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The Bad Guys
(2022)
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Cory Woodroof
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It’ll get the kids thinking about why we don’t always give people who have gotten in trouble with the law the benefit of the doubt to change, which is a nice little filter to grow them up on. After that, it’s just a fun heist riff, a furry Ocean’s 11.
Posted Jun 28, 2022
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The Lost City
(2022)
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Cory Woodroof
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It lacks the grandeur and muscle that went into the old rom-com adventures, but it makes up for it in star power and in just being so agreeable. Channing Tatum really is one of the funniest people on Earth.
Posted Jun 28, 2022
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Back to the Future
(1985)
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Cory Woodroof
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The weightlessness of Back to the Future is part of its singular charm. Marty McFly and Doc Brown's time-traveling adventure is one of our great movies because of the way it loves its characters, its story and the infinite possibilities of its universe.
Posted Jun 28, 2022
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Forrest Gump
(1994)
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Cory Woodroof
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Forrest Gump remains an American staple thanks to Tom Hanks' affecting performance and Robert Zemeckis' ability to canvass history with a galavanting story about patriotic perseverance and optimism.
Posted Jun 28, 2022
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Kill Bill: Vol. 2
(2004)
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Cory Woodroof
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Not quiiite as good as Vol. 1 (what is?), but the David Carradine scenes sure are.
Posted Jun 23, 2022
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Kill Bill: Vol. 1
(2003)
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Cory Woodroof
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It’s a stained glass window of a movie — you only know so much, but everything you need is draped over and around you in shimmering light (and, for this film, fountains of blood).
Posted Jun 23, 2022
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Onward
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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Scanlon has a wicked sense of humor, and his version of happily ever after is part of the draw here.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Knives Out
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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It was one of 2019's best films, if only for the way it studies classicism in the genre that has always leaned on the lifestyles of the rich and the famous to mount its greatest mysteries.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Spontaneous
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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This level of tonal balance is almost dangerous for any caliber of filmmaker, but what Duffield does here is nothing short of a miracle.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Driveways
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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This is independent filmmaking at its finest.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Bad Education
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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A deeply American tale about the drip-drop nature of morality in positions of power, and how easy it can be to excuse the wrong thing when it feels so right.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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First Cow
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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A masterwork for the western genre, and a full charge ahead for empathy in our capitalistic system. This moo-ved me. John Magaro broke my heart.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Mucho Mucho Amor: The Legend of Walter Mercado
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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Walter Mercado was a saint.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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A revolutionary way of subverting the documentary to tell the truth; a flickering light about to go dark, sparking joy and hubbub as memories, epiphanies and homilies spill onto the floor of a dying watering hole.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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One Night in Miami
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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A truly great example of stage-to-film, bristling with life and running out of time all the same. History written with lightning.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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David Byrne's American Utopia
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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A sonic beam of joy and relief.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Time
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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The rare movie that literally left me speechless.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Blow the Man Down
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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Cole and Krudy make the best Coens riff I've seen in years.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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The King of Staten Island
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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It's an oddly hopeful journey into growing up and moving on, and a testament to the power of the brainy adult dramedy. I'd let Davidson give me a tattoo...maybe.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Da 5 Bloods
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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I think Delroy Lindo has the performance of the year in this. It's Marlon Brando-level acting.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Collective
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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I mean this with all sincerity: the best movie about journalism since Spotlight. Incendiary, maddening, urgent, about as close to perfect as you can get.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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The Invisible Man
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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A fierce study in deadly gaslighting, anchored by Elisabeth Moss' best performance yet.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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Uncorked
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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I've got a very soft spot for well-made movies where adults just figure things out without a lot of pomp and circumstance. I love movies that just embrace life for what it is and keep a positive spin on everyday goals. I loved this one.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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I'm Your Woman
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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All Martin Scorsese copycats take note.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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White Noise
(2020)
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Cory Woodroof
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It's not fun to stare into the sun, but truth is a bitter pill. We may question why we need to shed light on these people and stories, but after the U.S. insurrection, I'm not sure there's enough we can do in this regard. Supreme documentary filmmaking.
