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Watched on Tuesday May 27, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 26, 2025.

Watched on Saturday May 24, 2025.

Watched on Friday May 23, 2025.

Watched on Friday May 23, 2025.

Watched on Friday May 23, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday May 21, 2025.

Watched on Wednesday May 21, 2025.

Watched on Tuesday May 20, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 19, 2025.

Watched on Monday May 19, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 18, 2025.

Watched on Sunday May 18, 2025.

I Love You, Man is a comfort movie for me, simply put. I could watch it on repeat and it would never get old. And it probably actually is one of my most watched films ever. I recognize it’s not a perfect film, but it is to me. I can’t even tell you the amount of times I’ve used the many Paul Rudd-isms in this film in everyday life!

Upon a rewatch of this wonderful delight of a legacy sequel, I caught onto so many more little Easter gags and hidden clues throughout the film, which ways a real treat and made the second viewer just as fun as the first, despite knowing all the kills and when they are coming. Seriously, see this one big and loud and with a crowd!

I gotta hand it to the Philippou brothers, they know how compose a horror film coming only from a YouTube background and school of hard Knox and I really respect and appreciate them for that. Of course, coupled with the fact that they are two of the sweetest lads in the industry right now makes it hard not to love them. Unfortunately, I can’t let that sway my viewpoint or to be dishonest when I tell you that Bring Her Back didn’t really work for me.

I’m going to be a little short and vague as I dance around spoilers here, since this was an advanced screening, but I’ll be as candid as I can. I was a fan of Talk To Me, though I didn’t love it as much as everyone else, it seemed, and did find it to be a bit overhyped, it was a relatively fresh look on grief and with a fairly unique concept and some real horrifying and fun scares, I felt it was a real strong feature debut for the brothers.

Here, with Bring Her Back, they are once again exploring the topic of grief, which makes sense since the movies were filmed back to back, or simultaneously, I am led to understand from their discussion during the Q&A. So, okay, not exactly treading new water here, but exploring it from a different angle and style of horror. Fair, I’m still game. Unfortunately, Bring Her Back lands in the category of films where I far more appreciate the concept they were going for and the deeper meaning it represents than finished product and the execution of the film itself. 

Let’s start out with the positives. Sally Hawkins crushes it in this. She demands your attention in every scene and is really at the top of her game her. Brilliant work. The cast, as a whole, is quite good, especially newcomer Sora Wong being a clear standout who I hope gets some great recognition from this film. The direction is overall good and, much like Talk To Me the cinematography is a stand out, as well.

Most importantly, also like their freshman film, they have some really blood curtailing and unique horror moments, not jump scares, which is refreshing, that really aren’t afraid to go there. And those few moments, however brief, are standouts and proof that the brothers can be bold and push boundaries, or at least have that capability, despite it not being showcased throughout the entire film. It’s the biggest reason that I pushed my rating above average, but unfortunately not enough to save the movie as a whole, for me. 

What didn’t work for me is the plot and the script. There are too many confusion moments, loose ends and set ups that just simply don’t pay off. One of the brothers mentioned during the Q&A they “they spoke to a lot of cultists” in preparation for this film and “grabbed a little bit from each of them”, and that really shows and made a lot of sense to me in the way that there were a lot of elements that either didn’t make sense or didn’t come to fruition. 

Additionally, the film does drag a bit in the second act, where we’re like, come on already, get to the good part. And, by the way, as I say get to the good part, I should mention that we all know what the “good part” is because the other problem I had with the script was that it was quite predictable. I knew just about every direction it was about to go as I was viewing, which really took me out of the experience at certain moments. I was hoping to be more surprised by the choices, the same way I was in Talk To Me which, despite being a little more of a generic overall plot, had much more twists and turns that I wasn’t predicting throughout, from what I . 

Anyways, I’ll end on one more positive, I like the ending quite a bit. Minus the lack of questions answered and tying up of loose ends, but the literal ending represented on screen pleased me and, again, I live the concept of this Neverending cycle of grief, a circle, and exploring what that means and/or what that would be like. I just wish I liked the complete film as much as I did the concept behind it. Regardless, I do still believe it is worth the watch, hence my overall above average score. I didn’t dislike all of it, in fact the was quite a bit I did like, and I know of a lot of people who really liked it way more than I did, so as always, check it out for yourself and form your own opinion. No matter what, I will be first in line to see whatever the Philippou brothers put out next. 

Watched and advanced screening, sponsored by Beyond Fest, on the big screen at the glorious Aero Theater featuring a post screening Q&A with writers and directors Michael and Danny Philippou and stars Sora Wong, Billy Barratt and Jonah Wren Phillips, moderated by writer/director Fede Alvarez.

I am currently in the lobby of the movie theater. After using the bathroom, and I am seriously considering just leaving. I never do that. I am not sure if I’ve ever seen a more self masturbatory film in my entire movie-going life. 

EDIT: I stuck it out and am currently sitting in the theater as the credits roll checking Groupon for discounts on lobotomies. Pretty sure this film will go on to be considered legal torture in some countries. It’s so bad. It’s seriously making me go back and retroactively reconsider my star rating for Waves and It Comes at Night. I mean, Jesus, what were you thinking, Trey Edward Shults.

