This was probably the least ”music biopic” music biopic I’ve seen in a long time. The first half felt like a straight up drama and a depressing one at that. Only until about halfway into the film does the music aspect actually kick in. It’s probably hard to engage with for most. I’ve heard of Loretta Lynn but I’m not all too familiar with her music, so for someone who is completely unfamiliar then it might be a hard sell.…
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Studio 666 2022
Eh, not terrible. It started off pretty fucking rough, lots of unnecessary jokes and dad cringe, but luckily once things started going, it got better. I was genuinely surprised at how gory this got too. Not quite Terrifier, but not so far off. They definitely had the idea, "what if we did Evil Dead but with like a band recording an album?" I think it would have honestly been better to trim all that extra shit and make this like…
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Talk to Me 2022
Solid as fuck! Was honestly not expecting much but this was just the perfect amount of not overdoing it. I enjoyed the premise, not entirely original but still felt fresh and unique. Also, the performances from everyone were amazing. I definitely think that movies have a deeper effect when I’m almost completely unfamiliar with the cast, really drives home the realism.
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Hamlet 2000
I really wanted to like this a little more. For me personally, the decision to use Shakespearean dialogue always throws me for a loop. Like if you’re going to modernize this, why not go all the way? It just feels so awkward and really takes you out of the whole thing. I loved the aesthetic, like it couldn’t possibly get more Y2Kcore even if you revoked it’s Blockbuster membership and took away it’s JNCO jeans. The cast was pretty stacked, and I thought Ethan Hawke was a good Hamlet—South Park beanie and all.
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Crank 2006
Woah! I’ve been cranked! This movie was so fucking out of control and I honestly didn’t think I was gonna appreciate it as much as I did. As soon as it starts, it’s a wild ride through and through bordering on experimental and exploitation cinema. It plays out like a video game better than 90% of video game adaptations. That Glenn Howerton scene completely caught me off guard but I was there for it. Overall, it’s entirely over-the-top but if…
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Dick Tracy 1990
I never saw this as a kid, but had I watched it, I probably would have loved it just as much as Batman (1989). It's gritty, yet colorful and it's unique style sets it apart from many movies of it's time. The character design was superb, with most of the villains looking like sleep paralysis demons. I was also amazed at how many heavy-hitters were in this: Dustin Hoffman, Dick Van Dyke, James Caan and of course Al Pacino, who…
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In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50 2022
What an awesome documentary and incredibly insightful into the crazy genius of King Crimson. Robert Fripp has been one of my favorite guitarists for quite a while now but seeing his performances and practice discipline just reinforced that fact. I was also pretty surprised by the amount of humor in this, but it felt natural and organic. I’d definitely recommend this for die hard fans and enthusiasts alike.
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Singin' in the Rain 1952
I was today years old when I finally experienced the beauty and magic of Singing in the Rain. Sure I know of it’s importance and popularity but because musicals are usually hit or miss for me, this wasn’t exactly at the top of my priorities. Perhaps because this one is just so universally timeless that it sucked me right in from the get go. The musical numbers and choreography were out of this world and just had me completely enthralled.…
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Thief 1981
Michael Mann has such a sick style! His movies are just the epitome of badass and his debut Thief lays the foundation for his signature. James Caan’s performance was excellent, emanating nothing but slick vibes. I can definitely see the influence the character had on many modern day neo-noir antiheroes. The cinematography and overall style was just perfection for me, and don’t even get me started on the soundtrack! Goddamn that was a straight up banger—I really think it made the film.
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Cantinflas 2014
Structurally, this movie felt like it was conceived by a middle schooler or something lol. However, I have a soft spot for biopics so once I realized it’s formulaic structure, I just went along with it. And while not the most technically impressive movie (they used the same circle transition like 10 times probably) I watched with my mom and we both thought it was pretty sweet and well done. I grew up watching a bunch of Cantinflas movies since…
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Vivarium 2019
Went into this blind from a recommendation and wow, I was seriously not expecting this to be so creepy. The first act had some great tension building and general discomfort atmosphere. Suburbia shit freaks me out—I feel like I escaped my own small town of cookie cutter houses so that kind of imagery is always nightmare inducing for me. I kept thinking of the“Mac and Dennis Move to the Suburbs” IASIP episode but way more hellish. The middle chunk of…
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Where Is the Friend's House? 1987
This felt both calming and stressful at the same time. The setting was simple, quaint and evoked feelings of tranquility. On the other hand, the situation our protagonist, Ahmed, finds himself in is far from serene. Many times I felt his frustration and seemingly helpless invisibility from his family and other authoritative figures. I think the comparisons to The 400 Blows are natural. However, in that film, Antoine is more fed up with the way adults treat him and decides…