Avatar: The Way of Water

Avatar: The Way of Water is a 2022 epic science fiction action film from legendary director James Cameron, co-written by Cameron and Josh Friedman, and produced by 20th Century Studios. It is the second film in Cameron's Avatar franchise, following Avatar (2009), and is set more than a decade after the events of the first film. Similar to the trendsetting first film, Cameron, going all out as usual, decided it necessary to develop new technology in order to film performance capture scenes underwater, something never accomplished before, leading to significant delays to allow the crew more time to work on the writing, preproduction, and visual effects.

Jake Sully and Ney'tiri have formed a family and are doing everything to stay together. However, they must leave their home and explore the regions of Pandora. When an ancient threat resurfaces, Jake must fight a difficult war against the humans.

Starring Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement, and Kate Winslet.

Avatar: The Way of Water made its debut in theaters and IMAX 3D on December 16th.

THE GOOD

It really is hard to believe that the last time I found myself in an IMAX 3D theater for a Avatar movie was way back in 2009, and to say it was a historic day would be an understatement. I actually drove nearly an hour to a bigger IMAX theater only to be turned away after being told all of the showings were completely sold out. Now this was before the days of reserved seating, so my buddy and I purchased our tickets in advance and planned to show up crazy early the next day to ensure we had good seats. The theater was in a building that also housed a Fudruckers restaurant and a full candy store, so needless to say we had everything we needed. Once the IMAX screen came and went, how I watched movies would never be the same. It was amazing.

Once it was all said and done I saw Avatar in IMAX 3D about 5 times, and I also made sure to purchase a 3D TV before the movie’s Blu-ray release. I bought the 3D Blu-ray the day it released, and was able to relive the joy of Avatar in my home theater complete with a 10” downfiring Klipsche subwoofer (it was a beast) that shook my entire house. It was epic. In many ways this movie was sort of a coming-of-age experience for me as a fan of movies, mainly because it changed the way I viewed the overall theater experience. Jump ahead damn near 15 years and we have our sequel to this groundbreaking film, and I would be lying if I said I hadn’t nearly given up hope that this day would ever come. So here we are, and the big question is was James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water worth the wait?! Keep reading to find out!

Wow, just wow. James Cameron has done it again ladies and gentleman. Avatar: The Way of Water is yet another masterclass of filmmaking when it comes to the overall theater experience, and what I can only describe as something that needs to be seen and heard to be truly appreciated. The visuals are on another level, the story was nothing short of fantastic, and trust me when I say there wasn’t a dry eye in the theater at the end of the film which certainly caught me by surprise. Avatar: The Way of Water builds on the foundation established by the original film, and in my personal opinion the story was a perfect continuation. Nothing about the film felt gimmicky or forced, and if anything I was reminded that you should never doubt the talent of the man, the myth, the legend, James Cameron.

Now we can talk about the bread and butter of the film, the technical elements. Keep in mind that I did see the film in IMAX 3D for my second viewing, so this section of the review will be reflective of both the 2D experience but will of course focus quite a bit on the 3D side for obvious reasons. So, where do I start?! Seriously, Avatar: The Way of Water is just a marvel of filmmaking technology at every turn. Pandora looks incredible once again, but once they make their way to the islands and learn the way of the water, that is when the excitement gets kicked up a notch. Everything is just so vibrant and full of life, I honestly felt like I was there. In typical James Cameron fashion, he went as far as to develop ways to pioneer filming techniques as part of maximizing what he could do with his new film.

Cameron and his crew constructed a new camera system which consists of multiple high-end cameras bolted together, more specifically the Sony Venice cameras, creating a stereoscopic 3D system. He also went as far as finding a way to shoot and do motion capture simultaneously above and below water, which was a massive leap for what he was able to do with Avatar: The Way of Water. I mean, this dude really is something else. I won’t bore you with technical jargon, but the complex process that takes place when Cameron is bringing his visons to life for his Avatar films is nothing short of astonishing. Bottom line, the visuals speak for themselves and nothing can prepare you for the eye candy in this film.

Now moving over to more of the directorial side of Cameron’s job which requires a focus on the camera work and shooting style, similar to the original film it is once again incredible. Avatar: The Way of Water will leave you speechless from the opening scene to the end credits, but each time you start to think you may have seen the coolest or most immersive scene in the film, it is often outdone within minutes. I feel like it is nearly impossible for me to even try to pinpoint my favorite shots or action scenes in the film because it is all so beautiful and the cinematography compliments of Russell Carpenter is amazing, but a few specific scenes really stood out to me in terms of how immersive they were as a viewer.

Right around the third act of the film the humans are hammering around in what I guess you would call mini two-person submarines, and at times they have the camera angle from the view of the pilots and I felt like I was on a ride at Disney. Like seriously, with the 3D effect and the feel of being underwater, this was such a surreal feeling and to be honest a bit terrifying considering we were on the wrong side of the action if you know what I mean. The action scenes throughout the film are unmatched, and so much of that is thanks to a pioneering director like James Cameron who demands perfection at every turn.

The story takes place more than 10 years after the events of the first film, making it feel like the sequel was somehow in real-time which is pretty crazy when you think about it. Jake Sully has made Pandora his home, and now has taken on newfound responsibility with a family of his own. The story kicks off by establishing the importance of family which absolutely resonated for me, and also helped to get viewers once again invested in the characters and their well-being. Similar to the original film the people of Pandora are under attack by the human race hell bent on taking possession of their resources, but now they are more prepared than ever to fight back.