Jenna Ortega is innocent. Well, not really, cause she’s an executive producer. Shit. Well, one star for her anyways, as she’s the only reason I didn’t drown myself in my own popcorn bucket within the first 15 minutes of the film. Zero stars for the rest of the film. On second thought, fuck it, a half star for Jenna. Sorry girl, even you couldn’t save this “film”. And anyone who knows me and my love for Jenna knows that speaks volumes as to just how much I could not stand this sorry excuse for art. 

P. S. I resent the fact that I was force fed a Weeknd music video before the start of the film that felt like it dragged on for longer than the film itself.

Upon rewatching Office Space with my girlfriend, who did not like it, I realized that it doesn’t 100% hold up for me either. That being said, there are still some amazing bits in there, some that I have quoted my whole life since first watching the film as a teen in the early 2000s, but I realized a lot of my affection for this film (and possibly other’s, too) was largely nostalgia based. I mean, I still when my dad first showed me this film and it was in heavy rotation at my home throughout my whole young adult life.

Anyways, all I’m trying to say is that I still love it very much, but I certainly can objectively recognize how someone coming into it blind in the modern era wouldn’t find it quite as funny, without the history and emotional attachment to it that I, and many others, have for this film.

Cinematic Void screening of Delirium: Photo of Gioia. Despite being overall entertaining and including some silliness and crazy visuals, if you’ve seen the film then you know what I’m talking about, I couldn’t possibly bring myself to to give this Giallo anything higher than an average score. It dragged so much that even that soaked nightgown in the rain scene couldn’t save it.

I haven’t seen Big Fat Liar in I don’t even know how long. Maybe since middle school? Hard to say. But, my girlfriend was on the mood to rewatch it, so we did and, I gotta tell yeah, it’s still a lot of fun. Despite being a “kids” movie, and clearly some of the jokes and such are targeted that way, it is still quite funny and enjoyable as an adult, too. Paul Giamatti is as good as ever in this, and why wouldn’t he be, he’s the goat! Give the same energy and performance in a kids movie as he would in an Alexander Payne film. And, I completely forgot that Donald Faison was in this, which just goes to show how long it’s been.

RIP Norm!!! Showed Dirty Work to my girlfriend, who was really worried she wouldn’t like it, especially knowing how much norm means to me, but thankfully she really did like it quite a bit. That’s the power of Norm and this underrated gem. Never gets old for me. Thank goodness Vinegar Syndrome is putting this one out on 4K after all these years and giving it the proper release and attention it deserves! Can’t wait to watch the “dirtier cut”.

I am a big fan of Jillian Bell, I believe she is quite delightful and underrated. And, I quite liked her show Idiotsitter. So, when I found out she was finally given the chance to write and direct her own film,‘I was pretty excited. And, while Summer of 69 certainly has a paint by number plot overall, with a little more modern flair and diverse outlook, it still has enough character and personality to push it over average for me. 

Needless to say, I found it very cute and charming, the desired effect from a film like this. Chloe Fineman is doing her thing we’ve come to know her so well for on SNL, but the real star of the show here is Sam Morelos, who absolutely steals the show. I first discovered her in Netflix’s That 90s Show and felt she was delightful then, but she really shines her in a lot of ways and in what really is quite an understated performance. I’m glad someone gave Sam her moment in the sun, and who better than Jillian, really. Seems she has an eye for fresh talent as the whole cast did a great job. 

Overall, although this film will feel familiar to you, I think it’s hard to not appreciate its subtle qualities that make it stand out from the rest of the modern day rom coms. I could see this going up ever so slightly with a rewatch, but until then, I’ll say go check this one out and form your own opinion and that I very much look forward to whatever Jillian Bell does next.

Literally everything I would want in a Final Destination legacy sequel. Final Destination: Bloodlines easily could have been  cheap cash grab gimmick on a beloved franchise with a huge fanbase…basically a repeat of part four, but instead what we got is a carefully constructed story that really leaned into the comedy, and even drama, elements of the franchise, while still keeping the element we love most: the over the top, crazy unique kills. And boy oh boy, does this one have that in spades.

I seriously love the buzz this movie is getting and, let me assure you, it is not overhyped. The team behind this film, everything from the writing and directing to the casting, props, makeup, CGI, etc. is not only banging on all cylinders here, they are treating this franchise with the love, care and attention it deserves after such a long wait. Seemingly, they are fans themselves or, at the very least, know what the fans want and like about the franchise, weeded out all the rest and boom, you’re left with one of the most satisfying legacy sequels in history, or at least in recent memory.

Took half a star away because the family drama does bog down the story a wee bit at times and I feel that the movie could have even been slightly better with maybe ten minutes shaved off, so that it got to the kills quicker and was more of a tight 90, like the rest of the five films in the franchise. But, again, that is really just nitpicking this point. When a nearly 15 years later sequel of a horror franchise, of all things, is this well done, you can’t nitpick; you’re grateful and excuse the rest, which is truly how I feel about this one. Anyone who knows me or follows my Letterboxd knows how much this franchise means to me, one of my all time favorites, and I just can’t even express how relieved I was that they pulled this sequel off so well. 

