Spring 2021 Viewings

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: As a big fan of Dario Argento and the original film, I was eager to see what this remake had in store. Right off the bat I was really impressed with how they nailed the aesthetics, if I had turned this on randomly I would have thought I was watching a 70s giallo. But in the end it was all just shock value served up as pretentious art. The characters were not likeable or even fleshed out well enough. Too much ambiguity and while it was kind of cool to look at, the ending had no real payoff to the 2 hour commitment.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I decided to give this movie a try because I've always been a big fan of these type of movies. The movie has a nice intro and buildup and I really like Kristin Stewart in this role (despite not really caring for anything else she's done). She made me think of Ellen Ripley in Aliens 3, the military crew cut, the combination of strength and emotion. But it ultimately tows the line between The Abyss and Leviathan and as much as I want it to be more like The Abyss, it ends up falling on the side of Leviathan. A predictable B-movie sci-fi adventure thriller. I wanted to give it only 5 stars, but Stewart's commitment and the solid production make it an enjoyable watch.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Not entirely sure why I decided to watch this the other night, as I'm not really into movies like this (maybe if I was a 13 year old my eyes would be glued to the screen!). What Italian horror did for blood and scares, Tinto Brass surely did for T and A. I've never seen a movie so dedicated to various parts of the female anatomy, including cringey bodily functions. But if there was one saving grace, Serena Grandi is a fireball of beauty and sexyness on the screen, and a very natural woman which is something we are not used to in Hollywood films. But overall this is a very silly sex romp of a film, only to be viewed if you want a reminder of what real women look like.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This doc series caught me by surprise as I was initially expecting a ride along reality show similar to Cops, but man is this series far more than that. It's the story of a dying city, told through the eyes of its police department. The politics, the despair, the hopelessness is felt through every level of the department. It's a very intimate portrayal which is something I've never seen before, and the result is that these officers are human beings like everyone else, all going through their own struggles and are faced with an immense task in policing this city. There's no easy answers here, it's messy, but it's real. And far more real than the heavily edited cop reality shows we're used to seeing. A+.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 2nd
Thoughts: Man, does this movie pack a punch! I had only seen it once before around the time it first came out and I didn't recall it being so edgy and refreshing. It's the political machine served up in all its grimy wonder as a high school class election. Broderick and Witherspoon are excellent as the teacher-student enemies that wage war over this election with shockingly funny results. This is black comedy at its best, and very reminiscent of Heathers in terms of its biting satire. It pulls no punches and can be quite jaw dropping at times. Not something I would rush to watch again, but if you're looking for risk taking cinema that pushes the envelope, look no further.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I was eager to see this when it was first announced, it sounded like an edgier side of the Marvel Universe and a different approach than what we've seen thus far. But then again, I should have known better with the films target audience: teenagers. And as such this film owes more to recent horror films like It than it does to anything super hero related. I mean that's exactly what it is in tone and style, the super hero elements are just an after thought really. And worst of all there's no connection to the other MCU films, spoiler alert there's no Wolverine cameo at the end. While it has a few good moments here and there, overall it's a pretty forgettable entry in the MCU.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Excellent docu-series on the life and times of the most notorious serial bomber in American History. Can we just pause for a second on that opening credits/theme song? So good. This is a very detailed and linear exploration of the Unabomber's path of destruction that spanned decades. The story tells itself but nice to see everyone involved offer their insight. The fact that his brother was instrumental in turning him in and also ended up befriending one of the victims is a testament to humanity and goodness in people. I avoided this for a while as I was pretty familiar with the case but glad I gave it a shot. One of the best.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Solid sci-fi actioner that teeters on the violent side thanks to director Tommy Wirkola, known for his Dead Snow series. So that kind of puts it in the Paul Verhoeven territory of sci-fi flicks (gratuitous violence, check. gratuitous sex scene, check). But overall I'm a huge Noomi Rapace fan and she is absolutely amazing in this film playing seven different characters. Interesting how she always seems to be drawn to these big budget sci-fi films (Prometheus, Bright, etc). 100% committed and such a range of intensity and emotions. This film has an interesting concept and a nice buildup, that kind of loses its footing towards the end, but if you like your sci-fi served up with heavy doses of action and violence, you've come to the right place.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This docu-series takes us down quite the rabbit hole of a side to the Son of Sam case that most of us probably didn't even know existed (at least I didn't). And even though most of it is quite a reach, you can't help but admire the gusto of Maury Terry, the reporter who made it his life mission to uncover the conspiracy behind these murders. As was the case with Cropsey (Zeman's previous doc), the film leans way in favor of Terry's position instead of taking more of an unbiased approach. It's not for the faint of heart, and really creepy at times. Overall pretty solid but too drawn out, a lot of images and topics are repeated over and over which adds no real value. It's a slight miss in the end, but enjoyable for those into this dark subject matter.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I always admire a good attempt at a Hitchcock homage (careers were built around this as seen with Brian Depalma and Dario Argento), and that's exactly what this film is. It's Rear Window, with a slight updating that gives it a more David Fincher feel. I enjoyed the quirky buildup and commitment of Amy Adams, here she goes au naturale and does a great job with the role. The film is at its best during the quieter scenes, and kind of struggles towards the end. But overall, it was an enjoyable little mystery with solid performances.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Finally got around to seeing this and I think it's safe to say it's one of the best sports documentaries of all time. It's the tale of the perfect storm that birthed the career of one of the greatest athlete superstars the planet has ever seen. Along with that, leading a dynasty of a team to multiple championships. This docu-series dives deep into Jordan's legacy, from the ups and downs and everything in between. It's the most intimate portrayal of an athlete I've ever seen. Not to mention the editing and pacing kept you glued from the first episode to the last. Brilliant series and hope they do more of these in the future!