I really enjoyed the story of the original film even though it was fairly straight forward, and Avatar: The Way of Water builds on that premise while raising the stakes as Sully now has his loved ones to protect, something that he makes very clear defines him and his mission in life. One thing that is readily apparent from the very beginning in Avatar: The Way of Water is that the value of human life is paramount, and you are programmed to do whatever it takes to preserve your way of life and protect those you love. The ability to add such a relatable and humanistic feel to the film made a huge difference in my opinion in terms of how much of an impact the story had on me. I won’t go too much into detail as I don’t want to spoil anything, but I loved how they reintroduced a familiar threat and I felt like the overall story arch was absolutely genius and had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.

The cast for Avatar: The Way of Water is stacked, and everyone does such an incredible job. The hard thing about a film like this even more so than voice actors for animated films, is so much of what goes into it takes a back seat to the visual spectacle. Even though I know for a fact stars Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Kate Winslet, Stephen Lang, Jermaine Clement, and Brendan Cowell, just to name a few, were absolutely incredible in their respective roles, it is nearly impossible to see them as anything other than these characters. Even looking at pictures of the actual actors now I am still having a hard time connecting them.

That is of course a testament to the film and how immersive it is, but the CGI really takes on a life of its own and these characters become separate from the actors playing them, if that makes sense at all. For that reason, the cast will likely be overlooked when it comes time to hand out the awards Avatar: The Way of Water will undoubtedly receive, but trust me when I saw they put it all out there to make sure this film became the incredible experience that it is. Additional shoutouts to Jack Champion as Spider, Britain Dalton as Lo’ak, Jamie Flatters as Neteyam, Trinity Jo-Li Bliss as Tuk, and Bailey Bass as Tsireya. Take a minute to look over the entire cast list because they all deserve a great deal of recognition.

Admittedly I am a bit late to the game getting this review posted, but I wanted to make sure I watched Avatar: The Way of Water in standard 2D and also in IMAX 3D before writing a review for the sake of a fair comparison. I watched it in standard 2D first, and I loved it. I thought the visuals were amazing, and the sound still blew me away. But, considering the fact that my experience with the original film was entirely in 3D IMAX as far as theater viewings, I had to get the full effect, and boy oh boy was it worth it. Avatar: The Way of Water is night and day better in IMAX 3D, which should come as no surprise considering that is by design. I understand the overall fad of 3D has sort of run its course, but it is just different with the Avatar movies.

James Cameron is an absolute legend in the world of filmmaking, and more than anything else I felt completely immersed in the film when watching in IMAX 3D. While watching in 2D certain parts throughout the film made me think wow that would look really awesome in 3D, which sort of left me wanting more. I was often distracted by the fact that my jaw was basically on the floor as I attempted to take in the 3 hours of beauty that was on the giant screen in front of me. As I said Avatar: The Way of Water is still fantastic in standard 2D and well worth the trip to the theater, but if you have the ability to see it in IMAX 3D, do yourself a favor and leave no stone unturned. It is well worth it.

THE BAD

Avatar: The Way of Water is an incredible film, simple as that. But, it is not for everyone. As I touched on in my 2D vs 3D comparison, the film truly shines when watched in 3D, IMAX 3D to be more specific, and the reality is not everyone likes 3D movies especially when they are 3 hours long. If you have an issue with 3D or simply don’t enjoy it, this movie clearly is not for you. I will however say that if that is in fact the case, be sure to still see it in standard 2D because you will be amazed. As far as any other issues I had with the film I got nothing, I saw it twice and liked it even better the second time. I guess I could say that you need to see it in theaters, because even though it will be fantastic at home, you need to experience it for the first time on the big screen otherwise it will pale in comparison. Don’t be that person a year down the road that says Avatar: The Way of Water was just okay, after clarifying you didn’t actually see it in theaters. That’s how you get unfollowed on social media.

THE VERDICT

A truly mesmerizing and triumphant sequel to one of the most groundbreaking films ever made, Avatar: The Way of Water will leave you in awe with its jaw-dropping visuals while offering an engaging and emotional story perfectly setting the stage for the next film. This movie blew me away, simple as that. Even at 3 hours long I can’t wait to see it for a 3rd time, which is really saying something. How do you follow-up the highest grossing film of all time? This is how. Not a minute is wasted in terms of action or story, and they even could have made it longer and I wouldn’t have complained, it is just that good.

After the first viewing in standard 2D I wasn’t quite prepared to say this was better than the original, but after seeing it in 3D IMAX I can comfortably say it was. And that isn’t taking anything away from the original film because Avatar: The Way of Water builds on what made that film so great, and just ups the ante in every way. The film will break records for good reason, so don’t be left in the dark and be sure to see it in theaters as soon as possible. Now I just need to dig out my 3D glasses so I can watch the original again in all of its 3D glory.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.5/10

Avatar: The Way of Water is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a 2022 computer-animated adventure directed by Joel Crawford, and co-directed by Januel Mercado. It is a sequel to Puss in Boots (2011), and a spin-off of the Shrek franchise. Produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, from a screenplay by Paul Fisher and Tommy Swerdlow, based on a story by Swerdlow and the first film's writer Tom Wheeler, with additional screenplay material provided by Etan Cohen.

The voice cast includes Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, as well as Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone, Samson Kayo, John Mulaney, Wagner Moura, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, and Anthony Mendez who voice new characters introduced in the film.

Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for adventure has taken its toll: he has burned through eight of his nine lives. Puss sets out on an epic journey to find the mythical Last Wish and restore his nine lives.

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish made its debut in theaters on December 21st.