Oh my god, and what a brilliant and emotional send off for Tony Todd! Sure, we lose a little bit of the ominous tone that his character had all throughout the franchise, but that’s called development, it comes with the aging of his character, just like the franchise and himself in real life. He’s sick and vulnerable now, both at the time of filming this and his character, so I feel it was not only appropriate, but extremely emotionally resonating. My whole theater clapped and I knew in that moment that I was surrounded by fans and good people. RIP Tony Todd. 

Watched an advanced screening at the Harmony Good Theater featuring a post screening Q&A with stars Brec Bassinger, Kaitlyn Santa Juana, Rya Kihlstedt and Anna Lore and producer (with the franchise all the way since the first film) Sheila Hanahan Taylor, moderated by Perri Nemiroff.

Rewatched Guns Akimbo with my girlfriend and, damn, I forgot what a last this film is. It’s got style written all over it. I saw some folks complaining about the quick edits and camera motion, but it really worked for this viewer. Slick with a capital “s” and so much personality. I mix between Shoot Em Up and Scott Pilgrim. Daniel is doing his crazy “please forget I’m Harry Potter” thing, and nailing it (pun intended). Samara is a total badass, as per usual. And a super fun cameo from Rhys Darby as a crazy homeless man. What more could you ask for?

Honestly, I’m so mixed on Clown in a Cornfield, it’s as if the first half of the film and the second half are almost two different movies. The first have is all set up and not only drags, but is dull and predictable. I was rolling my eyes in the theater like, oh geez, another teenage horror cash grab. But, then it picks up on the second half and although significantly better and even quite fun at certain moments, it is still quite formulaic and doesn’t fully work for me. 

That being said, I do feel its cheese factor is understood, and even purposeful, to a degree, which I can appreciate. I also have never read the book, but I do recognize that it’s based on a YA novel and that turning that into a soft R horror film is an attempt to bridge the gap and introduce teens to accessible horror at a younger age. So, huzzah for that and the film definitely receives its browny points in my book. 

All in all, I didn’t hate it, had fun with it at times, but also didn’t love it. Could see it maybe bumping up half a star to a three upon a rewatch, but for now, I’ll split the difference and keep it at a perfectly average score. A lot of people I know seem to really be loving this one, so maybe I’m the odd one out. Check it out and form your own opinion.

Rewatched Shiva Baby with my girlfriend, who had never seen it and, even though I’ve seen this film many times now, it hit differently as my first rewatch post-Bottoms. A really fun experience to analyze it in a new way and see the early inspirations of both writer/director Emma Seligman and Rachel Sennott as a creative duo and their inexplicable style that they crafted together that would go onto create Bottoms.

They Came Together has official moved from just one of my all time favorite comedies, to the category of full on comfort watch, for me. I have seen this film I don’t even know how many times now and it never gets old. I know people, including me, say that a lot, but I genuinely laugh so hard at all the same jokes in this movie that I have now seen dozens of times. And quote them often in my every day life. Anyways, long live the Wain/Showalter vehicles and hopefully more to come!

Watched Stripteaser, the writer’s cut, at Cinephile Video which, until tonight I didn’t even knew did screenings in their video store. A small intimate screening with writer of the film Duane Whitaker in person. It was great to see the film the way he originally intended, with both a deleted scene added back in and the original title Zipper’s Clown Palace showing up during the opening credits. Turns out, the announced beforehand, that it was a scan from the original laserdisc for the film, with the deleted scene added back in being from the DVD copy. Aside from that scene, which was noticeably lesser quality, the film looked really great!

Overall, this is your typical 90s sleaze; cheesy and mean spirited, but a whole lot of fun. Something I could easily see Vinegar Syndrome or Terror Vision putting out. Rick Dean certainly steals the show with a level of crazy and manic that Whitaker told us was just the way he was, no acting involved. Didn’t even realize that this was technically a Roger Corman produced movie, though he didn’t put his name on it, and that he was the one to change the film’s title to Stripteaser because, and I quote, “audiences would get it confused with the Demi Moore film and rent it on accident.”

Turns out, due to the singular scene of Ben Affleck playing with a lightsaber while on the phone with Jon Bernthal, this technically qualifies as a “Revenge of the Fifth” movie and I made the right decision purchasing a ticket and watching this film on today of all days.

Now this is a fun action movie! Fight or Flight is a hybrid between John Wick and Bullet Train, with a splash of Red Eye and The Raid thrown in for good measure. It is everything I want in an action movie: totally bonkers and over the top, but in a totally purposeful, tongue in cheek kind of way, great fight scenes, awesome kills and totally not afraid to go there. Josh Hartnett is having a blast, you can tell, and just chewing up the scenery throughout the entire film. Between this and Trap, he is certainly in his “I’m gonna do whatever the fuck I want” phase of his career and I’m here for it. See this movie on the big screen and with a crowd. Grab some popcorn, turn off your brain and enjoy the ride…er, um, I mean flight.

Untold is truly one of the worst horror movies I’ve ever seen. Sure, there is a bit of a language barrier, so there may be things in the plot or references I don’t full understand. That being said, I have watched many international films, especially international horror, and never struggled as much as I did with this one. It’s slow, boring, oddly paced, there are set ups that don’t pay off and random moments where something happens that they don’t even explain. Too much is left open ended and why the heck are they speaking perfect English for a few sentences in the middle of a scene for no reason. And what was with that Joe Biden joke?

