Category: Uncategorized
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The Queen’s Gambit
A compelling story, exquisite period detail, and a wonderful lead performance make this Netflix series a deeply engaging show anyone can get into. It also might inspire you to add chess set to your Christmas list this year. The Queen’s Gambit is a miniseries released this year on Netflix. It is based on the 1983…
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Jungle Fever
Getting back into Spike Lee’s filmography we return with Jungle Fever. This is a movie with moments of transcendent greatness that falls short in its execution. Spike Lee followed up Mo’ Better Blues with Jungle Fever. Mo’ Better Blues was not a big hit at the box office and received mixed response from critics. Most…
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Happiest Season
This is a movie that is occasionally brilliant, but it adheres too closely to holiday rom com feel good formula to really transcend the genre in the way that it clearly wants to. Happiest Season is a holiday movie that follows Abby and Harper played by Kirsten Stewart and Mackenzie Davis respectively. They are two…
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The Devil All the Time
Streaming on Netflix, this film is punishingly dark. It is a deep dive into the horrors we inflict on one another. It boasts some incredible performances and an aesthetic that seeps under the skin. However, it feels like it’s missing an essential element in its exploration of evil. The film follows a series of loosely…
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Rebecca (2020)
Recently released to Netflix, this adaptation of Rebecca looks fantastic and contains wonderful actors doing their best, but it leaves out the heart, soul, romance, and mystery of the story. Rebecca is based on the novel of the same name by Daphne du Maurier. It follows an unnamed protagonist who meets and falls in love…
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The Trial of the Chicago 7
Now streaming on Netflix, this is one of the great courtroom dramas. Written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, this film is powerful, thought provoking, and wildly entertaining. For those who don’t know about the Chicago 7, here’s a brief history lesson. During the 1968 Democratic National Convention, a series of anti Vietnam War protests turned…
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The Silence of the Lambs
It’s so much fun to watch good movies. This is a very good movie. It’s great as a movie. It’s also a great example of an unsettling and frightening film that lingers long after the credits roll. Released in 1990 and directed by Jonathan Demme, this film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling, played by Jodie…
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The Babadook
Oh boy, what an absolutely terrifying movie. This one truly rattled me. It’s incredible filmmaking that can eek unease, dread, and terror out of even the most mundane moments. The film can be described in a number of ways all of which would be technically accurate. Amelia, played by Essie Davis, is a single mother…
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Black Christmas (all three versions)
Black Christmas is a 1974 classic slasher film that has been remade twice. These three movies could not be more different. They share a location and a title, and that’s about it. We’re going to compare all three in this old vs new vs… newer. We’ll take them each one at a time then do…
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Sinister
The setup is standard, and there are a few obvious jump scares, but the performances, the cinematography, and the sound design are stellar. It all adds up to a solidly scary movie. Ethan Hawke plays Ellison, a true crime writer who moves his family into a house where an entire family was killed in the…
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You’re Next
Are you in there mood for insane violence, pitch black comedy, excellent setup and payoff, truly chilly horror and a fantastic heroine? Then You’re Next is the movie for you. Released in 2011, You’re Next is a darkly comic take on the slasher genre. It follows a family that has gathered at a remote estate…
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Midsommar
Who’s ready to feel deeply disturbed and unsettled by an expert filmmaker and a truly fantastic performance from a young actress? Midsommar is a 2019 folk horror film written and directed by Ari Aster. This is only his second feature after the terrifically horrifying Hereditary. This film follows Dani, played by Florence Pugh, a young…
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Hereditary
This is not a fun scary movie. It is a brutally intense tour through some of the ugliest emotional places a family can go. It deals with grief and loss and blame in a very serious family drama that descends into the most horrific realms of terror imaginable. The story concerns the Graham family. Annie’s…
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Splice
Splice is a very engaging and fascinating little update on the Frankenstein story until it isn’t. More than almost any other movie I’ve seen this films ending feels like someone grabbed the wheel and jerked it hard steering the movie onto a different road entirely. The story concerns the genetic experiments being conducted by Clive…
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The Taking of Deborah Logan
