1st Reviews

Stylish, propulsive, entirely absorbing - and that’s just the incredible table tennis sequences. Marty Supreme is a frenetic masterwork of a filmmaker operating in total control of orchestrated cinematic chaos. This is an epic odyssey of one man’s pursuit of greatness by any means necessary. Supreme doesn’t quite do this movie justice, because Josh Safdie has just delivered a future classic.   This is A LOT of movie, and I don’t just mean the two and a half hour runtime. It’s constantly in motion - stressful, chaotic and exhausting in all the right ways. The pacing moves swiftly, telling a story that rarely gives the characters (or the audience for that matter) time to breathe. It’s packed the Safdies’ signature anxiety inducing energy, but it’s also way more fun to watch than their previous films. Even as you’re watching so many things go wrong and fall out of alignment for Marty, there’s this undeniably infectious charisma the film exudes at any given moment. It’s oddly charming ...

  After three and a half years, we’re finally back in Hawkins for Stranger Things’ biggest season yet, as Netflix’s most iconic series comes to an epic conclusion. Despite a lack of inventiveness and stakes that don’t ever feel high enough, I’m relieved to report it sticks a mostly satisfying landing, albeit with a bit of turbulence along the way.  This show has gone through a major evolution over the nine years since it premiered. As it gained popularity and grew into an international sensation, its once intimate scale expanded as well. The Amblin style magic started to fade after the second season, and was almost entirely abandoned by season four, where the series became a bonafide science fiction epic, standing on its own without the warm nostalgia of its 80s setting. It gave us a compelling glimpse into Eleven’s past, and established Henry as a truly terrifying villain. It laid the foundation for what promised to be an exciting fifth and final season. Unfortunately, the sh...

  It’s hard to imagine who was asking for a film about a Neil Diamond tribute band, but this true story works due to its immense charm. Hugh Jackman shines as Mike Sardina, a misfit who dreams of bringing success to his Neil Diamond show. His charisma and excellent passion for music shine in the role. Kate Hudson gives one of her strongest performances as the band’s other half — together they’re “Lightning and Thunder”. Claire faces great tribulations but her resilience and desire to not be made small by those around her define her character’s journey. Craig Brewer directs the music performance scenes with a power that anchors the film, and though it doesn’t set out to reinvent the biopic, it works well thanks to its underdog energy and emotion. This drama about the convergence between music, love, and the strength to carry forward, has touches of strong humor but will also tug on your heartstrings, and may also make you curious to learn even more about the true story behind the du...

  All hail James Cameron - King of the Box Office! Fire and Ash will likely be the highest grossing movie of the year, and could be Cameron’s fourth to crack 2 billion. This isn’t just a blockbuster - it’s a cinematic event. This sequel isn’t short on flaws, but Cameron has delivered another truly epic theatrical experience that overshadows the film’s shortcomings.  Here’s where my inner critic and fun-loving moviegoer clash. I can’t ignore how frequently the film recycles elements from the previous instalments. It’s another iteration of “Evil human military wants to mine a foreign planet for resources, while native species must fight back”. The final battle is damn near identical to Way of Water’s climax. The dialogue is also really cringy at times (I lost count of how many times I heard the word bro). On the other hand, I can’t deny what a blast I had on a purely visceral level. I saw this in D-Box 3D, giddy as a kid on Christmas, being whipped around in my seat for 3 hours....

  There’s something pure in seeing the healing nature of art and how it helps people through tough times — but watching a character embrace stand-up comedy means both the audience within the movie and the audience of the film, as in us, gets to laugh, if the movie’s well-written enough.   Is This Thing On?  hits all the right notes thanks to its funny and vulnerable script and pitch-perfect casting of its two leads. Will Arnett gives far and away the most wonderful performance of his career, never letting his signature goofiness get in the way of something raw and delicate. The way he finds joy through a new hobby, and many who find that comedy puts just a little beneath his wings, feels so cinematic. Laura Dern is terrific and gives so much to the character’s complexity, and at times the story is very much her own. Cooper’s direction knows when to be showy and when to close in very intimately, while the script does a great job portraying the complexities of love, even as...

  After a year and a half, Fallout is back and heading to New Vegas!   Season 2 episode 1 serves as a strong re-entry into the Wasteland, picking up the story’s momentum with all of its man characters while expanding its scope in a new direction fans have already been teased about. The episode focuses on the consequences of past choices, with a new fresh direction in its backstory before the nukes went off. When we last saw Lucy and The Ghoul, they were on a journey together which continues in this first episode. Their balance of dark and light humour continue to be central to the stories writing.  The premiere prioritizes atmosphere and setup but fans will be eager to see something new. If you were jumping into this episode, expecting to see New Vegas right away, you will have to wait as this episode does play a bit of catchup and many familiar elements we saw in season 1.  Though it does not offer much outside of the familiar just yet,, it is great to see Lucy, The...