Ti West’s X is one of the best, and one of my favorite, movies from this year. One of the things it did so well that helped set itself apart was how self-aware and self-referential it was. That can be a very tricky angle to manage. Do it wrong and it comes off as clumsy, […]
Author: Matt Hambidge
NOT OKAY Review: How Far Would You Go For Fame And A Following?
In 2009, comedian and actor Stephen Rannazzisi claimed on Marc Maron’s podcast that he was in the World Trade Center on 9/11. However, he later revealed in 2015 that he made up the entire story. An article in the New York Times covered it. And Pete Davidson – whose firefighter dad died in 9/11 – […]
WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING: Daisy Edgar-Jones Will Blow You Away
Where the Crawdads Sing is a mystery movie light on the mystery. That might sound counterintuitive, and I’d be inclined to agree. Instead, it takes the mystery – in this case, a potential murder – and uses it to tell an incredibly compelling character study of the young woman at the center of it all, […]
THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER Review
Fans and critics often lump the first two Thor movies together as two of the worst and least popular entries in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They have their fans, sure, but not many are championing them as pillars of superhero movies. Then came 2017 and Thor: Ragnarok, with Taika Waititi taking control of the God […]
THE SEA BEAST Review: Thrilling Ocean Adventure With Stunning Animation
Netflix has steadily been making a name for itself in the animated movie arena. The streaming giant produced Klaus and acquired I Lost My Body, both of which received nominations for Best Animated Feature at the 2020 Academy Awards. Over the Moon (2020) and The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021) followed next, both of which […]
GATLOPP Review: A Horror Comedy That’s Simple, Creative, And Fun
Every year there are a couple movies that fly under the radar, becoming the “hidden gems” of year. 2021 had Small Engine Repair, Copshop, India Sweets and Spices. In 2020, there was Shithouse (actually one of the best of that year) and Wander Darkly. Sadly, I hadn’t found one yet for this year. Enter Gatlopp, […]
THE MAN FROM TORONTO Review: Kevin Hart And Woody Harrelson Offer Just Enough Laughs
The mistaken identity trope is well-worn in Hollywood. North by Northwest, The Big Lebowski, Three Amigos, School of Rock, just to name a few. It can add a fun little twist to an otherwise fairly standard story. The Man From Toronto is the latest to addition to this list. Kevin Hart plays Teddy, a struggling […]
ELVIS Review: Austin Butler Shines
Perhaps no one has a life story better suited to receive the Baz Luhrmann biopic treatment than Elvis Presley. The Australian filmmaker has a distinct, extravagant, over the top style that feels almost too perfectly suited to the larger than life King of Rock and Roll. Luhrmann’s style is basically the definition of “it’s not […]
SPIDERHEAD Review: Netflix Sci-Fi Thriller Can’t Live Up To Promising Premise
Fresh off helming the biggest movie of the year (so far, at least) – Top Gun: Maverick – director Joseph Kosinski is back behind the camera for Netflix’s sci-fi thriller Spiderhead. He re-teams with Miles Teller (Rooster in Maverick) and rounds out an all-star cast with Chris Hemsworth and Jurnee Smollett. Unfortunately this one is […]
CHA CHA REAL SMOOTH: Cooper Raiff Proves He’s Here To Stay With Strong Sophomore Effort
Cooper Raiff announced himself as a name to know with his feature debut, Shithouse (which he wrote, directed, produced, and starred in), in 2020. Sure, it wasn’t a box office hit, but nobody was expecting it to be. And it didn’t need to be. Not when someone so young – he made it when he […]
