Author: coolpapae
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IT (*****) is a triumph of skill and understanding
This should be on everyone’s list of top films, even in this banner year for movies. IT is a triumph of skill and understanding what it is to move human beings.
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Adams and Jefferson on Vertigo and Aliens in 70mm
Some movies really deserve to be seen on a screen as big as the directors’ ambitions.
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Mississippi Grind (****1/2) – Wind it out
Mississippi Grind – 2016 Written and Directed by Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck Starring Ryan Reynolds, Ben Mendelsohn, Sienna Miller, Analeigh Tipton, Alfre Woodard, Robin Weigert, James Toback “How much do you owe?” “A lot.” “To who?” “Everyone.” This is the rallying cry that brings a burgeoning friendship between Gerry and Curtis to the decision of throwing their lots together and…
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The Guest (****) While we’re on Adam Wingard…
The strength of the film is in the script and Wingard exploring the range of his lead antagonist.
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Death Note (***) is Pandora’s Box by another name
Director Adam Wingard Screenplay by Charles Parlapanides, Vlas Parlapanides, Jeremy Slater Starring Nat Wolff, Lakeith Stanfield, Margaret Qualley, Shea Whigham, Paul Nakauchi, Jason Liles, Willem Dafoe Before we go too far in any direction, this film is not great. It’s not a giant disappointment, though. It is just a little one. Anyone who has time to accuse the filmmakers of whitewashing the original material…
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Midnight Runners (***): I think I’ve figured out how to be sweet
I am aware through a myopic lens of a lifetime watching baseball that Korean men can be a little different than their American brethren. To what degrees can vary by age, but it seems to me that in Korean pop culture, any man younger than 25 can be just as likely be seen holding a…
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Annabelle: Creation (***1/2) Altered Formula
Annabelle: Creation – 2017 Director David F. Sandberg Screenplay Gary Dauberman Starring Stephanie Sigman, Talitha Bateman, Anthony LaPaglia, Miranda Otto, LuLu Wilson The strength of The Conjuring universe is that the threads are as consistent and strong as anything we’ve seen with an extensive history. When one considers that this universe does not have an…
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The Dark Tower (***) deserves more…
If nothing else, think of it as an addition to everything you know about the other adaptations, with a hope that they make more to flesh it all out a little. What I saw so far worked for me as a mild form of entertainment. It would be much better if it is followed up…
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The Mummy (**1/2) guesses wrong…a lot
This film is messy, but it’s not a complete disaster. It guesses a lot and most of those guesses land awkwardly… The film is passable, but in no way can we consider it the solid basis for the Dark Universe franchise. The sense of adventure exhibited in this film could lead to something better. It’s…
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Dunkirk (*****): They know where you were
The best thing Nolan does with Dunkirk is to never lose focus. He is the mariner, Mr. Dawson, and we play the part of Peter. He knows the plane just by the sound, but he still lets us see it so we can remember too. Feeling like it might be hopeless, one might be tempted…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 