Rez Ball; A very typical sports film that separates itself from the rest on the basis that it stars Indigenous individuals & includes their culture & language as an element of their overcoming obstacles on their way to compete for a championship. Why can’t we have a Native spin on a tired trope?; B
Keepin' it Reel
Telling you about movies, and expecting you to do the same too.
10.05.2024
Rez Ball
9.29.2024
Never Cry Wolf
Never Cry Wolf; Amazing display of northern scenery, stunningly filmed & lovingly captured. Too bad it’s wrapped in silly scenarios of a protagonist who elicits little empathy or interest. His plight is self-made so whether he survives or thrives, we could care less. The animals are the true stars; C
9.22.2024
Transformers One
Transformers One; Surprisingly fun with some great vocal performances. Animation looked great and if you look past the sheer lunacy of this being an origin story (do Transformers grow up?), the jokes land well and the core story comes across with emotional resonance. More than meets the eye; B
9.07.2024
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice; Does an excellent job respecting the original while providing decent justification for revisiting the themes and circumstances all over again. The new blood meshes seamlessly and fits right in perfectly. Ortega is a draw unto herself, but O’Hara and Keaton are legendary; B+
9.02.2024
Lilo & Stitch
Lilo & Stitch; Surprisingly sweet tale of family comes out of a galactic science experiment gone wrong. The island setting and rocking soundtrack keeps the movie bouncing along, stopping for hi jinx that ends up hitting your heart as much as it attempts for humour. Leaves an impression on you; B
A Quiet Place: Day One
A Quiet Place: Day One; Doesn’t offer anything overly novel to the franchise, though the urban setting and characters are a fresh take worth exploring in this sequel. Satisfactorily provides thrills and narrow escapes from deathly predicaments alongside emotional moments from solid thespians; B
8.29.2024
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
X-Men Origins: Wolverine; Dangerously strays into “so bad, it’s good” territory that used to be a hallmark of goofy comic book movies pre-Batman. The cast deserves better than this schlocky, hammy approach to what is one of the more compelling Marvel characters. C’mon! He’s more than his claws!; C-
8.28.2024
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; There aren’t very many perfect films. This may very well be one of them. Gorgeously shot, capturing stunning vistas along with two ridiculously talented leads playing off each other with screen scorching charisma. Every minute is a cinematic masterpiece; A+
8.26.2024
Unfaithful
Unfaithful; Erotic thriller of a tryst gone off the rails, spiralling into the dissolving of a long married couple. Excellent performances and solid directing elevate the material above its unexplained motivations of the characters so that it becomes watchable and enticing despite its flaws; C+
8.22.2024
Petit Jésus
Petit Jésus; What has potential to be a clever, introspective family dramedy or a hilarious, farcical comedy of errors, or both, instead settles into benign, harmless trifle that neither produces any big laughs nor pulls on any serious heartstrings. Mildly funny, mildly moving, mostly boring; D
8.15.2024
The Hunger Games:The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; Better than expected, yet still suffers from trying to find sympathy in an irredeemable character. It’s neat to see earlier versions of the Games, with fun takes from new cast members. Still grossly centered around child slaughter for sport; B-
8.12.2024
X2
X2; Sequel knows key to X-Men success lies in Wolverine, and maintains focus on him and his backstory, while offering up some new mutants that explode off the screen. Some excellent set pieces and character combinations make for poignant dialogue exchanges filled w/allegory. Storm still sucks; B+
8.11.2024
X-Men
X-Men; Great start to the film series, giving us a sense of the characters and their motivations, while keeping the moral allegories intact and underlying throughout. Centres on Wolverine, which is understandable given he’s always been the most popular mutant and Jackman doesn’t disappoint; B+
8.02.2024
Slap Shot
7.28.2024
Jurassic World Dominion
