Necroshaman’s Films Watched in 2024
Let’s see if I can outdo 2023 … probably not but it’ll be fun trying.
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- DirectorDan BrownStarsAngus CloudElliot KnightJessica GarzaAfter a dispute over a winning lottery ticket turns into a deadly hostage situation, the witnesses must decide exactly how far they'll go, and how much blood they're willing to spill, for a cut of the $156 million.Pretty good thriller that didn’t necessarily go the clichéd route. Interesting batch of characters all looking for a piece of the pie. The pregnant lady was particularly strong and resourceful and made for an enjoyable character. 7/10 - 1/1/2024
- DirectorKyle BaldaBrad AblesonJonathan del ValStarsSteve CarellPierre CoffinAlan ArkinThe untold story of one twelve-year-old's dream to become the world's greatest supervillain.Pretty stacked cast in this sequel (arguably of both Minions and Despicable Me) that blends what’s good about both. Michelle Yeoh proves that she is bad ass, even in animated form. Fun story, stylish scenes and a nice 70s soundtrack. I also liked the Chinese version of Bang Bang. 7/10 - 1/1/2024
- DirectorJeannot SzwarcStarsRoy ScheiderLorraine GaryMurray HamiltonPolice chief Brody must protect the citizens of Amity after a second monstrous shark begins terrorizing the waters.Maybe it’s a time period thing but I did not find this sequel scary, suspenseful or even thrilling. To be honest, the film needed more shark and a heck of a lot more blood. It was just sort of average. 1/1/2024
- DirectorDavid O. RussellStarsChristian BaleMargot RobbieJohn David WashingtonIn the 1930s, three friends witness a murder, are framed for it, and uncover one of the most outrageous plots in American history.A varied assortment of interesting characters played by a ridiculous stacked cast. The story is fascinating from an historical standpoint but the film was overly long and meandered. It would have been better with a tighter cut to create a better sense of urgency. While the cast was amazing, I found the dialogue a little “off” all throughout. 6/10 - 1/1/2024
- DirectorMarcel WalzStarsCerina VincentMonique ParentSarah FrenchMason Maestro has just directed what he considers to be his masterpiece, a film titled 'That's a Wrap.' One by one, the cast disappears until the true nature of the evening is revealed.Terrible film. Tried to insert a lot of sex but was not sexy. Characters were vapid with awful lines. Kills lacked creativity or good gore. I honestly expected better out of this, despite the bad ratings. At least the color scheme was okay (even if unoriginal). 2/10 - 1/2/2024
- DirectorBanmei TakahashiStarsKeiko TakahashiDaijirô TsutsumiShirô ShimomotoAfter several strangely threatening calls from a local salesman, a homemaker becomes increasingly afraid to answer her apartment door.I either misunderstood what this film was or my expectations were too high. This was a mostly bloodless, slow moving thriller about I guess a stalker. It doesn’t get particularly interesting until about 20 minutes left in the film. At least they applied Checkov’s gun to the chainsaw. Though it seems weird the father would casually have one hanging out in a toolbox in an apartment. The music used throughout didn’t seem a good fit for thriller or horror. 4/10 - 1/2/2024
- DirectorDane ElcarStarsDana BergerMax WoertendykeA couple find themselves trapped while on a run around a pond.Low budget Sisyphean nightmare couples therapy film or something like that. Reminded me of both Triangle and The Incident to some degree. The pile of headphones on the ground recalled the birds from Triangle. They did well with what they had and created a good air of mystery amplified by good use of sound (eg heartbeats) and minimalist music. A bit of a gem. 8/10 - 1/3/2024
- DirectorKurtis David HarderStarsEmily TennantRory J SaperCassandra NaudWhile struggling on a solo backpacking trip in Thailand, social media influencer Madison meets CW, who travels with ease and shows her a more uninhibited way of living, but CW's interest in her takes a darker turn.Better than I was expecting for this thriller with unexpected direction that it went. The main antagonist was portrayed well by Naud and reminded me a bit of Isabelle Fuhrman in Orphan / Orphan Kills. The story was overall good, though the ending betrayed Naud’s character throughout the rest of the film. 7/10 - 1/3/2024
- DirectorLowell ShermanStarsMae WestCary GrantOwen MooreIn the Gay Nineties, a seductive nightclub singer contends with several suitors, including a jealous escaped convict and a handsome temperance league member.I don’t feel this has held up. The script was rough around the edges and wasn’t all that funny. This despite the presence of a very young Cary Grant. Songs were okay I guess but I feel Mae West was overrated. 4/10 - 1/3/2024
- DirectorNicholas HytnerStarsAmanda SchullEthan StiefelSascha RadetskyA group of teenagers from various backgrounds enroll at the American Ballet Academy in New York to make it as ballet dancers and each one deals with the problems and stress of training and getting ahead in the world of dance.You’ve seen this film before: just replace ballet with whatever other thing they are competing for / training on. Dancing was okay. Characters a bit cliché with lingering 90s style. Notable as Saldana’s first film. 6/10 - 1/4/2024
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonSamuel L. JacksonHolly HunterWhile trying to lead a quiet suburban life, a family of undercover superheroes are forced into action to save the world.Such a well made animated superhero film, well before the MCU invasion. Holds up on repeat viewings well. It helps that the characters are all relatable and human, despite being super. I loved realizing the Young Sheldon connection this time (Nelson and Shawn). 9/10 - 1/4/2024
- DirectorJohnnie ToKa-Fai WaiStarsAndy LauTakashi SorimachiKelly LinTwo very different hitmen find themselves to be in each other's way. They use all their skill to solve the problem.Stylish HK film that made a point of name checking other, good movies (baked into the script via the movie store girl). Action was okay but I did find the story droned on after a while. 6/10 - 1/4/2024
- DirectorSoi CheangStarsNiki ChowBernard ChowChi Kui ChowThree people meet in a hospital to denote blood in an emergency, to save the lives of a couple who made a suicide pact because one of them was dying of cancer. Their blood has a 50% success rate, leaving the man in a coma but the girl dead.Slow burn Hong Kong spook film. Visually saturated in blue throughout with a decent classical soundtrack. Jump scares here and there. Shots of blood contrast the blue from time to time. Overall it was too slow to be scary with a lot of time between anything interesting. 6/10 - 1/5/2024