For a found footage horror movie, this one isn’t bad. It has some delightful jump scares, some fun use of the format, and a great central performance. If you’re looking for a solid jolt or two, this is a good choice. Full disclosure, I don’t like found footage. I avoid it in most cases. It’s…
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Mandy
I’ve never done acid, but I imagine that this movie is what a bad trip is like. It uses wildly saturated colors, a bonkers Nicholas Cage performance and some deeply disturbing imagery to create a movie unlike any I’ve ever seen. The film the most dreamlike execution I’ve seen in a long time. We sort…
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The Lodge
If you’re looking for a movie to crawl under your skin and lodge itself in the darkest part of your brain, oh boy do I have the film for you. The Lodge is a psychological horror film, that is more interested in building dread than creating scares. There is little that can be said of…
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The Mist
Do you want to feel bad about humanity? Oh boy, do I have the film for you. The Mist is a genuinely scary film that explores humanity’s worst impulses when faced with extreme situations. It is tense, horrific and bleak with great performances and not so great visual effects. The Mist is a 2007 film…
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The Omen (original and Remake)
This is a fascinating original versus remake because the two films share almost identical scripts. The movies are almost word for word the same, yet due to bad direction and poor performances one is completely boring and the other is a thrilling masterpiece. We’re going to start with the original. Released in 1976, The Omen…
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The Shining
Incredible score. Steady camerawork. Jack Nicholson going insane. This movie has it all. The Shining is a legendary film directed by Stanley Kubrick and released in 1980. The movie has taken on a legend of its own with fans pulling a vast array of hidden meanings from every moment in this movie. However, putting all…
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Day of the Dead (1985)
Truly gruesome special effects, and some genuinely scary moments elevate this zombie film beyond some of its over the top acting and way too 80’s soundtrack. Confession time, I don’t like zombies. I think they’re boring as monsters. I think they’re totally lacking in scare factor. They just lumber around and get shot in the…
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Poltergeist
This is exactly the horror movie I needed right now. It is filled with creepy moments, good jolts of fear, and a real sense of heart and humor. Poltergeist is a great horror film to recommend to people who don’t like horror films. The film opens with an average family. It fills the early scenes…
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The Brood
Good Lord! I think I need to shower after watching this movie. It is not for the faint of heart. This movie is disgusting, violent, and horrifying. It is also riveting and absolutely one of the better horror films I’ve seen. The Brood is a 1979 film written and directed by David Cronenberg. It follows…
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The Evil Dead (1981)
What separates this low budget horror movie about a group of teens trapped in a cabin in the woods fighting off supernatural foes? The wild creative force of a director and his team giving their all. The Evil Dead was shot in 1981 by director Sam Raimi. He and his friends made this feature length…
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The Haunting of Bly Manor Part 3
The series ends after nine episodes in grand fashion. It isn’t as scary as I hoped it would be, but it is an excellent ghost story that carries a huge emotional impact. I have finished the series. It was a nine episode show, and that was perfect for this story. Anymore would have felt superfluous.…
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The Innocents (1961)
This movie freaked me out. I literally still have chills as I write this. It is a deeply chilling story that builds to one of the scariest climaxes I’ve seen. This movie is incredible. Based on Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, the film follows Deborah Kerr as Ms. Giddens a governess who travels…
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The Haunting of Bly Manor Part 2
Episodes 4, 5, and 6 of the Haunting of Bly Manor are a solid second act that deepens the story and drops the scares almost entirely. Most films follow a three act structure. The second act is typically used to deepen the conflict and offer more complications. The second section of The Haunting of Bly…
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Before I Wake
What happens when a little boy’s nightmares come to life? With that simple premise, director Mike Flanagan explores themes of grief, loss, acceptance, and abuse. He also uses it to scare the crap out of his audience. Kate Bosworth and Thomas Jane play Jessie and Mark a couple looking to foster a child as a…
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The Haunting of Bly Manor
The brand new Netflix follow up to their wildly successful The Haunting of Hill House, is a creepy and deeply unsettling series that is definitely worth checking out. At least as far as I’ve seen. Back in 2018, Mike Flanagan and Netflix unleashed a seriously good adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s novel The Haunting called The…