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I had already seen quite a few documentaries on the LA riots, most notably LA 92, so I was hesitant to give this one a shot. But once I started watching I was hooked and it turned out to be another excellent piece on the subject. The thing that stood out the most was including the stories of those individuals who sprung to action and actually saved lives amidst the chaos. The riots were a powder keg building in intensity for ten years, and this documentary brilliantly chronicles that trajectory. It's a situation that couldn't possibly have gone any worse and as a result the city was in ruins and countless lives were lost. This is a top notch documentary with great interviews with those that were on the front lines through it all.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 2nd (or 3rd)
Thoughts: After watching the LA riots documentary, I was reminded of this somewhat forgotten film that is set before and during the riots. It's a solid police procedural that has one foot in the rough and tough action flicks of the 90s and the other foot in David Ayer's gritty modern LA world. It also marks the tail end of Kurt Russell's late career, despite a few small roles his screen presence would not resurface until Tarantino put him in Death Proof and Hateful Eight. Here he is excellent in the role as the cop that is forced to do one good thing to set things right after a career of wrongdoing. The riots are merely a backdrop that add tension to the proceedings, would have liked to see more of a direct connection but overall a solid and gritty cop movie.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Just when I thought I'd seen everything the zombie genre had to offer, Zack Snyder returns to his roots and gives us one of the best zombie movies in years. Probably as far back as World War Z. It's big budget, B-movie entertainment at its best. The cast of lesser known to unknowns was great, especially Dave Bautista stepping into the leading role for really the first time. Excellent story and pacing, made me think of Escape from New York at times. It's nothing groundbreaking or new, just solid popcorn fun from start to finish.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 2nd (or 3rd)
Thoughts: As much as I used to enjoy this film around the time it came out, the novelty of this Black Mirror, reality tv to the extreme kind of wears off a bit after repeated viewings. Maybe it was the pacing, maybe the serious tone, something just kept it from reaching that level of greatness. That being said, the movie does have its moments and Jim Carrey is great here.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I finally decided to watch this film, it had been lurking around for quite some time and had a pretty notorious reputation. I'm not a gore hound, I like my horror served up with artistic style and aesthetics (Dario Argento, John Carpenter, etc). And so, this just wasn't my taste. I've never seen the cannibal movies from the 70s and 80s that inspired it, but it seems that this was more of a copy of that rather than trying to do something new and fresh with it. It wasn't scary, it was just kind of silly and the violence was pretty laughable. The only thing that stood out for me was Lorenza Izzo, she makes for quite the scream queen and had great screen presence. Overall this is bottom shelf horror, with very little redeeming value.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This is a bare bones documentary about a rape case involving a young girl and the accused high school football players in a small town. As expected, the culture in the town perpetuates this type of behavior by shaming the victim and attempting to cover up the situation to preserve its sacred football program. Luckily there was one person who exposed the true intentions and attitudes of these boys, which set everything in motion and the ultimate outcome. The filmmakers let the story tell itself, however I would have liked to see a better presentation. Overall it's an important piece that makes you angry, and hopefully will encourage discussion on how to change the way we raise our boys.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I decided to take a detour from my true crime doc obsession and stumbled across this climbing documentary. It was an excellent portrayal of the power of the human spirit and perseverance in facing a monumental task. It was as if this guy's life purpose was to climb this wall. The filmmakers did a great job taking us through his life and what led him to this impossible mission, climbing the uncharted Dawn Wall of El Capitan mountain in Yosemite. It becomes quite the event, picked up by media outlets and drawing a crowd of spectators cheering them on. Probably one of the most inspiring and life affirming films I've seen in quite some time. It just showcases what we can achieve in life when we refuse to quit and give it our all.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This had been on my list for quite some time, I was eager to see it from back when it was first announced, pre-trailer with the only image being a fully tattooed gangster-looking Shia Labeouf. I've been a fan of David Ayer's work since Training Day, and most of his movies are really buddy films disguised as urban crime thrillers. He also has a knack for capturing Chicano culture in a way rarely seen in other films. His latest falls short of the level I expected from his earlier films for a few reasons. The biggest one is that newcomer Bobby Soto does not have the acting chops to hang with his costar (a committed and scary Shia Labeouf). In Harsh Times and End of Watch, Ayer was able to pair powerhouse actors like Bale and Gylenhaal with seasoned actors that kept up with them nicely. But here, it's clearly one-sided. The film also has more of a tv series vibe, lacking the cinematic feel of his previous work. But it does have its moments, Labeouf and George Lopez are a joy to watch and the action scenes are intense and well choreographed as per expected. Overall, this falls pretty far down the list of Ayer's work, but still an enjoyable watch.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I'm always on board for a "Most Dangerous Game" type premise, especially when it's served up with a horror edge. Indeed this movie had a great buildup and Betty Gilpin is perfect for this role. However there's this constant underlying political message that lacks a clear point and really puts a damper on things. Is this anti-liberal? Is it poking fun at both sides? Aside from that the movie was a lot of fun and less predictable than others of its kind. Nothing I would rush to see again but still enjoyable if you're into movies like The Purge and The Belko Experiment.