- DirectorPeter HallStarsRod SteigerClaire BloomJudy GeesonSteve Howard, a British sales executive living in Middlesex, England, begins an affair with a young hitchhiker, Ella Patterson, to emotionally get away from his marriage to his wife Frances. But when Ella moves into a room in Steve and Frances's house, he must keep the true nature of his relationship with Ella under wraps at all costs.I was expecting some sort of silly 60s British sexy comedic romp but this was not that. Basically marital strife mixed with a fling and they all get involved with each other. It was not funny in the least. As a drama, it was okay and was probably more risqué for the time. 5/10 - 1/5/2024
- DirectorGeorge B. SeitzStarsEdmund LoweElissa LandiZasu PittsPhilip Trent is tired of playing film detective Shelby James, thinking that the stories are tripe, and plans a vacation to get away from Hollywood. But on the ship he meets a mysterious young woman, then finds a body--then discovers that the whole affair was staged by Peter Dean, author of the Shelby James novels. But then Mr. Van Mier is found murdered in the same way and the Dragon diamond is missing. No matter what Philip tries to do, he finds himself involved with the crime and meddles his way through it looking for the killer and the diamond--with help from Peter Dean.It tried to be funny but I didn’t find many of the jokes hitting. Gwenn looked young but maybe that’s just because he wasn’t sporting a Santa beard. Some dated bits like the pretending to be Asian on the phone. 5/10 - 1/5/2024
- DirectorVal GuestStarsEdward JuddJanet MunroLeo McKernWhen the U.S. and Russia unwittingly test atomic bombs at the same time, it alters the nutation (axis of rotation) of the Earth.I like these cautionary tales of the horrors of nuclear weapons. This one is a different spin in that it’s not nuclear war but the testing that sets off a climate catastrophe. There was an interesting mix of sepia tone and regular black and white to indicate what was happening. There was also some good scenes of climate crisis destruction (the “caught fire” bit). The movie itself reminded me a bit of a Twilight Zone episode (“The Midnight Sun”). 8/10 - 1/6/2024
- DirectorMonte HellmanStarsMillie PerkinsJack NicholsonWill HutchinsA mysterious woman persuades two cowboys to help her in a revenge scheme.I really wanted to like this. Millie Perkins looked pretty bad ass as a cowboy, I love Warren Oates and Jack Nicholson is in this too. But the story was hard to get into and not much exciting really happens. 5/10 - 1/6/2024
- DirectorNorman TaurogStarsElvis PresleyJoan BlackmanAngela LansburyAfter arriving back in Hawaii from the Army, Chad Gates (Elvis Presley) defies his parents' wishes for him to work at the family business and instead goes to work as a tour guide at his girlfriend's agency.Can’t say I really enjoyed the film but I’m not really a big Presley fan either. The whole film is basically a vehicle to showcase his music and thus the story is simple and suffers because of it. Throw in the very dated behaviour towards women and it’s an artifact of the time. Worth it I guess to see him sing Fools Rush In but overall I wouldn’t watch this again. 4/10 - 1/7/2024
- DirectorNorman TaurogStarsElvis PresleyJuliet ProwseRobert IversTulsa, a soldier with dreams of running his own nightclub, places a bet with his friend Dynamite that he can win the heart of an untouchable dancer...but when Dynamite is transferred, Tulsa must replace him in the bet.More of the same. Womanizing Presley in dated scenes while singing his catalogue of songs throughout. The situations were probably more comedic in the early 60s than they are now. He does have a good voice, even if he isn’t my favourite performer. 4/10 - 1/7/2024
- DirectorAlexander PayneStarsPaul GiamattiDa'Vine Joy RandolphDominic SessaA cranky history teacher at a prep school is forced to remain on campus over the holidays with a grieving cook and a troubled student who has no place to go.A story with heart and humour. Giamatti is stellar as always, though I found his strabismus or glass eye disconcerting but also funny. It was fun to see the budding friendship between Paul and Angus. The film itself was well made and scenes were poignantly done. 8/10 - 1/7/2024
- DirectorLarry PeerceStarsTony MusanteMartin SheenBeau BridgesLate one night, two young toughs hold hostage the passengers in one car of a New York subway train.Took a while to get going as there was a surprising amount of character development of the various passengers before even getting on the subway. Once the meat of it happened, it was pretty good. The two hoodlums definitely made you despise them. Beau Bridges played a heroic character very well. The black and white and apparent on location filming was quite good. Interesting to read the subway ads in the background as they appeared to be authentic. 7/10 - 1/7/2024
- DirectorDavid SwiftStarsJane WymanHayley MillsRichard EganA young girl comes to an embittered town and confronts its attitude with her determination to see the best in life.Bland story filled with awful adults. You totally feel sorry for Pollyanna suffering these odious people. 4/10 - 1/8/2024
- DirectorSidney LumetStarsSean ConneryHarry AndrewsIan BannenIn a North African military prison during World War II, five new prisoners struggle to survive in the face of brutal punishment and sadistic guards.Maybe I’ve seen too many prison set films recently or overall, but this was very bleh. It lacked any meaningful character development to make you care for the maligned prisoners and so it was just an exercise in watching prisoners get punished by power hungry prison staff. I also didn’t really care for the use of black and white here. It didn’t really offer anything extra. If they were trying to give off the sweltering vibe, could have used the sepia tone that The Day the Earth Caught Fire used. 5/10 - 1/8/2024
- DirectorHenri DecoinStarsJuliette GrécoLiselotte PulverJean-Marc BoryFrançois is a vet surgeon on the Noirmoutier island. He is married to Catherine. One day, he is called by a mysterious attractive woman, Myriam, whose leopard is sick. They become lovers. But Myriam lived in Africa for years and she seems to have maleficent powers. Besides, she is a jealous possessive woman who wants to keep François for herself alone. She owns a strange statuette which might cast a spell on someone who's on the way, François's wife for instance. And Catherine falls suddenly seriously ill.A slow moving thriller that lacked much suspense throughout. Atmospheric sounds were sparsely used but effective when they were. Not a lot happens and when it does, it’s not jolting or shocking. Better editing might have improved the runtime and the quality. The reveal was interesting enough and there was something soothing about a purring cheetah. 6/10 - 1/8/2024
