Thoughts on 5 Films

1. My Policeman - I don't think Harry Styles is as bad as a lot of critics claimed in Don't Worry Darling, I think he was just up against an acting force (Florence Pugh), so it felt worse than it actually was. But, I'm assuming that the 3000+ 5 star ratings for this movie on Letterboxd are Harry Styles fans, and that is super annoying (I mean, I'm obsessed with Taron Egerton but I wouldn't rate Robin Hood (2018) 5 stars. Heck, I didn't even rate Rocketman 5 stars and that's one of my favorite movies of the last decade!). I didn't really like this movie, there's nothing really necessarily wrong with it, but I just found it terribly boring. It reminded me of The Notebook combined a little with The Talented Mr. Ripley. Except that both of those movies had my attention instantly and this almost made me feel sleepy in the first 10 minutes. And whether you like Styles acting or not, he's by far the more interesting actor in this. I was interested to see Emma Corrin in something else because I absolutely hated their performance as Princess Diana (I seem to be the only one, which stuns me). They are terrible in this too - it's like a robot trying to show emotions by fake smiling in the most awkward way possible (and this is what they did in The Crown too - I think people gave them way too much credit with the coy smile acting, but I found it grating). The other guy acts too weaselly for me to root for his happiness and I don't think that's the intent. It's a good story, but I would have preferred some repercussions for Corrin's character's disgusting actions. It's awful that she seemingly gets to walk away and live a more fulfilling life. Otherwise, I will admit that I love a passionate sex scene, and this one really does it well. That's about the only good part of the movie.

2. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story - I can't say that I'm the biggest Weird Al fan; I actually find most of his song parodies obnoxious. But, I do respect the hustle - and he is uniquely and unapologetically himself. There are a few things that are really brilliantly done with this biopic - first, casting Daniel Radcliffe is perfect. I was not a fan of the Harry Potter movies, but since then Radcliffe has really chosen some unexpected roles and he's excelled in them all. Honestly, I instantly became a fan of his when he rapped "Alphabet Aerobics" on The Tonight Show - it was so unexpected. But I think, because of watching that and being wowed by it, I knew that he would shine as Weird Al. Second, I really dig the way it perfectly encompasses everything that Weird Al does - just relentlessly parodies everything. Nothing in this movie can be taken with any grain of truth or seriousness - it's all just one big parody of biopics and it hits every point that every biopic does (and usually why I don't rate the genre very highly at all - Rocketman is an exception, of course). The poster is pretty conclusive as to its intentions and it is genius (literally a knock-off of the Bohemian Rhapsody poster). Third, the entire Madonna bit is hilarious from start to finish - the fact that Evan Rachel Wood's costume is like a Halloween version of Madonna will never not be funny to me (especially because as a child of the 80s, I dressed like Madonna for Halloween pretty much every year from 1988 until 1997, and then again at a college party in the 00s - and this is literally the outfit I wore). But also just the entire plot around her character just made me laugh hysterically - and then the end "Madonna Ciccone still at large". I cried with laughter. Otherwise, the rest of the movie is entertaining, but it goes quite batshit off the rails towards the end and not really in a good way. It just kind of loses its steam. On a side note, I can't believe that Julianne Nicholson plays mom to Weird Al and Marilyn Monroe in the same year! 

3. Causeway - I've seen Jennifer Lawrence give some great performances, but it's just so rare (I liked her in The Hunger Games and mother!, everything else I feel like she sleepwalks through- she's miserable in the X-Men films and she's miscast in most O. Russell movies - oh wait I think I liked her in Joy too? Maybe? I don't really remember it though, so that says a lot). This seemed to be advertised as her going back to her roots and focusing on "acting", which is kind of funny if you think about the fact that she's, like, 30 years old. But I also don't think quieter performances necessarily mean better performances, and I don't think her acting is anything special here. I kind of feel like she has a hard time being a "normal" person. That sounds mean, but even her walk is weird. I think she may have been pregnant while filming some of this, but she walks as if she has a huge belly sticking out (and she doesn't), but I also question if it's supposed to be part of her "traumatic brain injury" that was caused by an explosion even though she has absolutely no physical injuries or scars at all. AGAIN, a traumatic brain injury from AN EXPLOSION and she still looks like that. Anyway, she is outshined by Brian Tyree Henry (he should have like 5 Emmys for Atlanta), but overall, the film is lacking substance. It's a sweet movie, but just very mediocre and forgettable. Also, I would totally rather clean pools than work in an office to be fair. But do pool cleaners really swim in people's pools?? Because that's so creepy. And *spoiler* why on Earth would she encourage a man missing a limb to swim in a pool in the dark when it's just the two of them? She physically would not be able to save him if things went south. That's just dumb. 