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The Fog (1980)
A classic ghost story setup, some creepy cinematography, a few wonderful moments and a very uneven delivery make this story from John Carpenter an enjoyable if incomplete horror movie. The movie opens with an old man telling a group of kids a ghost story around the campfire. This is a perfect setup. This whole movie…
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The Cabin in the Woods
A widely celebrated horror comedy that never worked for me. It’s too busy being arch and clever for its own good. It has it’s moments, but in the end it’s too nihilistic to be fully enjoyed. I know everyone seems to love this movie. I know it is widely praised for its self aware sense…
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The Blob
This is the epitome of the 1950’s monster movie. If that sounds like fun, this movie will be an absolute delight. It is cheesy and campy. It is silly and fun. It is a piece of pop culture history. Made in 1958, The Blob starts with Jane and Steve, played by Aneta Corseaut and Steve…
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The Invisible Man (2020)
Scary, insightful, and expertly made, with shocks, surprises, and twists, The Invisible Man is a fantastic horror movie. It takes the well worn premise and heads off into new and exciting territory. It’s a really invigorating horror movie. The film opens with a sequence of extended silence as Cecilia Kass, played by Elizabeth Moss, tries…
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Anaconda
This move answers a lot of questions no one ever asked… how over the top can an actor go before the director will try to stop him? How many fake looking snakes can one film hold? If none of the characters choices make any sense, will an audience still sit through a 90 minute movie?…
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The Girl on the Third Floor
Some gnarly practical effects, a woefully unlikable lead, a hazy explanation, and some genuinely creepy moments all add up to make another pretty good horror movie now streaming on Netflix. The story follows Don, played by Phil “CM Punk” Brooks, as he renovates an old house for him and his pregnant wife. However, as Don…
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Sweetheart
This movie is two thirds of a great horror movie. It has a great setup and a tremendous first act. It falls apart as more characters are introduced and the expansive narrative is flatten out in order to serve the conventions of the genre. The movie opens with Jenn, played by Kiersey Clemons, as she…
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Zombeavers
Possibly the worst movie that I have ever seen twice. Zombeavers is going for a raunchy sexy horror movie, but is so ineptly made that it can neither be described as sexy or horror. Zombeavers is a student film level of quality production that follows a trio of sorority sisters who escape finals by going…
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Fright Night (1985)
Two fabulous performances, great cinematography, and some wonderfully grotesque make up work make this 1980’s classic absolutely worth watching. Fright Night is a horror comedy that follows a teenage boy named Charlie, played by William Ragsdale, as he comes to believe that his new neighbor Jerry Dandridge, played by an incredible Chris Sarandon, is a…
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Happy Halloween
October is tomorrow! Since 2012, I have watched one scary movie every day during the month of October. This year will be no different. Starting tomorrow, I will be watching a horror movie everyday culminating on October 31st All Hallows Eve! The origins of this tradition date back to my film school days. I used…
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Mo’ Better Blues
Spike Lee’s fourth film is a celebration of music and color. It features a stellar performance from Denzel Washington, thrilling music, and an exciting use of color. Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing premiered at Cannes in 1989. It was met with massive controversy. People believed it would cause race riots and violence. People objected…
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Titanic
Yup, Titanic. After years of backlash and mockery, I decided to take a fresh look at what the biggest movie in the world to see if it is any good and if it deserves the derision it receives. (Spoiler alert: it is good and not it doesn’t.) Titanic was released in 1997. It was written,…
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Do the Right Thing
This is one of those big movies that carries the heavy reputation of being”important!” I was pleasantly surprised to discover a movie brimming with rich characters, delightful filmmaking, and a wildly entertaining energy all in the service of a very serious subject matter. Following the commercial success of School Daze, Spike Lee looked to current…
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Tenet
I really wish I liked this movie. If you love stunning action, incomprehensible plots, beautiful people looking very serious, ludicrous amounts of exposition, and an eardrum pummeling soundtrack, you might enjoy this movie more than I did. Tenet is the latest science fiction action film from Christopher Nolan. It follows John David Washington playing an…
