The Goods: Film Reviews
Take a sip every time Bruce Willis calls Justin Long “kid,” take 2 sips every time Bruce Willis is befuddled by technology or computer babble, take a shot every time an unprecedented hacker has an intuitive, professionally designed interface, as if penetrating government networks had the user experience of Microsoft Office.
One of those movies so good and rich and unique that it’s tough to figure out where to start. Every scene has stuff to admire and unpack. Its brand of black comedy and violent crime story works magically.
But the main sensation I felt watching this time was chilly emotional exhaustion. (It’s the rare movie that feels longer than its runtime and that’s a marker of good filmmaking.) So many of the characters, and subsequent plot points, are really bleak and pathetic.
When I was 21, I made a list of my 100 favorite movies and I put this at #93. Of course today, it would be nowhere near my Top 100.
Reviewed on The Goods here.
Does things with animation that haven’t been done before or since. Mature, postmodern story with lots of humanity. Thrilling action, great score. Its animation has aged a bit, and there’s some weird thematic stuff, but it’s one of the great 21st century animation masterpieces, no doubt.
It still holds up, hilarious and human. Comedy that actually cares about its characters, themes, and stories. Carell is phenomenal. But the criticisms are right, too: very male-centric, iffy on race and gay jokes, and longer than it needs to be.
A gangster film like no other. Bizarre blend of tones. Filled with bitter ironies and great acting. Also a seminal moment in cinema history.
The alternate ending really elevates the material into a story about alienation and belief in God and facing a point of no return. The CGI monsters are ugly AF. Why is there a weird Shrek scene?
A delightful one-hit-wonder pseudo-biopic filled with an amazing false pop universe and uncountable period touches. A true passion project for Tom Hanks, and a true favorite of mine. I promise I will write a full review of this someday.
Rarely do sequels do so much to deepen the original and the characters. A mesmerizing, almost real-time depiction of a lovely Parisian cityscape with electric romantic and philosophical energy.