The Goods: Film Reviews
The ultimate predestination time travel movie with a puzzle box plot of clever timeline interactions and consequences. Visual verve and invention blend with rich themes of subjectivity and the perilous state of sanity in modernity.
A fascinating account of how one laid-back artist’s character became an internet icon for the alt-right, and what he’s done to push back. All of it is engaging, but the dives into the weirdest corners of “Pepe culture” were my favorite.
Blunt force use of close-ups and emotional manipulation result in an exhausting watch that can feel self-parody at times in the second half, but the highs (e.g. Ally’s first performance of “Shallow”) really really soar. Gaga and Cooper have great, charming chemistry, and Cooper acquits himself terrifically as a debut director, especially the intoxicating opening stretch.
A tightly plotted on-the-run road comedy that’s riotously fun and satisfying. De Niro plays the perfect rough-edged but lovable tough guy, and Grodin makes a brilliant foil. Brilliantly watchable and near-flawless.
The Minions are excessively zany and the tone is quite wobbly, but disaster averted because Gru and his relationship with the girls are so charming.
Icy, sexy romantic drama as two men and two women constantly cheat and realign and scar each other. Not an uplifting watch, but it’s gloriously savage and bitter, with all the action in the dialogue (and the actual action offscreen).
It’s Chrsitmas!
Grant’s favorite movie. Definitely need to rewatch.
A completely unnecessary fourth Toy Story that’s still miraculously good. Despite a “creation story,” the existential, almost religious tones of Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3 are excised in favor of a clearer theme of parenting. Some parts grate and drag, but the animation is stunningly beautiful, and it has some surprising narrative punch.
UNDERRATED!
Once you calibrate your expectations for a simplistic story with very broad strokes, it goes down so easy… Tremendous scenery and natural effects CGI contrasting with cartoony characters but good emotional beats.