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School Daze
Spike Lee’s second feature film is a wild musical comedy that is disjointedbut also invigorating, refreshing and honest. When Spike Lee first attempted to conquer Hollywood he did so with a script. He went to every studio that would meet with him with a script about college life on historically black college campuses. Everyone rejected…
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She’s Gotta Have It
Thirty four years ago Spike Lee burst onto the scene with his feature directorial debut. She’s Gotta Have It is a narrative breath of fresh air. It bursts with invention and excitement. It’s a messy sometimes dated movie that remains engaging and entertaining all these years later. Born in Atlanta as Shelton Jackson Lee, Spike…
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A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
Tom Hanks gives a perfect performance as Mr. Rogers in this beautiful little movie that isn’t quite a biopic, but isn’t exactly fictional either. The movie opens with an impeccable recreation of Mr.Rogers’ neighborhood the beloved children’s show that ran from 1968 until 2001. The movie get every detail right, the music, the camera movement,…
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Bill and Ted: Face the Music
After almost 30 years, Bill and Ted are back for more absurd adventures through time. Happily, the movie works and is a lot of good natured fun. The perfect prescription for this awful month. Back in 1989, two dudes from San Dimas, California were visited by a man from the future to help them with…
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The New Mutants
Shot in 2017 and delayed and delayed and delayed, New Mutants finally sees the light of day. After all that waiting, it turns out the movie is only okay. New Mutants was shot in 2017. It was delayed for reshoots. Then Disney bought 20th Century Fox. This brought more delays. Once the dust settled on…
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Project Power
Magic pills unleash people’s inner superpowers in this gritty and surprisingly gruesome action thriller from Netflix. The movie Starz Joseph Gordon Levittown and Jamie Foxx. Levitt is a cop in New Orleans working drug cases and trying to figure out the source of the new super drug. It seems everyone has an innate super power…
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The Rental
A solid and ominous thriller that doesn’t quite carry off its ending despite great performances and assured directing. Written and directed by Dave Franco, The Rental concerns two brothers who bring the ladies in their respective lives to an opulent beach house for the weekend. The rented the house through an Airbnb style website. However…
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Mudbound
Mudbound is a deeply moving film that works the same way a symphony works. Each instrument plays its part and the culmination of it is an overwhelming piece of artistry. Mudbound was released in 2017, but it remains powerful and prescient. It is currently streaming on Netflix and absolutely worth watching. The story follows members…
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The Death of Stalin
Now on Netflix, this dark comedy is at once horrifying and hilarious. Great performances, a razor sharp script, and fascinating history, combine in this enthralling movie. The movie starts slowly. An orchestra is performing a concert on the radio. Joseph Stalin, the ruthless leader of the USSR, listens to the performance and orders a recording…
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Extraction
Now streaming on Netflix, this movie is incredibly violent. It is brutal and bloody and thrilling. With one massive action sequence in the middle that totally makes up for the predictable plot. The film opens with Ovi, the teenage son of an Indian crime lord as he goes about his lonely day at home and…
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Bad Education
Watch this movie. It is new to HBO, and absolutely worth watching. With impeccable direction and a fantastic script the film unfolds the story of the largest public school embezzlement scandal in American History. Hugh Jackman stars as Frank Tassone. He’s the superintendent for the number four school district in the state. The pressure is…
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Doctor Sleep
Doctor Sleep is a worthy sequel to the classic horror film The Shining. It walks a fine line paying tribute to the original movie while following its own artistic path and succeeds. Doctor Sleep is based on a 2013 novel of the same name by Stephen King. It is a sequel to what is arguably…
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Love Wedding Repeat
The latest Netflix original movie is a very funny movie that stumbles in its plot and execution, but remains a very fun movie experience for your Sunday afternoon. The film is set on one eventful wedding day. Jack, played by Sam Claflin, is always trying to do what’s right for those around him and never…
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Good Boys
Now streaming on HBO Good Boys is a strangely wholesome gross out sex comedy. It has hints of being a good movie, but mostly settles for an okay movie with chuckles instead of laughs. The movie follows three 6th graders on a momentous day in their young lives. Max, Lucas, and Thor have been best…
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Bombshell