Posted Mar 11, 2022
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The Boxtrolls
(2014)
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Cory Woodroof
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If there's anything The Boxtrolls isn't lacking in, its confidence.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Boyhood
(2014)
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Cory Woodroof
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It's a beautiful coming-of-age tale that boasts as strong an ensemble as can be and completely nails what it meant to grow up over the past decade or so.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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The Book of Life
(2014)
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Cory Woodroof
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The Book of Life, like the best animated films, has its own tone, which helps it stand apart as its own thing. The music, a mix of original songs and fun takes on pop hits, is also worthy of praise.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Christopher Robin
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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You're going to feel like a kid again, and you're going to leave a wiser adult.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Project Almanac
(2015)
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Cory Woodroof
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Project Almanac is a rousing success for the hard-to-nail found footage and time travel genres a fun January release that will more than make up for the lack of quality 2015 titles out at the multiplex.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Searching
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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Here's hoping future films in this new mode of storytelling take note from what Searching does so well and avoid what doesn't exactly mesh.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Tomorrowland
(2015)
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Cory Woodroof
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Outside of Bird's direction, his and Lindelof's screenplay and the acting, Michael Giacchino turns in yet another peppy, premiere score with heavy sci-fi influence and DP Claudio Miranda gives the film a robust look.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Furious 7
(2015)
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Cory Woodroof
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Nearly a decade later, Furious 7, the sixth sixth sequel in the fascinating Fast and the Furious franchise, takes seemingly-impossible stunts to a whole new level rather, a whole new solar system.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2
(2015)
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Cory Woodroof
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So, at the end of the day, you reviewed Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 six years ago when you saw the first film. If you enjoyed that one, see this. If you didn't, there's your answer.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Jurassic World
(2015)
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Cory Woodroof
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As far as Jurassic movies go, this isn't Jurassic Park, but it never had to be. The film is a reverent, effective follow-up to a classic. That, folks, is what we call no small feat.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Run All Night
(2015)
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Cory Woodroof
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Run All Night is an emotionally-rewarding, tense-as-can-be crime thriller that can be counted as an early 2015 treat.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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BlacKkKlansman
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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Spike Lee will always be one of America's foremost filmmakers; an explosive auteur with a jarring left hook who sizes up society and social issues with Billy Wilder's wit and Old Testament fury.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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White Boy Rick
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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As it stands, White Boy Rick is solid, moving filmmaking, anchored by a bombastic ensemble.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Venom
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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It's too endearing to write off just as its too basic to really make a mark.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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San Andreas
(2015)
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Cory Woodroof
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San Andreas is a mixed landscape unfortunately more shaky than not.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Klaus
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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It's breathtakingly animated and features a heck of a call for kindness in a world where it's in short supply.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Last Christmas
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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It'll become a Christmas tradition for you, and you'll get to tell folks you liked it before it was cool.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Die Hard
(1988)
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Cory Woodroof
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Give Die Hard a fresh spin this year; it's the most joyous Christmas film of all!
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Whiplash
(2014)
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Cory Woodroof
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Chazelle orchestrates his first feature like a pro, utilizing a snappy pace throughout.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Nightcrawler
(2014)
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Cory Woodroof
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Nightcrawler can be a hard film to stomach at times, but its message is sound. Outside of the strong craftsmanship, the film is a scarily magnetic character study of a guy who dreamed the American Dream in the absolute worst way possible.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood
(2019)
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Cory Woodroof
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It might be closing time in Tarantino's Hollywood, but he just wants to make sure we leave the lights on. If Hollywood gives studios the reassurance that movies like this still matter, maybe they'll still glow.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Crazy Rich Asians
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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Films like Crazy Rich Asians don't come around a lot, but for goodness sake, let's see more of them.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Widows
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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One of the years best pound-for-pound genre films, Widows is one of the most exciting, bare-knuckled heist thrillers to come along in some time.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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A Star Is Born
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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For moments there, you're reminded what the power of this medium can be; the beautiful meshing of what we see and what we hear into a cataclysm of what we feel.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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Dr. Seuss' The Grinch
(2018)
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Cory Woodroof
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Its a fun, harmless venture back to Whoville and serves as a solid seasonal bridge for those already ready to deck the halls.
Posted Feb 11, 2022
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