The Power of the Dog

POSITIVES

  • Interesting character dynamics and relationships are what this film is about. 

  • Benedict Cumberbatch plays a really commanding man, and he'll keep you wondering what he is going to do next. 

  • Not to be outshined by Cumberbatch, Jesse Plemons, Kirsten Dunst, Kodi Smit-Mcphee, are all excellent in their roles as well. 

  • Perfectly captures the grit, emptiness, beauty and wonder of the West. 

  • Moments, small scenes and interactions that greatly represent the themes of the movie that are absolutely worth exploring, and gives valid reasons to watch this slow burn of a story. Paper flowers on a table, the dinner party, "a barking dog," wood poles plus a bunny, and hides. 

NEGATIVES

  • People expecting a traditional Western will be very disappointed. 

  • I can hear the complaints. Slow moving and boring! 

  • Bad decisions because of naivety or just plot conveniences? 

  • Hope you don't mind male nudity. 

  • Depiction of animal abuse. ugh 

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

The Power of the Dog - watched it on NETFLIX

Passing

POSITIVES

  • Fascinating provocative premise that'll give you something to really think about.

  • Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga are fantastic in this. Together in a scene? Amazing. They truly carry the movie. 

  • Good supporting cast as well that adds immensely to the film, which includes André Holland, Bill Camp, and Alexander Skarsgård. 

  • The look of the film and the musical score (or lack thereof) really creates the perfect tone and mood to such a delicate story. 

  • Interesting conversations and subject matters that say a lot thematically, whether overtly or subtlety.

NEGATIVES

  • A black & white film with a 4x3 aspect ratio? This might not be for everyone's taste. 

  • Some might find the heavy themes and commentary about racism to be seen as a little too heavy handed. 

  • Not exactly a fast moving movie, so do put up with it's slow careful pacing. So for that matter, I hope you don't get bored. 

  • There are moments that seemed a bit unbelievable to me, or the movie didn't do enough to help me understand it.  

  • I get that the musical score (or lack thereof) is purposefully implemented in the way they did for this movie, but it can feel a bit lacking at times.

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Passing - watched it on NETFLIX

The Rescue

POSITIVES

  • An incredible true story of fighting against the impossible when young lives are on the line. 

  • I liked how there is a focus on these specific cave-divers as the primary perspective of this story. Their stepping up beyond what is expected of them is inspiring to watch. 

  • Those twists and turns in the story keeps you on your toes wondering what else is going to happen. 

  • Narrative manages to present multiple themes and stories that explore beyond the main premise of this film. 

  • It's amazing how this documentary was able to seamlessly mix archival footage with reenacted ones. 

NEGATIVES

  • It's a documentary film. Not everybody watches them. 

  • Subtitles. Hope you're okay with them. 

  • I would have appreciated a particular perspective to the story that isn’t quite presented in this film. 

  • Felt like there was some padding to the plot to make the film longer than it has to be. 

  • With that said, I would have liked an expanded ending and epilogue to this story. 

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The Rescue - watched it on DISNEY+

Being the Ricardos

POSITIVES

  • Premise for this semi biopic is interesting. Captures a fascinatingly stressful week of filming an episode of "I Love Lucy," with a solid framing device that plays with that narrative. 

  • Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem were phenomenal in the roles of Lucy and Desi! They really brought them to life in this film and their chemistry together was just great. 

  • Supporting ensemble cast is excellent and adds so much to the story. Fantastic work by Nina Arianda, Alia Shawkat, J.K. Simmons, Tony Hale, and Jake Lacy. 

  • Banter and dialogue. Those back and forth conversations / arguments are just spectacular to listen to. Even the interview answers were excellent. Aaron Sorkin hasn't lost it yet. 

  • I expected there to be quite a bit of commentary on the many seriously relatable subject matters that this film covers, but what I was pleasantly surprised by was that there were actual comedy jokes in this, and that they were legitimately funny. 

NEGATIVES

  • Do they look like Lucy and Desi? For that matter Fred and Ethel Mertz? No, not really, and that might bother some. 

  • You can only do so much visually with a movie premise like this, so don't expect all the special effects or sweeping locales. 

  • Is this story juggling too many plot threads than absolutely necessary? Maybe. 

  • Dare I say that there were multiple sequences that were actually uninteresting and boring? I dare say. 

  • Probably a longer movie than it had to be. It’s about 2 hours long, and I honestly think they could have cut about 10-20 mins off it. 

