Watched 2023
A = Amazing
B = Balanced
C = Could have been better
D = Don't waste your time
*What these ratings mean to me personally:*
A: An almost flawless film, perfectly suited to my tastes, often surprising me in new ways.
B: Not quite a masterpiece, but something I'd happily watch again.
C: Still a recommendation! While I found it hard to ignore a few aspects of it, I'm still happy to have experienced it.
D: The only rating that means I didn't enjoy it whatsoever.
B = Balanced
C = Could have been better
D = Don't waste your time
*What these ratings mean to me personally:*
A: An almost flawless film, perfectly suited to my tastes, often surprising me in new ways.
B: Not quite a masterpiece, but something I'd happily watch again.
C: Still a recommendation! While I found it hard to ignore a few aspects of it, I'm still happy to have experienced it.
D: The only rating that means I didn't enjoy it whatsoever.
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- DirectorJustin BensonAaron MoorheadStarsAnthony MackieJamie DornanKatie AseltonTwo New Orleans paramedics' lives are ripped apart after they encounter a series of horrific deaths linked to a designer drug with bizarre, otherworldly effects.C = Could have been better
A film of two halves. Incredible start, but the terror and mystery is left behind once the film starts explaining the rules of its universe, exposing a shallow drama that you've already seen before. Could have been outstanding if it was more patient, and didn't try to rush through the middle. - DirectorJamie PayneStarsIdris ElbaCynthia ErivoAndy SerkisBrilliant but disgraced detective John Luther breaks out of prison to hunt down a sadistic serial killer who is terrorising London.C = Could have been better
It's more Luther, which is great. But I can barely remember a single interesting detail from this film, while there are moments from the original TV show that have stayed with me for years. - DirectorCory FinleyStarsOlivia CookeAnya Taylor-JoyAnton YelchinTwo upper-class teenage girls in suburban Connecticut rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. Together, they hatch a plan to solve both of their problems-no matter what the cost.A = Amazing
Incredibly funny. Characters you engage with deeply, wonderfully dark, with an undercurrent of black humor that made me giggle as it rolled around in the back of my subconscious. Absolutely brilliant. - DirectorByun Sung-hyunStarsLee Jae-wookKoo Kyo-hwanElyse DinhA single mother who is a renowned hired killer finds it difficult to achieve a balance between her personal and work life.B = Balanced
Good assassin film with strong lore, great action, and a warm heart. There's plenty here you haven't seen before, at least, not like this.
Very close to an "A", there's just not enough here that resonates with me personally. But that's to do with me, not this film. - DirectorKevin MacdonaldStarsJude LawScoot McNairyBen MendelsohnIn order to make good with his former employers, a submarine captain takes a job with a shadowy backer to search the depths of the Black Sea for a submarine rumored to be loaded with gold.A = Amazing
In the deepest ocean, nobody is safe from treachery, madness, and the endless abyss. This gritty submarine heist never lets you forget that, with every brief glimpse of optimism revealing itself to be the lure of a deadly angler fish, waiting to consume another lost soul. - DirectorJohn Michael McDonaghStarsBrendan GleesonDon CheadleMark StrongAn unorthodox Irish policeman with a confrontational personality is partnered with an uptight F.B.I. agent to investigate an international drug-smuggling ring.B = Balanced
Fun movie about an hard-worn Irish cop who bends the rules, but ultimately has a good heart and is only the fun kind of dirty; the kind that doesn't hurt anyone. Worth a watch for a few laughs and a nice bit of adventure. - DirectorDexter FletcherStarsCharlie Creed-MilesWill PoulterSammy WilliamsA street-toughened parolee finds his two boys abandoned by their mum and fending for themselves. Time to step up, or not.C = Could have been better
Passable British crime drama with enough going on to keep you invested. Just don't go in expecting the "wild" part to come up often, this is a film about its characters first, albeit ones you've probably seen before. - DirectorRuben FleischerStarsWoody HarrelsonJesse EisenbergEmma StoneColumbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock move to the American heartland as they face off against evolved zombies, fellow survivors, and the growing pains of the snarky makeshift family.B = Balanced
