Sometimes you need a shot of fun on a list. Knives Out is as clever as anything you’ll see. It knows how clever and smart (ass) it is but never makes you feel dumb for not figuring everything out right away. Instead, it makes you want to laugh… a lot (that’s that smart ass thing). It also makes you want to play a good game of Go. Rian Johnson may never make a Star Wars film again, and Knives Out proves that if that’s the case it’s not a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all.
Long Shot (Jonathon Levine)
I cannot stand Romantic Comedies. Then Long Shot comes along and proves that there are modern Rom-Coms I can love. The magic trick is no magic trick at all. The film understands we need to spend time a lot of time with Fred (Rogen) and Charlotte (Theron). So, when “the” moment does come and this turns from just a Comedy to a Romantic Comedy; it’s both earned and hilarious. The chemistry is palpable between Rogen and Theron. Long Shot works overtime to not only entertain you but make you fall in love and care for Fred and Charlotte’s relationship. Something most Rom-Coms think can be done with a Pop Song.
Les Misérables (Ladj Vy)
Damn. This one came out of nowhere. I have a full review coming soon. I will say this much; co-writer/director Ladj Vy’s film grabs you by the throat and never lets you go until its bold “smash cut to black” ending.
Ready or Not (Radio Silence)
Like Knives Out, Ready or Not has one design; to entertain the fuck out of you. It does so with geysers of blood, gore, and a plucky Heroine that ends up being some sort of demented Disney Princess. Much of the delight in this film is the star-making performance by Samara Weaving as Grace, the put-upon Bride. The film understands that it needs to, and quickly, get to the games. It does so with a bit of brilliant storytelling and humor that never lets up the entire 95-minutes.
Shadow (Yimou Zhang)
Yimou Zhang’s brilliant political action thriller is a film like no other. Zhang’s and cinematographer Xiaolin Zhou create a visual world of grays without resorting to Black & White photography. What they produced is one of the most visually arresting and cleverly plotted films of the year.
Knives Out (Rian Johnson)
Sometimes you need a shot of fun on a list. Knives Out is as clever as anything you’ll see. It knows how clever and smart (ass) it is but never makes you feel dumb for not figuring everything out right away. Instead, it makes you want to laugh… a lot (that’s that smart ass thing). It also makes you want to play a good game of Go. Rian Johnson may never make a Star Wars film again, and Knives Out proves that if that’s the case it’s not a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all.
Long Shot (Jonathon Levine)
I cannot stand Romantic Comedies. Then Long Shot comes along and proves that there are modern Rom-Coms I can love. The magic trick is no magic trick at all. The film understands we need to spend time a lot of time with Fred (Rogen) and Charlotte (Theron). So, when “the” moment does come and this turns from just a Comedy to a Romantic Comedy; it’s both earned and hilarious. The chemistry is palpable between Rogen and Theron. Long Shot works overtime to not only entertain you but make you fall in love and care for Fred and Charlotte’s relationship. Something most Rom-Coms think can be done with a Pop Song.
Les Misérables (Ladj Vy)
Damn. This one came out of nowhere. I have a full review coming soon. I will say this much; co-writer/director Ladj Vy’s film grabs you by the throat and never lets you go until its bold “smash cut to black” ending.
Ready or Not (Radio Silence)
Like Knives Out, Ready or Not has one design; to entertain the fuck out of you. It does so with geysers of blood, gore, and a plucky Heroine that ends up being some sort of demented Disney Princess. Much of the delight in this film is the star-making performance by Samara Weaving as Grace, the put-upon Bride. The film understands that it needs to, and quickly, get to the games. It does so with a bit of brilliant storytelling and humor that never lets up the entire 95-minutes.
Shadow (Yimou Zhang)
Yimou Zhang’s brilliant political action thriller is a film like no other. Zhang’s and cinematographer Xiaolin Zhou create a visual world of grays without resorting to Black & White photography. What they produced is one of the most visually arresting and cleverly plotted films of the year.
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