Bombshell is the story of the take down of Roger Ailes the head of Fox News. It is told from the perspective of the women who work at Fox News who speak up against him, but it ends up being Roger’s story. It’s an okay movie with some great performances and some worthy moments, but…
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The Social Network
New to Netflix, The Social Network is a very interesting film to watch ten years later. It maintains its sweeping Shakespearean tragedy elements. It’s performances hold up beautifully. It’s cinematography remains rich, but it misogyny and attitudes toward women remain frustrating. The film follows Mark Zuckerberg as a frustrated college student who starts a social…
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Road to Perdition
Road to Perdition is new to Netflix and one of the most beautifully shot films of the last 20 years. It is a violent and stately gangster movie about revenge, violence, and fathers and sons. It is enthralling, yet somehow keeps the audience at arms length from the heart of the story. The film tells…
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Molly’s Game
Brand new to Netflix, is Molly’s Game. Aaron Sorkin infuses this story with his signature dialogue and fast pace. It is an involving and sometimes thrilling movie that gets bogged down in a flashy plot structure and too much extraneous detail. The film follows Molly Bloom, played by Jessica Chastain. Molly is a real woman…
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Ad Astra
Ad Astra is a beautifully shot film with a slow deliberate pace that asks a lot of its audience. It’s absolutely worth watching, but it’s definitely not for everyone. The film is set in the not too distant future. Roy McBride is a technician working on a giant antenna that extends from earth into space.…
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Terminator Dark Fate
Skip this one. It has a few moments of pure popcorn pleasure, but it’s not a good movie. It’s a pretty dismal example of why they should have stopped making Terminator movies in 1992. If you’ve seen one Terminator movie, you’ve seen them all… literally. Every Terminator movie has had the exact same plot as…
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Dark Phoenix
If you’re looking for something to watch on HBO, do not watch this movie. It is as bad as everyone has said it is. If you’re looking for a bad movie to enjoy as a bad movie, this is also not going to fit the bill. There isn’t much of anything here for anyone. For…
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Birds of Prey
Birds of Prey is bonkers movie that works in fits and starts. It has some wonderful highs that emerge from a muddled narrative. It has a kitchen sink approach to its story and subject. Throw everything in and see what works. The film follows Harley Quinn, a comic book villain who is the paramour of…
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Onward
Onward is the latest from Pixar, and it is a sucker punch to the tear ducts. It has an emotional punch that really works and really hits home, however there are times when those tears feel like a foregone conclusion, and the whole movies feels almost paint by numbers at times. The story concerns a…
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Uncut Gems
I hated this movie. I rarely hate movies. I find something redemptive in every movie I see, and this film is not without its merits, but I just found it unpleasant and nasty. This movie is like the drunk couple at the bar who get into a screaming match on the sidewalk. The film follows…
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Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
Quentin Tarantino’s latest directorial effort is really great for the most part. Tarantino abandons his usual bag of tricks for a serious and thought provoking dive into the past, then in the last 40 minutes he throws it out the window for a different movie entirely. The story concerns fictional actor Rick Dalton as he…
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Parasite (2019)
Parasite is an expertly crafted movie. It is made with such precision and such a clear vision that it would be impossible to deny its skill and quality. It shifts genres constantly and the shifts work and feel genuine. However the film left me pretty cold and disinterested. The film follows the impoverished Kim family…
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Jumanji: The Next Level
This sequel to a reboot is a little too long and a little overstuffed, but man is it fun. It is a very pleasant romp that is the perfect answer for a dreary day. Delightful performances and some genuinely exciting adventure set pieces make this one worth watching. The film picks up a couple years…
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The Farewell (2019)
The Farewell is a fantastic movie that feels real and authentic in every moment. It employs a steady hand behind the camera and some of the best performances of last year in front of the camera. It is a wonderful little movie that is deeply rewarding to the viewer. The Farewell follows Billi Wang a…
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Marriage Story
This is a great movie. It is heartbreaking, challenging, and sometimes hilarious. It tackles a very difficult subject beautifully with excellent filmmaking and some of the best performances of the year. Netflix and Noah Baumbach have made fantastic movie. The film opens with a pair of montages. In voice over Charlie Barber, played by Adam…
