|
6/10
|
The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
The fact it can get you invested in so many obnoxious teens with silly haircuts and sillier names may be an achievement in itself.
Posted Nov 09, 2023
|
|
9/10
|
The Creator
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Gareth Edwards has delivered an original science fiction film that’s full of a surprising amount of emotion and heart, an incredibly effective take on a sci-fi trope.
Posted Sep 26, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Bottoms
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Already looking to become a bit of a cult comedy favorite ala Heathers, and I can’t recommend this enough if you really want to laugh… a lot.
Posted Aug 31, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
The Equalizer 3
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
This one just naturally works better than the previous installments thank to the change in scenery.
Posted Aug 31, 2023
|
|
5.5/10
|
Landscape with Invisible Hand
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Starts out so promisingly then devolves into something that leaves you scratching your head and not necessarily leaving the viewer with much in the way of satisfaction.
Posted Aug 17, 2023
|
|
4.5/10
|
The Adults
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Redactive and redundant in the story it’s trying to tell, with very little in terms of actual entertainment value
Posted Aug 17, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
birth/rebirth
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
A distinctly original horror film with particularly creepy moments that might make your skin crawl even as you appreciate Moss’ contribution to the horror genre.
Posted Aug 17, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Strays
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Dog lovers should get a kick out of what these lovable dogs get up to, even if some of the jokes are given away in the trailer.
Posted Aug 17, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Blue Beetle
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Blue Beetle should win audiences over by leaning heavily on the humor and heart, but also offering the type of quality VFX-laden action that comic book movie enthusiasts have come to expect.
Posted Aug 16, 2023
|
|
6/10
|
The Last Voyage of the Demeter
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Such a well-crafted horror film that looks great, but it’s just too grim for its own good. You just don’t kill [SPOILER!] in my book.
Posted Aug 10, 2023
|
|
9/10
|
Streetwise
(2021)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Quickly became one of my favorite movies of the year just by the nature of the storytelling and the filmmaking and how the actors pull you into the lives of these particular characters.
Posted Aug 03, 2023
|
|
7/10
|
Passages
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Might be a tough sell as a theatrical release but should be able to find an audience once it streams on MUBI.
Posted Aug 03, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
This movie is the closest that one has come to me liking [the Ninja Turtles], and I would sit through this one again without hesitation.
Posted Aug 03, 2023
|
|
6.5/10
|
Meg 2: The Trench
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
I’m definitely on the fence about this one, but also quite disappointed, since I may have allowed my expectations to build from the fun trailer.
Posted Aug 03, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
War Pony
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
War Pony allows you into this world and a way of life that’s far removed from at least my city life. A decent indie worth seeking out.
Posted Jul 27, 2023
|
|
8.5/10
|
The Beasts
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Sorogoyen and his cast have created a compelling take on the classic idea of a feud between locals that goes into all sorts of unexpected areas.
Posted Jul 27, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Haunted Mansion
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Like a cross between Poltergeist and Ghostbusters, Justin Simien’s Haunted Mansion movie does a better job incorporating characters and ideas from the theme park attraction. It’s flawed but quite funny.
Posted Jul 27, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Oppenheimer
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Makes it undeniably clear what a masterful filmmaker Nolan can be when he finds a topic that truly captivates him and is more concerned about telling a story well then making something light and frothy for casual moviegoers.
Posted Jul 19, 2023
|
|
7/10
|
Barbie
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
A fine, fun romp with lots of thought-provoking aspects that should allow it to appeal as much (or maybe even more) to older women than the movie’s presumed younger target audience.
Posted Jul 19, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning, Part One
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
If nothing else, it’ll be very hard not to get excited to see how this story (and franchise?) will conclude next year.
Posted Jul 05, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Brooklyn 45
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Setting aside any potential bias, I think it’s Ted’s best film to date and very different from his previous two films.
Posted Jun 15, 2023
|
|
7/10
|
Extraction 2
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
I’m glad to see Hemsworth in another solid action franchise not necessarily playing Thor, and I’m totally on board of seeing more of Tyler Rake.
Posted Jun 15, 2023
|
|
5.5/10
|
Asteroid City
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Another dud where Anderson throws everything but the kitchen sink at the viewer with no apologies that few viewers would have much interest in many of those ideas.
Posted Jun 15, 2023
|
|
6.5/10
|
The Blackening
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
A solid comedy that I imagine will play well with a loud crowd.
Posted Jun 15, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Elemental
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
A perfectly enjoyable romp that excels when it focuses more on the love story than all the many other ideas being presented.
