Reviews

It’s 1975. TONY (Dominic Sessa) is an aspiring writer who doesn’t get what he wants, so he follows his high-school crush to Provincetown, where he meets an acclaimed chef (Antonio Banderas). Yes, this is a biopic of Anthony Bourdain, iconic chef, but it feels small and intimate because it’s only about one summer in Provincetown that changed the trajectory of his life forever. Adapted from his book Kitchen Confidential, this coming-of-age story is about a boy becoming a young man and discovering his passion in life. Sessa was the breakout star of THE HOLDOVERS, and he kills it here, showing Bourdain’s cockiness and intellect. His performance deftly balances on a tightrope between arrogant liar and romantic underdog. Banderas is great too, the chemistry between them being the core of the movie. The banter in the kitchen is fun and feels authentic. I really enjoy Matt Johnson movies. From the stress of BLACKBERRY to the heartfelt wackiness of NIRVANNA THE BAND THE SHOW THE MOVIE, each of them is unique in their execution. His creative partner Jay McCarrol does the music here, and it’s perfect. It’s shot by cinematographer Michael Bauman, who just came from ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER. This is a captivating character study about how experience molds character. Overall, TONY is comfort food for the soul, with a crispy edge and great presentation. Remember, sometimes less is more.

I’m not familiar with the PAW PATROL franchise, except for THE MIGHTY MOVIE a couple years ago, which was fun. I have now learned that the franchise is Canadian (yay), starting 13 years ago. This franchise has been a seemingly endless source of merchandise, from the outfits to the various vehicles (batteries not included). There’s a new movie featuring the lovable pups called PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE. After a successful rescue out at sea, the gang crash-lands on an island that’s not on any map. They discover dinosaurs, which are all luckily herbivores. After being released from prison, their nemesis Humdinger is determined to go legit, until he sees a wealth of diamonds on the island. This movie focuses more on Marshal, the fire-fighting dalmatian. They do a very good job dealing with his character. He has a lot of guilt and self-loathing for messing things up all the time. The other characters are all so supportive. It’s a very valuable lesson, for everybody. I also like how they added Rex, a paraplegic pup. I appreciate how that isn’t mentioned by anyone, it just is. I can imagine kids enjoy identifying with at least one member of the team. It has great messages for children. Everybody makes mistakes. They are just lessons that show us how to do better. There are a few good action scenes. Just like what N’Sync did for TROLLS: WORLD TOUR, the Backstreet Boys made a new song for this one, and it’s actually good. Overall, PAW PATROL: THE DINO MOVIE is obviously not aimed at adults, but it gives kids exactly what they want. It’s fun, entertaining, and has dinosaurs. What more do you want?

根本看不了 sb

Good nice

Director Jane Schoenbrun has carved themselves a piece of cinema that has given audiences a completely unique experience. First, there was WE’RE ALL GOING TO THE WORLD’S FAIR, a movie about a young girl doing a potentially dangerous online challenge. Next there was I SAW THE TV GLOW, a movie about how media can influence and morph people. Now there’s TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA. This is a meta slasher comedy about queer filmmaker Kris (Hannah Einbinder) who has been tasked with directing a reboot of the Camp Miasma slasher franchise. She goes to meet the star of the original, Billy (Gillian Anderson), who has become a recluse, living on the site of the original movie. The beginning is efficient in telling us what we need to know right away. It has similar themes from their last movie I SAW THE TV GLOW. Both talk about how people can be shaped by pop culture. The killer’s name is “Little Death”, which I have learned has another meaning. If you know, you know. It’s mainly about the toxic connections we form with mass-produced media and the way we consume it. It takes a look at slashers themselves. Death and desire go hand in hand. To quote a line from the movie, “It’s all just flesh and fluids.” The score is cool and the needle-drops are memorable. I’ve heard this movie described as PORTAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE meets JASON X. Think about that for a while. It’s very funny and boldly bizarre. It’s crammed full of ideas and imagery that mostly connects. It’s a very sexy movie with a satisfying climax. It’s my favourite from Schoenbrun. They clearly have their own vision and voice, while also being inspired by many other directors. Overall, TEENAGE SEX AND DEATH AT CAMP MIASMA has to be one of the most ambitious and insane ideas for a movie in years. As with their last movie, I’ll need a second viewing to really uncover the full scope of the matte painting that is this movie. This is a must-see if you’re a Schoenbrun fan or cinephile.