THE GOOD

I remember watching the original Puss in Boots back in 2011 and I really enjoyed it, but because it has been so long I honestly more or less forgot about it. When they began advertising for Puss in Boots: The Last Wish I had that classic what the heck is going on here reaction and was genuinely curious why they would wait so long for a sequel especially considering the success of the original film. As a spin-off of the Shrek franchise, it seems a reboot of that franchise/universe in some form or fashion is the overall goal here. The fact that the franchise centers around a ridiculous cast of voice actors led by Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek, I knew I would give this a chance no matter what. So, was Puss in Boots: The Last Wish a simple cash grab or something that will more than likely lead to a Puss in Boots/Shred franchise resurgence? Keep reading to find out!

Wow, just wow. This is such a good movie! From the overall message of the film to the humor, the action, and the visuals, it was all just so damn good. Puss in Boots: The Last Wish feels so genuine from start to finish, and at times I honestly forgot that my primary goal was to keep my kids entertained for an hour and a half. My wife and I take any opportunity we have to bring our two toddlers to the theater when an animated movie is playing, and this seemed like as good an opportunity as any. But this time was different. Usually, I am sort of half-focused on the movie and half-focused on making sure my kids aren’t streaking through the aisles like Frank the Tank in Old School, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the screen. At one point both kids were in my wife’s lap and I had two empty chairs in between them and myself, and even though I knew I would pay dearly for this later, I simply did not care. The movie had my complete attention, and I desperately needed to make sure I was able to get the full experience. And yeah, it was worth each and every death stare I received from her.

As simple as it was, the story is what first hooked me. Assuming you saw the original film, Puss in Boots has a great origin story but in the end, he became someone obsessed with the legend that he became. But with that being said, it was always clear that under that tough (or I suppose fairly soft and hairy) exterior was a big heart and a genuine fear of failure. Puss in Boots wanted to be loved, and he felt that his self-worth was wrapped up in this larger-than-life persona he created over the years. Plus, Puss was always naïve in the fact that he overestimated his own mortality, which is the center of the story of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Puss has finally exhausted 8 of his 9 lives, and for this reason, he can no longer live the way a fearless legend needs to live. Puss stumbles upon an opportunity to regain his sense of immortality and embarks on a journey to regain his identity. Along the way, he crosses paths with an old friend while making a few new ones, and what I loved most about the story was how it focused on what it means to be selfless, and how even though we feel like we have been shorted in life and feel resentful because of it, others out there have truly struggled and somehow still find a way to experience real happiness. It really is a powerful and heartfelt story that really resonated with me.

Okay so on to what else really stood out for me, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish looks incredible. The animation in the film is really on another level, and more often than not my jaw was literally on the floor. It looked great from start to finish, and the action shots were just so unique and eye-catching that I couldn’t help but admire the creativity involved in the film. The animation style reminded me of the animated action comedy The Bad Guys (our full review here), just that much better. The action sequences felt genuinely intense, and the primary antagonist The Big Bad Wolf was just next level each and every time he was on screen even though he did scare the crap out of my kids. Bottom line, the animation style felt so unique and it without a doubt is a big reason why Puss in Boots: The Last Wish was so damn good, but don’t take my word for it, you need to experience it for yourself.

Similar to the original film, the cast of voice actors is stacked yet again with a few very impressive additions. Similar to the first film, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is built on the back of the great Antonio Banderas, who voices the legend himself. I have been a Banderas fan ever since my dad had me watch his 1995 film, Desperado. I would never look at a guitar case the same way again, what a true badass. Returning after a pivotal role in the original film is the ageless and gorgeous Salma Hayek, who plays the role of Kitty Softpaws. I love Hayek in literally anything she does, and the only issue I can honestly say I had with her here was the fact that I couldn’t see her in real life.

The best addition to the film in my mind was Florence Pugh, who has been on quite a tear with Midsommar (2019), Black Widow, and more recently Don’t Worry Darling (our full review here). Pugh, an extremely talented actress, absolutely crushes the role of Goldilocks as the film continues with an amazing focus on classic children’s stories. I loved Harvey Guillén as the adorable and hilarious dog pretending to be a cat Perrito, who was surely a runner-up as my overall favorite character. Guillén is best known, by me anyway, for his role as Guillermo in the FX comedy series What We Do in the Shadows. Other notable supporting cast members include Wagner Moura as the aforementioned The Big Bad Wolf, John Mulaney as Big Jack Horner, Ray Winstone as Papa Bear, Samson Kayo as Baby Bear, Olivia Colman as Mama Bear, Da'Vine Joy Randolph as Mama Luna, and last but not least. Anthony Mendez as the Doctor/Barber.

THE BAD

First and foremost, I had zero issues with Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. It really was that good in my eyes. But, you can call me crazy which would be fair and very much warranted but as I touched on briefly my wife and I did bring our 2-year-old and almost 4-year-old to see it. With that being said, some of what I loved most about the movie was no bueno for them, which was the primary antagonists and most notably The Big Bad Wolf voiced by Wagner Moura who honestly scared the crap out of my kids. They did such a nice job with the scenes he was involved in, and he was a genuinely terrifying character who I thought added some extremely valuable depth to the story and the Puss in Boots character arc. So yeah, I guess I am pointing this out more as a warning as we did have to reassure our boys that the good guys would prosper in the end, and they did say that they loved the movie once it was all said and done which is all that matters if you ask me.