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Being The Ricardos - watched it IN THEATERS

Red Rocket

POSITIVES

  • Has a good naturalistic feel to the narrative and the characters, with a somewhat slice-of-life story that is provocatively challenging, has some dark comedic plot points, and even gives you some fascinating insight into the porn industry. This movie takes you places. 

  • Simon Rex as the charmingly reprehensible Mikey Saber brings such an amazing energy to this film. He has great chemistry with the rest of the cast. He propels the whole plot forward whether in exciting or tense ways, that you just might get hooked into seeing where the story takes him. 

  • Suzanna Son as Strawberry absolutely lights up this movie! Fantastic performance! Awesome screen presence! Plus she sings really well too! If there’s one character that you will want to root for, it’s Strawberry. 

  • Being that the interest in this movie relies a lot on it’s cast, their conversations and their banter, I have to definitely give a shout out to Bree Elrod, Brenda Deiss, Ethan Darbone, Brittney Rodriguez, Judy Hill, and Shih-Ching Tsou, who were all great in this. 

  • The social and cultural commentary plus thematic lessons that the story has is very thought provoking, and makes the experience watching this worth it.

NEGATIVES

  • The main romantic premise is going to turn away some people. 

  • Sexual content is also another thing that might turn away some people. 

  • Almost all the characters aren’t exactly sympathetic which might also turn away some people. 

  • It can feel a bit aimless at times. 

  • That ending isn’t going to please everyone.

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

Red Rocket - watched it IN THEATERS

Licorice Pizza

POSITIVES

  • As an unconventional romance, and coming-of-age slice-of-life dramedy, set in the 1970s, this movie is like peeking into the lives of these unlikely pair of characters, and finding entertainment in watching what they do. 

  • With plot threads involving child actors, water beds, an aging actor that does stunts on motorbikes, an unhinged rich guy during a gas shortage, to politicians and politics, there are very many noteworthily fascinating scenes and set pieces that really goes places. This film is truly like no other. 

  • PT Anderson’s direction aside, this movie is worth checking out for the amazing work by Alana Haim as the not ashamed to speak her mind Alana Kane, and Cooper Hoffman as the charming hopeless romantic that is constantly hustling Gary Valentine. The chemistry that Haim and Hoffman have is simply fantastic. 

  • The dialogue. The banter. The insults. The writing in this is excellent! 

  • Has a free-wheeling go into random story beats type of narrative, with all the colorful characters that inhabit these stories, plus all the social commentaries and thematic lessons. This movie constantly makes all the attempts to keep your interest in wondering where the plot is going. For the most part, it truly succeeds at that. 

NEGATIVES

  • A romance involving an adult and an under-age teenage boy? Yikes! 

  • The “will they or won’t they” premise can get pretty frustrating to put up with. 

  • Blatantly intentional Japanese racism that’s played for laughs? WTF?! What’s worse is that if PTA took it out of the movie, it wouldn't have impacted the story at all! 

  • Has an unflattering look at show biz business types that is a little bit too on-the-nose in a rather cynical way. 

  • At a certain point it gets easy to ask “when is this over?” 

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Licorice Pizza - watched it IN THEATERS

Don't Look Up

POSITIVES

  • A biting satirical take on life, politics, media, social media, big corporations, pop culture, division, ignorance, people, and the future of the planet. In other words, a metaphorical look at the world today. 

  • Among this huge ensemble cast, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Jonah Hill, and Mark Rylance, were all excellent stand-outs. 

  • Several entertaining scenes, running jokes, and set pieces, all moving at a quick pace. It all leads to that ending, which I think is worth seeing. 

  • There are some awesome rants and outbursts to behold here. Also that bag over the head gag, that you’d think I’d get tired of, but no, let’s have more bags over heads! 

  • Thematically it does have a strong warning that we really should pay heed to. The tag line is that this is “based on truly possible events,” and I believe that. 

NEGATIVES

  • Simply put, you might not find the premise and characters humorous or entertaining at all. Your mileage may vary. 

  • How many cynical commentaries can you put up with? Because this movie is almost two and a half hours long of cynical commentaries. 

  • What’s going on Adam McKay? Are you trying to compete with Michael Bay? So many quick cuts and edits in this one, that you’d think this was ADHD the movie. You’ve got too many B-Rolls that you had to use or something? 

  • The plot seems so ridiculous that it borders on being outrageously unbelievable. I mean that’s an opinion you could very well have that can ruin your enjoyment of this movie. Assuming that’s how you feel about the story. 

  • Certain characters didn't really add to the story as much as I hoped they would, like Timothee Chalamet and Ariana Grande. Plus Himesh Patel was completely underused in this. 