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It’s 1982. Your neighborhood gets inexplicably teleported back to prehistoric times, where dinosaurs roam the Earth. This is the concept behind writer/director David Robert Mitchell’s THE END OF OAK STREET. This sci-fi survival thriller focuses on Denise (Anne Hathaway), Greg (Ewan McGregor), and their two kids Audrey (Maisy Stella) and Brian (Christian Convery). This picture-perfect family has some secrets that unfold themselves as they encounter multiple surreal obstacles. Anne really Hathaway of being a powerhouse this year, this one being no exception. This movie delivers something that fans of the JURASSIC PARK franchise have been dying to see: dinos in suburbia, although it’s not as violent as I wanted it to be. There are a few good jump-scares I didn’t mind. I appreciated how the dinosaurs are portrayed with feathers. The sound design is great. The score doesn’t forget to be playful amidst the chaos. The cinematography is creative, especially in the quieter scenes. It’s silly, a little corny, and a little tropey at times. The plot doesn’t have much meat on its bones. To be nitpicky, there are plot-holes, and subplots that go nowhere. The ending left me with many questions. Some scenes are obviously inspired by Spielberg. I enjoyed the buildup in the first act, giving the audience something in the characters to latch onto. At a certain point it was beginning to feel repetitive. The tone is inconsistent, going from family drama to silly moments. The movie is less focused on the “how dinosaurs” and more on the reactions to the dinosaurs themselves. The characters are woefully unaware of their surroundings. Overall, THE END OF OAK STREET is an entertaining summer popcorn flick that is completely original yet a bit disappointing. Bring your friends, turn your brain off, and have fun.

…

So not good

The story has an interesting appeal, though some moments are either too absurd or unnecessary. The visual effects are impressive and the score and cinematography add that tension atmosphere.

One of, if not the most underrated Spielberg film. Great acting, score and cinematography, though the duration could be a little shorter. The last scene where the aliens are first seen is memorable.

An interesting take on this one: I saw it in a theatre on the fiftieth anniversary of its release. I had spent many years watching it on the small screen, and I finally understood something about the movie. It requires that space on the screen, with all of that darkness, space, pacing and incredible acting. I understood why lines have stood the test of the average filmgoers mind and have entered the lingua franca of our lives. I understood why there was so much controversy about casting, and how a perfect storm of talent can work miracles.
Is it the best American film of all time? No.
But is it the best film to explain how many of us feel about the world we live in and the gears and motors which makes things work? Yes.
You do want to watch it again.
You do need to appreciate this masterpiece.

Jordan Peele's masterpiece? 'Us' was a film that I had very mixed feelings about after the success of 'Get Out'. I watched it, thought about it, and had to return to the theatre to pick out what worked and what did not really sit right with the narrative. A family goes on vacation, with the wife - Lupita Nyong'o, who gives an Academy-Award worthy performance - agitated by the discovery that this was a spot where she had a very uncomfortable encounter...with herself. Doppelgangers abound in this film, as do underground tunnels, 80s nostalgia (yes, I am old enough to remember Hands Across America), and class and race issues that you would expect from the director and writer of this film.
I give it nine out of ten; I may have to adjust that grade in the future as this film feels ever more timely.
It should be.
It's all about...Us.

Welcome to the Wilsons! This is the first Wes Anderson film, but it really belongs to Luke and Owen Wilson as pals whose lives are so dull that they are compelled to rob a bookstore and attempt to impress a local gangster played by...James Caan (I'm still trying to figure out how he got involved with this one). There is the budding romance of young love for Anthony (Luke) and a lovely chambermaid, Inez (Lumi Cavazos, whom you might recognize from 'Like Water for Chocolate'); there is the stupidity of Dignan (Owen) breaking his friend out of a situation that did not require his help. And there are guns, trucks, jumpsuits, bottle rockets, plans run awry, and an ending that is touchingly sweet and expected.
Enjoy!

A very silly film that I watched late one night back in the day, but one that I appreciate for showing the true cost of lust and desire when it hits the reality of middle class life. A French woman falls for the friend of a writer she is mentoring towards the publication of a book (she works as an editor in a small publishing house). The relationship develops and we are allowed to see the rise and fall - a true rollercoster - as the heat turns down and his feelings change. Should I mention that she is also married and that her family has to deal with this new woman in their lives (you rarely see the machinations here in a North American movie)?
Yes, a silly film, but one I still want you to watch.

A rough and raw film that still confuses me as to its final message. Popeye Doyle - played by Gene Hackman in an Oscar-winning role - is looking for the connection of the film's title, meaning drugs shipped in from France. He is stymied by the powers that be until one scene leads to his near death, and contains one of the best car chases ever filmed. I will spoil nothing here except to say that the ending feels like the entire film did not serve much purpose except to show that the police have to be as dirty as the people they collar, and that the courts and laws just don't work.
But it is one hell of a ride.
Please watch and appreciate the skill required to pull these confusing threads together.