THE VERDICT

An action-packed, hilarious, and genuinely heartwarming adventure showcasing incredible visuals and an engaging story, Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is a treat for kids and adults alike and easily one of my favorite animated films in recent memory. This movie was so much fun, and I can’t remember the last time an animated film just hooked me in such a way. The story tugged at my heartstrings, the animation blew me away, and the humor had me laughing out loud an uncomfortable amount considering at the end of the day, it is a movie meant for kids. Bottom line, I really can’t recommend Puss in Boots: The Last Wish enough because this is top-tier cinema, simple as that. So get out there and show your support because I need a 3rd movie.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.4/10

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Prey

By: Andrew Wing

Prey is a 2022 American science fiction action film in the Predator franchise. It is the fifth installment and is a prequel to the first four films. The film is directed by Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) and written by Patrick Aison. It stars Amber Midthunder (Hell or High Water, The Ice Road), Dakota Beavers, Dane DiLiegro, Michelle Thrush (Dead Man, Pathfinder), Stormee Kipp, Julian Black Antelope, and Bennett Taylor.

The story, being set in the Northern Great Plains in 1719, revolves around Naru (Midthunder), a skilled Comanche warrior, who is striving to prove herself as a hunter. She finds herself having to protect her people from a vicious, humanoid alien that hunts humans for sport, as well as from French fur traders who are destroying the buffalo they rely on for survival.

Development of the film began during the production of The Predator (2018), when producer John Davis was approached by Trachtenberg and Aison, with a concept that they had been developing since 2016. In late 2020, the film's title was revealed to be the codename for the fifth installment in the franchise. Filming took place around Calgary during the summer of 2021, with the entire film shot in English and some sequences shot in Comanche as well. The remaining sequences were dubbed into Comanche by the cast, reprising their roles. The film is the first feature film to have a full Comanche language dub.

Prey premiered at the San Diego Comic-Con on July 21, 2022, and was released by 20th Century Studios as a Hulu original film in the United States and on Disney+ Star internationally on August 5.

THE GOOD

Did somebody say finally? Seriously though, I cannot believe it took me so long to finally check out Prey. Once it hit Hulu in August, the initial buzz for the movie was insane and I immediately added it to my watchlist, but one thing led to another and I wasn’t checking it out until a couple of days before 2023. Needless to say though, I, like most other adult males, am a huge fan of the Predator franchise, and despite the up-and-down nature of the films in the franchise, I was still pumped to check this bad boy out. I mean some people were saying it was the best Predator installment since the first film, so that got pretty stoked. But was it true? Or was it just another junky Predator movie? Keep reading to find out!

Damn right it was true! This movie is without a doubt in my mind the best film in the Predator franchise since the original starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. That said, as big of a fan as I am of the Predator franchise, my favorite part of this film was truly that it felt like you didn’t even need to see those films to enjoy this one. This was a very interesting idea for a franchise film and I respect those in charge for thinking out of the box and doing something different than just putting out the same slop like they did in 2018 with The Predator. A big reason this film worked was mainly because of Dan Trachtenberg’s direction. Funny enough, this wasn’t Trachtenberg’s first time jumping into directing a franchise film because before this he directed the great sci-fi thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane. Seriously though, the similarities between that movie and Prey are plenty, and I am just a huge fan of Trachtenberg’s direction. Everything he did in Prey just felt so grounded and it was nice to be in this completely new world, but at the same time the movie was full of fantastic suspense and a lot of violence.

As for Trachtenberg's visual direction here, I thought he absolutely knocked it out of the park. The action scenes in this movie are simply great. The action was flawlessly paced and it never felt like it repeated itself too much. Continuing with the visuals though, the cinematography in Prey is truly beautiful. It really made me wonder why more action movies don’t look this good. The camera work did a great job of capturing the beauty of the environments, it used natural lighting perfectly, and it changed color palettes from scene to scene in a way that was really compelling. All that said, shout-out to the cinematographer Jeff Cutter.

Now onto the performances from the amazing indigenous cast that was led by Amber Midthunder. Midthunder absolutely crushed it here as she played the main character, Naru, a young Comanche warrior who was really easy to cheer for because of Midthunder’s performance. This wasn’t the first I had seen of Midthunder because she had a cameo in one of my favorite shows right now, Reservation Dogs, but after watching her in this, you can tell she is on the come up. It wasn’t anything that is going to get an Oscar nomination but she really carried this film. Aside from her though, I also quite enjoyed the performances of Dakota Beavers as Taabe, Naru's brother and a skilled hunter, and also Dane DiLiegro who played the actual Predator. All in all, though, the entire indigenous cast was great and I think it’s really cool that this film is the first feature film to have a full Comanche language dub.

THE BAD

Alright, there is no denying that I was a big fan of Prey, but there was just something missing here for me. Maybe it’s because I simply watch too many movies, but I just knew how this movie was going to play out from the very start once I was given the setup of the movie. I don’t know, maybe I’m being harsh, but I just wanted it to go further at some points, but at the end of the day it was a Hulu original film that ultimately delivered on what I came for. Oh and last but not least, and this doesn’t deduct any points from my rating of the film, but why the f**k wasn’t this movie released in theaters! WTF!

THE VERDICT

Dan Trachtenberg’s Prey is without a doubt one of the biggest surprises of 2022. It’s a really compelling action movie with a fresh Comanche perspective that looks and sounds great, and is 100% the best Predator installment since the first film. More than that, it’s thrilling, straightforward, and is carried by an awesome Amber Midthunder performance that is hopefully the first of many for the young actress.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.8/10

Prey is now streaming exclusively on Hulu. Check out the latest trailer below.