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

Don't Look Up - watched it on NETFLIX

8-Bit Christmas

POSITIVES

  • If you’re looking for a kids Christmas movie that adults who were kids in the 1980s-1990s will also appreciate, has funny jokes, thematic lessons to teach, and it involves the love for video games, then this is the movie for you. 

  • It has a delightfully entertaining narrative that goes into wacky places, visits different genres and tropes, plus it has a charming framing device as well. 

  • Filled with several outrageous, over the top, weird, fun scenes, that isn’t afraid to get into some humorously bizarre flights of fantasy. 

  • Solid cast here that fills out the diverse character types with specific traits. Winslow Fegley, Che Tafari, Steve Zahn, Bellaluna Resnick, Brielle Rankins, Vraelyn Rankins, Max Malas, Cyrus Arnold, Sophia Reid-Gantzert, Neil Patrick Harris, and David Cross, were all fantastic in this.

  • Gotta love all those 1980s pop culture and video game references. 

NEGATIVES

  • It might get too out there and oddly weird for some people. 

  • There are plot details that can only be explained by them having “kid logic,” which is nonsense that you’ll just have to try and ignore. 

  • Those familiar tropes and cliches keeps this from being a completely fresh experience. 

  • May not have the conclusion to the story that you are looking for. 

  • There’s a scene involving vomit that might not sit well with you. 

lovedit ENJOYED IT likedititsokayitsmehitsterrible

8-Bit Christmas - watched it on HBO MAX

The Matrix Resurrections

POSITIVES

  • Who doesn’t love seeing Keanu Reeves and Carrie-Anne Moss as Neo and Trinity once again? Watching the continuing adventures in the Matrix is a huge incentive to see this movie, but c’mon, it’s really all about the return of Neo and Trinity for a lot of people. 

  • For the new characters in this one, Jessica Henwick is pretty awesome as Bugs. Want more of her, please! Neil Patrick Harris and Jonathan Groff are excellent in this too. 

  • There’s a lot going on with the narrative of this film, but I did enjoy how it further expands on the world building of this franchise, and the overall premise is still fascinating. 

  • Lots of interesting themes, commentaries, subtext, and general thought provoking ideas to chew on, because that’s what I truly love about The Matrix. 

  • Had fun seeing how this movie is so self-aware, and very meta. From subtle easter eggs, recreations of classic Matrix scenes, to full blown clips from the previous films. 

NEGATIVES

  • I dug the easter eggs, meta-ness, and reverence to the original movies, but it can get to the point where it started getting distracting and almost punny. 

  • My biggest disappointment with the movie is that the martial arts sequences and action beats absolutely do not hold a candle to the previous films. 

  • Others might be disappointed with the changes made to certain returning characters. 

  • Speaking of characters, I really felt like several of them could have had far more screen time than they were actually given. 

  • Somehow it felt like I just crammed a TV season into a 148 mins time frame. Made it feel like this was a story that should have just been told on the smaller screen; like on HBO MAX, and didn’t necessarily have to be made into a movie. 

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The Matrix Resurrections - watched it on HBO MAX

The King's Man

POSITIVES

  • Fan’s of the Kingsman franchise will find some things to like about this, like how this origin story is applied to the backdrop of World War I, and some of the world building mechanics like a specific network of spies. 

  • Ralph Fiennes is fantastic as expected playing the Duke of Oxford, but I’d like to give a specific shout-out to Rhys Ifans who looks like he is having just the most absolute fun hamming it up as Grigori Rasputin. 

  • There are some solid set pieces here, like the big Rasputin sequence, the war on the front lines, to the final action filled third act. 

  • Story wise, there are actually several plot surprises to keep you on your toes, but there is one particular surprise that I have to give them kudos for really catching me off guard. 

  • Gotta love the camera work in this film, from how it frames the action beats, to that sword-cam! 

NEGATIVES

  • For a movie that’s filled with so much visual spectacle and intriguing plot points, there’s this feeling of unremarkableness to the whole thing. 

  • I get that there’s a theme and a point to this story, but it’s seriously overshadowed by it’s constant need to focus so much on the plot mechanics. 

  • Many of the characters are just so disappointingly underwritten and are only there to serve the plot when convenient. 

  • Not necessarily criticizing Harris Dickinson specifically, but the character of Conrad is just kind of a boring uninspired protagonist, that I should have cared more for, but didn’t. 

  • Augh. Depiction of animal cruelty. Augh. 

loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible

The King's Man - watched it IN THEATERS