Popular reviews

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  Review by davidehrlich ★★★★★

  I usually only log stuff I watch for work but respect must be paid.

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  Review by Peter Labuza ★★★★ 15

  "In the history of photography and film, getting the right image meant getting ones that conformed to the prevalent ideas of humanity. This included whiteness, of what colour—what range of hue—white people wanted white people to be....Movie lighting assume, privilege, and construct whiteness" —Richard Dyer, "Lighting For Whiteness"

  The history of Hollywood in many ways is the history of the construction of whiteness. This goes beyond simply films that have depicted African Americans in stereotypes or margnizaled their roles in cinema but its material essence: celluloid was developed to favor light skin tones to dark skin tones. "In black-and-white films, cinematographers usually took white skin as the norm, employing lighting and laboratory practices that could reliably produce a certain image…

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  Review by BRÁT ★★★★ 4

  my definition of feminism is hitting the bong while watching magic mike xxl

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  Review by Vadim Rizov ★★★★ 17

  Magic Mike XXL is a putatively "modest"/"small" film — $14.8 million budget, 28-day shooting schedule, a shambling road movie meant to showcase extended musical numbers and largely excising the first film's recessionary panic. (Business is discussed, specifically the hustle of running a small business, but it's not the dominant throughline motivating everything as in the first, a line of inquiry Soderbergh pursued in Erin Brockovich, Bubble and The Girlfriend Experience, in ways that increasingly played like a meta-text about his own problems getting financing.) Where the original interpolated stripping sequences within Soderbergh's typically tight/obsessive editorial rhythms, XXL is very much meant to provide multiple, long, stand-alone showcases of raunchy choreographic acumen; comparison to the similarly chunky structure of Busby Berkeley…

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  Review by davidehrlich ★★★★½ 9

  like staring into the abs of god.

  completely different from the first film, it feels like an R-rated STEP UP sequel as shot by Soderbergh, and if that idea does nothing for you, don't bother. characters bounce off each other beautifully in more ways than one... the film is so content to have zero concrete stakes. more involved in the communion of spectacle and the binding force of entertainment. reminded me of a great martial arts film re: the skill with which it knows how to top itself without ever going numb... this thing plays the audience to perfection.

  recently saw Les Blank's A POEM IS A NAKED PERSON, and though MMXXL is a bit too linear for the comparison…

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  Review by Angela Ferraguto ★★★★★ 5

  Didn't fully get the "himbo" trend until witnessing Joe Manganiello high on molly do a strip tease in a gas station in an effort to gain back some confidence while several other men, also absolutely blasted on molly, cheer nearby. Friendship is so powerful. This movie is a masterpiece.

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  Review by josh lewis ★★★★★ 3

  the vibe the boys are taking into 2022. we all having healthy relationships and pursuing artistic avenues that makes us happy. happy new year!

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  Review by josh lewis ★★★★★ 3

  a stylish, assembling a team for one last road trip hangout movie that sneakily doubles as a celebration of working class artistic pursuit/passion, healthy friendships and creating spaces of legitimate intimacy and equality, even in our spectacle. pure unadulterated joy on screen.

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  Review by SilentDawn ★★★★½ 4

  82

  Still bowled over by how this utilizes human sexuality as a safe, healthy, exciting framework for the continually showcased, but never discussed, inclusiveness of each and every character. Its spirit resides in the joy of making a woman smile and the electricity of pulling off a complex dance routine, for sure, but it also allows itself to be comfortable in its own skin, never resorting to providing the goods without a hefty dose of respect and morale. Sexual and, more broadly, emotional satisfaction of women and men and any identity or gender matters! What a celebration; those Minnelli and Renoir comparisons aren't hyperbole.

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  Review by Ethan Vestby ★★★½ 1

  Minus half a star for never seeing that one dude's Matrix routine.

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  Review by Joe Aragon ★★★★★ 6

  A little upset no one told me this is one of the greatest movies ever made. The final half hour is straight gas. 

  Alexa, play “Pony” by Ginuwine.

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  Review by Muriel ★★★★★ 2

  [introduction to “pony” plays] oh man this is the best movie ever made