Spirited

By: Andrew Wing

Spirited is a 2022 American Christmas musical comedy film directed by Sean Anders (Daddy’s Home, Instant Family), and written and produced by Anders and John Morris (We’re the Millers). It is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol and a satire of the various adaptations since. The film stars Will Ferrell (Elf, Step Brothers), Ryan Reynolds (Deadpool, Free Guy), Octavia Spencer (The Shape of Water, Ma), Sunita Mani (G.L.O.W, Search Party), Patrick Page (In the Heights), Marlow Barkley (Slumberland), and Tracy Morgan (The Other Guys, Cop Out).

In the film, The Ghost of Christmas Present (Ferrell) is nearing retirement, which would mean a return to Earth. He sets his sights on an "unredeemable" man named Clint Briggs (Reynolds), who may end up helping the Ghost come to terms with his own past.

Spirited was released in select cinemas on November 11, 2022, before its streaming release on November 18, 2022, by Apple TV+.

THE GOOD

So it was Christmas Eve and my family and I were sitting down to try and find a Christmas movie to watch and we had no idea what to try. We didn’t feel like watching Home Alone for the hundredth time, and I couldn’t talk my mom into watching Die Hard because well, she doesn’t think it’s a Christmas movie. Yes, that’s right, she is one of those people. Anyways, we turned on Apple TV+, and right on the home screen was Spirited, a Christmas movie starring two of the funniest actors working today, Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. Those two guys were too tough to pass on so we said screw it and hit play. But was it better than watching Home Alone for the 101st time? Keep reading to find out!

That’s tough. I don’t know if I ever get tired of Home Alone, but despite some of my problems with the film that I’ll discuss later, I was still happy to check this out. Hands down though the best part of the movie, in my opinion, was the performances we got from Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, and more than that, the chemistry they share. As he said while doing press for this film, Ferrell is no stranger when it comes to Christmas movies because he is Buddy the Elf at the end of the day. I thought Ferrell was the star of the show as he was just so damn funny throughout, and I’ll just never get tired of watching him on TV. As for Reynolds, he just plays the same character in all of his movies pretty much and while I know some people get tired of him from time to time, I thought he was perfect here as the “unredeemable” man named Clint Briggs. That said, these two’s performances carried the film and the chemistry they shared has me hoping that this isn’t the last we see of them together.

As previously mentioned, those two guys’ performances were worth the price of admission for me, but there were also some other things I enjoyed about Spirited. I always love me some Octavia Spencer because she is truly one of the best, and I also was really impressed by Sunita Mani’s small-yet-hilarious side performance as the Ghost of Christmas Past. And last but not least, with this film being a musical comedy, you get a bunch of original songs that are just a blast. My personal favorite original song was “Good Afternoon” which actually has an outside chance of tabbing an Oscar nomination, so fingers crossed there!

THE BAD

I feel bad being a Grinch during the holidays, but there are just a few problems with this movie that keep it from being a Christmas classic. The main problem with the film is that it is the same story we get what really feels like every holiday season. And don’t get me wrong, it’s a classic story that’s entertaining at times, but I was just frustrated with this film’s lack of improvement over previous adaptations of Dickens's 1843 novella A Christmas Carol. And to tie that into my next problem with the movie, you would think if they were re-telling this story for the umpteenth time, it wouldn’t take so long! I am one who usually has no problem with longer movies, but this movie was just way too overstuffed at the end of the day.

THE VERDICT

Despite it being overstuffed and not too different from the previous adaptations of the famous Christmas carol, Spirited is still a film I would recommend because for one, it’s the holiday season, and two, it’s Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds together and their chemistry is pretty great to be honest.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.8/10

Spirited is now streaming only on Apple TV+. Check out the latest trailer below.

Babylon

By: Andrew Wing

Babylon is a 2022 American epic period comedy-drama film written and directed by Damien Chazelle (Whiplash, La La Land, First Man). The film features an ensemble cast that includes Brad Pitt (Fight Club, Inglourious Basterds), Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood), Diego Calva (Narcos: Mexico), Jean Smart (A Simple Favor, Mare of Easttown), Jovan Adepo (mother!, Overlord), and Li Jun Li (Wu Assassins).

A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, the plot chronicles the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood as it transitions from silent to sound films in the late 1920s.

Chazelle began developing the film in July 2019, with Lionsgate as the frontrunner to acquire the project. It was subsequently announced that Paramount Pictures had acquired worldwide rights in November 2019. Much of the main cast joined the project between January 2020 and August 2021, and filming took place in Los Angeles from July to October 2021.

Babylon premiered in Los Angeles on December 15, 2022, and was theatrically released in the United States on December 23, 2022, by Paramount Pictures. It received five nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, and nine nominations at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards, including Best Picture.

THE GOOD

Holy shit, I cannot believe I am finally writing this review! For those who don’t know me, it should be stated that Damien Chazelle is my favorite living director right alongside Denis Villeneuve. I think Whiplash is a perfect film and La La Land is one of my all-time favorites. The 37-year-old New England native is just on another level when it comes to filmmaking and when I heard his next film would be an epic period drama that was about Hollywood transitioning from silent to sound films in the late 1920s, I was f**king ecstatic! Throw in the fact that the film was being headlined by Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie, and I knew I was going to have to see this the first chance I had! Well, I did, but did it live up to my otherworldly expectations? Keep reading to find out!

It most definitely did! As previously said, Chazelle is my favorite director working today and what he gave us here just continues to make me love him even more. Everything he does in Babylon is incredible, and there is just nobody on his level right now in my opinion. His detail to all of the crafts here is out of this world and this is one of the most energetic films I’ve ever seen. I was on the edge of my seat for over three hours and that is all credit to Chazelle’s filmmaking skills. There are just so many unforgettable scenes here that are among my favorite scenes of the year and I just continue to be blown away by Chazelle. This movie is insane and crazy and he was trying to make a maximalist comedy that also has great dramatic moments and he delivered without a doubt. That said, he is more than deserving of a Best Director nomination but I’m skeptical if he’ll get it, unfortunately.