Format: THEATER WOO HOO!!
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: After not being in a movie theater since Once Upon A Time In Hollywood back in 2019, it was time to return and take my daughter to see something. Not a fan of kids movies at all, and in fact I find most of them a struggle to get through. Very impressed with this film and would go as far as saying its the best thing Disney has put out since Moana (Star Wars films included!). The original world building and characters were awesome and I loved the whole Southeast Asia vibe to it. Like Moana, it features a strong female lead that's far from a little princess, and a strong connection to family and culture. The message of unity despite differences is something we desperately need right now, and I can't recommend it enough.

Format: Blu-Ray
Viewing: 3rd (or 4th)
Thoughts: After seeing Raya, my wife and I were wanting to watch something with swordplay and fighting and as much as I tried to push some 90s era Wuxia we settled on Kill Bill Vol 1. Man is this movie a blast! I've seen it a bunch of times and I swear it is just as fresh and exciting as it was nearly twenty years ago when it was first released. It's a wild pastiche of vintage Asian cinema and a few Sergio Leone touches here and there. It's Tarantino at his most entertaining, in fact I would say out of all his films, in terms of action and pacing it surely stands alone. It's a blood-splattered, popcorn chomping good time!

Format: DVD
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Interesting film that belongs to the same class as films like Mudbound and Lawless, however it's never as edgy as those two and kind of plays it safe in a more classic film sense. Margot Robbie does a great job here and I like seeing her in roles like this, as the outlaw Alison Wells. I feel like her character could have gone a little more darker and sinister than what was presented. Aside from that, the film's highest marks are on the visuals, beautifully lensed shots of the desolate Midwest backdrop with cool intercutting of 8MM footage. Definitely some film student vibes which we don't see enough of these days. For that I would say the movie was enjoyable, but the story left me wanting more in the end.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I'm a sucker for these type of music docs, and after seeing the Biggie one this was a natural follow up. I grew up on 90s era hip hop and Illmatic was like the [insert seminal genre defining album] of that time period, with many regarding it as the greatest hip hop album of all time. Like the Biggie doc, this delves into Nas' childhood and upbringing, showing what led him to recording his first and most renowned album. In many ways it was a combination of talent and luck that got him off the streets and into the studio. The narrative is a little simplified, would have liked to see more on his contemporaries and the state of hip hop at the time in a broader sense. That being said, this was still an enjoyable watch and a nostalgic trip back to what an impact street, boom bap hip hop had on the world.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Absolutely loved this series, which traces the origins and progression of hip hop over the years. I was a teenager during the 90s when hip hop reached its peak, and I considered myself pretty knowledgeable of the history but this series definitely taught me a thing or two. This feels like a real passion project, done with respect and admiration for the artform. Hip hop was a cultural phenomenon more so than just a music genre, and this series presents that in all its grime and glory. Very extensive interviews with damn near everyone who was involved make this a real treat for fans. Highly recommended.

