The Matrix Resurrections

The Matrix Resurrections; Pointless return to a franchise that truly could have stopped after one. The ideas always seem to be interesting until they are actually played out to little effect. Nothing visually groundbreaking or particularly memorable. A waste of effort from all; C
 

Willy's Wonderland

Willy’s Wonderland; Exactly what you expect it to be: a nightmare Chuck E. Cheese of animatronics gone wild requiring a mute janitor drifter Pinball Wizard with power up pops to clean house. Silly, with enough mechanical oil gore and splatter to satisfy; B-
 

The Adam Project

The Adam Project; Time travelling sci-fi can often get messy w/plotting and logic, so Reynolds’ ability to weave comedy, action & drama keeps it entertaining while the film struggles to connect the dots. Cast and budget make it well worth the watch but it lacks lasting effect; B

Everything Everywhere All At Once

Everything Everywhere All At Once; This movie is everything. Everything film was made for in order to convey the totality of the human experience. Imaginative, thrilling, hilarious, inventive. A family drama kung fu multiverse comedy with a Michel Gondry visual style. Epic; A+

Palm Springs

Palm Springs; Groundhog Day premise taken in a different direction with a duo, hits all the right notes in exploring existential reflection, love, absurdity, regret, and acceptance. Succeeds in that Lonely Island way of goofy hilarity grounded in highly executed craftsmanship; A-

Run Woman Run

Run Woman Run; Bias aside, this enjoyable film shines a light on the not so simple struggles we encounter and how hard it can be to love ourselves so we can be there for others. Stellar shots of Six Nations show a love of community, language, history and family; A

Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Sonic the Hedgehog 2; Knows how to have fun with CGI characters and over the top villains. Apart from a weird side story involving a Bridezilla and FBI agents, when focused on Sonic and friends and Carrey’s robot dreams the film offers thrills and chuckles aplenty; B-

The Bubble

The Bubble; Some exceptionally enjoyable & hilarious actors, along with some Apatows, make a silly thing about a silly time when we were in early stages of Covid-19 protocols. Mocks actors for their faux hardships while being partially reflective of what we all went through; B-

The Batman

The Batman; Best Batman story yet, true to the characters & detective work of a Year Two era caped crusader. Moody, atmospheric, more wholly real than ever, plausibly mirroring the corrupt, unhinged, destructive forces in our past & present, makes us wish for our own Batman; A-
 

Death on the Nile

Death on the Nile; Exquisite production design and spectacularly filmed gorgeous locations and people can’t rescue the time it takes for this mystery to start to intrigue. Sure, a novel can take its time to unravel but the way this story is told makes it DOA despite it all; C
 

Pink Skies Ahead

Pink Skies Ahead; The charm of Barden propels this study of anxiety that is equally parts funny and distressing, earning each of those tones by way of a cast adept at playing both. The cloud of anxiety that floats over every moment is a realistic portrait of true anxiety; A-

The Scent of Green Papaya

The Scent of Green Papaya; A film so uneventful yet still mesmerizing in its examination of finding beauty in servitude & sensuality through sights, sounds and cinematography. The voyeuristic camera peeks into and peels back layers of longing and pining for love over a decade; B+

Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u

Olivia Rodrigo: driving home 2 u; A rearrangement of her album Sour, with gorgeous scenery of the western U.S. states, gives us more insight into the artist while seemingly not offering behind the scenes moments that go deep enough. The musical performances are stellar; B+

Turning Red

Turning Red; A metaphor of a specific, lived experience resonates universally in that special, Pixar way. Images of Toronto are so fun to see, notably the stadium forever known as SkyDome along with cityscapes, populated by characters fun and familiar. Catchy tunes by 4town: B+

West Side Story

West Side Story; Reimagining does a great job of refreshing elements while staying true to what makes the original an undeniable classic. Songs, choreography and score remain the highlights as new cast works well within the old parameters. Doesn’t detract from its predecessor; A-

A Hero

A Hero; Complex morality play intrigues intellectually & thematically while being aesthetically uninteresting. The way truth & honour are twisted & manipulated is reflective of our times, while seeming like a timeless tale. Not visually enthralling but pensively captivating; B+

Sorry To Bother You

Sorry to Bother You; Social commentary by way of creepy comedy that busts conventions in shocking ways. It’s a capitalist critique for our times with some cutting barbs while being equally entertaining on account of a great cast; A-

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

Ghostbusters: Afterlife; Better when spooky than comedic, w/its teenage quartet in place of 4 men/women. Dynamic works well, but 3rd act seems stitched together w/much left on cutting room floor. Grace & Rudd are especially enjoyable, fresh aspects fare better than nostalgia; B

Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke; Slow moving homoerotic existential Christ parable speaks to the mixed bag this film is. Talent involved is undeniable but for every stylish shot & superbly subtle performance there’s a heavy handed oddly framed head scratcher. Would rather read than watch this; C+

The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski; Cult films always seem to mean more to devout followers than the average film viewer. Coens’ insane cadre of characters make for a fun diversion but it’s not nearly as hilarious or profound as many proclaim. Some great laughs and inexplicable performances; B