My friend Zack fell asleep working the first 30 seconds, not even joking, and I dozed off a smidge, as well. I would steer clear of this one, if I were you.

Rewatched this masterpiece with my girlfriend, who had never seen it. Once is such a beautiful, slow paced story about two lost souls coming together and finding themselves through the glorious power of music. Much like all of John Carney’s amazing films. I just love this film so much. Another comfort watch for me.

Been on a Tenacious D kick recently, listening to them a lot in the car and such, so I figured it was time for a long overdue Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny rewatch, especially since my girlfriend had never seen it. So, we got totally blazed and popped in the Blu Ray and boy, what a treat! The amazing music, the amazing cameos, the amazing duo! This is exactly what my heart needed to complete this Saturday night!

Though many call A Straight Story the odd man out in David Lynch’s filmography, and in a lot of ways it certainly is, after leaning more about Lynch and his views on life since I first watched this film so many years ago, I can confidently say that this film is truly quintessential Lynch and belongs in his filmography just as much as any of his more out there, less narrative driven work. Such a beautiful and wholesome story and character. Completely forgot about the Harry Dean Stanton cameo at the end. Simply put: what a warm heated film that leaves you with a smile on your face as the credits roll. 

Watched an original 35mm print on the big screen at the beautiful Egyptian Theater.

I truly loved this film Tuesday, an A24 film that seemed to fly under everyone’s radar last year. You might think including mine, but neigh, I was very well aware of it, however unfortunately I was in Hawaii the week this film released in theaters (I know, wrong use of the word unfortunately) and it had such a short theatrical run that it was already out of must theaters by the time I got back home and had time to check it out. Unfortunately, it took me this long to see it on streaming and I wish it hadn’t taken so long, but I am so glad I finally got the chance to watch it. 

I won’t say too much, to avoid any spoilers on this one, but it is such a unique take and thorough understanding of death and grief that it left me with chills; and tears, too, of course. It is a truly beautiful piece of cinema that had such an emotional impact on me that I would argue it gave me a new perspective and understanding on death and grief. Don’t let this little indie gem slip by you, it is streaming now on Hulu and I urge you to please go check it out and spread the word.

Havoc is very fun, new action movie from master of that craft, Gareth Evans, of The Raid fame. It’s a fun movie, there’s no doubt, and despite certainly being much stronger than any of your mainstream action films these days, there’s still not much above the surface here. Many would argue that you don’t need that in an action flick and that it’s just a mindless popcorn move, which I could agree with for the most part. But, when you’ve already knocked it out of the park twice, and then Netflix gives you a bunch of money and a name lead to do it again, it just starts to feel a little repetitive and one note, at least for this viewer. Still, I had fun with it overall, not saying I didn’t enjoy it, it just didn’t blow me away (pun intended).

Watched the 20th Anniversary screening on The 40 Year Old Virgin on the big screen at the Academy Museum, David Geffen Theater featuring an amazing post screening Q&A with stars Steve Carrell, Catherine Keener, Kat Dennings, Jane Lynch and Gerry Bednob, moderated by writer/director/producer Judd Apatow. 

Though this film may not 100% hold up after all these years, and some of the jokes are definitely outdated and even offensive, other jokes still hit very strong and, overall, this was a super fun rewatch after probably nearly a decade since the last time I saw it. And the Q&A was a total blast. Nothing beats the ending of this film for me. It’s an all timer.

Certainly, Thunderbolts* is one of the best Marvel movies since Avengers: Endgame, which I know a lot of folks are saying, but then again, that’s not really saying much with the offerings we have been given by the MCU lately. And, by lately, I mean the last couple years, not just months. Both Florence Pugh (who I am convinced can do no wrong) and David Harbour are absolute standouts in this one and steal the show in any scene they are in. 

That being said, which I think really makes this one work well, though not to the level of that early MCU fair that fans like myself are craving, are two distinct things. 1. A hodge podge assortment of misfits that don’t necessarily get along but are forced to. Marvel is often times at its best when pairing characters that you wouldn’t think of together and just letting those situations play out as they learn to work with each other and get along. Think the first Avengers movies, when they weren’t all buds yet, or especially think more along the lines of Guardians of the Galaxy. 

2. An actual decent villain for a change, certainly the best one since Endgame, in my opinion. Not only is there plenty of allegory laid on for depression and self loathing and not giving up on yourself, something we can all relate to, but he is also a fully developed character with complex emotions and such. Not simply bad guy cannon fodder to keep the plot moving along. I mean, so much so that it is even hard to call him the “villain” per say, because the idea is so much more complex than that, but for lack of a better term and to avoid spoilers, we’ll stick with that. 

It’s possible I may have been slightly too generous with my score and this is something more like a three and a half, but I suppose I was just really excited to see a decent, neigh good, Marvel movie in theaters again!

Overall, I appreciate the unique voice and attempt they were going for with A Desert more than the actual execution. The style is there, the indie spirit, the cinematography is gorgeous, yet they just didn’t really stick the landing, in my opinion. There’s not too much of a plot to grasp onto there, and what plot it does have feels quite dull and generic, but it really starts to drag in the second act until picking up again for the finale that, not only feels a bit anticlimactic and rushed, but doesn’t really answer any of the questions it set up. 