4. Goodnight Mommy - I liked this movie. Probably because it was better than I was expecting based on the reviews. Apparently it's a remake of an Australian movie that I haven't seen, but I may seek out now based on this. The premise is super fucking creepy, and Naomi Watts is spectacular (but probably deserves better films than this? What's going on with her career? I don't feel like she's been given worthy parts in at least 5 years. I haven't watched that new show Watcher yet but fun fact I live 2.5 miles away from "The Watcher" house! EEEEEK!). I also think the kids did a really good job - I recognize the one kid from The Boys. I think it's made really well, in that you don't really know who to believe, but also I think it's pretty obvious that ****major spoiler ahead**** Lucas doesn't exist (I figured he was either dead or an imaginary friend). But even if you figured that out, it's still unclear if this woman is actually their mother or not. I wasn't really expecting how dark it got, though. And the ending is super dark, which I loved. It does rely on dream sequences a little too much, but the first dream sequence with her taking off her skin is so well-done. Overall, I think it's weird that this received such bad reviews - it's super creepy, well-acted, beautifully filmed. A solid 3 star movie (which by my standards means good!).

5. Catherine Called Birdy - It's been a long time since a movie completely drained me of any and all energy. I actually started to fall asleep so I stopped it, took a nap, then forced myself to watch the rest. There is just nothing fresh about it. I can't stand Lena Dunham, but it seems like a lot of other people who hate her still concede that this is a good movie, but they are all wrong (I mean, not actually "wrong" because opinions of film can't be wrong, but sometimes they can be...ya know?). And I've heard the name Bella Ramsey before, but I've never connected who it was - and ugh...finding out she's the little girl from Game of Thrones is not a good thing in my book (the acting on that show was the worst part about it). I'm not a fan, mostly because she talks in this really accentuated unnatural way that makes my ears hurt and she kind of reminds me of Lena, which is obviously not a good thing but I'm going to stop now because criticizing a child feels wrong (even though she'll need to get used to it if she wants to continue acting). I wish Billie Piper was in this more because I LOVE her (she's in one of my favorite series of all-time, Secret Diary of a Call Girl). I'm a little confused, though, by the casting of her brother because he looks like he's of Asian descent (maybe Indian?), but definitely not like either parent - so I thought maybe the mom had an affair or something but it's never mentioned? I'm all for diverse casting - but it still needs to make sense....biologically? Anyway, here are some good things about the movie: The soundtrack is very cute ("My Boyfriend's Back", etc.), Joe Alwyn has charisma galore, there is one really, really funny moment when she sees the hot monks and starts stroking the Jesus on the cross statue. I literally laughed for like a 10 minutes (but then I went to sleep LOL). 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Bullet Train - This is quite fun. Really convoluted and ridiculous, but quite fun nonetheless. I don't want to talk about the Brad Pitt thing, but I feel like it's necessary - I think it's interesting that there really hasn't been much talk of any so-called "cancellation" after the details of Jolie's abuse allegations were made public. It was like one day of headlines, but no real outcry from the usually vocal crowd. Part of me feels like he's just too big of a movie star and Hollywood definitely needs movie stars right now (this is also why I think Tom Cruise remains as popular as ever even with his Scientology background. People are willing to ignore what they want to ignore when it's convenient). And part of me thinks that maybe we're just waiting for more to come to light. You know how I often go into personal tangents sometimes?? Well, I had this whole huge personal story relating to this incident, but then I deleted it all because we just don't know the truth - and we probably never will. So, I'm just going to move along and talk about the movie. Pitt is the epitome of a movie star, in my opinion, even more so than Tom Cruise (I know many disagree) and he just shines in this - a mix of action and comedy, with his character exuding charm and wit in every turn. But the film is definitely elevated by the talent of the supporting cast and cameo appearances. I think it's been well-established that Brian Tyree Henry and Aaron Taylor-Johnson steal the movie. While the accents are wild, they definitely have a comedic chemistry that is undeniable and super fun to watch (I will be shocked if they don't get a spin-off prequel). Bad Bunny and Zazie Beetz have some really entertaining scenes, Joey King is finally in a role that matches her talent, plus *spoiler* cameo appearances from Ryan Reynolds and Channing Tatum, as well as the expected one from Sandra Bullock (if you don't know Sandy B's voice instantly then we probably wouldn't be friends). I do think it's all a bit predictable how it will all turn out, but there are still some surprises along the way. Also, it's a bit weird to have SO MANY white people in Tokyo (there are literally more white people than there are Japanese people in this movie. Set in Tokyo.). The ending drags a bit, but otherwise just solid fun throughout. 

