I gave A STAR IS BORN a perfect score back in 2018, this might be my favorite movie directed by Bradley Cooper. I believe I have changed since then. Grown up, evolved, whatever you want to call it. This movie doesn’t feel like it’s catering to the audience. He has now made 3 movies about the life of an artist, and how the line between public life and private life can get blurred, this time with stand-up comedy. He is at his most authentic. Arnett and Dern have perfect chemistry, deftly bouncing off each other. If I closed my eyes, it felt like I was watching an episode of Bojack Horseman. Arnett plays a similar character here. It even has Amy Sedaris. I loved getting a look at the New York comedy scene, even seeing the famed Comedy Cellar with some actual comedians. Using stand-up comedy as a coping mechanism to organize your life or as therapy feels like it would be cathartic. I really enjoyed IS THIS THING ON? as you can tell. Highly recommended. Remember, relationships can be messy, and they almost never look like what you imagined.

The greatest live concert event of its time? Yes.
Of all time? Not quite, especially after 'Stop Making Sense' was released, but it is one of my favourites and it is interesting to see the band in interviews discussing their difficult rise, unforseen success, and eventual downfall. Scorsese was close with Robbie Robertson, and I wonder if the director would like to continue with this trend of documentaries on popular music (his work on the blues and with the Rolling Stones is highly commendable).
Also, you can find extra footage of the event online.
It is a remarkable epitaph for a band named after an insult - look that up - that became legendary.
Thumbs way up...with a lit match between the fingers!

It is not quite the masterpiece the critics, tomes and texts claim it to be, but I am glad that I can write about it here. The Rolling Stones were on what is now a legendary roll with the 1972 tour, and that incredible run of records from 1968 onward (what I like to call The Sweet Spot). Every band should be lucky enough to be idolized at their peak, and the stones were lucky enough to have Robert Frank along for the show. But I wonder if we like this film - those of us who have found it online and seen it at one retrospective cinema event, like me - because of the seediness, drugginess and ugliness of the titles (just where do those blues come from?). It is a raw document of a raw era and needs to be preserved and saved for fans of the time and the sounds of the greatest rock and roll band of their era.
Enjoy!

This is truly one of the most beautiful films ever made, and I encourage you all to watch this appreciate what has been lost with the death of Brigitte Bardot. She may be a controversial figure of recent years, but in her role as the wife of a screenwriter attempting to get his film made, she shimmers and glows as a presence that become the key lynchpin of the entire story.
Godard may have made deeper films, but never one this beautiful with such a performance.
Watch and learn.

I was stressed about something when I watched this and it didn’t help cheer me up so I might have to revisit this later

Horrible movie to see on a date

What can be done? This question can relate to so many things. In the devastating drama ROSEMEAD, Irene and Joe, a mother and son (Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou), have a fraught and very complex relationship. Both are dealing with physical and emotional trauma. Both are plagued by grief and guilt. Both are backed into a corner, oppressed by a cultural stigma, being left with very few choices. Both won’t admit to the other how bad things are getting. Both are trying to navigate a modern world that still makes them feel like outsiders. This is inspired by an LA Times article, so don’t go looking it up! It’s an intimate, small-scale story that is emotionally shattering. It’s director Eric Lin’s very brave feature debut, featuring a career-defining performance from Liu, and an unbelievable debut performance from Shou. Their chemistry is on point. The sound design is unique, often putting you in the mindset of Joe. It’s mostly in Mandarin, creating authenticity and empathy for the immigrant experience. Overall, ROSEMEAD is one of the most morally and emotionally tough films to watch in the past year, but I’m still saying it’s a must-see unforgettable experience. I’m not seeing this a second time.

No

Who knew having opposable thumbs could be so scary? Usually, January has been known to be a dumping ground for not-the-best movies. Of course, there are some exceptions. The new horror PRIMATE might be one of these for you. Lucy (Johnny Sequoyah) comes home from college to her sister Erin (Gia Hunter), their father Adam (Troy Kotsur), and their friends. Another member of the family is Ben (Miguel Torres Umba), a very smart chimpanzee. When Ben gets bit, he begins to lose himself, leading to a terrifying tale of survival in a big, beautiful glass cliffside mansion. They get stuck between a chimp and a hard place. This is director Johannes Roberts’ best film to date, which honestly isn’t saying much. The plot is super simple, as is the character development. There are plenty of horror tropes that they actually lean into for humour. I would’ve liked more humour overall though. What I really enjoyed were the visual effects on display here. While the chimp was a combination of both practical and CGI, the gore was all practical, which looked great. This is a very violent movie. They do a good job showing just how powerful and brutal chimps can be. With a pretty solid pace, the tension is palpable for most of the 90-minute runtime. These are smarter than the average slasher characters. The use of silence and sign language is utilized very well here, especially with the addition of Kotsur. Happy he’s getting work after his award-winning role in CODA. I was quite entertained. Overall, PRIMATE is prime serviceable simian silliness, a movie that knows exactly what it is, and what the audience is there for. If you’re a sick freak like me and love violence in movies, I recommend it!

Yess good

Gorgeous visuals, yet the story feels repetitive, lacking depth in its characters. The idea and universe are amazing, while this part is a bit overstretched in pursuit of commercial success — a lengthy (and wonderful) 3D experience over strong storytelling.

Awesome

P