Winter 2020 Viewings

Format: DVD
Viewing: 2nd
Thoughts: The Brave One belongs to the pantheon of vigilante movies that includes Taxi Driver, Death Wish, and Falling Down, among others. And it does live up to the legacy, for the most part. It's sleek and suspenseful with Jodi Foster doing a great job as the titular anti-heroine. Would have liked to see her go a bit more towards the dark side here (maybe channeling her co-star in Taxi Driver?), which would have fit the rough and tumble NYC backdrop. Other highlights include impeccable camera work and direction from Neil Jordan and Philippe Rousselot, and strong support from a committed Terence Howard as the sympathetic detective. As solid as a thriller gets.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Interesting case that falls into that same trap of many other true crime series, too drawn out and lost my interest at some point.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 3rd (or 4th)
Thoughts: I've seen this movie countless times and it's a good reminder of how strong the indie film era of the 90s and early 00s was. This is essentially Jon Favreau's Mean Streets, except it's a whole lot funnier. And the main ingredient to that is Vince Vaughn let loose for really the first time, in what would become his motor mouthed, improv-driven trademark. Really cool to see him come into his own here, that would solidify him as a comedic force that we would later see in Old School and Wedding Crashers, among others. The charm and legacy of Made is that it always feels like a true passion project, a film made by a group of friends on a shoe-string budget, just because they love making movies.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: The Boys is kind of like if Watchmen was more like Deadpool, it's flashy and ultraviolent and has the perfect antidote to the tired superhero formula. Here, the superheroes are actually the bad guys, and the good guys are a rag tag group of nee'r dowellers tasked with taking them down. The first season started off with a bang, kind of lost me a bit along the way, but finished strong. The second season was a bit more consistent, introducing new characters and dynamics.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Great little indie flick punctuated by strong performances from Riz Ahmed and Olivia Cooke.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Wow this was a total crapfest, one of the worst movies I've seen in quite some time (and I'm always the type to give all movies the benefit of the doubt). Much like the recent Jay and Silent Bob reboot, there was nothing organic about this reunion, it all felt really forced and made me question how good the original was if this was so bad. Like Jay and Silent Bob, the charm of these characters is due to being young and dumb as most teen/twentysomething stoner characters are. But as adults with families and children, it just doesn't work. It's reduced to tv sitcom nonsense. Which is where I think this really belonged.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Finally got around to seeing this after hearing good things about it, it definitely takes you back to a time when rockstars really were rockstars and Motley Crue were rockstars to the Nth degree. Their career path is a trainwreck of overindulgence that is really a marvel to behold. The fact that these guys partied as hard as they did and still managed to do shows and record albums is quite impressive. The film pulls no punches and doesn't sugar coat anything, thanks to the man behind Jackass, Jeff Tremaine. You will be hard pressed to find a rockstar movie as brash as this in recent times. Pour me some JD and pass the popcorn!

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Well done true crime doc from Iceland, goes to show that the US isn't the only country that locks up innocent scapegoats.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 2nd
Thoughts: I was rifling through my DVD collection the other night, looking for some holiday fair when I stumbled across the Ice Harvest. Don't recall much about it other than it was a Christmas crime-comedy with Cusack and Billy Bob. So I figured this would be a solid choice. Man was I wrong. This is like a Coen Bros movie if you strip everything that makes it great from it. It just meanders along and nothing really exciting happens for the most part and worst of all, a snarky, pissed off Billy Bob is absent for most of the film. The only saving grace is that when it finally fires off, it offers some good dark-comedy thrills. But overall, you can do far better in films of this type.

Format: DVD
Viewing: Umpteenth
Thoughts: Decided to go back and watch these movies because they are just so damn cozy and man what a comedy team Lemmon and Matthau were! The winter setting definitely adds impact to the emotions here, and it's just one of those movies you don't want to end and you can stay in it forever. Burgess Meredith is hilarious and steals every scene he's in, shame he didn't get more screen time. This movie is a somewhat forgotten classic and still holds up well today.