2. Barbarian - *slightly spoilery* While I think some of the reviews and praise are a little overboard, I did really like this. It's very well-made, structured in such a way that truly takes a turn that I don't think anyone can predict, and has a really strong central performance by Georgina Campbell (a relative newcomer - at least I think? She doesn't look very familiar to me). I was definitely skeptical of the beginning - although I enjoy that it's about an Airbnb fucking up a booking, because fuck Airbnb - I can't wait until that company burns to the ground. But, in all reality, there is just no fucking way this woman would EVER enter that house. It's just plain idiotic - and the "setup" for her being practically forced to enter is even more stupid (all the hotels in the entire greater area of Detroit - a major city - are booked for a conference. Sorry, but even if there were 20 conferences, there would still be a hotel. Or just drive to a busier area and sleep in your car - that would be safer than entering a house with a strange man inside). But, if you get past that - and just "go with it", it does present a good start to a horror movie. I guess we're then supposed to think this woman is brilliant because she takes a picture of his driver's license and doesn't drink the tea he makes her. I kind of figured that Bill Skarsgard was not going to be the villain of the movie - it's just too easy. But, casting him in the role, will definitely make the audience question his intentions (sorry, but he is instantly creepy). The film starts to take an even more horrifying turn when she goes into the very creepy basement (again, wouldn't be me), and it is really effectively done with the pace of the scene, the music, and then her slowly pulling on the rope (I screamed "NOOOO" as my heart began to race). AND THEN. Well, if you've seen it, then you know. But, if you haven't - you will think you know where the story is going, but you will be wrong. And you will be horrified. It drastically takes another turn by introducing Justin Long's character as an uber-douchebag, just defying expectations at every moment. I also think there is some great commentary on how society treats the homeless/the mentally ill/people they assume are drug addicts, etc., and it's definitely not a coincidence that it uses Detroit as the location - a city that continues to struggle with segregation, a constant housing crisis, and economic devastation (if you're not familiar, Collider did a fairly simple but thorough article: https://collider.com/barbarian-detroit-housing-crisis/). Overall, it's a very solid horror movie - one of my favorites of the year (and as a lot of people have pointed out 2022 has been a very good year for horror!). 

3. The Good Nurse - I think with this, I've come to realize that I don't like Eddie Redmayne. Like, it's kind of crazy that he has an Oscar, if you think about it. I think I did like him in The Theory of Everything (which is what he won his Oscar for), but he has not been good in anything else, and in fact, has been absolutely terrible in almost everything I've seen him in (The Danish Girl, Jupiter Ascending, the Fantastic Beasts movies). He's, once again, very awful in this. His American accent is unbearable. But the saving grace, as per usual, is of course, Jessica Chastain. If she wasn't giving such a strong performance, I may have fallen asleep about 1/2 way through. It's an interesting story; just not told in any exciting way. The beginning is a little suspenseful - which is exciting because I wasn't expecting it (I actually had no idea what this was about before watching it - just that it starred Chastain and Redmayne and *somehow* they are *not* playing siblings???). It's based on a true story, but if you aren't familiar and don't want to be spoiled, then *warning spoilers ahead*. I think this could have been better as a miniseries, and maybe if we got to know the victims a little bit; maybe some more information about just how he kept getting away with murder, etc. Although his reason for murdering people is quite chilling ("they didn't stop me"). The whole thing is quite chilling actually - we put so much trust in certain professions, like nurses, it's unfathomable that someone can just keep hopping from hospital to hospital killing people (and even crazier that he admitted to 29 murders, but they think the number is closer to 400. How does it jump that far??). It does start to get intense once she starts helping the case - like when he just shows up to see her daughters. I just wish it had more depth, more insight, something to make it memorable. 

4. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent- This was a little disappointing for me. I'm not the biggest Nicolas Cage fan - I'm not not a fan, but I don't belong to the cult of his fanbase. I do think he's been great in some films (and some of his films are among my all-time faves - like Face/Off). BUT, I am a HUGE Pedro Pascal fan. I saw the trailer for this before The Lost City and I thought it looked really good. And fun. I think a lot of movies are missing the "fun" part nowadays (The Lost City is a great example of a movie that focused on being fun). Plus, it mostly got good reviews (even some 5 star reviews from people who I usually agree with!). But ultimately, they showed most of the actual fun parts in the trailer, and overall, I was a little bored. It's a great concept, but the whole meta thing has been done a billion times and other than the Nic Cage/Nick Cage thing, there really isn't anything special here. It's very predictable and seems to drag on forever. Pascal has a tendency to over-act sometimes (see: Wonder Woman 1984), but I think it works up against Cage in this. I've said it multiple times, but I really don't like Tiffany Haddish and I totally forgot that she was in the trailer, so I loudly groaned with disgust when she appears. However, she's not that bad here - I don't think she's really given much to do, so she really makes no impact on the film whatsoever. Other thoughts I had while watching this: (1) I hate the CGI de-aging stuff with a passion. It's awful here - Cage talking to his past self is completely unnecessary and could have just been easily cut altogether. (2) I totally forgot Monica Potter was in Con Air (another GREAT Nic Cage movie). I met her about 13 or so years ago and she was lovely. (3) The shot in which Cage is looking at a statue of his face and then the images merge together is fucking gorgeous. Seriously, what a shot! (4) I'm sorry, but people who cite Paddington 2 as a perfect movie really need to get their shit together (I'm not actually sorry *shrugs*). (5) *spoiler* LOL at the Demi Moore cameo. 

5. See How They Run - I liked this a lot, but I do question whether I would have liked it as much if it didn't star two of my favorite actors - Saoirse Ronan and Sam Rockwell. They are a match made in heaven with this film - seriously, I could probably watch them banter back and forth for hours without getting bored. Just delightful. Plus, I really like Ronan doing something a bit different, and showing her comedic timing. The film itself, is a very typical whodunit mystery in the same vein as Clue or Once Upon a Crime, both of which I loved - so for me, I was entertained for this. It kind of felt like a less quirky Wes Anderson film (which can be both good and bad, depending on how you feel about Wes Anderson). Aside from Ronan & Rockwell, there are some other really strong supporting actors - Ruth Wilson, David Oleyowo, etc., but there are also some actors that I simply don't like - Harris Dickinson has the charisma of a garbage bag. How is he getting roles? I'll just never understand. And Adrien Brody is a decent actor, most of the time, but that doesn't mean that I have to like him. He's incredibly annoying and full of himself, and an entitled asshole. Anyway, there are some really, really funny stand-out moments and colorful characters. My favorite bit is when Rockwell learns that the cops don't have guns in England and he responds "but how do they kill the bad guys?" and then later they callback to it with Ronan yelling at the "bad guy", "stop! in the name of the law!". There are also a lot of references to Agatha Christie (as it is a centerpiece of the film - a murder in a theater that is running a play based on one of her stories. She's even a character in the film), my favorite being when a character says casually "perhaps they were all in it together, sir" and then shrugs it off. I think there are probably a lot of smaller moments of reference and funny bits that I would probably pick up on a second watch. 

Thoughts on 5 New TV Shows

1. House of the Dragon - I'm so mad that I started watching this fucking show. I had no plans to watch it, but then reviews starting rolling in and everyone started saying great things about it (some even giving it 10 out of 10 *AHEM*), so I was like "well I guess I have to watch it!". But I definitely didn't. It's so blah. Every single thing that has happened so far has been incredibly predictable (I'm on episode 6, I think) and I hate every single character. I will say that the acting is FAR better than it was on Game of Thrones, though, so thank fuck for that (90% of the acting on GoT was awful - the only exceptions were Dinklage and Headey). I usually do prefer when they do time jumps that they get new actors instead of aging or de-aging the actors, but it's super weird that they only replace the two main actresses. And it's even weirder that the "older" actresses don't look that much older than the younger versions. I do love Olivia Cooke though - she's definitely a big draw for me. I also think that the other actress is great too (sorry, I'm having a lazy day and don't feel like googling her name), but she also looks identical to Hunter Schafer from Euphoria (I honestly thought it was her until I saw someone else say she looked like Hunter - baffling that those are two different people!). Paddy Considine is one of the greats, obviously. My only real problem with the cast is obviously Matt Smith (I know I've mentioned several times how much I hate him). I know I'm in the minority with that one, but I honestly can't understand how anyone thinks he's hot, but also he's a terrible actor too! I also think it's absolutely psychotic that people root for this couple??? Just baffling. Anyway, I don't really expect it to get better, but I'm somehow still invested so I'll keep watching (obvi). 