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1917
This movies thrusts the audience into the experience of soldiers during WWI. It tells a stripped down narrative with a “single take” technical style that rises above a mere gimmick to create a powerful war film. The story follows two young British soldiers Schofield and Blake (played well by George McKay and Dean Charles Chapman…
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Joker
This is pretty good remake of Taxi Driver. It’s less a movie in its own right and more a mashup of better films from the 70’s and 80’s. It is carried through by a fully immersive performance from Joaquin Phoenix. It has some moments of its own, and it is incredibly well shot. But it…
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Knives Out
This is one of the most enjoyable and entertaining movies of 2019. It is a twisty, turning tale of murder and intrigue that drips with delight. It is full to overflowing with great characters played by great actors and captured with beautiful photography. The story concerns a wealthy family gathered in the patriarch’s house after…
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The Irishman
An incredibly long yet infinitely rewarding film that has a lot of problems but a lot of rewards for anyone willing to give it a try. The film follows Frank Sheeran played by Robert De Niro as he rises from Union truck driver to mob enforcer to old man filled with regret. He’s a classic…
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Jojo Rabbit
An incredibly skillful movie that takes hard premise and filters it through the point of view of a boy trying to figure out who he is, Jojo Rabbit is a rollercoaster of emotions. The story is set in Nazi Germany during the later days of World War II. It follows a young boy who wants…
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Little Women (2019)
This is an adaptation full of life and vibrant energy that boasts some wonderful performances, impeccable, cinematography, and a few big flaws. It is however a joy to watch and should definitely be sought out by anyone even with those unfamiliar with the book or previous adaptations. The film is described as a coming of…
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Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
This is an overstuffed and slightly convoluted entry in the Star Wars series that still manages to be an entertaining adventure with some good scenes, genuine laughs, and fun characters. The story follows Rey, Finn, and Poe as they try to track down a thing that will lead them to another thing that will lead…
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Die Hard
A classic action movie that is also just a good movie period, Die Hard has been refined in recent years as a Christmas movie. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, the story follows John McClane, a New York Corp who travels to LA to see his estranged wife at her office Christmas party. The building…
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Christmas Vacation
Did those who like a dose of cynicism with their holiday cheer, check out this absurd and hilarious Christmas comedy. The third in the National Lampoons Vacation series, this movie follows the Griswold family as patriarch Clark tried his hardest to give everyone the perfect “fun, old-fashioned family Christmas.” Of course insane hijinks ensue. Starting…
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Scrooge (1951)
With an impeccable lead performance from Alistair Sim and a few creative licenses with the source material, this 1941 adaptation of a Christmas Carol holds up and offers a lot to a modern viewer. The story is well worn. An old miser is visited by ghosts and changes his ways. However this adaptation adds a…
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Dr. Seuss’s The Grinch (2018)
A generic and forgettable adaptation of the classic Dr. Seuss story, The Grinch has a few cute and charming moments, but it’s ultimately a bland disappointment. Stepping into this film, I put all thoughts of previous adaptations out of my head. I didn’t compare or contrast this with other versions. I wanted to experience this…
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Klaus
This wonderful little animated film telling the story of Santa Claus plays on the heartstrings like YoYo Ma plays the cello. It is delightful, surprising, and heartwarming. A perfect holiday movie the family will love. The movie has a pretty simple and standard setup. A spoiled young rich guy named Jesper is sent by his…
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The Muppet Christmas Carol
Michael Caine gives a fantastic and resonant performance in spite of his felt costars in this goofy kids version of the classic story. This has to be stated from the outset. I’m not a fan of the muppets. They’ve just never worked for me. They’re too manic, too aggressive with their humor, and too reliant…
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Home alone
Kicking off a series of Christmas movie reviews is Home Alone from 1990. Everyone knows Home Alone. It is played almost constantly from Thanksgiving until Christmas. It was a the favorite Christmas movie of every kid in the 90’s. Its popularity with kids is easily understood. It’s a total child wish fulfillment. He gets the…
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Why did I do that?