- DirectorLuis BuñuelStarsCatherine DeneuveJean SorelMichel PiccoliA frigid young housewife decides to spend her midweek afternoons as a prostitute.Famous film but it really didn’t scratch any cinematic itch for me. The sex wasn’t particularly risqué compared to modern film and in terms of Buñuel, not weird or surreal enough. It was okay but not great. 5/10 - 1/8/2024
- DirectorLeslie FentonStarsVirginia BruceWalter PidgeonLee BowmanWealthy socialite Elizabeth Flagg is courted by persistent Michael McLain, despite her protests that she is a married woman. McLain is just charming enough to attract Elizabeth into a series of harmless dalliances. But when he tries to extort money from her, they quarrel violently and she shoots at him with his own gun. McLain's wife Eva is arrested for his murder. With strong circumstantial evidence against her, Eva seems sure to be convicted... until the guilt-ridden Elizabeth persuades her own husband, defense attorney Tyler Flagg, to take the woman's case. He does so, but without knowing of his wife's involvement.Slow moving melodrama that becomes more interesting once the murder occurs. The resolution was a bit unbelievable but still enjoyable. 6/10 - 1/8/2024
- DirectorDavid SwiftStarsHayley MillsMaureen O'HaraBrian KeithTeenage twin sisters swap places and scheme to reunite their divorced parents.Better than I thought it would be. The “twins” effect was well done enough and the story cute. I didn’t realize O’Hara was the mother in this. Mills haircut was pretty awful though: that doesn’t look good on anyone. 7/10 - 1/9/2024
- DirectorJacques DerayStarsAlain DelonRomy SchneiderMaurice RonetLovers Marianne and Jean-Paul spend their vacation in a villa on the French Riviera near St-Tropez. Marianne invites her former lover, Harry, and his teenage daughter, Penelope, to stay. Tension rises between them, especially when Jean-Paul seduces Penelope.You can’t go wrong with Delon, Schneider and Birkin but I did find Swimming Pool by Ozon to be a sexier film (not that the films are actually related). This one was a slow moving film and thus not that thrilling. 6/10 - 1/9/2024
- DirectorJindrich PolákStarsZdenek StepánekFrantisek SmolíkDana MedrickáThe year is 2163. Starship Ikarie XB 1 embarks on a long journey across the universe to search for life on the planets of Alpha Centauri.While it looks a bit dated, this was a pretty cool space sci fi film. The corridors of the ship were reminiscent of the Enterprise. The sound effects and music were very electronic-y which enhanced the sci-fi feel. The space flight scenes and views of stars and planets were surprisingly not bad for early 60s. Story itself was interesting and tried to ground itself a bit in actual science with talk of time dilation and other such things. I enjoyed it. 7/10 - 1/9/2024
- DirectorMarco BellocchioStarsGian Maria VolontèFabio GarribaCarla TatòA populist right-wing tabloid newspaper tries to derail the official police investigation of a brutal murder of a young girl in order to help the fascist and right-wing candidates it supports in the upcoming elections.Dreadfully dull with boring and uninteresting characters. The subject matter should be ripe for a good film: maybe with a better director and scriptwriter. 3/10 - 1/9/2024
- DirectorJerry SchatzbergStarsFaye DunawayBarry PrimusViveca LindforsLou Andreas Sand, a once famous model, recalls her past as she tries to make success in the modeling world of New York, her stressful workdays, her affair with Mark, an advertising executive, her friendship with photographer Aaron, and her downward spiral into ruin.It looked cool or maybe it was just Faye Dunaway looking great but the story itself was fairly dull. It seemed to lack any sort of emotion and so dialogue delivery was bland. 4/10 - 1/10/2024
- DirectorPaul SchraderStarsDennis HopperPenelope Ann MillerEric BogosianIn a twisted 1950's where everyone does magic, a private detective investigates a murder case without it.Sort of retro gumshoe noir mixed with a supernatural Red Scare. The overall feel had the tongue-n-cheek vibe of Fido with the 50s feel mixed with the nonchalance of the supernatural aspect. It was done pretty well and enjoyable to watch. 7/10 - 1/10/2024
- DirectorJames AlgarClyde GeronimiJack KinneyStarsAlexander de SeverskyArt BakerBilly MitchellAn animated documentary promoting of the soundness of strategic aerial bombing in World War II.Not bad for propaganda masked as an animated documentary. It was a fascinating view into the Second World War time period. The Disney style animation was a bonus. It also acted as an informative history of aviation warfare. 8/10 - 1/10/2024
- DirectorMolly Manning WalkerStarsAnna AntoniadesMia McKenna-BruceLara PeakeThree British teenage girls go on a rites-of-passage holiday - drinking, clubbing and hooking up, in what should be the best summer of their lives.Not much of a story. The film is kind of one elongated party occasionally interrupted by sleep. It’s basically a pov window into girls partying with club music in abundance and skimpy outfits. It was strangely entertaining. 7/10 - 1/10/2024
- DirectorIrving CummingsStarsBetty GrableJohn PayneJune HaverTwo sisters from Hungary become famous entertainers in the early 1900s. Fictionalized biography with lots of songs.An average story mixed with some decent songs and okay dance routines. I’m not really sure why they went the technicolor route here as there was nothing really special to make use of it. Also, it has aged poorly in some areas: the completely unnecessary blackface routine comes to mind. It was nice seeing John Payne in this (and aside from Nathalie Wood, I’ve now seen films recently with the major players from Miracle on 34th St). Can’t say he’s a great singer though. 6/10 - 1/11/2024
- DirectorSidney LanfieldStarsVeronica LakeSonny TuftsEddie BrackenA millionaire joins the Navy hoping to find a girl who'll marry him for himself, not for his money. A beautiful gold-digger who works at a resort hotel sets out to get him.The quality felt more like an early 30s than mid 40s musical. The jokes didn’t always hit, the chemistry between Bracken and Lake wasn’t really there and the musical numbers were so so. At least the tap dancing was decent. I had wanted to see this Lake movie for so long that I was a bit disappointed now that I’ve actually seen it. 6/10 - 1/11/2024