2. Reboot - This is cute! I thought the idea of it was kind of dumb, but that cast drew me in! Rachel Bloom! Paul Reiser! JUDY GREER! ELIZA COUPE! All just terrific. Bloom is definitely the standout. Her and Reiser have incredible chemistry as father/daughter. And after watching the pilot episode, I no longer think the idea is dumb because it is definitely taking the "sitcom" in a new direction. We are getting this influx of reboots. The Fresh Prince, Saved by the Bell, Full House - all have reboots. And SURPRISE! You know what else apparently has a reboot?? Reiser's Mad About You! I found this out because I thought to myself "wow, I really miss Paul Reiser" (I know he's in Stranger Things, but he's not funny in that) and I used to LOVE Mad About You - so I googled if there was ever talk of a reboot and apparently it already exists! It's listed as a "Spectrum Original". What the fuck is that? Another streaming service?? Ugh. Anyway, back to this show, I think playing off of the "reboot" idea works really well. The show moves really quickly, has some great one-liners, is easy to binge-watch, and has some great back and forth between the different generations, with great commentary on what's considered "acceptable" within the comedy realm. It's also genuinely funny while also being fairly broad comedy (I honestly laughed out loud when he said he made reservations at "The O.G" and it's The Olive Garden). Also, my favorite TV dad shows up in the last episode (Sandy Cohen!). I can't wait for season 2 (*crosses fingers that there will be a season 2*)

3. American Gigolo - I have no idea how this ended up on my watchlist? I feel like I saw a trailer for it and it looked good, but it's not. At least so far. I think I'm on the 4th episode, but not much has happened other than someone getting murdered in the beginning. And then they just talk about it for 4 episodes. I'm waiting for the rest of the story to emerge, but I'm afraid that it's not going to? I like Jon Bernthal a lot, but I really, really, really like Gretchen Mol. I've always been a big fan of Rosie O'Donnell (I used to watch her talk show every single day. Recorded it on a VHS tape so that I could watch it after school), but she is giving one of the worst performances I've ever seen and it's making me sad. It's like she's trying too hard to be nonchalant, but it doesn't even make sense for the character because she's playing cop who actually cares about solving the case. It's so weird. I watched the movie version that the series is based on quite a while ago, and I don't really remember it, but I thought I liked it. It doesn't even feel like it's in the same universe as this show is, though. I also don't think the non-linear story is working at all - the timeline is confusing and so far none of the episodes have felt cohesive at all. On a side note - I'll never understand attractive women paying for sex, though. Like literally just go outside - an attractive man will have sex with you. For free! Anyway, I'm not really invested at all, but I'm hopeful that it will get better? Please? 

4. Andor - I was really looking forward to this. I LOVED Rogue One - honestly, it's one of my favorite Star Wars projects. I also LOVE Diego Luna, but was pleasantly surprised to find out that Adria Arjona is in this. Unfortunately, I'm not loving it. I don't dislike it, but I'm 4 episodes in and...not much has happened? I really like the vibe of it, though, because it feels kind of Blade Runner-esque. It's darker, more adult-like, but I'm also waiting for it to pull me in. Also, there is another actress in this that I really don't like - the one that's in that movie Monday (I didn't like her in that, but was willing to give her another chance, but I hate her in this too! Again, too lazy to google her name *shrugs*). She's kind of ruining things for me even more. I don't have much more to say about it but it's still early, though, and like I said, I like the vibe of it. 

