Plane has everything you want in an action movie despite the tropes!!!

Real Rating:

4 Airlines

What I Like:

-The action in this is real, gritty, and entertaining, at times, it can even be scary
-The chemistry between Gerard Butler and Michael Colter worked well, they were a good team

The So So:

-The story is a big trope, but it does work for this story, and the fast pace just really made it engaging enough to enjoy it

What I Didn’t Like:

-I felt the character development for some of the characters is either too cliched or they made them really unlikeable, for a series it could work, but for a film under two hours, it just didn’t work

Overall:

For a film starring Gerard Butler, you can add this to the good pile. The simple story works, the action was entertaining, and you’re not bored, not even for a second. It is a popcorn flick, and nothing more. Just sit back, relax, and watch Butler kick tail!!!

Real Rating:

4 Airlines

You People has its moments, but in the end is just that same old cliched rom-com mess!!!

Real Rating:

2.5 Famous LA Eating Spots

What I Like:

-It does have some good dramatic moments especially dealing with the racial tensions, there is some substance in this film

The So So:

-The comedy was hit and miss and the misses has a lot of cringe, but when you combine Eddie Murphy and Julia Louis-Dreyfus there will be some comedy gold

What I Didn’t Like:

-It had identity issues, did it want to be an effective movie about racial tensions Romeo and Juliet style, or a rom-com like all the other rom-coms we saw, regardless, I felt the rom-com stuff was just too eye rollingly cliched

Overall:

I believe if it kept with the racial tension with some better comedic writing, this film would’ve been more effective than what it gave us. Some of the comedy was very cringy. Adding salt to the wound, in the end, it was just a rom-com cliched mess. The cast is great, but it is wasted on another mediocre Netflix movie. What more can I say about this!!!

(Sidenote: A Man Called Otto – Tom Hanks can’t really do any major wrongs for me. Here he plays a grumpy old man realizing his worth in the world. Yes, it does sound cliched, and does follow a formula, but in the end, it is some good and diverse heartwarming drama. Almost reminds me of the classic film Up, almost!!!
Real Rating: 4 Gates)

She Said is an interesting watch despite being a journalistic trope!!!

Real Rating:

4 Interviews

What I Like:

-The story is interesting, and seeing how these true events unravel is fascinating to see, and it wasn’t too heavy handed, it flowed pretty well
-The acting by the two leads, Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan, were amazing to watch in action

The So So:

-I do like a good film on journalism, there is something about it that keeps me engaged, but I am starting to see this becoming a big trope that could end up losing its mystique in telling these types of stories

What I Didn’t Like:

-Compared to other journalistic type of films, I felt the digging and research felt too rushed, like the stakes didn’t add high enough effort to make this more effective

Overall:

I did enjoy this film. It may start to become a big old trope, but I was still entertained. The acting, the pacing, and the drama does keep you interested seeing how everything went down. It is not as good as Spotlight or The Post, but it is enjoyable nonetheless!!!

Real Rating:

4 Interviews

Argentina, 1985 is a fascinating story and great acting during a tense time in Argentina history, even with the usual law story drag!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Trials

What I Like:

-The acting is what really makes this film fascinating to watch, Ricardo Darín as lawyer, Julio César Strassera, was phenomenal, the stress and his work ethic in one of the most important trials in Argentina history was all so great to watch
-The story showing the tension not only with the lawyers and people affected with the trial, but for a whole country oppressed by military rule, it is something to see

The So So:

-There is some comedy which made me laugh, but did felt out of place for this film

What I Didn’t Like:

-As usual with films about law and trials, it can drag with all the research and stuff, if only they could’ve made that more thrilling and engaging

Overall:

It is a decent foreign film. The acting and the story is fascinating. Even if you are just reading the subtitles, you can feel the emotion and tension with everybody. It may be the best foreign film of 2022, and it does feel good seeing the country of Argentina continue on their winning ways!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Trials

(Sidenote: Barbarian – This is another horror flick that received a lot of good ratings. It does seem interesting at first, but once it started to hit the climax, the mysteriousness lost its luster. It pretty much became that same old type of horror film that does not quite do it for me in the end. It actually does have a very weird twist!!!
Real Rating: 3 Underground Tunnels)

Tár is a fascinating story, but unless you are into symphony music, it can drag!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Composers

What I Like:

-Cate Blanchett was great in her character as Lydia Tár, the emotion, knowledge, and charisma she puts into this character is amazing to watch, the character development for her role and everything that comes after is fascinating

The So So:

-It is simple for this film, if you are into symphony music (which for me, not really) you will enjoy this film, if you don’t, you may not appreciate what this film brings

What I Didn’t Like:

-It can drag, especially at the beginning when you are trying to understand what is going on, I can see people tune out before the good things start to happen

Overall:

With the perfection of Cate Blanchett’s acting, everything else is up to your taste. If you love symphony music and learning the history of classical music, you will enjoy this film. If you don’t, it will drag, and you may miss the important parts of this film. As of right now, I believe Cate Blanchett is the frontrunner to get the Oscar for Best Actress, but as you all may know, that can change quickly!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Composers

Triangle of Sadness may drag with their comedy and heavy handedness on their theme, but there are some moments that can make you think!!!