- DirectorJulien DuvivierStarsEdward G. RobinsonCharles BoyerBarbara StanwyckAn anthology of three loosely connected occult tales, with ironic and romantic twists.Pretty cool supernatural anthology film. The black and white cinematography was gorgeous. The shorts were almost Twilight Zone like. And that cast! So many good actors in this. 8/10 - 1/11/2024
- DirectorB.J. NovakStarsB.J. NovakBoyd HolbrookLio TiptonA writer from New York City attempts to solve the murder of a girl he hooked up with and travels down south to investigate the circumstances of her death and discover what happened to her.Novak seems to start off like his character from The Office but then has an actual character arc and growth over the course of the film. It was funny with his style of humour. It was also a bit of a mystery story with some well constructed characters and I appreciated Novak’s the most and his catharsis was satisfying. 8/10 - 1/12/2024
- DirectorAdrian LyneStarsBen AffleckAna de ArmasTracy LettsA well-to-do husband who allows his wife to have affairs in order to avoid a divorce becomes a prime suspect in the disappearance of her lovers.Enjoyable albeit unrealistic thriller. A bizarre union between de Armas and Affleck. But that’s what made it entertaining. It was an interesting dichotomy watching him alternate between plotting husband but doting father. Can’t say the ending was satisfying but that’s a minor quibble overall. 7/10 - 1/12/2024
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonHolly HunterSarah VowellThe Incredibles family takes on a new mission which involves a change in family roles: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) must manage the house while his wife Helen (Elastigirl) goes out to save the world.A good follow up sequel: just wish it came many years prior. More inventive superheroes (Void!) and awesome superhero development on Jack Jack. Fun action throughout. 8/10 - 1/12/2024
- DirectorRob SchroederStarsVincent KartheiserChelsea LopezBreeda WoolAfter his car breaks down, Glen spends one hell of an odd night with a married couple, setting into motion a chain of events that alter their lives plus those of several random strangers.This is the definition of an unreliable narrator movie. Nothing is quite as it seems and you have to figure it out as you go. It was pretty trippy and did in fact make sense eventually. Soundtrack enhanced the effect well. Arguably low budget but they did well with what they had. 7/10 - 1/12/2024
- DirectorBryan ForbesStarsKim StanleyRichard AttenboroughMargaret LaceyA medium and her husband stage a kidnapping in order for her to pretend to solve the crime and achieve fame.An interesting idea for a con to make money. A little slow moving and maybe not enough of actual seances. Attenborough reminds me a lot of Giamatti in this. Black and white looked nice. 6/10 - 1/13/2024
- DirectorKim Yong-hoonStarsJeon Do-yeonJung Woo-sungBae Sung-wooA struggling restaurant owner, caring for his sick mom, finds a bag of cash in a sauna locker, while a customs officer gets into trouble when his girlfriend runs off with money he borrowed from a loan shark.It looks like Kim Yong-hoon is a director to watch out for. Another good Korean crime film with stylish flourishes throughout. Lots of different players and doesn’t shy away from blood. I especially enjoyed the tracking shots used. 8/10 - 1/13/2024
- DirectorFerdinando Cito FilomarinoStarsJohn David WashingtonBoyd HolbrookVicky KriepsFollowing a tragic car accident in Greece, an American tourist finds himself at the center of a dangerous political conspiracy and on the run for his life.Sort of wannabe Hitchcock with loose similarities to The Man Who Knew Too Much. The implementation was okay even if the motivations were generic and bland. It really offered nothing new for the genre. Probably could have used more Vikander screen time but it is what it is. 6/10 - 1/14/2024
- DirectorYoussef ChebbiIsmaëlStarsAymen Ben HmidaSarah Alina GroszMehdi HajriNada is a young woman leading a double life. During the daytime she's quiet and reserved, but after dark she dives into the nightlife of Tunis and picks up men.I want to say it was going for A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night vibe but it didn’t really work out. The black and white was fabulous looking but not much style outside of that. The story was aimless and mostly dialogue free. I suppose it wanted to shock you with the violence and how it appeared sexual at the same time but that doesn’t make up for a story in this case. 4/10 - 1/14/2024
- DirectorAli AbbasiStarsAlice RahimiDiana Al HussenSoraya HelliA journalist descends into the dark underbelly of the Iranian holy city of Mashhad as she investigates the serial killings of sex workers by the so called "Spider Killer", who believes he is cleansing the streets of sinners.Terrible poster but a good movie. A serial killer thriller about a guy who kills prostitutes in a righteous vein. The impressive bit is this is set in Iran within that culture, sets of rules and religion. The film was polished and had the feel of a good serial killer film. 8/10 - 1/14/2024
- DirectorJames KermackStarsKate DickiePhil DavisOlivier RichtersA former marine is trapped in an elite underground fight club. When cops swoop in they discover only one man left alive, him. But all is not as it seems. Is he the sole survivor or a mass murderer?The film felt like it tried hard to be a Guy Ritchie sort of film but it was a poor imitation filled with clichéd characters. It was still sort of entertaining and did have its funny moments. The story tried to throw twists out of left field but they were kind of obvious anyhow. Not a terrible way to spend a couple hours. 6/10 - 1/15/2024
- DirectorScott MannStarsGrace Caroline CurreyVirginia GardnerMason GoodingWhen a high-rise climb goes wrong, best friends Becky and Hunter find themselves stuck at the top of a 2,000-foot TV tower.Simple concept thriller with some vertigo inducing cinematography which was pretty awesome. Chekhov would be proud too: things seen earlier used later to great effect. Even the things they did on the tower were kind of smart. 8/10 - 1/15/2024
- DirectorAntony DarnboroughTerence FisherStarsJean SimmonsDirk BogardeDavid TomlinsonVicky Barton visits Paris with her brother Johnny, only to discover the following morning he has gone missing and the hotel staff have no recollection of his presence.Enjoyable gaslighting thriller. The film doesn’t break any new ground and the big reveal is both unexpected and ridiculous. But at least I didn’t predict it! 7/10 - 1/15/2024