Format: Blu-Ray
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I found this movie to be only mildly entertaining. I mean yeah I had very low expectations going in and I've always enjoyed Kumail in other comedies. But the biggest problem with this movie is that it's low on laughs and high on dumb action. To pull this type of movie off you really need to balance the two. Buddy action comedies reached their peak in the 80s (48 Hours, Midnight Run, etc) and this is a far cry from that legacy.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 3rd (or 4th)
Thoughts: I feel like Tarantino fans are split down the middle with Kill Bill Volumes 1 & 2, it's like you love one and not so much the other. It really calls into question why we invest in him as a director time and time again: is it the over-the-top violence or the hyper-realistic dialogue? Well I definitely fall on the side of Volume 1. It was just so much fun, endless bloody entertainment. Volume 2 definitely puts the dialogue front and center, taking a more leisure pace which aligns more to the spaghetti western themes. For me the film had peaks and valleys, and the valleys had me anxious for the peaks. Which I think solidifies my love for Vol. 1 overall. It does have its moments, Michael Madson's Budd gets better every time I see it, David Carridine is brilliant as Bill (sort of like a diabolical Mr Rogers!), the Pai Mei scenes were hilarious, and the duel between the Bride and Elle Driver is insane. Hard to imagine these as one linear film as they are so different in style and pacing, this is not as good as Vol. 1 but still a solid movie in its own right.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I was thumbing through used DVDs at my local Good Will store when I came across this forgotten gem. Just when I thought I'd seen every MJF movie along comes Greedy, which came at the end of his star-powered career in the mid-90s (with The Frighteners being the only standout movie released after). Greedy is an interesting film that manages to blend comedy and drama together nicely, and almost reminded me of Judd Apatow movies in that sense (minus the dick jokes). The diabolical heirs to their uncle's fortune with their catty infighting, played with great comedic timing by Ed Begley Jr, Colleen Camp, and Phil Hartman. Overall this is a cozy little dramedy that gets a little long winded, but the strong ensemble cast with MJF at the center makes it enjoyable.

Format: Blu-Ray
Viewing: 3rd (or 4th)
Thoughts: I rarely give a movie a flawless ten stars, but The Revenant just happens to be that movie. Like Herzog's Aguirre The Wrath of God (a personal favorite), it's as beautiful and poetic as it is haunting and brutal. It somehow manages to combine the visual wonder of a Terence Malick film with the harsh brutality of a Mel Gibson film. It's the story of survival and revenge and how one's lust for revenge fuels their will to survive at all costs. DiCaprio finally earning his much deserved Oscar (afterall he did eat raw fish and a bison liver), while I was reminded again how great Tom Hardy was in this. Like someone plucked right from the period. The natural light photography by the always impressive Lubieski and the remote wilderness locations were a joy to behold. It's a movie you never want to end and could easily watch eight more hours of it. It's the type of film that is rarely made nowadays which makes it all the more of a real treat for cinephiles like myself.