Jurassic World Dominion; Return to form for the franchise, delivering a greatest hits of the typical thrills of dinosaur inflicted peril. Howard continues to be a drag on the series, while the rest are admirably recreating the guilty delight for what should be the final time. Suitable diversion; B-
7.27.2024
The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare
7.25.2024
Deadpool & Wolverine
Deadpool & Wolverine; Fan service in a good way, delivering all the expectations plus many surprises. The fights are gratuitous, the cheeky asides hilarious and the meta moments glorious. A bromance for the ages that strangely maintains superhero cliches it simultaneously subverts. Great pairing; A-
7.20.2024
The Holdovers
The Holdovers; Aesthetically breathing like a film made in the time it is set, from its production design, cinematography & pacing to its writing, acting & directing. The characters and their symbiotic interactions delight in their struggle for growth and self actualization. Solid holiday fare; A-
7.19.2024
Kung Fu Panda 4
7.18.2024
Drive-Away Dolls
Drive-Away Dolls; Salaciously subversive & bitingly satirical in a way only a Coen could craft. Cameos are fun but its leading ladies’ spirited performances that add heart amongst hilarity. Comic buffoonery, surprise gaffs, all in a rapturous road movie buddy film that plays & smashes tropes; B+
7.17.2024
A Haunting in Venice
A Haunting in Venice; Creepy use of classic Venice setting plus a game cast makes for a great mix of sleuth and spooks. Dutch angles aplenty and some wicked lenses add to the atmosphere while highlighting the haunting history and beauty of the surroundings. A touch of humour rounds it out nicely; B
7.12.2024
Descendents: The Rise of Red
Descendants: The Rise of Red; The played out concept can’t get off the ground despite what appears to be a decent new crop of talented & likeable AKs & VKs. Even the brief return of China Anne McClain as Uma isn’t enough to raise this up to the middle pack of Disney Channel level entertainment; C-
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F; With the synth soundtrack intact and the cast all back, the retro feel is fully realized, especially from the zillion car destruction opening. However, this one could stand on its own without the flashback and throwbacks, as Eddie and JoGo and Paige make for a fun trio; B
7.08.2024
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?; A marvel of hybrid live action and animation on its initial release, it still delights in the marrying of two worlds. The characters are fantastical and the cameos are delightful. Yet the core of the film, the murder mystery whodunnit, raises it above gimmick status; A-
7.05.2024
Despicable Me 4
Despicable Me 4; Comedic voice cast given little to do besides playing 2nd fiddle to slapstick shenanigans of minions, who still land laughs. Story shows how the studio doesn’t know what to do w/Gru anymore, while side characters are an even greater afterthought. A solid, safe summer diversion; C+
7.04.2024
The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion; A bit of Frighteners level scares that are creepy but balanced off for family fare through Murphy’s comic presence. Some fun scenes for parks fans plus some great practical effects and makeup for the ghouls. Stamp is a perfect casting choice to convey the concocted story; B-
7.01.2024
Ultraman: Rising
6.25.2024
I Saw the TV Glow
I Saw the TV Glow; Bizarre, off kilter allegory that will confuse and confound some, while speaking truth to others. Solid performances that don’t play to one note characters but rather nuanced complexity. A tale that uses the trappings of a past time to illustrate a very current feeling for some; B
6.21.2024
Inside Out 2
Inside Out 2; Presents a deeper story on account of its more fully realized and previously established roots, similar to the way Frozen 2 expanded into darker, more mature themes. Voice cast continues to blend beautifully while the depiction of abstract intangibles provides a gamut of emotions; A
6.16.2024
Love Lies Bleeding
Love Lies Bleeding; Time capsule of an 80s noir that feels like it was truly shot in that era and not just recreated. Leads play to the slummy lows the script provides with brave confidence. Raw, sexy, violent and sad with a bit of the bizarre to boot; B
6.13.2024
Godzilla Minus One
5.20.2024
5.17.2024
Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero
Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero; Nicely ping pongs btwn his real life family & behind the scenes moments & stage performances that reveal how each element relates/ties into songs’ content or themes. Nicely spotlights tour’s supporting team of artists while still focusing on the burgeoning musician; B+
5.10.2024
Bodies Bodies Bodies
Bodies Bodies Bodies; Enticing cast goes overboard in increasingly ridiculous ways which makes me wonder what was in those drugs they did. Playing werewolf at a party is interesting but the face slapping is a questionable choice. Mood & energy over actual intrigue & suspense. Ludicrous yet fun; B-
5.09.2024
Problemista
Problemista; A hilarious yet sad story that reflects and exposes the dichotomy of privilege by birth right versus the immigrant experience and all the injustices that entails. Swinton in a maddeningly Anna Wintour from literal hell turn, the sweetness of Torres counterbalances her wonderfully; A-
5.07.2024
Batman Begins
Batman Begins; An origin that leans heavily into the comics & the psychological aspects of the Batman mythos. Plays characters and world as if it were real, grounding it in what would most logically replicate the fiction in reality. Cleverly uses two rogues new to the films to serve Wayne’s story; A
5.05.2024
Argylle
Argylle; Give in to absurdity of this premise & enjoy the ride. Ignore the horrible casting of Howard & relish in Rockwell & rest of cast executing this work to a level Vaughn is envisioning. Hilarious, preposterous & fully in on the joke, by the time the skating happens, you’re either in or out; B
5.03.2024
The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage!
The SpongeBob Musical: Live on Stage; Apart from sheer joy in the lunatic absurd show/songs, this filmed Broadway musical is a let down, as cuts to great songs & moments are made to fit a runtime instead of highlighting the best bits fully. Poorly shot on a budget does not do justice to the show; B-
5.02.2024
Sherlock Jr.
Sherlock Jr.; Visionary, exploratory filmmaking w/romantic plot at its core, there’s something for everyone to enjoy & thrill at in this feature. From the brilliant dreamlike “entering the movies” conceit to high stakes parlour tricks that seem like magic, Keaton threads it all to amazing effect; A+
One Week
One Week; Filled w/physical stunts & sight gags galore, the dynamic between the two leads & the quickly established villain is exploited w/great comic effect. The genius of Keaton is all on display here early in his career, w/4th wall breaking and many more audience expectation smashing tricks; A+
4.24.2024
Aespa World Tour in Cinemas
Aespa World Tour in Cinemas; The allure of K-Pop lies in tight choreography paired w/driving beats & vocal gymnastics across slightly uniquely tailored personalities. Aespa is no exception, clearly fleshing out each individual performer through brief vignettes between bops. Well done, great fun; B+
4.21.2024
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver
Rebel Moon - Part Two: The Scargiver; Snyder knows how to visually construct worlds & stage elaborate action sequences. The attempts to make main characters likeable and more than just cool assassins is less successful. Undeniable artistry happening across departments in service to a tired story; B+
4.09.2024
Monkey Man
4.06.2024
The Great Mouse Detective
Cars 2
Cars 2; Setting the Cars characters in a James Bond/M:I spy genre is an inspired choice. Too bad Mater’s stupid schtick is the driving force of the film, as his annoying dumbness is infuriating to watch. Some good jokes, some great animation but the clueless guy mistaken for suave spy falls flat; C+
4.05.2024
An Extremely Goofy Movie
3.17.2024
The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar
The Rat Catcher
The Rat Catcher; The stylistic choice to keep the original short story narrative almost spoken word performed by a sparse talented cast, in what feels like an improv game played to wild perfection, comes across as insane genius. Pairing Dahl’s darker work w/Anderson’s aesthetic is fantastic; A-
3.16.2024
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom
Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom; This was truly bonkers, which seems to be the only way to make an Aquaman movie. Gotta love Mamoa going for it, knowing how goofy it all is on the page, and having a great time with the lamest character. It’s astounding we got two of these given how silly it is; C