4.5 and 5 Star Reviews – Page 2

Review – The Ballad of Buster Scruggs

Posted on November 16, 2018November 19, 2018 by Adam

I don’t know why I thought I wouldn’t love this. The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is only the first of six short films featured in this anthology. Each short film stands on its own. Each has their strengths and weaknesses. And when watched consecutively, there is no particular cohesion that ties the stories together. But they still work so well when watched back to ba...

Review – First Man

Posted on October 16, 2018October 25, 2018 by Adam

When you look up in the sky on a clear night, you’ll often see the moon perched above the skyline. It shines so bright that your eyes are naturally drawn to it. And it’s so easy to forget that we’ve been there. That a man has stepped foot on that distant rock. It’s easy to forget because it’s almost inconceivable. It’s all the way out there, in the dark midnight sky, and we...

Micro Review (Re-watch) – Cast Away

Posted on September 16, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

Man, Cast Away is legit. Also, can't believe I never really realized that it was "Cast Away." Not "Castaway." Sure, Tom Hanks plays a castaway, but he's literally cast...away. For some reason that never really clicked. Anyway, Great movie. Hanks was robbed at the Oscars. 4.5 out of 5 stars

Review – Isle of Dogs

Posted on August 20, 2018February 18, 2019 by Adam

There are very few directors I trust enough to risk buying a movie I have not seen. Wes Anderson is one of those directors. Isle of Dogs was on sale for $10 bucks on Amazon recently. I clicked that Purchase button without even thinking. It's not Wes Anderson's best movie. But who expected it to be? I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and will undoubtedly watch this movie a few mor...

Micro Review (Re-watch) – The Post

Posted on May 17, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

This was even better the second time. I feel like I remember it being a slow movie the first time I saw it. But I don't necessarily think it's that slow after seeing it again. It's compelling and low-key riveting throughout most of its run. And the end was emotional and inspiring. Great film. 4.5 out of 5 stars

Micro Review (Re-watch) – The Master

Posted on April 15, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

I read that The Master is a combination of a few different things that Paul Thomas Anderson molded together (aside from being inspired by L Ron Hubbard and Scientology, it also has parts from an early draft of There Will Be Blood, old navy war stories from Jason Robards, and elements of John Steinbeck's life). And that's not surprising. The film feels like a bunch of different ...

Micro Review (Re-watch) – Phantom Thread

Posted on April 14, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

I've watched this a few times now. I think I keep watching it because I expect to find its flaws. I expect to not like it as much as I think I do. But while I am watching it, I'm just so into it. It's a perfectly made movie. By that, I mean that I believe Paul Thomas Anderson achieved exactly what he wanted to. This is the exact movie that he wished to make. That's an almost im...

Micro Review – Inherent Vice

Posted on April 5, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

A stoner-noir film starring an entire cast of people I enjoy, and directed by one of my favorite directors. Hell, it's even narrated by Joanna Newsom. I was destined to like this movie. Yes, it's often incoherent, and meandering, and seems to get stuck in places. But this isn't necessarily a movie you watch to get to the end. Yes, you want to know what happens. But more importa...

Micro Review – Room

Posted on March 29, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

A heartbreaking film, with incredible performances from Brie Larsen and young Jacob Tremblay. So many emotions when watching Room. Joy, terror, sadness, excitement, dread. I have a daughter that's Jack's age, so this hit extra hard for me. This is a great film. 4.5 out of 5 stars

Micro Review (Re-watch) – Phantom Thread

Posted on March 28, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

It's a different experience, watching Phantom Thread for the second time. The first time you watch it, you really have no idea what you're getting yourself into. On the second watch, you THINK you know what you're getting into. But then it hits you that you can watch this movie any number of ways. It can be so many different things, depending on how you want to watch it. It fee...