As I always say, making a film is hard, so bravo to all involved, especially Sarah Lind, whom I’ve always adored her work. I will certainly be watching whatever this writer/director does next because I love ing indie filmmaking but, more importantly, I see the seed of something here that I know could be more, even if this particular film didn’t fully work for me. 

Watched on the big screen at the Los Feliz theater featuring a post screening Q&A with writer/director Joshua Erkman and stars Kai Lennox and Sarah Lind.

The Surfer was one of my more anticipated films of the year, not just because I love Nicolas Cage and it looked like a crazy, Cage led modern take on Wake in Fright, but because I am also a big fan of director Lorcan Finnegan, with Vivarium being a standout and a misunderstood and underrated gem, in my opinion. So, I was excited what the team up between this mind and a Cage performance would look like and I was absolutely thrilled with the results. 

We get the Cage performance we all crave, very serious and well acted, with just a splash of crazy and over the top when needed in all the right spots. The direction is great and the unique style of lens choices and close ups, combines with the edit and quick cuts, makes for a really unique viewing experience that essentially helps put you in the deletions mindset of our protagonist. The acting is absolutely terrific across the board and the setting and cinematography are absolutely gorgeous. 

But, what is really a standout here is the script. I loved it. The plot, the pacing, the subtext; it feels refreshing, yet familiar at the same time. There was a moment, toward the end, then I thought the film was going to end one way and I was about to be very disappointed, but then it surprised me and came full circle with its actual ending and what was once fear that a great film was going to be ruined by a subpar ending, turned to immense glee that made the film even better. I knocked off half a star because there is a little part in the second act where it starts to drag and feel a wee bit repetitive, so it’s not perfect, but that’s also nitpicking a bit. 

Overall, I really loved this film a lot and would highly recommend everyone check it out and indie filmmaking. A strong addition to the Nic Cage renaissance, without a doubt. Watched an advanced screening on the big screen at AMC the Grove featuring a pre-screening and post-screening Q&A with star Nicolas Cage and director Lorcan Finnegan.

“The only true currency in this bankrupt world is what you share with someone else when you're uncool.
“

Idiocracy is not only a comedy that holds up, but a comedy that quite possibly gets better with age. A rare feat, indeed. One of my all time favorites and when I found out New Bev was doing a night screening in original 35mm and that my girlfriend hadn’t seen it yet, well you can fill in the rest, it was a no brainer.

Yet another rewatch of this masterpiece, this time on the big screen at Vidiots with a rare appearance and post-screening Q&A with none other than Lilly Wachowski. Such a great film and truly wonderful to hear Lilly talk about the making of it all these years later and see how much she was truly emotionally affected by the genuine love in the room and impact that Bound has now had on so many people.

Sebastián Silva is an extremely unique filmmaker. Not only does he never make the same film twice, but his work is always injected with a very unique style and personal voice in everything he touches. His newest film, Rotting in the Sun is no exception. It may be a little all over the place and drag a bit at times, but it is still layered with subtext and fully in that Silva style that fans of his have come to know and love. Plus, I love how much it is infused with philosophy, especially the works of E. M. Cioran, my personal favorite philosopher, and Sebastián’s too, as it turns out. 

Watched on the big screen at the Los Feliz theater featuring a post screening Q&A with writer/director/producer/star Sebastián Silva.

I had such a blast with Until Dawn. It’s not perfect, but it’s a huge love letter to the horror genre that I just ate up. As a fan of the game it is based on, I was quite excited for this one since it was first announced and I am happy to say that I did not leave disappointed. Do I wish they would have pushed it a little further? Sure. Is this the rare instance where I feel as though the film could have been slightly longer, considering it’s based on a game that has a lot more going on than the film ultimately does, yes. 

All that being said, it still brought a huge smile to my face as a fan of the game and a fan of horror as a whole. It covers so many subgenres with grace and humility, poking fun at tropes and such while also giving us genuine fun and scares. It’s, once again, the type of movie that is absolutely best seen on the big screen and with a big crowd; really adds to the experience. But, don’t let that stop you, if you miss it in theaters, check it out when it hits streaming and physical media because this one deserves to be seen and deserves your attention and world of mouth.

Another Simple Favor felt very much like a TV movie to me, in both a good and bad way. By that I mean, I am the type of viewer that enjoys some 90’s made for TV cheesy, soap opera-y slosh. So, to its benefit, it scratched that itch. However, it leaned to much into modern made-for-tv feeling, which are just cash grabs for stay at home moms that are about the most predictable plots and generic storytelling on the market, which is also how this one felt, too, sadly. 

Blake Lively can take a long walk off a short pier from the little bit I’ve looked into with the drama surrounding that other actor guy, she seems like a real bad egg, but Anna Kendrick can do no wrong in my book and she’s really giving it her all here, despite the source material. She’s definitely the best part about the film, in my opinion, without a doubt. 