Why did I just watch and review 31 horror movies? Why do I maintain this tradition every year? Why explore horror? Let’s take that last question first… horror is the strangest of all movie genres. What other genre is as varied and all encompassing as horror? Look at this month of movies, The Conjuring, a…
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Halloween (1978)
Frightening, startling, and great fun this is the perfect Halloween movie. This film has a vision of horror from a great director. It has scares and jolts. It has a slow burn. It has violence. It has ideas and psychological implications. It is a great movie to watch every Halloween night. Now this is the…
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The Conjuring
A supremely effective haunted house film that brings every every tool in the tool box out to scare the heck out of the viewer. The set up is nothing original. A cash strapped family buys a huge old house for cheap and discovers a malicious entity already resides there. Too broke to move, they call…
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The Haunting
This classic from 1963 is the epitome of the old fashioned ghost story. It’s purely minimalistic in it’s approach to the supernatural. It’s a film that knows that it’s most powerful special effects are the audiences imagination. The film follows Eleanor Lance as she joins a quartet as they explore the supposedly haunted Hill House.…
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The Final Girls
This film is fantastic. It is inventive, hilarious, and surprisingly heartfelt. It is ostensibly a horror comedy, but it is so much more. The story follows Max a teenager whose mother was an actress with one major film on her resume the 80’s slasher film Camp Bloodbath. Three years after her mother tragically died, Max…
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Dawn of the Dead (1978)
For someone who does not like zombie movies and in fact finds them kind stupid as monsters, this film did more than any other to change my mind. It is scary. It is funny. It is socially conscious. It is narratively surprising. This is the original Dawn of the Dead. This is not the 2004…
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The Fly (1986)
The remake of the 1950’s science fiction horror story is full of disgusting effects, great performances of some of the most horrific and horrifying images possible. It’s incredibly effective even 33 years later. The story follows a journalist named Veronica, played by Geena Davis, as she interviews a scientist named Seth Brundle, played by Jeff…
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Zombieland Double Tap
A thoroughly enjoyable romp through a zombie infested America. The movie is goofy, gory, and way better than it has any right to be. Ten years ago, a movie called Zombieland came out satirizing the zombie genre. The film was on the cutting edge of the zombie craze. This film picks up ten years later.…
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Annabelle Comes Home
This was an engaging and fun little movie with great creature design, a nice for period details and a sweet little story. It’s difficult to say where this movie falls in the timeline. It is the sequel to the prequel to the prequel to the Conjuring. It’s also kind of a sequel to the Conjuring,…
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Annabelle Creation
Wow. This movie is fantastic. It has its issues, but on sheer visceral scares this movie is a huge winner. This is the prequel to the prequel to The Conjuring. Which is a ridiculous statement, but this movie goes so far beyond what it was set up to be. It rises above its franchise roots…
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Annabelle
The prequel to The Conjuring isn’t particularly good, but it’s not altogether bad. It’s a fairly middle of the road exercise in franchise building There are worse movies to watch this Halloween season. For those who have not seen The Conjuring Annabelle is a doll that a demon uses to torment people in order to…
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The Innkeepers
An unbearably tense slow burn of a ghost story that masterfully manipulates sound design and story to create some of the scariest moments in any horror movie. The story follows two amateur ghost chasers working as clerks at a famously haunted New England inn. It’s the last weekend the inn will be open and the…
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Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
This movie is about as pure 80’s slasher sequel as can be. The only difference is that it’s kind of well made. In the late 70’s a film called Halloween was released. It had a tiny budget and was about a killer hunting babysitters on Halloween night. It was hugely popular and spawned a ton…
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The Witch
This is a film that is very well made, but without a story to tell. A lot of stuff happens, but the events never really materialize in a meaningful way. The film follows a family in the 1630’s who are forced out of a Puritan colony because of their religious beliefs. It’s implied that the…
Cup of Tea Reviews 