The kids' bedtime was a little bit later than usual, so my after-bedtime time-for-myself was cut a bit short. I was pretty tired, and had settled on the fact that I would probably only watch an hour or so of Molly's Game and then go to bed. But that didn't happen. I ended up watching the whole thing - no stops for breaks or snacks or anything (which is common for me). It was a ...
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Movies
Micro Review – Trumbo
I tend to love movies about the filmmaking process. For that reason, I really enjoyed watching Trumbo. Aside from the fact that it has a great cast - headlined by the great Bryan Cranston and supported by the likes of Helen Mirren, Michael Stuhlbarg, Diane Lane, John Goodman and more - its story is compelling in a way that would've felt antiquated only a few years ago. But it s...
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Micro Review – Game Night
Game Night has the classic Jason Bateman humor we've come to love. Its zany plot does tend to stretch the suspension of disbelief at times. But I'm willing to overlook a bit of ridiculousness as long the laughs are there. And they are. Bateman is supported by a crew of hilarious people, highlighted by Jesse Plemons, whose awkwardness and comedic timing are perfect. I imagine th...
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Micro Review – Paterno
This was exhausting to watch. The subject matter is obviously heavy. But there have been other films that have tackled similar stories with better handling (Spotlight, for example). Pacino is good, though I'm not sure he's really portraying Paterno much - he just seems to be doing his classic Pacino thing, albeit a bit subdued. I guess I don't really understand the purpose of t...
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Micro Review – Inherent Vice
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...
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Micro Review – The Edge of Seventeen
This was comical and charming, and Hailee Steinfeld shines. I really enjoyed Woody Harrelson's character too. I felt a bit weird watching this. I don't think I was the target market. But I found it enjoyable nonetheless.
3.5 out of 5 stars
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Micro Review – The Witch
This is not a shock-monger. It's a slow-dripping brew of dread that builds and builds in it's eeriness until it reaches its nightmarish conclusion. There's an authenticity to this movie that I did not anticipate, and which is quite refreshing in the "horror" genre. The performances are all great too, from top to bottom. And while it was sometimes hard to follow (I eventually tu...
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Micro Review – Swiss Army Man
I'm not going to lie, this is a weird ass movie (quite literally). It's so weird, that I don't imagine many people will really understand or appreciate it. To watch this movie is to commit to it's strangeness as much as Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliffe commit to their bizarre roles. I laughed so hard at this movie, and yet I was also deeply touched by it. Wow. Never thought a mov...
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Micro Review – Ready Player One
Steven Spielberg clarified that he made a movie. Not a film. I think the distinction he wanted to make was that there are some movies that should be taken seriously - almost academically. Then there are movies that are meant to be enjoyed for what they are: a fun escape from the world. A chance to enter a new world and experience something amazing. In that way, Ready Player One...
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Micro Review – Room
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
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