Format: DVD
Viewing: Umpteenth
Thoughts: For the sequel they traded in the emotions for more laughs, which unfortunately takes the film down a notch from its predecessor. The switch in climate also hurts the film, but you can't help but love these guys and once again Burgess Meredith doing his thing. Not as great as the first, but still an enjoyable comedy.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: The wife and I decided to give this show a try and we were both surprised at how good it was. It avoids the typical teen BS that we see from other shows and dives deep into real issues facing young women in today's world. It's edgy, and packed with emotion, the cast of unknowns did a great job.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: Umpteenth
Thoughts: What's not to like about Clue? It's beyond silly, but an enjoyable little whodunit romp. Tim Curry absolutely killing it, Colleen Camp's cleavage is probably in the top movie cleavage of all time (it was like another character in the movie!), and the hilarious Madeline Khan adlibbed flames speech at the end. Murder, suspense, intrigue, all served up in a very tongue-in-cheek way. I hadn't seen it since it played a lot on cable tv during my childhood and while it has its flaws, its still very enjoyable today.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 3rd
Thoughts: All comparisons aside, this is a very solid holiday movie in its own right thanks to that special John Hughes touch. Attenborough is perfect for this role, and the courtroom scenes were a delight. I feel like this movie is often overlooked in top holiday movies, but it's definitely included in my list.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 3rd (or 4th)
Thoughts: An underrated holiday classic, mainly due to an unhinged Nicolas Cage giving us some of his wildest onscreen antics I've ever seen. And Dana Carvey and Jon Lovitz adding great support as the bumbling ne'er do well brothers (Dana Carvey doing what I would only recently found out was a Mickey Rourke impression, haha briliant!). While there is elements of crime and action, there's also a cozy redemption story here too and it ranks in my top ten Christmas movies of all time.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I wouldn't put this very high on my list of comedies, but it was definitely enjoyable and keeps in line with the 80s teen comedies that inspired it. The old and young switcheroo is alive and well (Big, 18 Again, Vice Versa, Like Father Like Son) and I think 17 Again does justice to this legacy. I wasn't expecting much from it and for that I think it exceeded expectations. You could do far worse in movies of this type. Plus this is where Efron first showed his comedic chops that would later flourish in Neighbors and Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 3rd (or 4th)
Thoughts: Detroit is one of those important films that had to be made, it's very timely and perfectly captures this powder keg moment of police brutality and injustice. The cast is great, but the real star of the show is Will Poulter, impeccably playing such a vile character. The movie is exhausting and not something I would rush to see again, but stands as a great reminder of how little has changed in the 50 years since the events took place.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 3rd (or 4th)
Thoughts: Seeing this movie again as an adult I have to say it is probably one of the wackiest horror comedies to come out of the 90s. It's such a mish mash of genres and styles and doesn't really know what it wants to be in the end. The biggest mistake is putting three 80s Comedy heavyweights in a movie that's never funny enough as a solid comedy and never scary enough as a satisfying horror. The movie does have its moments, especially when Akroyd's decrepit Judge Alvin is grossing us out by eating hot dogs or getting ready for bed. But yeah it's one of those movies that probably should not have been made or could have gone more in the Tales From the Crypt route. Bonus points if you recognize a young Tupac Shakur among the hip hop group Digital Underground.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: I tend to stay away from serial killer documentaries as I just find them too disturbing to stomach, but this series from Netflix was so well made that I couldn't stop watching. Richard Ramirez was definitely the closest thing we had to a real life boogeyman and no one was safe from his wrath. I found the life and work of the two detectives assigned to the case to be very endearing and it was the true backbone to the story. It's not for the faint of heart, a lot of the reenactments feel like something out of a slasher horror film. But at the same time it never feels overly exploitative. Once again Netflix delivers yet another True Crime must see.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Excellent documentary that gets to the heart of who Aaron Hernandez was and why he went down such a tragic path. When I first heard about him, I was quick to write him off as a wannabe gangster thug who couldn't leave the streets and just play football. But when you delve into his past and upbringing you learn that there was a lot more turmoil brewing inside him. It certainly doesn't excuse what he did, but the reasons become crystal clear in this doc. And for that I think they did a great job.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: An incredibly haunting story that reaches the level of American folklore or Urban myth. Unfortunately the majority of this doc is interviews with amateur web sleuths that really add nothing to it other than their own speculations. And that's really what this film is all about, drumming up wild speculation of what could have happened (I was actually surprised no alien abduction was mentioned). In the end, it's just a sad story about a troubled girl that met a terrible end in a very notorious hotel. The story alone gets more stars, but this doc series is just mediocre at best.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Kudos to Guns Akimbo (I just like the way that sounds)! This movie was a blast, so much reckless and violent entertainment, think Crank and Gamer and you're almost there. It's absolutely absurd at times but that fits perfectly into its video game/reality tv world. Let's just take a moment to reflect on how Daniel Radcliffe (and Robert Pattinson too) have broken free of the franchises that defined their early careers and continue to take risks with movies like this. Bravo, and pass the popcorn!

