They Cloned Tyrone

They Cloned Tyrone; Far out performances by the three leads elevate a blaxploitation style concept straight out of Undercover Brother that’s played for chills as much as laughs. The tone shifting works for the most part, w/wickedly delivered dialogue shot in a compelling way; B

Spider-Man: No Way Home

Spider-Man: No Way Home; Much more emotional than action packed, the theme of making the most out of second chances is well played out by the entire cast. Mirror verse imagery and multiverse possibilities make for some fun dynamics. Final credits are super cool too; A

Soul

Soul; If 2D/3D art expresses our interpretation of life, then Pixar is the filmic height of artistic representation. Taking abstract elements & weaving a narrative to explore them is a feat unto itself. A solid voice cast + music makes this mediation on life a simple pleasure; A

Baby Driver

Baby Driver; Original high octane heist based love story uses its cast to great effect. Action is kinetic, romance sweet & unpredictable; B+

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

The Amazing Spider-Man 2; Overstuffed, often teetering btwn Burton Batman/Batman & Robin territory. Emotional heft & good acting overcome; B

Rio 2

Rio 2; Same strengths as Rio; SAmer rooted music & animation yet lacks any semblance of story. Feels like 5 min. set pieces sewn 2gether; C+

Django Unchained

Django Unchained; Waltz's scene chewing is a treat to watch but film is over long and not as fun to watch as Tarantino's other work; B+