Additionally, I am a Paul Feig loyalist; I’ll forever happily watch any movie his name is attached to. One of the nicest and most genuine guys in Hollywood. Therefore, I was bound to watch this regardless! All that being said, the direction here, by Paul, is good. He really makes it feel more grand scale than the budget, despite this being an Amazon film, and also really makes use of the beautiful Italian locations they are shooting in. 

So, all in all, the script is to blame for this one, in my opinion; and Blake Lively, of course. Still, it’s an above average score for me and worth a watch, just don’t expect it to be anything to phone home about. Not nearly as good as the first one, which I still didn’t love, but thoroughly enjoyed. However, when are the sequels as good of better than the originals? Very rarely. Austin Powers maybe?

Watched an advanced screening on the big screen at the Culver Theater featuring a post screening Q&A with Mr. Paul Feig himself.

The Amateur is a fairly run of the mill revenge flick. Hits all the same beats, nothing too surprising whatsoever. Rami Malek does alright as the lead, though I do feel he is a rather one note actor, however when he gets a role where that note works, he crushes it. Not sure if this was one of them, though, to be honest. I can’t help but love a good revenge flick, however, regardless of how cliche and formulaic they all may be. There’s just something about an exhibitionist prick, or group of them, getting their just desserts that fills me with glee. I suppose that’s the desired emotion they are attempting to elicit, so it works on me.

Still, that being said, that can only bump this up to an average rating for me. If it wasn’t that strong desire for payback, then this one would be below average.

The Legend of Ochi is the kind of weird and out there movie that I love to see and A24 getting back on track a little bit, in my opinion, from recent duds such as Death of a Unicorn, The Front Room and Opus. This film has:

Not enough Ochi. 
Too much Finn Wolfhard
The perfect amount of Willem Dafoe. 

Four stars.

Probably haven’t seen Carlito’s Way since high school, so this rewatch on the big screen in original 35mm was almost like a first time watch for me, because I ed almost nothing! And it was a real treat for me. 

I’m not a huge fan of mob/gansta movies, it’s one of my least favorite genres personally, hence why I am not as obsessed with some of the all time classics that people rave over, such as The Godfather, Goodfellas and The Departed. But, this one really worked for me. It had the tense mob, being in way too deep angle, especially the crazy ending, but it wasn’t only about that. It also was about retribution, regret, change, trying to make up for your past. And the love angle was quite beautiful, especially that crazy ending. Yes, I said that twice, because even though I saw it coming (it’s a classic Greek tragedy ending) it still hurts all the same. 

The cast is great! I love Al Pacino more and more every time I watch him, especially his older stuff that I have never seen or haven’t seen in a very long time. Sean Penn, Penelope Ann Miller, a young Viggo Mortensen, Louie Guzman and introducing John Leguizamo. On top of that, you got two great talents behind the camera, as well. Writer David Koepp, with perhaps his best script of his career, and director Brian De Palma, who is a mad genius and Pacino, himself, confirmed that De Palma often stated this was his favorite of his films. 

Watched in the big screen at the gorgeous Aero Theater featuring a post screening Q&A with the one and only, Mr. Al Pacino.

Well well well, the time has arrived. Sinners. Is the hype real? Or, is it just that…hype. I believe that, yes, the hype is real, yet it is slightly overhyped in my opinion, as well. Allow me to explain. 

The overhype, in my opinion, comes from the onslaught of five out of five masterpiece rankings I have been seeing during opening weekend of this film. I don’t fully disagree with them, as you can see,’I have it a very high rating as well, I just don’t believe it is actually a five out of five film, in my opinion, nor a masterpiece. An epic, well crafted piece of cinema, absolutely yes, but not quite a masterpiece. And, I do believe this levels of overhype, thought I am thrilled people are loving the film and word of mouth is getting more people to come out to the theaters, may cause some folks to go in with high expectations and/or preconceived notions. 

The cinematography is a ten out of ten, no doubt about it. Especially if you have the privilege of being able to see the film in authentic 70mm IMAX like I did, though standard 70mm would be the next best thing. The score is an 11 out of 10, absolutely unbelievable and definitely one of the best scores I’ve heard in the last decade. As well as the music within the film; I truly loved the musical aspect of this film in all of its encoming ways. The acting is also stellar across the board. Almost surely the best performance of Michael B. Jordan’s career, a performance so nice, we needed to see him twice, and great ing roles, as well, especially that of the great Delroy Lindo, whom it was an absolute delight to see on the big screen again. 

So, why the four and a half stars? What am I, personally, deducting half a star for? Why was it not a perfect masterpiece for me? Simply put, the script. Not to say that the script is bad, absolutely not. On many ways it is a fantastic script, however it is something we have all seen before. Many folks have been comparing it to From Dusk Till Dawn already, which is accurate, though that film pales in comparison, as Sinners exceeds it on every level, both technically and storywise, as Sinners holds much more subtext with its vampire theme. To be fair, FDTD is purposefully a lot more fun and silly and wasn’t trying to be anything like Sinners, and therefore is hard to truly compare them anyways, aside from basic plot and story beats. 