- DirectorAdam WingardStarsAlexander SkarsgårdMillie Bobby BrownRebecca HallThe epic next chapter in the cinematic Monsterverse pits two of the greatest icons in motion picture history against each other--the fearsome Godzilla and the mighty Kong--with humanity caught in the balance.What can I say? Lots of spectacle but seriously weak character development. After a while the action just becomes monotonous and mind numbing. CG wasn’t very good either. 5/10 - 1/16/2024
- DirectorJae-Hoon ChoiStarsJang HyukKim Hyeon-sooJoe TaslimThree different swordsmen -- a swordsman who is going blind, the best swordsman in Joseon Dynasty, and the best swordsman in Qing Dynasty who aspires to be the best even in the Joseon Dynasty -- meet each other for their own reasons.Serviceable sword fights but I wouldn’t say it was great choreography or thrilling action. The story was whatever. I do feel this film was a waste of Joe Taslim’s talents as he’s done much better martial arts in much better films. 5/10 - 1/16/2024
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodDwight YoakamDaniel V. GraulauA one-time rodeo star and washed-up horse breeder takes a job to bring a man's young son home and away from his alcoholic mom. On their journey, the horseman finds redemption through teaching the boy what it means to be a good man.More intimate Eastwood in this road trip bonding film. The acting was good as expected, though it took a more low key approach. Fairly simple story and though there was some conflict, it never really got that serious. 6/10 - 1/17/2024
- DirectorGarth DavisStarsSaoirse RonanPaul MescalAaron PierreHen and Junior farm a secluded piece of land that has been in Junior's family for generations, but their quiet life is thrown into turmoil when an uninvited stranger shows up at their door with a startling proposal.So bad. It was like an unfun and unfunny version of Dual. Slow as molasses and dull. Acting was void of anything remotely representing emotion. I miss when Ronan was in good genre fare. 2/10 - 1/17/2024
- DirectorNia DaCostaStarsBrie LarsonTeyonah ParrisIman VellaniCarol Danvers gets her powers entangled with those of Kamala Khan and Monica Rambeau, forcing them to work together to save the universe.It wasn’t as bad as some have made it out to be. It perhaps suffered a weak villain and leaned more towards the absurdity of Guardians of the Galaxy instead the regular Marvel films. But it was entertaining and that teleportation fight scene was pretty cool to watch. The editing to make it flow nicely in three separate locations must have took some good planning. 7/10 - 1/17/2024
- DirectorJung Byung-gilStarsJoo WonKim Bo-MinLee Sung-jaeThrown straight into a dangerous mission with none of his memories intact, a man must escape death while trying to figure out who he is, how he ended up here, and who is the mysterious voice in his ear calling him "Carter"?An action packed film that tried to make use of the (simulated) single long take for the whole movie. It worked for a while but it grew tiresome as the film itself was too long. The (near) opening sauna bath fight scene was pretty crazy and likely drew some inspiration from Eastern Promises. Story felt way too generic and the usual North / South antics for a Korean film. After a while, I didn’t really care why they were fighting. 6/10 - 1/18/2024
- DirectorOliver HermanusStarsBill NighyAimee Lou WoodAlex SharpIn 1950s London, a humorless bureaucrat decides to take time off work to experience life after receiving a grim diagnosis.While I love Bill Nighy, I feel this was an unnecessary remake which offered nothing new. I actually found it less introspective about mortality compared to Ikiru. A tolerable film but seek out the original instead. 6/10 - 1/18/2024
- DirectorRené ClairStarsCharles MartinelliLouis Pré FilsAlbert PréjeanA scientist's invisible ray freezes Paris into immobility.Weak story but cool visuals. I loved the use of tinted black and white to indicate different things. It felt lush to look at. The shots of the early Eiffel Tower were quite good as well. Unfortunately story wise, I expected more genre than we got here, especially considering the whole city gets frozen by this “crazy ray”. Worth it to see at least for 1920s Paris. 5/10 - 1/18/2024
- DirectorGina Prince-BythewoodStarsViola DavisThuso MbeduLashana LynchA historical epic inspired by true events that took place in The Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries.An interesting piece of history though the film does nothing above average in its portrayal. Fight scenes were okay and the acting was decent. Felt a bit overlong. 6/10 - 1/19/2024
- DirectorPeter ThorwarthStarsJördis TriebelRobert MaaserAlexander ScheerAt the end of World War II, a German soldier is looking for his daughter while an SS troop is looking for a Jewish treasure.Reasonably enjoyable WWII action film with a simple story about daughters and gold and killing the evil Nazis who are after the gold. Some cheer worthy scenes and gooey gory effects (like the German with the whole in his face where you can see things going in his mouth and of course the lack of an eye). 7/10 - 1/19/2024
- DirectorMax BarbakowStarsAndy SambergCristin MiliotiJ.K. SimmonsStuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.First comedy I really laughed at in quite a while. It’s a different spin on the Groundhog Day time loop. It still offers some of the philosophical ponderings and introduces shared passengers. It’s also an interesting perspective dropping in the film from the non-loop vantage point. Loved the two leads. Good chemistry and both funny. JK Simmons as great as well as a supporting character. 9/10 - 1/19/2024
- DirectorDon SiegelStarsAudie MurphyEddie AlbertPatricia OwensThe Cuban misadventures of a Florida smuggler, at the time of the Cuban Revolution.Reasonable reimagining of To Have and Have Not but the two leads here are definitely not Bogie and Bacall. That being said, I would have expected something more exciting from Don Siegel. At least the cinematography was alright. 6/10 - 1/20/2024
- DirectorJake JohnsonStarsJake JohnsonAndy SambergBjorn JohnsonGiven the opportunity to participate in a life or death reality game show, one man discovers there's a lot to live for.Solid debut from Johnson in this quirky and weird comedy. Completely unpredictable in where it was going, it was a bit mesmerizing. An interesting cast of characters that kept the story engaging. Perhaps could have used more Kendrick. 1/20/2024