The other great thing about Chazelle is that he writes original screenplays for all of his films aside from his 2018 Neil Armstrong biopic First Man, and I was blown away by his screenplay here. I will watch any movie that is actually about the making of movies, but this particular time period in Hollywood when they transitioned from silent films to talkies is so interesting and I love that he focused on that era. The story we got was fantastic and it is one that everyone can connect to as it is mainly about a man who wants to be a part of something bigger that will make him be remembered. All in all, Chazelle gave us amazing dialogue in this, and I hope this can somehow snag a Best Original Screenplay nomination because he is deserving of that too.

Onto the performances in Babylon, we have to start with the star of the show, and that is Margot Robbie. Robbie plays the aspiring actress Nellie LaRoy, and she delivers hands down one of the best performances of the year, and I think the best performance of Robbie’s young but already illustrious career. She does everything you can think of from yelling, crying, screaming, to dancing. She just does things in this movie that I have never seen before and her performance strengthens the case that she is arguably the best actress working right now. You could really make the case that she should win Best Actress for her performance here, but the competition this year is ridiculous, but that said, she still better get nominated, or else I’ll have to riot.

The second-best performance in Babylon belongs to a new face for me, Diego Calva, who gave what can only be called a star-in-the-making performance. As epic and outlandish as this movie was, I felt like whenever we came to Calva’s character, Manny Torres, the movie instantly became more grounded. A lot of that was because of how likable his character was, but I can’t say enough good things about Calva’s performance here. I was just so taken aback by the subtleties of Calva’s performance and how much he as an actor could convey with simply a single glance. All of the character’s emotions were in Calva’s eyes from start to finish and it was truly amazing. That said, I really really want Calva to get a Best Actor nomination, but something tells me even if he doesn’t, he will have more chances down the line.

As for that other dude in the film who you might have heard of, Brad Pitt, well he was pretty damn good too. He plays a character who we have definitely seen before in films like Sunset Boulevard, Singin’ in the Rain, and most recently, The Artist, but I loved Pitt’s performance here. Brad Pitt has some really good scenes in this that stood out and I was a big fan of his character arc throughout the film. Because of it being the one and only Brad Pitt, it was just so easy to connect with his character and want the best for him, and let’s just say Pitt has still got it when it comes to the more emotional scenes. That said, I think Pitt is likely to grab a Best Supporting Actor nomination, but because of the competition in that category and also the recent allegations that came out against him, I don’t see him winning.

Those were definitely the big three when it came to the performances, but I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if I didn’t touch on some of the others. I’ll start with Peter Parker himself, Tobey Maguire, who has a small cameo in the third act of the film that while I know other people didn’t get or like, I just loved. He played this incredibly weird mob boss, and I just need Maguire to act more because the man’s range is incredible. I also was a big fan of both Jovan Adepo and Li Jun Li’s performances as two small side characters, and I really look forward to seeing them in more stuff. Other than that, Jean Smart was as great as she usually is, P. J. Byrne was as wild as he usually is, and Spike Jonze kicked ass in a weird cameo role thanks to his remarkable German accent.

Aside from the performances, Babylon is just a stunning movie when it comes to the technical elements at play here. The cinematography from Linus Sandgren is just incredible, and it’s by far the most ambitiously shot film Chazelle has ever done. From the crazy long takes to the camera movement, to the colorful saturated shots, the film is just so gorgeous to look at. Another reason why it is so gorgeous is because of the production design too which is also for lack of a better word, just insane and is going to win the Oscar. And last but not least, the score from Justin Hurwitz is unbelievably great. The film and the score are so united which is another reason why I love Chazelle so much because of how well he integrates music into his projects. I haven’t stopped humming the “Welcome” track from the film since I saw it and Hurwitz is 110% going to win the Oscar for Best Original Score. There’s just no denying it.

Before I get to “The Bad”, I just got to talk about the ending of the film. I really really loved the ending and I’m pretty sure my jaw was dropped for the entire last fifteen minutes. Like the entire movie, the ending is not going to work for everybody as it is this weird experimental outburst of crazy editing and while some people will roll their eyes at it, it somehow allowed me to connect with the movie so much better emotionally. It allowed me to put the pieces together and made me see the purpose behind every scene that came before it. The ending truly is what ultimately made me give this a 5/5 stars rather than a 4.5/5. I think the ending will be studied and discussed, and I can’t wait to watch this for a second and third time just so I can pick up on more stuff that I might’ve missed. Anyways, please Lord let this get nominated for Best Picture for if it doesn’t, the Academy will dearly regret it years from now.

THE BAD

Alright, I’ll be brutally honest here, it really annoys me how poor this movie is doing with critics, but more than that, how bad it is doing with general audiences. The main complaints I’ve seen from critics and audiences are the graphic content and also the runtime, which just gets under my skin. I don’t understand why people get so annoyed with the runtime as long as it is paced and edited well, which this movie 100% is. That said, the movie is 188 minutes long, so be warned, but it flew by for me and I don’t think you’ll regret checking this out. It’s just a blast from start to finish.