Real Rating:

3 Yachts

What I Like:

-There are some moments here that I enjoy, whether it is a comedic conversation, or issues that they are trying to resolve that make you think, it comes in spurts but it is worth your patience for a little bit

The So So:

-I felt that Woody Harrelson seemed like he didn’t belong in this film, don’t get me wrong, he was great in his role, but his presence felt distracting to me compared to the rest of the cast, I guess Harrelson does demand a presence for sure

What I Didn’t Like:

-I felt there were a lot of dull moments, especially in the beginning where the conversations really didn’t hit me directly, it can get boring after a while
-The theme that wealthy people are bad is way too heavy handed as well

Overall:

It was an ok film at best for me. It does have its moments with it’s little comedy and conversations/arguments, but it does drag a lot as well. Let alone the theme about how bad wealthy people can act is way too heavy handed. The acting was decent, especially Woody Harrelson’s presence, but maybe director, Ruben Östlund, could’ve gave the characters more livelihood I guess. Regardless, for those moments it can be worth a watch. You just have to be patient watching this when it comes!!!

Real Rating:

3 Yachts

(Sidenote: Smile – I have to say, this is a horror film that was worth all the praise it received. It was creepy, it had a good horror/psychological tension with it, and had some jump scares that were earned. Yes some jump scares were there just for the sake of a jump scare which is why I hate horror movies. However, when it gives you that horror/thrilling tension, to me that is what makes a horror movie great. Plus those creepy smiles will haunt you!!!
Rating: 4 Smiles)

The Whale is an interesting case study with a great performance by Brendan Fraser!!!

Real Rating:

4 Nurses

What I Like:

-What makes this worth the watch is watching Brendan Fraser playing his role, I liked seeing him as an online English teacher, a person trying to make right with his daughter, and seeing him go through the past pains in his life, it is intriguing to watch

The So So:

-It is an interesting case study to see unfold, seeing a person in that manner trying to live his life with his condition, although some of things that went down, especially with his estranged family, happened way too fast, it is still interesting to see how things unfolded
-Is the film fat shaming? Yes and no, the yes I will explain in the next section, but it is pretty accurate on how tough life is when you are morbidly obese and having a tough time dealing with simple things, and seeing the mental health of a person who is that way is a reality we all need to learn and care for these type of people

What I Didn’t Like:

-The yes of fat shaming is seeing the reactions of people seeing him for the first time, and how they perceive things for him, this is why they go through major mental health problems because they still are not perceived as normal people, a common misconception that does need to stop

Overall:

As I said before, it is a good case study to learn of a life of man dealing with his all the things physically, socially, and mentally. What makes this film great is watching Brendan Fraser showing all of his dealings with everything. He put great work into his performance, and I do believe he might win the Oscar for Best Actor. Good for him if that happens!!!

Real Rating:

4 Nurses

The Banshees of Inisherin is a dark somewhat witty story, that is well acted even though it dragged during the journey!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Fingers

What I Like:

-The acting makes this film watchable, Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson really brought out an authentic performance that was believable
-The cinematography was tremendous, the landscape they were in looked nice, even though the color pallet is dark, it still brought the beauty of the area it took place

The So So:

-The story started out as a black comedy of sorts, and it was some witty dialogue, but it got darker and darker, and it is not for the faint of heart, it got depressing even for me
-The Irish accents can take a little bit to get used to understand, but once you get used to it, you’re fine

What I Didn’t Like:

-It can drag a little bit, there can only be so much seeing people walk to cliffs, oceans, and pubs with folk Irish music playing

Overall:

It is a dark comedy of sorts that gets darker and darker. Maybe even too dark for some people. However, the acting, the wittiness, and cinematography keeps the interest level afloat and seeing how it goes down. Despite the slow mute points, it can be a spectacle to watch, and seeing Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson at its best. An Irish good time for sure!!!

Real Rating:

3.5 Fingers

White Noise was uneven greatly in tone, but the peculiar acting made it interesting enough!!!

Real Rating:

3 Crashes

What I Like:

-The acting in this was strange, but in a way worked out, especially Adam Driver as a college professor with the expertise on Hitler, and the rest of the family which they all have their quirks which made it interesting to watch

The So So:

-The comedy is hit or miss, there were some parts that made me laugh, and other parts that were too weird for me to understand

What I Didn’t Like:

-It had some tonal differences from the first half to the second half which really threw me off, at first it looked like a character study film, then to a sci-fi pic, then to a soap opera, and even it even had some horror themes to it, it didn’t really pick their main theme and go through with it, instead it just became a confusing story

Overall:

Despite the quirky acting and the interesting premise, the tonal shifts really brought it down. I wish they stuck to a theme and stay put, and maybe it could’ve been better. It did come from a famous book in the 80’s which was considered unfilmable. Funny, cuz once they did it, I can see why!!!

Real Rating:

3 Crashes

Babylon is just intense sequences that sort of tell about the rise and fall of the Golden Age in Hollywood!!!

Real Rating:

4 Parties

What I Like:

-Director Damien Chazelle really tried to outdo himself with a lot of these scenes, most notably the first party scene which is just wild images after wild images of intense craziness, I also enjoyed the crazy filming scenes which also looked intense
-I did enjoy seeing the main characters of this film, Margot Robbie was great, Brad Pitt was phenomenal, and Diego Calva showed some great emotion in his role as well
-I thought the soundtrack of this film was great with its old school jazz music

The So So:

-The story is about the rise and fall of the Golden Age in Hollywood with the three main characters, it is very sporadic with their subplots which can require some effort to follow, but the theme is very clear and it is interesting to see all the things Hollywood has to go through when transitioning from silent films to film with sound

What I Didn’t Like:

-Did it have to be three hours? Definitely not, there were some things that they could’ve cut to make watching this less enduring

Overall:

This is a spectacle to see. If you enjoy craziness, you will like this film. If you enjoy good old school music, you will enjoy this film. If you enjoy fine acting by great actors, you will enjoy this film. However, if you don’t like to endure three hours, don’t go. If you want a story that is easy to follow, don’t go. If you’re a prude, definitely don’t go. There is a lot of stuff going on, but if you enjoy films, then this is a must watch for sure!!!

Real Rating:

4 Parties