More of the same, in a good way. Some nice meta jokes too. - DirectorThomas M. WrightStarsJoel EdgertonSean HarrisJada AlbertsTwo men who meet on a bus strike up a conversation that turns into friendship. For Henry Teague, worn down by a lifetime of physical labour and crime, this is a dream come true.A = Amazing
Hard to describe without giving it away. If you like bleak, slow burning character studies filled with unrelenting tension, watch this. - DirectorFlorian ZellerStarsAnthony HopkinsOlivia ColmanMark GatissA man refuses all assistance from his daughter as he ages. As he tries to make sense of his changing circumstances, he begins to doubt his loved ones, his own mind and even the fabric of his reality.A = Amazing
A haunting look into the crumbling hell of dementia. Olivia Coleman's performance is heartbreaking; there were moments where just a look can bring you to tears, giving you insight into the endless heartbreak that comes with loving someone who is slowly falling into oblivion. Simply incredible. - DirectorMiguel SapochnikStarsJude LawForest WhitakerAlice BragaSet in the near future when artificial organs can be bought on credit, it revolves around a man who struggles to make the payments on a heart he has purchased. He must therefore go on the run before said ticker is repossessed.B = Balanced
Great sci fi film that definitely feels like a product of its time. Held back somewhat by the romantic interest, as many movies of its time were. But the world, story and action are all good enough to be worth a watch. - DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsLeonardo DiCaprioBrad PittMargot RobbieA faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.B = Balanced
Almost an "A" but held back by some pacing issues, something I've felt about a lot of Tarantino's films. Still, this comes very close to a perfect edit IMO, as it mostly deserves its nearly 3-hour runtime. - CreatorMike MyersStarsMike MyersLydia WestJeremy IronsAn unlikely Canadian journalist finds himself embroiled in a mission to uncover the truth and just possibly save the world himself.D = Don't waste your time
It's just not very funny. - StarsBill MillsapDorah FineMike McFarlandFrom the mind of horror manga maestro Junji Ito comes a spine-tingling selection of some of his most bizarre, disturbing and terrifying tales.C = Could have been better
The 2nd anime adaption I've seen of Junji Ito's work isn't much different to the last one. The stories on their own, while grim, just don't have the same effect without the horrifying images that should accompany them, and this attempt, once again, fails to capture that. I'd also have preferred more tales of things that are actually macabre, as there are a few here that just feel like novelties with little in the way of the skin-crawling horror that made me first love Junji Ito's work, the kind of doubt and fear that nestles into a deep part of your mind, finds residence, and slowly infects the other parts of your subconscious.
Also, watching this on Netflix is not a great experience: There's no option to skip the (incredibly long) end credits, and if you return to re-watch an episode, it starts you back at those credits. That's not the shows fault, but it still took me out of the experience. - DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsMark WahlbergChristian BaleAmy AdamsBased on the story of Micky Ward, a fledgling boxer who tries to escape the shadow of his more famous but troubled older boxing brother and get his own shot at greatness.B = Balanced
Good boxing drama about a has-been junkie and his brawler brother. This is my 2nd viewing, and watching it again it still lived up the the memory.
It's a bit of a shame that Mark Walberg's character is so dull; the film Warrior does a much better job of portraying an understated main character overshadowed by their brother. Still, it does let the talents and emotions of others shine through more, with them almost acting as a surrogate for the main character. I guess not everyone is born to be a leading man, and that's OK. - DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsAdam DriverGreta GerwigDon CheadleDramatizes a contemporary American family's attempts to deal with the mundane conflicts of everyday life while grappling with the universal mysteries of love, death, and the possibility of happiness in an uncertain world.A = Amazing
Hard to rate due to the strange philosophy of the ending, I couldn't really associate with it or understand the meaning behind it, if there is one. But I think that's part of this film's bizarre and completely unique charm. I'm almost happy that there was at least something here that I couldn't, and might never, understand.