5. Last Light - It's been a long time since I've been stuck watching a bad television show (and I mean genuinely bad, not like HotD, that is a well-made show that I just don't like. There's a big difference) - I've been much better at limiting my viewing, plus television is good now! Even some of the bad shows are good by comparison to actual bad shows (not sure that sentence makes sense, but it does in my head). But this is bad bad. Real bad. Luckily it's only 5 episodes long, so I'm not stuck watching it for 11 seasons (*ahem* The Walking Dead). And I think it's a mini-series and it received mostly terrible reviews (that I saw after watching it!), so it's doubtful that there will be another season of it. The reason I watched it is for Matthew Fox; I've been a fan since Party of Five, but even more so with Lost. He's an incredible actor and is waaaay underrated because he's known mostly for television and has never quite made the jump to solid film roles. Well, unfortunately, while watching this, I was bored and googled him out of curiosity because I *thought* he was one of the "good guys" in Hollywood, but apparently he might not be??? I never heard about the alleged assault (he was accused of punching a female bus driver) nor had I heard about the accusation from his Lost co-star that he "beats women", which is a pretty serious accusation to make for no reason? Also, I'm confused as to whether he is still with his wife - some websites still have them married (to the same woman for 30 years!), but some have them separated or divorced - but I couldn't find anything about him being abusive towards her. But again, there must have been a reason this accusation came to light? So disappointing, but I guess it's not that surprising anymore. Anyway, the reason the show is so bad is simply because it's boring. Like, so boring for a show about a global apocalypse type event. It's desperately trying for a World War Z kind of vibe, but it fails miserably. I do like the actress from Downton Abbey, though! I don't think I've ever seen her in anything else so it was a little jarring at first, but she's adorable. 

Thoughts on 5 Films

1. Stars at Noon - Well, Taron really dodged a bullet here didn't he? For those who don't know the backstory - Taron Egerton was supposed to star in this after Robert Pattinson dropped out due to Covid scheduling issues, and then Taron dropped out due to personal issues (his mom had Cancer). Obviously, I would have preferred Taron had no personal issues and continued in this role, but this ended up being very bad. I rated it two stars, but one of those stars is simply because I like both actors and they deserve better. Honestly, when I heard Taron took the role, I was skeptical about it (I've only seen one Claire Denis movie, High Life, and it was awful); it didn't seem the right role at the right time for him (yes, I have his entire career trajectory planned out in my head - and yes, the Netflix movie he is filming right now is the right move to get his name more recognizable). It was sort of ironic that Joe Alwyn took over the role because Taron has talked about not getting the lead role in Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk (another bullet dodged), and it really upset him (the role went to Alwyn). I really like Alwyn - he has a really strong screen presence, and he gives these really interesting, quiet, introspective performances. You can tell that there is a lot of emotion and thought in his eyes. I also really like Margaret Qualley. And like I said, they deserve better. There are so many choices in this movie that irked me beyond repair. Like the overwhelming elevator music when our two leads meet?? WHY? It's annoying. Also, both characters are very unlikeable and annoying - and I'm not even sure if that's supposed to be done on purpose? I feel like the audience is supposed to root for them? But nothing about their interactions feel genuine or authentic at all. I just don't buy any of it - the characters, the romance, the plot - none of it. Her hair is fabulous, though. And I love that they kept it very big and frizzy because that is, in fact, what her hair would look like in that humidity (probably the only thing that felt authentic in the whole movie). I do appreciate the sex scenes - I know more and more films are shying away from these steamy, but unnecessary sex scenes, but Denis seems to have no problem keeping it all in. I do wish that the leads had more chemistry (but again, I can't tell if this was done on purpose), because it makes even the steamiest scenes fall really flat. At least with High Life, there are a few stunning shots (actually there is one that I think about regularly), but this is ultimately very boring. There are so many unnecessary moments dragged out for seemingly no reason at all. And it's weird that there is all of this political commentary in the backdrop, which I'm not familiar with (political strife in Nicaragua), but this movie is definitely not helpful at understanding any of it. A little background would have helped immensely. I'm a little annoyed that I paid to rent this - I'm very good at waiting it out, until it's released onto one of the streaming services I already pay for, but I was really curious about this so I became impatient - and it definitely wasn't worth it. 