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This is a wild piece of sci-fi fantasy that gets under your skin and never lets go. It's the Twilight Zone meets Black Mirror, or Cube meets The Truman Show. Super unsettling and unpredictable, a perfect popcorn scare flick.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Another A+ doc series from Netflix, that turns out to be way more than you anticipate. The less you know about the case the better, and will take you for a ride you won't soon forget.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Holy shit this was a gut punch of a movie. The less you know about it going in the better as it will slowly grip its hands around your neck and never lets go until the end credits roll. I felt like I was watching the Wicker Man directed by Alejandro Jodorowsky! Amazed that movies like this are still being made. This is one that will be talked about for decades to come, like A Clockwork Orange, The Holy Mountain, and other intense cult movies from the 70s.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Very impressed with this little indie flick, which is kind of like Fargo's kid sister. The acting is all top notch and the setting was perfect for the events. It was very refreshing to see a criminal underworld being run by the older ladies of the town.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Getting tired of saying this, but another great doc series from Netflix. Just watch it.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This has been kicking around my queue for a while and finally sat down and watched it. Excellent, excellent movie. The acting, the mood, the setting was all A+. A very intimate look at race relations during this time period. The two star-crossed war buddies were the heart and soul of the movie, with great support from the rest of the cast. Not a movie I would rush out to see again, but definitely left a mark on my mind and will stay with me for some time.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 2nd
Thoughts: I decided to give this reboot another try since my wife is a big fan of these movies and afterall it was directed by Tim Burton. Well I have to say, this is probably the least Burton of all Tim Burton movies. There's nothing quirky about it, no dark humor or other Burton touches to be found. And overall it feels pretty generic and underwhelming. The only saving grace is the Rick Baker make-up effects were excellent and far superior to the later CGI-heavy franchise.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This has been on my list for quite some time, especially since it was penned by James Gunn. It's an enjoyable midnight movie that falls short of certified cult classic status. The cast of familiar faces does a great job of showing the human emotion and morale in a situation like this. Ultimately the movie straddles too much between horror-comedy and John Carpenter thriller, it's like pick a side already. And the biggest disappointment is Melanie Diaz' character, she's essentially the John McClane of the movie, hiding out somewhere in the building and at least I thought she was going to be the sleeper hero of the movie. But aside from that it is a fun, Battle Royale in an office building with some signature Gunn touches.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: Knives Out? More like Pillows Out! I'm sorry but I really wanted to like this movie and it did have its moments but overall it was a lot of talking for the 2+ hour runtime. In the end it's just a flashy Clue without the silly humor. Big fan of director Rian Johnson but I feel like he was a bit out of his element here. It does need to be said that Daniel Craig was excellent, makes you realize how great he can be when he's not playing James Bond for the Nth time.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 2nd or 3rd
Thoughts: Been a while since I watched this and revisiting it I have to say it holds up really well as a classic modern comedy. Mainly because you have Ben Stiller at his comedic peak (why is he not still doing comedies like this today?) and Robert De Niro stepping into the comedy realm and completely owning it. Owen Wilson also nearly steals the show and adds great support. This movie is basically the Rocky of new boyfriends vs overprotective fathers movies. Everything that could go wrong goes terribly wrong and it's a joy to see it all play out.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: My father has a pretty stacked collection of foreign and classic movie DVDs and on occasion I'll grab one to borrow. I had heard good things about this movie but never got to see it. Very endearing story of a young girl determined to prove everyone wrong, especially her stubborn and set in his ways grandfather. It's a universal story about culture and traditions, and trying to hold onto something despite the changing times. One question I have is did this movie inspire Moana? A lot of similar themes and characters. Either way, this was an enjoyable little indie flick with a lot of charm and emotion.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: There's been quite a few docs and even one feature film on the life of Biggie Smalls, but I feel like this is one of the best. Mainly because it's a very intimate portrait that spends a lot of time on his younger years before he got wrapped up in the fame and glory of Hip Hop. Seeing his humble beginnings and upbringing was very interesting and added more depth to the persona that lives on to this day. Whether or not you feel he was one of the greats, you can't deny that his story is pretty remarkable given where he came from. I feel like the end of his life could have been fleshed out a little more, especially the East Coast/West Coast beef that had been brewing prior to his death.

Format: Streaming
Viewing: 1st
Thoughts: This documentary left me a little conflicted because on the one hand it's presented as if it's a true labor of love, mom and pop shop that's holding on for the passion of movies and community. But on the other hand, it's kind of like watching a documentary about the last Walmart. As a movie lover who spent thousands of dollars on movie rentals during this heyday, Blockbuster was a pre-packaged, corporate product. Like what about all the original mom and pop video shops that Blockbuster put out of business? They also glossed over the big late fee scandal that caused them to pay out big bucks in a class action lawsuit (which I was party to!) But if you put all that aside, this is really a nostalgic trip back to the good ol' days of renting videos and how that was a big part of our culture. They did a good job of getting together an interesting group of people in the industry to speak on their collective Blockbuster memories which was edited together nicely.

Format: DVD
Viewing: 2nd or 3rd
Thoughts: Big fan of Luc Besson and this movie, which was his first foray into the American scene. I guess I hadn't seen the uncut version too many times, because to be honest I found the added scenes to be very cringeworthy and took the film down a few notches from what I remember. That being said, this movie is a wonderful balance of crisp action and human drama. Some highlights include: Natalie showing her acting chops at such a young age as the kid assassin in training, Gary Oldman stealing the show as the unhinged detective who pops pills like he's transforming into a werewolf, and the absolutely beautiful camerawork that creates this sun drenched look to the dark elements at play. It's far from perfect but for stylized action flicks it's pretty damn solid.