-
Pepsi, Where's My Jet? 2022
An ode to 90s marketing, the little guy fighting the industry, unrelenting stubbornness, and our American right to frivolous law suits. Should have learned from the smashmouth ads of the 90s in terms of editing, as it starts out as a fun trip down memory lane and then drags on towards a whimper of a conclusion; this is an entertaining Cracked.com article undeservedly stretched into limited series.
As a resident of the Pacific Northwest, it was satisfying after hearing the multiple references to living "outside Seattle," to eventually hear a reporter say "a man from Lynnwood." Made all the sense in the world. -
Val 2021
Interesting portrait of a true cinema icon who has been turning out consistently interesting work as long as I've been watching movies. The glimpses of his Mark Twain one-man show look incredible. Insightful and poignant throughout, it is a bit difficult seeing Val in clear physical pain as well as denial.
Personal Top 5 Val Performances:
DOC HOLIDAY, Tombstone
Chris Shiherlis, Heat
Madmartigan, Willow
Nick Rivers, Top Secret
Jim Morrison, The Doors
...and 3 under-seen/appeciated flicks:
Salton Sea
Spartan
MacGruber -
M3GAN 2022
In an alternate universe, Chad Stahelski is directing this as an action thriller where M3GAN is enlisted by the FBI to infiltrate Epstein’s Island.
Never quite reaches the bonkers heights of something like Malignant, and the Unrated Cut doesn’t add a whole lot to this PG-13 Black Mirror version of Child’s Play/Weenie Hut Jr. version of Ex Machina, but it’s an enjoyable time regardless and you pretty much get what you’re expecting. The best release of the year so far, at least (not that that’s a high bar).
-
The Beatles: Get Back 2021
The whimper of The Hobbit in his rearview mirror, Peter Jackson returns to true epic filmmaking by re-piecing together a story of real life giants. Let It Be has never been one of my preferred Fab Four albums -- I lean toward Rubber Soul and Abbey Road, personally -- but still found this footage absolutely riveting. Having only passing knowledge of the original footage, I was probably most taken aback by how well Lennon and McCartney still work together and…
-
Kiki's Delivery Service 1989
I’m really glad they canceled the planned sequel where Kiki falls victim to the corporate machine and gets bought out by FedEx.
I’ll happily jump onto the post-Knock on the Cabin bump that this movie is receiving (since it was the only good thing to come out of that snoozefest). Miyazaki always understood how kids think better than anyone else; it’s the reason that Pixar movies are made for adults to watch with their kids, while Studio Ghibli movies are…
-
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 2023
Mr. Lang and the Miniverse of Sadness
“You either die an Endgame, or you live long enough to see yourself become an Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.” - Harvey Dent
As we distance ourselves from the MCU’s jarringly disjointed and uninspired Phase 4, it’s important to remember the feeling of ambition contained within the majority of the Phase 1-3 films. Were there some stinkers? You bet. Was the Marvel formula evident throughout? No question. But, were there ever films that felt…
-
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 2023
Technically, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the smallest Ant-Man movie, since almost all of it is set inside the infinitesimally tiny “Quantum Realm.” But only technically; from pretty much any other perspective, it’s the biggest film in the franchise. It embroils its shrinking superhero and his allies in a battle for the fate of the Quantum Realm, and maybe all life in the multiverse. If you enjoyed the earlier Ant-Mans for their relatively low stakes and charmingly mundane side characters, you may find yourself perplexed by Quantumania. How did we wind up here?
Full review at ScreenCrush.
-
Titanic 1997
It took over 25 years after it's release and my wife cashing in an IOU, but I finally watched the movie 14-year-old me declared he'd never see. The love story is...shallow, some effects shots show their age (the bird's-eye view of the deck with Murdoch awkwardly approaching the captain in particular), and what story there is just acts as an extended preamble to the mother of all shipwrecks. And what a wreck it is, though a bit redundant; how many…
-
-
-
Dick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms In 2023
Warren Beatty specializes in vanity projects much too confusing to give you any idea of if he thinks they make him look good. If I don't wake up tomorrow to a Variety announcement of Dick Tracy Returns, I'll be genuinely upset.
-
Dick Tracy Special: Tracy Zooms In 2023
Reviews: Dick Tracy, Dick Tracy Special
TCM once again indulges Warren Beatty's bizarre sense of humor and understandable frustration at his inability to produce a sequel. Can't wait to see the next one in another couple decades...As long as it's more!