Now onto the graphic content, which is somehow more annoying than the runtime complaint. It’s really similar to what we saw from critics and audiences after Martin Scorsese’s 2013 epic The Wolf of Wall Street, which is also a 5-star film for me. Obviously with this movie, if you do any research, you should know that this isn’t a movie you bring your family to see over the holidays. It’s rated R, and it almost garnered an NC-17 rating because there’s a lot of drugs, nudity, and also some good old bathroom humor that you’ll get in the first five minutes. At the end of the day, this movie isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay, but I absolutely loved every second of it and maybe that shows my odd taste in movies, but it is just a shame that it’s rating with critics is hurting its chances in a number of categories for the upcoming Academy Awards.

THE VERDICT

With Babylon, Damien Chazelle swings for the fences with an epic period comedy-drama that serves as both a hate letter to Hollywood and a love letter to cinema, and he absolutely knocked it out of the park. It’s a wild three plus hour ride that contains amazing performances from Margot Robbie and Diego Calva, stunning visuals, the best score of the year from Justin Hurwitz, and a perfect ending that made this an unforgettable moviegoing experience for me.

Yes, the movie is insane and over-the-top and it will certainly lose some people, but I found there to be a point to all the ridiculousness involved and I hope other people do too because this movie is saying something that deserves to be heard and seen.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.5/10

Babylon is now playing at Smitty’s Cinema. Check out the latest trailer below.

Amsterdam

By: Andrew Wing

Amsterdam is a 2022 period comedy thriller film written, directed, and produced by David O. Russell (The Fighter, Silver Linings Playbook). Led by Christian Bale (The Dark Knight, The Big Short), Margot Robbie (The Wolf of Wall Street, I, Tonya), and John David Washington (BlacKkKlansman, Tenet), the film features an ensemble cast including Chris Rock (Grown Ups, Fargo), Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch, The Queen’s Gambit), Zoe Saldaña (Avatar, Guardians of the Galaxy), Mike Myers (Austin Powers films series, Shrek film series), Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals, The Shape of Water), Timothy Olyphant (Justified, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood), Andrea Riseborough (The Death of Stalin, Mandy), Taylor Swift (Valentine’s Day, Cats), Matthias Schoenaerts (The Danish Girl, Red Sparrow), Alessandro Nivola (The Neon Demon, The Mant Saints of Newark), Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody, No Time to Die), and Robert De Niro (Raging Bull, Goodfellas).

The story is based on the Business Plot, a 1933 political conspiracy in the US, and follows three friends—a doctor (Bale), a nurse (Robbie), and a lawyer (Washington)—who are caught in the mysterious murder of a retired US general.

Filmed in Los Angeles from January to March 2021, it was Russell's first film since Joy (2015), and it was released in the United States on October 7, 2022, by 20th Century Studios. Despite it being a box office bomb, with estimated losses for the studio reaching $97 million, a sequel titled True Love, which is set to be directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story), comes out on October 6, 2023.

THE GOOD

A year ago now, if you were to ask me my top five most anticipated films of 2022, I would have definitely had this movie, which a year ago was called “Canterbury Glass”, in that list. Why you might ask? Well for starters, I am a fan of David O. Russell’s films, specifically The Fighter and Silver Linings Playbook, so I was excited to see his first film since 2015. But more than that, this cast is about as stacked as a cast can get. I mean Christian Bale and Margot Robbie are arguably two of the best actors working today, and John David Washington and Anya Taylor-Joy are no joke either. Not to mention Oscar winners Rami Malek and Robert De Niro’s involvement, this cast is just insane! But was the stacked cast enough to make for another great David O. Russell film? Keep reading to find out!

It, unfortunately, was not, but the blame for this movie’s failure does not fall on the cast, because the majority of the cast gave solid performances. First, with the man himself, Christian Bale, who I would say is the best actor working right now since Daniel Day-Lewis retired. In Amsterdam, Bale plays Burt Berendsen, a doctor and war veteran who wears a glass eye. This is a character unlike anything Bale has played before, but I thought he gave a really good performance. I for one actually liked the accent he has in this and I found his character to be pretty funny at the end of the day. It’s a shame the movie wasn’t better, because if it were, I really think Bale would be in the Best Actor race, but nevertheless, he will be there for many more years to come.

Next with Margot Robbie, who is just an insanely talented actress. She, like Bale, also plays a character that I found to be different from anything she has done before as she plays an eccentric nurse who makes art out of shrapnel removed from the soldiers. Nevertheless, I loved every second she was on the screen, and I just haven’t seen Robbie give a bad performance yet in her young illustrious career. That said, I just can’t wait to check out Robbie’s next two films that she will star in, Babylon (see our full preview here) which hits theaters in a couple of weeks, and Barbie (see our full preview here), the huge film from Greta Gerwig that comes to theaters next summer!

Those two definitely stole the show in my opinion, but there were a couple of other performances that I liked, and those were Michael Shannon, Austin Powers himself, Mike Myers, and this other actor you might have heard of, Robert De Niro. Aside from the performances, there, unfortunately, wasn’t a ton more that I loved about Amsterdam. I will say though that the production design was fantastic. The setting was 1920s New York City and because of the impeccable production design and also costume design, it really felt true to that time and place so cheers to that!

THE BAD

Alright, let’s do this. Now I said I’m a fan of David O. Russell’s past films, and I am, and I don’t know if I can definitively say this because I haven’t seen Joy yet, but this has got to be his worst film yet. I am just at a loss for words over this screenplay. The story is just so wacky and exhausting and the plot is just very busy. Seriously though, Russell was trying to say something about race relations and concentration of wealth, while also trying to say something about veterans and fascism and I just think he fumbled the bag. As for his direction, I didn’t think that was all too great either. The editing was bad and the film is way too freaking long, and at the end of the day, there was just a massive lack of vision with this film and it’s quite disappointing, to say the least.