I’m rambling, the point is that it is a pretty generic Vampire storyline, hitting all the exact beats you would expect, after a prolonged build-up, and not exactly offering anything new to the mythology or storytelling. Is that a bad thing? Not necessarily. Does it make the film any less phenomenal and downright fun? No. Are the people who adore it and gave it five stars wrong? No, art is subjective. All I’m trying to say is, for me, a five out of five film means every department is banging on all cylinders, which Sinners has in spades, and the story is something fresh and unique that I haven’t personally seen before. That’s all and that’s where the half star deduction comes in. 

Sorry for over explaining. I am realizing this as I reread what I wrote, but I felt it necessary to break it down as much as I did so that I wouldn’t get any haters coming at me in the comments for not giving it a full five out of five stars. Because folks have been vicious and very opinionated on this one on social media over the last week. And, I’ll probably still get haters in the comments, despite breaking it down as much as I did. Or, no one will care or even ever read this, which is probably more likely. Regardless, I took too much time to type all this out, so I’m not deleting it now. In summary, Sinners is, indeed, a phenomenal film that deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible with the largest audience possible. Go do it now instead of reading my ramblings here.

My personal ranking of all the films I watched that were released in the year 2025.

1. Sorry, Baby
2. Omaha
3. Sinners
4. Friendship
5. The Surfer
6. The Monkey
7. On Becoming a Guinea Fowl
8. Final Destination Bloodlines
9. Middletown
10. Grand Theft Hamlet

...plus 88 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A ranking of all films by writer/director Wes Anderson…

• The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou
• The Royal Tenenbaums
• Fantastic Mr. Fox
• The Grand Budapest Hotel
• Rushmore
• Asteroid City
• The Darjeeling Limited
• The Phoenician Scheme
• Moonrise Kingdom
• Bottle Rocket

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of all the films I watched that were released in the year 2024.

1. Anora
2. I Saw the TV Glow
3. The Substance
4. Hundreds of Beavers
5. Look Back
6. The Brutalist
7. Love Me
8. Robot Dreams
9. Heretic
10. Kinds of Kindness

...plus 345 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of every film ever released by A24. 

Films I haven’t seen yet begin at 107 in alphabetical order and I will gradually work my way through them.

My first 20 is pretty firm and locked in, after that, it’s a little more loosey goosey, especially since I haven’t seen many of them in a longer period of time. So, don’t judge, or if you do, be gentle.

1. Everything Everywhere All at Once
2. Aftersun
3. Past Lives
4. First Reformed
5. I Saw the TV Glow
6. High Life
7. The Lighthouse
8. Eighth Grade
9. Heretic
10. The Farewell

...plus 141 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A ranking of the best films of 2023 according to me…

• Past Lives
• Poor Things
• Perfect Days
• Dream Scenario
• The Holdovers
• Beau Is Afraid
• The Zone of Interest
• Oppenheimer
• The Killer
• American Fiction

...plus 313 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of Bing Joon Ho’s films…

• Memories of Murder
• Parasite
• The Host
• Snowpiercer
• Mother
• Barking Dogs Never Bite
• Okja
• Tokyo!
• Mickey 17

My personal, key word personal, list of my top 100 films of all time. (This will be a work in progress)

• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Punch-Drunk Love
• Synecdoche, New York
• Barton Fink
• Bo Burnham: Inside
• mother!
• Columbus
• Aftersun

...plus 66 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A personal ranking from best to worst of the films I saw at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

• Hal & Harper
• Sorry, Baby
• Omaha
• OBEX
• Zodiac Killer Project
• The Virgin of the Quarry Lake
• Bubble & Squeak
• Bunnylovr
• By Design
• LUZ

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

RIP to the king.

• Inland Empire
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
• The Straight Story
• Twin Peaks
• Wild at Heart
• Lost Highway
• Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
• Mulholland Drive
• The Elephant Man
• Blue Velvet

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of all of the films that *I* watched at the 12th Annual Beyond Fest Film Festival…

• Anora
• The Brutalist
• Godzilla Minus One
• Daniela Forever
• The Fall
• Speed
• Ed Wood
• Saw
• The Texas Chain Saw Massacre
• Escape from the 21st Century

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of John Waters’ films…

• Pink Flamingos
• Polyester
• Cecil B. Demented
• Cry-Baby
• Multiple Maniacs
• Hairspray
• Female Trouble
• Mondo Trasho
• Desperate Living
• Serial Mom

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of Tim Burton’s films…

• Big Fish
• Mars Attacks!
• Ed Wood
• Beetlejuice
• Pee-wee's Big Adventure
• Edward Scissorhands
• Batman
• Batman Returns
• Frankenweenie
• Sleepy Hollow

...plus 9 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of Quentin Tarantino’s films…

• Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair
• Kill Bill: Vol. 1
• Kill Bill: Vol. 2
• Inglourious Basterds
• Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood
• Pulp Fiction
• Jackie Brown
• Django Unchained
• Reservoir Dogs
• The Hateful Eight

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My ranking of all of the wonderful films I watched during the third annual Bleak Week film festival.

• Synecdoche, New York
• I'm Thinking of Ending Things
• Anomalisa
• Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
• World of Tomorrow
• World of Tomorrow Episode Two: The Burden of Other People's Thoughts
• World of Tomorrow Episode Three: The Absent Destinations of David Prime
• You Were Never Really Here
• Manchester by the Sea
• Happy Together

...plus 6 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of films written by Charlie Kaufman…

• Synecdoche, New York
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
• I'm Thinking of Ending Things
• Adaptation.
• Being John Malkovich
• Anomalisa
• Confessions of a Dangerous Mind
• Human Nature

A personal ranking from best to worst of the films I saw at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival.

