Can confirm TOP GUN is still a little gay, and still has people playing beach sports in jeans. This time it’s also bigger, louder, and more emotional. Joseph Kosinski directs with passion and purpose, and his editing duo create some of the most exhilarating and anxiety-inducing scenes of the year so far, only after Ambulance. Tony Scott would be proud. Tom Cruise is the biggest and best movie star of all time. Vid soon (pt. 2)
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Escape from L.A. 1996
I guess John Carpenter thinks this is better than Escape from New York and I’m going to have to disagree with him, but I see why he thinks that. This is a good movie, and has just as much biting satire. It’s just lacking the ubiquitous novelty that makes the first one so iconic and there’s not much you can do about that. I wonder what someone would think of this if they hadn’t seen Escape from New York prior, then.…
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Men 2022
1.5 hours of men saying things and Jessie Buckley responding “….what??”
I’m not sure who Alex Garland is trying to connect with here, but as a woman I’m tempted to roll my eyes. Suggestive imagery with no cohesive point, and a one dimensional message about the patriarchy that is beaten to death in its own movie if it wasn’t already outside of it. Extremely on the nose even if I appreciate him working feminist themes into his films (he actually…
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On the Count of Three 2021
Different than I thought, painfully bittersweet and bold. Struggles with tone here and there but the message is clear, and the humor makes it go down a bit easier because it’s a tough one. Really strong directorial debut from Jarrod Carmichael. I’ve been struggling to really form thoughts about it so I’d like to direct traffic to my friend The King of Burbank's review because it is excellent and important!
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Possession 1981
R.I.P. Isabelle Adjani’s vocal cords, 1955-1981
Was really worried I was gonna hate this after the first 20 mins, then I really liked it, then the last 20 minutes happened and I loved it. The kind of weird that is earnest and genuinely inspired, and makes so much sense even though it makes no sense at all. Haunting and deeply disturbing. The two lead performances from Isabelle Adjani and Sam Neill are phenomenal and seriously brave.
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Manchester by the Sea 2016
One of the best and saddest and most organic screenplays I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing. Not a single cliche in here. This is family and grief and shame, and forgiveness of each other and ourselves. This is life!
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Videodrome 1983
I feel absolutely mindfucked, well played Cronenberg. Gloriously gross and psychosexual and weird. I’m in love with the practical effects and threatening atmosphere, just unsure if I can confidently say the themes clicked in an exciting way beyond being a prompt and a piecemeal exploration. I almost don’t even want to rate it until a rewatch. All I know is that I need the steelbook NOW.
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Climax 2018
Sorry in advance to the Climax/Noé fan base😬 Found this absolutely excruciating. Sets up the parallels between dance, bodily autonomy and consent in the lamest way, makes us wait an hour, kicks a pregnant woman, then impresses itself with a one take of all the darkest depths of man for absolutely no reason other than hollow shock value - and it was still boring. I’m all for disturbing and freak cinema but this was infuriatingly masturbatory. I don’t usually give reviews this low for this type of film but I truly disliked it and would like to never watch or think about it again.
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Firestarter 1984
This is miles better than the 2022 version from the performances alone, but it also looks really nice, there are many superior decisions made with the story/characterization, and people actually exhibit emotion! Score is cool. My favorite part was the first 30 seconds.
This is a very soft three stars because I was undeniably bored. Also pretty whack that George C. Scott played Rainbird. Subbing in Michael Greyeyes was probably the best thing about the remake.
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Christine 1983
“Has it ever occurred to you that part of being a parent is trying to kill your kids?”
Easily the best movie I’ve seen about a car going on a killing spree. I can totally see why this is one of Stephen King’s favorite adaptations. It’s rad. Carpenter adds enough flair (the anamorphic is a sick touch) to create the proper atmosphere, but not so much that it overpowers the story. It’s tight, contained, campy, surprisingly creepy and frequently chuckle-inducing.…
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When Harry Met Sally... 1989
Am i crying because it’s cute or am i crying because it’s not happening to me
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