It's definitely not for everyone, and it's absolutely too weird and niche for the mainstream. But it's almost exactly what I wanted, and I've never seen anything like it. - DirectorRian JohnsonStarsJoseph Gordon-LevittBruce WillisEmily BluntIn 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent into the past, where a hired gun awaits - someone like Joe - who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by sending back Joe's future self for assassination.A = Amazing
My 2nd watching, and every bit as good as I remembered. Can feel like it drags a bit in places, but in hindsight, everything felt like it happened as it should. - DirectorRian JohnsonStarsDaniel CraigEdward NortonKate HudsonTech billionaire Miles Bron invites his friends for a getaway on his private Greek island. When someone turns up dead, Detective Benoit Blanc is put on the case.C = Could have been better
The first half drags horribly, with characters you don't care about and events that seem equally vapid. It picks up a bit later, with things being re-contextualised as twists are revealed... but it sacrifices too much to get there.
The original Knives Out was compelling throughout, with memorable characters and a warm beating heart at its centre. This outing just feels empty by comparison. - DirectorMatt ReevesStarsRobert PattinsonZoë KravitzJeffrey WrightWhen a sadistic serial killer begins murdering key political figures in Gotham, Batman is forced to investigate the city's hidden corruption and question his family's involvement.B = Balanced
Pretty good. The vibe is fantastic, it feels like the most realistic Batman film ever, even before the Dark Knight trilogy. I love Robert Pattinson's take on Batman, and especially Bruce Wayne, who just seems like an empty, broken shell of a person. Certainly better than a lot of modern superhero films... but if I'm being honest, I can barely remember it. - DirectorDan ReedStarsPaul AttahAli AwadDesmond BaylissIn this docudrama, non-professionals with criminal backgrounds re-enact ad-libbed scenes of life in Liverpool's underworld.A = Amazing
Who'd have though that an hour-long indie film with little in the way of plot would be so compelling? Perhaps it's the non-actors, who were hired for their criminal history, rather than their theatrical experience. The result is something that feels raw, genuine, and honest, in a similar vein to the outstanding Uncut Gems. - CreatorMike JudgeStarsMike JudgePiotr MichaelChris DiamantopoulosThe iconic animated duo are back and dumber than ever. The '90s pop-culture phenomenons return, voiced by creator Mike Judge, to confound common sense, torment each other, and showcase some of the dumbest comedy imaginable.A = Amazing
It's been a long time since I laughed this hard. Some parts were misses for me, and I'm not sure if the reaction portions are excellent palette cleansers or unnecessary diversions. But something that gets me laughing this much has gotta be an A. - Blizzard Entertainment's critically-acclaimed 'World of Warcraft' is a virtual home to over twelve million subscribers. 'The Raid' follows a group of nine gamers as they find adventure, challenge, and community inside Azeroth. Hear from them the reasons why they devote their time and resources into pursuing this complex, collaborative, and communal experience.B = Balanced
Fantastic film with incredible action, with at least one part being genuinely the best fight scene I've ever scene. Only slightly below an A because, as brilliant as the choreography was, there's only so much you can do with fighting in corridors. - DirectorJonas ÅkerlundStarsJason SchwartzmanJohn LeguizamoPatrick FugitA drug dealer introduces one of his customers, a 'speed freak', to the man who runs the meth lab. A crazy three-day adventure ensues.B = Balanced
Wonderful film that I first watched a long time ago. Very close to an A, it just felt like it had the perfect chance to stop, but kept going. Kinda like the characters in the film. - DirectorNicolas Winding RefnStarsRyan GoslingKristin Scott ThomasVithaya PansringarmJulian, a drug-smuggler thriving in Bangkok's criminal underworld, sees his life get even more complicated when his mother compels him to find and kill whoever is responsible for his brother's recent death.C = Could have been better
