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Reviews
Synchronic (2019)
More Than I Expected
This movie made me feel things.
I didn't know what to expect from this film, but the plot quickly intrigued me and kept me invested. While I found some of the flashbacks hard to follow, I quickly recognized that the center of this film is a genuine friendship between two flawed characters who have difficult choices to make.
Anthony Mackie is almost entirely to credit for the brilliance of this film, and this is the performance of his career to date.
I thought this would be a forgettable 5.5/10 that might be worth watching once. Had I known it was sci-fi, I probably wouldn't have bothered. Synchronic is poignant and beautiful, and it is proof that every now and then you should step outside your comfort zone.
Unstable (2023)
Dry, Quirky, Fun
I'll confess that I did not expect much from this show as I haven't been engaged by any of Netflix's previous attempts at sitcoms.
However.
Unstable may be the funniest comedy I've seen in years. My husband and I have extremely different senses of humor and both of us have cried laughing at this show. The writing is dry and fast-paced; if you aren't paying attention you'll miss comedic gold. Anyone who says Rob Lowe 's character is just like Chris Traeger, his character from Parks and Recreation, clearly isn't paying attention. Unstable is creative, it's offbeat, and it's absolutely worth your time.
The Old Way (2023)
Mercifully Forgettable
I like Nicolas Cage. I even managed to forgive him for that god-awful excuse for a southern accent in Con-Air. None of this excuses the fact that he sleepwalked through a film that had decent potential. Cage's brightest moments are in his scenes with Armstrong, but their father-daughter dynamic isn't enough to save the film.
Let me be clear: the blame for The Old Way's shortcomings rests not only on Cage's shoulders, but also on Carl Lucas, for heavy-handed writing and poor character development. Lastly, the cast is decidedly B-level, with the exception of Nick Searcy, who shines as the Marshall, particularly in his scenes with Armstrong.
Most grievous of all is the casting of Noah Le Gros as a wanna-be villain. Every good western has a good villain, and by that standard, The Old Way is decidedly subpar.
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
Surprise! It was Weird.
In retrospect, I realize how foolish it was to expect an actual biopic of Weird Al's life. However, this was amusing as hell anyway.
I won't pretend this is any kind of cinematic masterpiece, but, mercifully, it wasn't another idiotic remake. Was it stupid? Without a doubt. Campy? Absolutely. Utterly asinine at times? You better believe it. But, it was ORIGINAL.
Daniel Radcliffe is delightfully cheesy, Evan Rachel Wood deserves an award for her portrayal of Madonna, and the understated cameos of comic legends make this one well worth watching. Weird Al is to be celebrated, and this does exactly that.
Don't Worry Darling (2022)
Olivia Wilde owes The Stepford Wives one hell of an apology
I'm starting to think that Florence Pugh may be one of the greatest actors of our time, but even her most valiant efforts aren't enough to save this dumpster fire.
While stylistically beautiful, Don't Worry Darling offers absolutely nothing in the way of originality. If you've seen The Stepford Wives, you've seen Don't Worry Darling, which is a real shame. I hoped for a glittering, breathtaking Hollywood-magic kind of climax, and was severely let down.
All that said, the hubbub created on the press tour totally makes sense now; they had to find some way to sell this hot mess. Don't worry, darling Olivia, I won't fool with any of your films again.
Amsterdam (2022)
Waste of an Excellent Cast
Hoping for a smart and thrilling comedy (this IS billed as a comedy!) I went to see Amsterdam and got none of the above. Amsterdam is erratic and poorly developed, and while it features some of the greatest actors of our time (Christian Bale! Margot Robbie! Rami Malek!) their talent is squandered on a mediocre story told poorly. This movie claims to be based on true events and doesn't provide any clarification or explanation of the actual events, which makes it easy to be pretty apathetic about this film, especially considering it boasts no stellar performances, no scenery, no beautiful or inventive shots. Worst of all, it's a comedy that just isn't funny. I want my 2+ hours back.
Keeper of the Ashes: The Oklahoma Girl Scout Murders (2022)
This story needed to be told, but not by Kristen Chenoweth
The story in this documentary is true and heartbreaking, and I'm glad I watched. HOWEVER. Ms. Chenoweth did these grieving families a grave disservice by jeopardizing the limelight and grasping for attention like a geriatric and overeager theater kid. Her interjections about "her Oklahoma" were neither helpful nor relevant, and her attempts to promote the way she "gives back" to her hometown were just cringeworthy. The whole thing smacks of self-promotion. Her contribution should have been kept to voiceover narration alone.
Larry Crowne (2011)
Deliciously Fluffy
Watch this movie for the side characters. If you don't watch for Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts, both stellar as always, then at least stick around to watch Rami Malek in one of the best performances of his career so far. He's accompanied by the stellar Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Taraji P. Henson and Wilmer Valderrama, just part of a brilliant cast that transform a hum-drum tale of midlife crisis into a heartwarming and often hilarious hour and a half.
Those who find this movie dull must not appreciate dry humor. Is this film earth-shattering in its innovation and originality? No. But maybe we should enjoy what little predictability we can get in this day and age, and enjoy this film for what it is: a fluffy, delicious respite.
Windfall (2022)
Dark Yet Refreshing
It's been awhile since I could say I didn't see a thriller's ending coming, but this one held me to the very end. Stellar casting, flashes of dry humor, stunning performances. This is a huge departure for Jason Segel, and I am here for it!
Takers (2010)
No Honor Among Thieves
Takers is a solid heist film, building up to a twist ending that never comes. You get torn between who to root for: a veteran detective who's down on his luck, or a close-knit band of robbers taking a chance on an impossible heist.
The best thing about this film is the soundtrack, which has aged well to appeal to 2000s nostalgia.
A movie with such great action and a decent cast deserves better writing. I don't regret seeing this, but it's a one-time view for sure.
Deep Water (2022)
All work, no reward.
Having sat through two hours of mediocre acting and banal screenwriting I was ready for a shocker at the end. I did not get it.
Part of this film's problem is that there is absolutely no one to root for. By the end, I didn't care how it ended, just that it ended.
No Exit (2022)
I feel robbed.
No Exit had so much potential and squandered it all by falling into the same old horror movie ruts. The four stars I did give it are for the few moments I didn't see coming, but none were good enough to warrant a rewatch. Disappointed.
The Making of a Lady (2012)
Understated and Underrated
Brilliantly cast, beautifully acted, and intriguingly suspenseful. Linus Roache is criminally underrated, and Lydia Wilson's performance is impeccable. This film deserves far more credit than it's given, and has more rewatch value than your typical Masterpiece options.
Ghosts (2021)
Silly, Fluffy Fun!
In the poop show that was 2021, the television gods were kind enough to grant us one hilarious, albeit vapid, bright spot. Everything about this show is ridiculous in the best way. Each ghost is brilliantly cast, and some of the humor is so dry you just might miss it if you're not paying attention. Overall, this is a huge thumbs up for me.
Midsommar (2019)
Gratuitously Macabre
I wanted a horror/thriller. There is nothing thrilling about Midsommar. This film seems to pride itself on being overtly gruesome, and it doesn't have an interesting enough plot to get away with that. If scenes of graphic violence aren't your thing, if you are prone to nightmares, stay away. This isn't worth pushing the limits for.