2. Beast - This was way better than I expected. Not necessarily a great movie, and probably not something that I will remember years from now - but it was very tense and entertaining, with some strong performances. It's kind of like The Grey, more action-packed, but the allegory is still there - with battling a "beast" as a way of seeking redemption for not being a good husband or father. Idris Elba is very good, as expected, but the actresses who play his daughters really stood out for me. I'm really against any kind of zoos or even those open zoo things that call themselves "safaris" (there is one in NJ that is part of Great Adventure I think, but obviously it's not an actual safari - it's in NJ for fuck sake!), but I would LOVE to go on an actual safari adventure and see animals in their natural wild habitat. But I am also convinced that lions would love me - like they would sense my aura and know that I'm not a threat (I *know* that's not how it works, but...still...maybe??). The movie gets a little boring and repetitive, because obviously they are not going to kill off the kids, but I was still entertained for its entirety. I also laughed hysterically when he punches the lion (somehow so much funnier than when Neeson punches a wolf). I also like the little Jurassic Park references (the daughter's t-shirt and the ending is definitely a reference - expected, but brilliant!). 

3. Rosaline - This is super cute! I would have been obsessed with this if it came out during my teenage years. I'm a bit of a Shakespeare junkie now, but I was a huge Shakespeare nerd as a teen. And I LOVED (and still love) movies that adapt Shakespeare for a modern world - like 10 Things I Hate About You (which is The Taming of the Shrew) and speaking of that movie, someone on Letterboxd pointed out that Kyle Allen (who stars as Romeo) looks like Heath Ledger and HOW HAVE I NOT NOTICED THAT BEFORE?!! He's such a cutie! But the resemblance is uncanny. Anyway, this doesn't do the modern story thing, but instead focuses on a side character - which has been done before, probably most famously with Rosencrantz And Guildenstern are Dead. Rosaline is Juliet's bff in Romeo & Juliet, but believes the greatest romance in history, should have been her story. They modernize the language and change the plot in really fun ways (especially the tragic end - probably would have made this "cute" story less "cute" if they both commit suicide LOL), and I dug it all. I've said this before, but it stands even more so now, Kaitlyn Dever is A STAR. Ditto for Isabela Merced. The cast work together really well in this. The whole thing is just very likeable. 

4. Blackout - I really like Josh Duhamel and Abbie Cornish, but obviously this got some terrible reviews. It even has a 1.7 star rating on Letterboxd (a site in which users regularly hand out 5 star reviews to movies they simply "like"). So, I knew going in that this was bottom of the barrel type stuff. And yet I still pressed play because I was in the mood for a quick trashy action thriller before going to bed and this fit the bill. Both Duhamel and Cornish should have much bigger careers. They definitely carry the movie because literally everything else about it is God-awful. The supporting actors, including Nick Nolte, are terrible. The story just...starts, with no real set-up, plot or character introductions - and then never addresses any of these essential elements for a movie. I think it's trying to be a bit like The Raid, especially with some of that wild camera work, but it just fails miserably. The worst part, though, is that they have Abbie in this white button down shirt that clearly doesn't fit her - and it's not even in a sexy too tight sort of way. It's just ill-fitting and unflattering (and anyone in costuming or wardrobing knows not to put a button down on a woman with larger breasts unless it's specifically designed for larger breasts...it's styling 101). Anyway, I did laugh hysterically at one part - when Nolte is flabbergasted that nobody noticed Duhamel who he describes as a "6 foot 3 Ken Doll". 

5. Raymond & Ray - Mildly interesting, but never really goes to the depths that it could - and instead opts for a more "ew" factor than an emotional one. But before I get into that, let's talk about Ewan McGregor and Ethan Hawke for a second. It's genius to cast them as brothers because for some really weird reason, I get them confused all the time. More so when I was a teenager in the 90s and they were becoming very popular then. It's such an odd phenomenon because they look nothing alike, and certainly don't talk alike (one is from Scotland and one is from Texas!), but I'm seemingly not the only one who thinks this. The story is about these two estranged brothers who have to bury their also estranged father - but, it's such a weird story, because can't they just...not do it? Like, if their dad was actually that bad, and they have no connection to him, then who cares what happens to him after he dies? Why do people have this weird obligation to do things for people simply because you share DNA? But I get the impact of having closure and finding forgiveness, etc., but the story just moves so slowly. However, back to the "ew" part - *spoiler ahead* one of the brothers has sex with his dad's girlfriend??? WHY? There are millions of women in the world to have sex with. It's so gross and it makes me physically ill to think about - so I'm just going to erase it from my memory. I truly worry for Apple film content (their tv and miniseries are superb, though), 90% of their films have been mediocre at best.