Things it's more than what it is. Would have been a B if it could have accepted itself as a slow burner with gorgeous cinematography and violent outbursts, without thinking it has to be say something with every scene. - StarsDani BowmanJames B. JonesAbbey Romeo LutesIt follows people on the autism spectrum as they navigate the world of dating and relationships.B = Balanced
Made me cry and start to accept and understand my own autism. - DirectorGuy RitchieStarsMatthew McConaugheyCharlie HunnamMichelle DockeryAn American expat tries to sell off his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.B = Balanced
It's good. I can't remember much of it, but it's worth a watch. - DirectorPhilip BarantiniStarsCraig FairbrassGeorge RussoIzuka HoyleEddie Franks is a former criminal who attempts to help his family by reconnecting with his daughter and clearing his brother's debt. Despite his efforts, he is drawn back into a criminal way of life, with devastating consequences.B = Balanced
Good British crime drama with the right amount of violence, and sentimentality (and the regret it comes with) done just right. - DirectorGalder Gaztelu-UrrutiaStarsIvan MassaguéZorion EguileorAntonia San JuanA vertical prison with one cell per level. Two people per cell. Only one food platform and two minutes per day to feed. An endless nightmare trapped in The Hole.B = Balanced
Felt overly long at times, but overall a good experience. Well, not "good", more "disgusting". - DirectorYann DemangeStarsMatthew McConaugheyRichie MerrittBel PowleyThe story of teenager Richard Wershe Jr., who became an undercover informant for the FBI during the 1980s and was ultimately arrested for drug-trafficking and sentenced to life in prison.B = Balanced
I found it hard to connect, expecting something a bit punchier, until I accepted that this is a story about a real person, told in the style of who they actually are. - DirectorChristopher LandonStarsJahi Di'Allo WinstonDavid HarbourAnthony MackieFinding a ghost named Ernest haunting their new home turns Kevin's family into overnight social media sensations. But when Kevin and Ernest investigate the mystery of Ernest's past, they become a target of the CIA.B = Balanced
Fun film with a good heart and a few nice surprises. - CreatorDan GoorMichael SchurStarsAndy SambergStephanie BeatrizTerry CrewsComedy series following the exploits of Det. Jake Peralta and his diverse, lovable colleagues as they police the NYPD's 99th Precinct.A = Amazing
Still one of my favourite shows. Like comfort food that makes you giggle. - StarsDavid AmermanJoe MontanaKen GoldinKen Goldin and his savvy team run the thrilling action, venturing inside a leading auction house specialising in rare collectibles.D = Don't waste your time
Eugh, just awful. An endless circle jerk, hyper focused on meaningless objects and their supposed value, while the show tries desperately to convince you how important everything and everyone involved is.
If you buy into a certain narrow worldview then I'm sure this is riveting. But most people don't give a toss that someone thinks Michael Jordan's dingleberry is priceless. - DirectorMark NeveldineBrian TaylorStarsJason StathamAmy SmartCarlos SanzProfessional assassin Chev Chelios learns his rival has injected him with a poison that will kill him if his heart rate drops.C = Could have been better
Great action. Would have preferred it without the rape scene. - StarsJames AcasterStuart LawsJoe ParhamJames Acaster presents four interwoven stand-up comedy specials.D = Don't waste your time
I've tried repeatedly to get into James Acaster. I can understand how the things he says might be funny. I can hear other people laughing. But personally, I find him incredibly boring, and it's not helped by how convinced he is of his own cleverness. Comedy is a lot to do with the violation of one's expectations, but James never surprises me. There's just nothing here for me. - DirectorChristopher MorrisStarsWill AdamsdaleRiz AhmedAdeel AkhtarFour incompetent British terrorists set out to train for and commit an act of terror.
- DirectorMarc MundenStarsJodie ComerArthur HughesLesley SharpSarah seems to have found her calling working in a Liverpool care home where she has a special talent for connecting with the residents. Then, in March 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic hits.
- StarsHayley SquiresSiena KellyAnya McKenna-BruceA woman's life working in the adult film industry spans from its seedy beginnings to a highly successful enterprise.
- CreatorMax LandisStarsSamuel BarnettElijah WoodHannah MarksHolistic detective Dirk Gently investigates cases involving the supernatural.