Posted Jun 15, 2023
|
|
6/10
|
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
So filled with reverential fan service and callbacks, it often finds itself being more derivative than faithful.
Posted Jun 15, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
The Flash
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
A wild and clever take on “Flashpoint,” and a fine punctuation mark to the Snyderverse.
Posted Jun 06, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Transformers: Rise of the Beasts
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
One of the more entertaining installments of the franchise, which hopefully will pave the way for more with these characters.
Posted Jun 06, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Falcon Lake
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
While there are things in the movie that have been explored in other indie films, it’s obvious that Le Bon has quite a distinct voice while showing the world of these young people.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
You Hurt My Feelings
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Holofcener’s social observations are so on point and her dialogue is so cleverly-crafted that there’s a lot to enjoy in Don’t Hurt My Feelings, even if the particular situations don’t directly apply to you.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
9/10
|
Past Lives
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
The emotions are likely to wash over you without you even realizing how much the story is affecting you.
Posted Jun 01, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
By the time the movie ends, you are left wanting more, so it’s good to know that there is indeed more on the way.
Posted May 31, 2023
|
|
6/10
|
The Boogeyman
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
The Boogeyman isn’t particularly scary, nor is it particularly original.
Posted May 25, 2023
|
|
6.5/10
|
Fast X
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
It certainly will be interesting to see whether the fans appreciate this tenth installment more than I did.
Posted May 17, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
You’ll watch the movie and wonder why they just can’t seem to make a 'Star Wars' movie that’s this damn good or full of emotion.
Posted Apr 28, 2023
|
|
6/10
|
Polite Society
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
It’s a shame that Nida Manzoor’s debut just doesn’t deliver in the way one hopes from the premise.
Posted Apr 28, 2023
|
|
10/10
|
32 Sounds
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
The theatrical doc version of it is just as effective, because it finds such a compelling way into its subject matter.
Posted Apr 28, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Sisu
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Every bit on par with the recent 'John Wick' movies but clearly done with a fraction of the budget.
Posted Apr 28, 2023
|
|
7/10
|
Big George Foreman: The Miraculous Story of the Once and Future Heavyweight Champion of the World
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Foreman’s story is incredible to watch unfold due to the fantastic job done by Tillman and Davis in telling that story.
Posted Apr 28, 2023
|
|
7.5/10
|
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Does a great job in delivering a coming-of-age movie that isn’t just for teen girls.
Posted Apr 28, 2023
|
|
8.5/10
|
Carmen
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
For Millepied to create a film like Carmen, which is gorgeous in every aspect of filmmaking, and for this to be his feature debut, shows Millepied to have a definitive vision we’ll want to keep tabs of.
Posted Apr 20, 2023
|
|
8.5/10
|
Chevalier
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Huge kudos must be given to Williams and writer/producer Stefanie Robinson and everyone else involved with creating a nearly pitch-perfect costume drama that still finds new ground to cover.
Posted Apr 20, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Guy Ritchie's The Covenant
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
This is Guy Ritchie’s best movie in quite some time, maybe because he handles the subject matter as seriously as it deserves to be handled.
Posted Apr 18, 2023
|
|
5/10
|
Beau Is Afraid
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
As [Beau is Afraid] drags on into its second and then third hour, you just feel like you’re being punk’d, and Ari Aster is getting the last (and only) laugh.
Posted Apr 11, 2023
|
|
6/10
|
Showing Up
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
First Cow was definitely a step forward in the right direction for Reichardt; Showing Up just feels like a step back.
Posted Apr 06, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
How to Blow Up a Pipeline
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Goldhaber and his talented cast are able to do a whole lot more with this simple premise that makes for a far more compelling film than I expected.
Posted Apr 06, 2023
|
|
8/10
|
Joyland
(2022)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Another fantastic film about a place so different from our own. Sadiq is definitely a filmmaking talent to watch, as are his cast.
Posted Apr 06, 2023
|
|
7/10
|
Paint
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Wilson and the rest of the cast do a good job holding things together, making for a sweet if not particularly deep light comedy (with quite a small “c”).
Posted Apr 06, 2023
|
|
7/10
|
Air
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
Air offers a fantastic screenplay and terrific performances to match across the board, yet there are far fewer stakes for this type of movie when you already know the outcome of the story.
Posted Apr 02, 2023
|
|
3.5/10
|
Renfield
(2023)
|
Edward Douglas
|
How this dreadful movie slipped past the normally keen folks at Universal, who can generally discern if they’re making a movie that’s good, bad, or – as is this case – HORRIBLE – is indeed a stumper to me.
Posted Mar 31, 2023
|
>