Movies – Page 14

Micro Review – A Ghost Story

Posted on February 2, 2018February 4, 2018 by Adam

I can’t remember a recent movie in which I vacillated so much between despising it and finding it bizarrely endearing. I love the ambition here. But I’m not sure it totally lives up to what the filmmaker was trying to do. There are some wonderful scenes, particularly in the latter half of the film. But the beginning’s long stretches of sustained awkwardness make it diffic...

Micro Review – The Lost City of Z

Posted on February 2, 2018February 4, 2018 by Adam

I enjoy period pieces, and I enjoy exploration/adventure tales. This film has both of those things. The fact that this is based on a true story makes it all the more compelling. To go along with the Heart of Darkness-style journey through the dangerous Amazonian jungle, there are deep undertones of very relevant concepts from today's social climate (genderism, racism,...

Micro Review – Baby Driver

Posted on January 31, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

File this one under the “incredibly fun to watch” category. If I recall correctly, when this came out there was an attempt to make it seem like something bigger than just an entertainment flick. Or maybe not – maybe I am misremembering, or confusing the attention that it got. Either way, it’s not bigger than an entertainment flick. It’s a fun car chase movie, with some real...

Micro Review – Blade Runner 2049

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

What a visually stunning movie. One of the best-looking movies I’ve seen recently. It somehow manages to retain the feel of the original film while also staying cutting edge and gritty. It’s probably a bit too long. And the plot feels convoluted at times, mostly because it’s trying to be abstract. If there’s not another sequel in the works, I’d question some of the story el...

Review – Call Me By Your Name

Posted on January 27, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

This is a film that stimulates the senses. It takes place in Italy, in the summer, in 1983. You can feel the sweat beading on your neck and navel, you can hear the trickle of fountains and the chirping of birds, you can smell the apricots in the trees and the summer breeze skipping across the watering holes. This is a film that transports you into its atmosphere. It’s a fil...

Movie Rewatch – Dunkirk

Posted on January 26, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

I’ll keep this short and sweet. Upon re-watching Dunkirk, I now believe that it is a masterpiece. The first time you watch it, you’re on the edge of your seat the whole time. It’s breathtaking. And stressful. It’s a visceral experience – especially if you’re lucky enough to see it in the theater in widescreen. After I left the movie theater, the first time I saw it in the s...

Micro Review – Darkest Hour

Posted on January 26, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

Yes, Darkest Hour is the perfect companion piece to Dunkirk, and vice versa. But both of these movies work by themselves too. Darkest Hour stands on its own merits. It can be just as intense and gripping as Dunkirk, even without the battle scenes. Gary Oldman’s portrayal of Churchill can sometimes be exasperating. It’s almost as if he’s taken on too much of his real life in...

Micro Review – The Post

Posted on January 25, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

The Post has a way of lulling you into nostalgia. Stylistically, Mr. Spielberg employs his most traditional sensibilities. This is not a flashy movie (which we know he is certainly capable of). And I think there’s a reason for this. The subject of the movie is, after all, the Washington Post’s coverage of the leaked Pentagon Papers in 1971. Back then, The Post was not a hou...

Micro Review – Avengers: Age of Ultron

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Adam

In many ways, Age of Ultron epitomizes everything I dislike about Super Hero Movies. There are city-leveling fights that result in massive destruction (in this case, to the tune of half a trillion dollars). There are ridiculous and overcomplicated plot points that I don't think the screenwriters even completely understand. But they're not there for substantive purposes. The...

Review – Hell or High Water

Posted on January 23, 2018October 17, 2018 by Adam

Was it worth it? That feels like the question each character in Hell or High Water has to grapple with. For Toby (Chris Pine), is this robbery spree worth risking his livelihood? For Marcus (Jeff Bridges), has his career in law enforcement been worth it? Will his life AFTER law enforcement be worth living? Amidst the car chases and stick ‘em ups, there are deeper questions ...