• Love Me
• Dìdi (弟弟)
• A Real Pain
• In the Summers
• Daughters
• Kneecap
• Between the Temples
• Handling the Undead
• Ponyboi
• Little Death

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of all of the films in the Saw franchise…

• Saw
• Saw II
• Saw V
• Saw X
• Saw VI
• Saw III
• Saw IV
• Jigsaw
• Saw 3D
• Spiral: From the Book of Saw

My personal ranking of all of the MCU (not just Marvel) films thus far.

• The Avengers
• Avengers: Infinity War
• Avengers: Endgame
• Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
• Spider-Man: No Way Home
• Thor: Ragnarok
• Iron Man
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier
• Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Guardians of the Galaxy

...plus 22 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A ranking of all films by writer/director Christopher Nolan…

• Inception
• Interstellar
• Oppenheimer
• The Dark Knight
• The Prestige
• Memento
• Batman Begins
• Insomnia
• Following
• The Dark Knight Rises

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of all films directed by Stanley Kubrick.

• Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb
• The Shining
• A Clockwork Orange
• 2001: A Space Odyssey
• Eyes Wide Shut
• Barry Lyndon
• Full Metal Jacket
• Paths of Glory
• Lolita
• The Killing

...plus 1 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

These are my top 22 honorable mention films that released during the year 2022.

• The Eternal Daughter
• Women Talking
• Pleasure
• Moonage Daydream
• Funny Pages
• Pearl
• Deadstream
• Barbarian
• Something in the Dirt
• Bodies Bodies Bodies

...plus 12 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

These are my favorite 22 films that released during the year of 2022.

• Everything Everywhere All at Once
• Weird: The Al Yankovic Story
• Aftersun
• The Banshees of Inisherin
• The Whale
• Bones and All
• BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
• Babylon
• TÁR
• The Menu

...plus 12 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of all films directed by the great Darren Aronofsky.

• mother!
• Requiem for a Dream
• Black Swan
• Pi
• The Whale
• The Wrestler
• The Fountain
• Noah

My personal ranking of films directed by the great Guillermo Del Toro.

• Pan's Labyrinth
• Crimson Peak
• The Shape of Water
• The Devil's Backbone
• Cronos
• Nightmare Alley
• Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio
• Hellboy
• Hellboy II: The Golden Army
• Pacific Rim

...plus 2 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of films directed by Robert Rodriguez.

• Desperado
• From Dusk Till Dawn
• El Mariachi
• Sin City
• Once Upon a Time in Mexico
• Machete
• Machete Kills
• Planet Terror
• The Faculty
• Spy Kids

...plus 10 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A ranking of all films by writer/director Kevin Smith…

• Clerks
• Dogma
• Chasing Amy
• Red State
• Mallrats
• Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back
• Zack and Miri Make a Porno
• Clerks II
• Tusk
• Yoga Hosers

...plus 4 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A ranking of all films by writer/director Noah Baumbach…

• The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected)
• Marriage Story
• s Ha
• The Squid and the Whale
• Greenberg
• White Noise
• De Palma
• Kicking and Screaming
• While We're Young
• Margot at the Wedding

...plus 3 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

A ranking of all of comedian Bo Burnham’s comedy specials…

• Bo Burnham: Inside
• Bo Burnham: What.
• Bo Burnham: The Inside Outtakes
• Bo Burnham: Make Happy
• Bo Burnham: Words, Words, Words

My personal ranking of all of the Coen Brother’s films…

• Barton Fink
• The Big Lebowski
• Fargo
• No Country for Old Men
• O Brother, Where Art Thou?
• Blood Simple
• The Man Who Wasn't There
• Miller's Crossing
• Burn After Reading
• Raising Arizona

...plus 8 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.

My personal ranking of Edgar Wright’s films…

• Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
• Shaun of the Dead
• The World's End
• Hot Fuzz
• Baby Driver
• Last Night in Soho
• The Sparks Brothers

My personal ranking of all of Paul Thomas Anderson’s films…

• Punch-Drunk Love
• There Will Be Blood
• Magnolia
• Boogie Nights
• The Master
• Phantom Thread
• Licorice Pizza
• Inherent Vice
• Hard Eight

My personal ranking of the, now, six films in the Scream franchise.

• Scream
• Scream 3
• Scream 4
• Scream 2
• Scream VI
• Scream

• The Autopsy
• The Viewing
• The Murmuring
• The Outside
• Pickman's Model
• Graveyard Rats
• Dreams in the Witch House
• Lot 36

My favorite films of 2022 (so far) from favorite to least favorite.

• Everything Everywhere All at Once

My favorite films of 2021 (so far) in order of favorite to lesser favorite!

• Bo Burnham: Inside
• Nine Days
• C'mon C'mon
• Don't Look Up
• Pig
• Drive My Car
• The Worst Person in the World
• Titane
• Mass
• tick, tick... BOOM!

...plus 185 more. View the full list on Letterboxd.