- DirectorVincent BalStarsCarice van HoutenTheo MaassenSarah BannierA cat who turns into a young woman helps a journalist protect their town from a factory boss with an evil plan.Cute film with a young Carice van Houten playing a cat turned into human form. The film had a bit of a frenetic crazy energy and in some ways reminded me a bit of a Jeunet film. Van Houten herself played the role admirably as she felt like she was a cat with her mannerisms. This film also has lots of cats in it, which is always a plus. 7/10 - 1/20/2024
- DirectorKore-eda HirokazuStarsSong Kang-hoGang Dong-wonBae DoonaWhen a young mother reconsiders abandoning her baby, she discovers a scheme selling foundlings for adoption.I really wanted to like this given the cast but it was a very lethargically paced character driven melodrama. Song Kang-ho was great as usual but the story of baby trafficking and regret lacked any sort of energy. The score was subtle when there but absent for much of the run time. I guess it made everything feel a bit more authentic. 5/10 - 1/21/2024
- DirectorChandler LevackStarsIsaiah LehtinenPercy Hynes WhiteAnand RajaramLawrence Kweller, a socially inept 17-year old cinephile, gets a job at a video store, where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager.Not exactly what I was expecting. Thought it would be a more upbeat film about love of film with comedy and a likeable protagonist. It was not. There was some love of film but the lead was an unlikeable guy, a lot of depressing things happen and there’s not much to smile about. 5/10 - 1/21/2024
- DirectorJohn SturgesStarsSusan PetersAlexander KnoxPhyllis ThaxterA jealous, manipulative stepmother confined to a wheelchair interferes with her stepchildren's romances so that they will not get married and leave home.Not much of a noir. Some nice visuals throughout but a so-so story. I had trouble getting into it. 5/10 - 1/21/2024
- DirectorHans RichterStarsJack BittnerLibby HolmanJosh WhiteAfter learning how to look inside himself, a poetic bum sells people vivid dreams.An interesting surreal experimental film from the 40s. The visuals were interesting as one might imagine from the surreal but there obviously was nothing resembling a story. I liked the combination of “black and white” and colour in the last skit, predating Pleasantville by over 50 years. Other skits seemed to be a concatenation of random visuals. I’m glad to have watched it once but it wasn’t enjoyable enough to really ever watch again. 6/10 - 1/22/2024
- DirectorGavin HoodStarsKeira KnightleyMatt SmithMatthew GoodeThe true story of a British whistleblower who leaked information to the press about an illegal NSA spy operation designed to push the UN Security Council into sanctioning the 2003 invasion of Iraq.An historically based thriller that lacked any real sense of urgency or thrills. The story was interesting and to be honest, I don’t remember there being a whistleblower back during the Iraq war so that aspect was new to me. Great cast at least. 6/10 - 1/22/2024
- DirectorJohn BrahmStarsLaird CregarMerle OberonGeorge SandersA landlady suspects that her new lodger is Jack the Ripper.Not particular scary or thrilling but gorgeous to look at. I absolutely love nighttime fog in black and white and this had that in spades. Very atmospheric. George Sanders is always good but I don’t feel that Laird Cregar made for a good foil. 6/10 - 1/22/2024
- DirectorAnders Thomas JensenStarsMads MikkelsenNikolaj Lie KaasAndrea Heick GadebergMarkus goes home to his teenage daughter, Mathilde, when his wife dies in a train crash. All appears to be a tragic accident until a mathematics geek, who was also a fellow passenger on the train, and his two colleagues show up.Pretty enjoyable film anchored by the presence and bad-assery of Mads Mikkelsen. There was also a bit of an odd couple relationship between Mads and the nerds as they are hunting those responsible. Okay comedic elements as well. 8/10 - 1/23/2024
- DirectorOh-Seung KwonStarsJin Ki-jooWi Ha-joonPark HoonA serial killer ruthlessly hunts down a deaf woman through the streets of South Korea after she witnesses his brutal crime.Another film to add to the deaf/mute woman thriller genre along with Mute Witness and Hush. This one was a serial killer stalking deaf woman thriller and much like other serial killer films out of South Korea, was pretty good. Good level of tension and suspense and made some good use of lack of hearing / silence to aid in that. Some moments were a bit clichéd and the ending was drawn out a bit much. Overall though, an enjoyable watch. 8/10 - 1/23/2024
- DirectorJimmy ChinElizabeth Chai VasarhelyiStarsAnnette BeningJodie FosterAnne Marie KempfThe remarkable true story of athlete Diana Nyad who, at the age of 60 and with the help of her best friend and coach, commits to achieving her life-long dream: a 110-mile open ocean swim from Cuba to Florida.Fascinating look at someone crazy enough to want to swim 60 hours straight with threats of sharks, jellyfish, dehydration and losing 20 lbs in that time. The logistics of it were pretty crazy. Acting was strong, although I feel Bening was overacting it a bit similar to her in Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool. The cinematography almost seemed hyper realistic in parts: as if I could see every pock and zit or something. The story was a bit repetitive as it chronicled all the attempts. 7/10 - 1/23/2024
- DirectorGabriele MainettiStarsClaudio SantamariaAurora GiovinazzoPietro CastellittoRome, 1943: Matilde, Cencio, Fulvio and Mario are the main attractions of the "Mezza Piotta Circus" run by Israel, meanwhile someone starts looking for the four freaks with a plan that could change the fate of the whole world.Kind of an Italian X Men knock off set during World War II against the nazis. Except the nudity is far more explicit and there’s not nearly enough mutant combat. Even the mutants themselves are very similar to their Marvel counterparts. There were some interesting things like the “Cassandra” mutant who could see the future and occasionally performed piano pieces of future works to an unsuspecting crowd (I swear I heard Radiohead in there). An entertaining but perhaps too long film. 7/10 - 1/24/2024
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsJason SchwartzmanScarlett JohanssonTom HanksFollowing a writer on his world famous fictional play about a grieving father who travels with his tech-obsessed family to small rural Asteroid City to compete in a junior stargazing event, only to have his world view disrupted forever.The film is great if you like to watch Wes Anderson trademark visuals and quirky dialogue and comedy. Bonus if you like a great cast including many of his regular players. Story itself wasn’t great and not all that interesting. 6/10 - 1/24/2024
