Whoever thought this many marvelous heroes could run the Gauntlet must’ve been Infinitely Stoned. But they somehow succeeded, so here’s 25 words, cuz Oh Snap!
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Monday, May 28, 2018
Free State of Jones
McConaughey isn’t savior enough to rescue this messy movie from the poorly paced pitfalls of its divided story. Bizarre flash-forwards only further undermine a peculiarly instituted structure that dies with the confederacy. Title cards supply documentary tedium while Ali and Mbatha-Raw struggle to serve the masters of shoe-horned in subplots.
Actors & Director:
Gary Ross,
Mahershala Ali,
Matthew McConaughey
Thursday, May 24, 2018
You Were Never Really Here
Taken 4 features Phoenix’s rise from rap career to Taxi Drive. Stoned and hammered character blends seamlessly into his actor, and yet empathy Never Really emerges despite palpable pain and sensational cinematography. Oddly paced and extremely existential, Ramsay’s post-violent drama is improved by its music, but still misses despite score.
Monday, May 21, 2018
Ready Player One
Spielberg’s excessively non-self-referential spectacle races to the starting line then struggles to maintain the virtual velocity of its opening antics. Loaded with loving movie and pop-culture references the shining Oasis is effectively Imaginationland re-animated and vastly more satisfying than the grainy real-world parallels, including mustache-twirling Mendelsohn and Inceptionally illogical finale.
Actors & Director:
Ben Mendelsohn,
Mark Rylance,
Simon Pegg,
Steven Spielberg,
T.J. Miller,
Tye Sheridan
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Free Fire
For all its star power, this chamber piece fires all blanks
except in its attempt to desensitize to gun violence. An attempt at a comedic
crime caper completely misses the target as an arsenal of talented actors fill
a Room with less personality than Brie alone has in the past.
Actors & Director:
Armie Hammer,
Brie Larson,
Cillian Murphy,
Sharlto Copley
Monday, May 14, 2018
Isle of Dogs
Wes goes east in The Seven Symmetries, outdoing his meticulous shot design and quirky wit. But this adventure’s emotions seem to be lost in translation. Furthermore, the screwy set-pieces seem to have evicted the plot to trash island, and though the action is entertaining and fun, it’s ultimately doggone dissatisfying.
Actors & Director:
Bill Murray,
Bryan Cranston,
Edward Norton,
Frances McDormand,
Greta Gerwig,
Harvey Keitel,
Jeff Goldblum,
Scarlett Johansson,
Wes Anderson
Thursday, May 3, 2018
The Little Hours
The Disaster Abbott is an extraordinarily unConventional literary
adaptation, that serves up rations of raucous amusement and beautiful scenery,
but neither in substantial enough portions to support the film’s weight. The leading
performances are all entertaining, but they seem too consistent and the quest
for an arc reveals there’s nun.
Actors & Director:
Alison Brie,
Audrey Plaza,
Dave Franco,
Fred Armisen,
John C. Reilly,
Nick Offerman
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