- DirectorMeshal Al JaserStarsAdwa BaderYazeed AlmajyulKhalid Bin ShaddadStranded amid Riyadh's desert dunes, Sarah, a local Saudi girl, escapes heartaches and the vengeance of a vigorous camel after discreetly sneaking out of her parent's home for a romantic date that landed her astray.I guess I’m not really sure what I was expecting out of this. Maybe a more coherent storyline and an actual thriller. This was like some drug induced trip with dizzying camerawork and editing and occasional strobing. The music used was okay I guess. 3/10 - 1/24/2024
- DirectorW.S. Van DykeStarsClaudette ColbertJames StewartGuy KibbeeWhen a tycoon (Ernest Truex) is accused of murder, the private eye (James Stewart) tracking him finds himself roped in as an accessory and attempts to evade police, kidnapping a poetess (Claudette Colbert) along the way.A rough around the edges screwball comedy that felt like it should have been funnier, given the cast. Stewart felt like proto-George Bailey with his mannerisms and delivery. Some scenes felt very dated. It was alright but not great. 6/10 - 1/19/2024
- DirectorJohn FarrowStarsDiana DorsRod SteigerTom TryonA gold-digger floozy marries a wealthy wine producer but she secretly takes a young lover with whom she conspires to murder her husband for his fortune.This was not … good. Stilted dialogue and delivery. Dull. Dors looked great but she’s been in much better things. 4/10 - 1/24/2024
- DirectorSidney HayersStarsJoan CollinsJames BoothRay BarrettA family plots to take its revenge on the man who raped and murdered their daughter.Decent little revenge film. It had a strong opening setup as they departed the funeral and a somewhat unexpected ending. The middle sagged a bit however as they dealt with their temporary guest. I want to say it loosely reminded me of Prisoners. 7/10 - 1/25/2024
- DirectorNicholas D. JohnsonWill MerrickStarsTim GriffinAva Zaria LeeNia LongAfter her mother goes missing, a young woman tries to find her from home, using tools available to her online.I really love this “screens” style of filmmaking. It still feels fresh and interesting. The story was pretty engaging as well with lots of twists and some emotional heart as well. Best use of Hey Siri in a movie. 9/10 - 1/25/2024
- DirectorBradley CooperStarsCarey MulliganBradley CooperMatt BomerThis love story chronicles the lifelong relationship of conductor-composer Leonard Bernstein and actress Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein.Sort of artfully stylish (occasionally) but a vacant story. I was often distracted by Cooper’s bad accent and prosthetic nose and wonder why he bothered. I found most dialogue in the film to be like a quiet drone … there wasn’t much energy to anything. Further, not really a fan of most of the music. I found Bernstein’s Wikipedia entry for more informative and entertaining than this film. 5/10 - 1/25/2024
- DirectorShinzô KatayamaStarsJirô SatôAoi ItôHiroya ShimizuDepressed and in debt, Satoshi tells his young daughter that he's going to find an infamous serial killer and collect a reward. However, when Satoshi disappears without a trace, she starts to fear the worse and begins searching for him.Japanese serial killer film that goes in unexpected directions. Bloody and occasionally perverse, it was interesting to see where it was going. Story was told in a somewhat disjointed manner. 7/10 - 1/25/2024
- DirectorJohn WooStarsJoel KinnamanKid CudiHarold TorresA grieving father enacts his long-awaited revenge against a ruthless gang on Christmas Eve.I had better hopes for a John Woo film. I expected bad ass vengeful action but got Blue Ruin level skill for Kinnaman’s character and most of the runtime taken up with training instead of actually getting that sweet vengeance. I wouldn’t say the pay off was that great either. The fight scenes were fairly average. 5/10 - 1/26/2024
- DirectorBenny ChanShane Comley-WhiteStarsDonnie YenNicholas TseLan QinBong is a hardline cop with a long history of success, but his past comes back to haunt him when a sting is attacked by a group led by his former protégé, a man set on destroying everyone who ever wronged him.Monotonous HK action film made disappointing by having Donnie Yen in it while simultaneously not doing Donnie Yen awesome things. Characters all felt underdeveloped which isn’t always a problem in an action film but then the fight scenes have to be jaw dropping (which they were not). So in the end, an average and forgettable film that felt too long. 5/10 - 1/26/2024
- DirectorChris BuckFawn VeerasunthornStarsAriana DeBoseChris PineAlan TudykA young girl named Asha wishes on a star and gets a more direct answer than she bargained for when a trouble-making star comes down from the sky to join her.Simple and average story but an interesting animation style. It’s as if it were a mix of traditional animation that had been computerized. The story was rather bland and Chris Pine’s villain was very one dimensional but at least there were various references to other (better) Disney films. 6/10 - 1/26/2024
- DirectorAlain RobakStarsEmmanuelle EscourrouChristian SinnigerJean-François GallotteWhen a strange creature crawls into a woman's uterus she becomes a killer in order to feed the tiny terror growing within her.Kind of a ridiculous story which makes it kind of a comedy but it is also extremely bloody. Much of the film is the lead actress talking to her unborn alien baby, covered in blood and frequently nude or partially nude. It was pretty entertaining. 7/10 - 1/26/2024
- DirectorSoi CheangStarsKa-Tung LamYase LiuMason LeeRookie policeman Will Ren and his partner, the veteran cop Cham Lau, are pursuing an obsessive and especially brutal murderer of women.A grimy and mucky serial killer thriller enhanced by the use of black and white. It had some Se7en vibes minus the complex villain as you had your grizzled veteran and plucky rookie cop going after the mysterious killer severing limbs. The film had copious amount of rainfall to aid in the aesthetic. A decent film that could have possibly used some better editing so that it didn’t feel like it dragged in some spots. 7/10 - 1/27/2024
- DirectorFrank LaunderStarsAlastair SimJoyce GrenfellGeorge ColeThe schoolgirls of St. Trinian's are more interested in racing forms than books; as they try to get rich quick, they are abetted by the headmistress' brother.Felt different than the remake and had a heavier focus on the Fritton siblings than the girls themselves. The film does cement Alastair Sim as a comedic actor as he plays both the sister and the brother. Bonus points for the film containing young and old Ebenezer Scrooge in the same scenes (George Cole and Sim). Overall, the film wasn’t as engaging as the remake. 6/10 - 1/27/2024
- DirectorStephen ChowLik-Chi LeeStarsStephen ChowAnita YuenKar-Ying LawA Chinese spy who's been out of service for ten years whilst making a living as a butcher is sent to Hong Kong to locate a stolen Tyrannosaurus rex skull.Kind of funny kind of not. It’s clear Chow is doing his best to honour Bond, even if not every joke hits. The theme song was so close to the original I wonder how they even got the rights to it. But it sounded cool, even with its minor changes. What I did find missing though was the martial arts I came to expect after Chow’s other films. 5/10 - 1/27/2024
- DirectorMaggie GyllenhaalStarsOlivia ColmanJessie BuckleyDakota JohnsonA woman's beach vacation takes a dark turn when she begins to confront the troubles of her past.The directorial style was decent: it reminded me of how We Need to Talk About Kevin was framed. That being said, I wasn’t a fan of the claustrophobic / out of focus style used during moments of passion. Acting was okay but story was a bit long for what you got out of it. 6/10 - 1/28/2024
- DirectorAngel Manuel SotoStarsXolo MaridueñaBruna MarquezineBecky GAn alien scarab chooses Jaime Reyes to be its symbiotic host, bestowing the recent college graduate with a suit of armor that's capable of extraordinary powers, forever changing his destiny as he becomes the superhero known as Blue Beetle.Kind of a poor man’s Iron Man from DC. It suffered a weak villain and the story had no real stakes, other than the suit itself. Action was very bland. Also when you have a movie about an alien battle mech suit that looks a scarab, why would you call yourself something so banal as Blue Beetle? 5/10 - 1/28/2024
- DirectorEmma TammiStarsJosh HutchersonPiper RubioElizabeth LailA troubled security guard begins working at Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. During his first night on the job, he realizes that the night shift won't be so easy to get through. Pretty soon he will unveil what actually happened at Freddy's.Surprisingly boring for a “horror” film. You’d think creepy looking animal robots would inspire frightening scenes but they did not. A relatively tame and bloodless film. 5/10 - 1/28/2024
- DirectorThom ZimnyStarsSylvester StalloneFrank StalloneJohn HerzfeldThe nearly fifty year prolific career of Sylvester Stallone, who has entertained millions, is seen in retrospective in an intimate look of the actor, writer, director-producer, paralleling with his inspirational life story.Enjoyable documentary if you like Sly and want to learn more about him. It breaks no real ground in style and there’s nothing really thought provoking said either. 7/10 - 1/29/2024
- DirectorTerrence MalickStarsChristian BaleCate BlanchettNatalie PortmanA writer indulging in all that Los Angeles and Las Vegas have to offer, undertakes a search for love and self via a series of adventures with six different women.Heavenly skyward shots. POV tracking shots. Dutch angles. Grand music. Full of monologue voice overs. Totally a Malick film. Unfortunately the story was so-so as you might expect. Some cool shots as Bale is womanizing his way through life. Cast was pretty awesome with lots of name stars. Visually worth watching at least once. 6/10 - 1/29/2024
- DirectorMstyslav ChernovStarsMstyslav ChernovEvgeniy MaloletkaLiudmyla AmelkinaAs the Russian invasion begins, a team of Ukrainian journalists trapped in the besieged city of Mariupol struggle to continue their work documenting the war's atrocities.Harrowing documentary that could be construed as horror. Disturbing images permeate throughout reflecting the horrors of war. Sobering to watch. 8/10 - 1/29/2024
- DirectorKristine PetersonStarsDavid BradleyElizabeth GracenJeff YagherA depressive woman who is happening through difficult times becomes the object of desire of a security guard who reads her diary and is then obsessed her sexual fantasies.I was hoping for something like P2 but got some sort of awkward security guard crushing on the lead. Kills weren’t very good. Acting was kind of bad. A bit disappointing. 5/10 - 1/29/2024
- DirectorTae-hwa EomStarsLee Byung-hunPark Seo-joonPark Bo-youngSurvivors from a massive earthquake struggle for a new life in Seoul.For a post-apocalypse feeling sort of movie, it sure was dull and overly long. Some scenes of destruction but they needed to amp that up more. Also needed more blood and interesting characters. 4/10 - 1/30/2024
- DirectorMakoto ShinkaiStarsNanoka HaraHokuto MatsumuraEri FukatsuA modern action adventure road story where a 17-year-old girl named Suzume helps a mysterious young man close doors from the other side that are releasing disasters all over in Japan.A story about a girl, her pet chair and her cat, as they chase after a cloud worm bent on causing cataclysmic destruction. Sounds better than it was. Music didn’t quite work for me. Would have liked something more like Loki’s soundtrack from season 1. It also didn’t have the sense of urgency and creepiness to what amounts to a supernatural cause for natural disasters. The animation was interesting to look at at least. 6/10 - 1/30/2024
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsMatthew McConaugheyCharlie HunnamMichelle DockeryAn American expat tries to sell off his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.It wasn’t as stylish or had as good a soundtrack as his early films, but this film was still pretty decent and had a good cast playing an assortment of characters. I’d also say it started off average but finished off well. 7/10 - 1/30/2024
- DirectorAlbert PyunStarsJohn StockwellJ. Eddie PeckCarey LowellA rebel without a cause at an elite uptight High School discovers some of his classmates have formed an even more elite clique hell-bent on ridding the school of what they deem to be its undesirables because of ethnicity, politics, etc.Not much of a story. It sort of meandered trying to set up some show down between The Sentinels and some outcasts. It took its sweet time getting there and you’re like Are we there yet?!? Soundtrack was okay as 80s soundtracks usually are. Heard some Depeche Mode in there. Otherwise meh. 5/10 - 1/30/2024
- DirectorKeishi OtomoStarsTakeru SatohMackenyuEmi TakeiKenshin's past catches up to him causing the destruction of Akabeko Restaurant, which was Kenshin's favorite place to eat. There, he finds a note with the word "Junchu" on it.I can’t believe how big the series is that this is from considering how blah it really was. Maybe I’ve been spoiled on films like The Raid, Chocolate or Ip Man, but the fighting here was nothing special. The film itself was bloated with too much story (the run time was so long) and it had a very bland soundtrack. 4/10 - 1/31/2024