Also, I was pretty let down by some of the other performances we got from the ensemble cast. I thought Anya Taylor-Joy was fine, but her character was strange and we didn’t get nearly enough of her to understand her character. Aside from her, there were two male performers here that I just didn’t like in this film. I’m just not a big fan of Rami Malek, and it still pains me to this day that he won Best Actor for Bohemian Rhapsody over Bradley Cooper in A Star Is Born. And last but not least, John David Washington just did nothing for me with his performance in this. I don’t know, maybe I’m alone in thinking that, but I just hope he bounces back in whatever he does next because he is better than this.

THE VERDICT

Despite great performances from Christian Bale, Margot Robbie, and a few other cast members, Amsterdam is just a mess and is unfortunately David O. Russell’s worst film to date. From the wacky story to the muddled tone, the movie is just trying to be something that it isn’t and that plus the ridiculous runtime led to this being one of the more exhausting watches of the year.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.9/10

Amsterdam is now streaming only on HBO Max. Check out the latest trailer below.

RRR

By: Andrew Wing

RRR is a 2022 Indian Telugu-language epic action drama film directed by S. S. Rajamouli, who co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad. It was produced by D. V. V. Danayya of DVV Entertainment. The film stars N. T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt, Shriya Saran, Samuthirakani, Ray Stevenson (Dexter, Black Sails), Alison Doody (A View to a Kill, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), and Olivia Morris.

The film centers around two real-life Indian revolutionaries, Alluri Sitarama Raju (Charan) and Komaram Bheem (Rama Rao), their fictional friendship, and their fight against the British Raj. Set in the 1920s, the plot explores the undocumented period in their lives when both the revolutionaries chose to go into obscurity before they began the fight for their country.

Rajamouli came across stories about the lives of Rama Raju and Bheem and connected the coincidences between them, imagining what would have happened had they met and been friends. The film was formally announced in March 2018. Principal photography of the film began in November 2018 in Hyderabad and continued until August 2021, owing to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was shot extensively across India, with a few sequences filmed in Ukraine and Bulgaria. The film's soundtrack and background score were composed by M. M. Keeravani, with cinematography by K. K. Senthil Kumar and editing by A. Sreekar Prasad. Sabu Cyril is the film's production designer whilst V. Srinivas Mohan supervised the visual effects.

Made on a budget of ₹550 crore ($72 million), RRR is the most expensive Indian film to date. The film was initially scheduled for theatrical release on July 30, 2020, which was postponed multiple times due to production delays and the pandemic. RRR was released theatrically on March 25, 2022, and it hit the Netflix streaming service on May 20, 2022.

With ₹240 crore (US$30 million) worldwide on its first day, RRR broke the record for the highest opening-day collection earned by an Indian film. RRR emerged as the highest-grossing film in its home market of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, grossing over ₹415 crore (US$52 million) and surpassing Rajamouli's previous film Baahubali 2. The film grossed ₹1,200 crore (US$175.47 million) worldwide, setting several box office records for an Indian film, including the third highest-grossing Indian film and second highest-grossing Telugu film worldwide. It also went on to become the highest-earning Indian film in Japan. RRR became the third Indian film and the first Telugu film to receive nominations at the Golden Globes, nominated in the Best Non-English Language Film Category and for the Best Original Song. It was nominated in three categories at the 47th Saturn Awards and won the Best International Film award. The film was considered to be one of the best films of the year by the National Board of Review, making it only the second non-English film ever to make it to the list.

THE GOOD

The time has finally come! I truly cannot believe that it has been almost seven whole months since RRR hit Netflix and became one of the most talked about films of the year! I added it to my watchlist once I saw how much hype and praise it was getting, but life got in the way as it does and next thing you know it’s almost Christmas and I still haven’t watched the epic action film that has recently been getting some awards nominations and consideration. All that said, earlier this week I had some free time so my brother and I decided that it was officially time to watch RRR! But was it worth the wait? Keep reading to find out!

It most definitely was! I am a huge fan of foreign films, but despite that, this was my first time watching an Indian film aside from The Apu Trilogy from the great Satyajit Ray, but needless to say, RRR is quite different from those films. Nevertheless, I am so happy I checked this out because as my brother said once we finished it, it was just so entertaining from start to finish. I will be giving a lot of praise to this film throughout this review but I have to start by praising the man in charge, the director S. S. Rajamouli, who also co-wrote the film with V. Vijayendra Prasad. Simply put, Rajamouli directed the shit out of this movie. There was so much detail in every scene and the action sequences were just on another level. More than that, the script he wrote here alongside Prasad was such a simple yet beautiful story that allowed me as the viewer to emotionally connect with the characters. All in all, Rajamouli made a fan out of me with this epic action drama film of his that could very well earn him a Best Director nomination at the upcoming Academy Awards.

As good as Rajamouli’s direction, screenplay, and action sequences were, this movie is carried by the amazing performances of the cast, particularly Rama Rao and Charan’s. This was obviously the first I had ever seen of these two actors, but oh my lord, it did not take very long to fall in love with them and their characters! Both of them were just absolute beasts who kicked a whole lot of ass for three hours, and I just loved every second of it! I hope with how much universal acclaim this movie has gotten in the United States that we can see them in some American films in the very near future because they both just carry that movie star quality that doesn’t come around too often.

To continue with my praise for RRR, this film just doesn’t miss on a technical level. The editing done by A. Sreekar Prasad was so awesome! There were so many sick cuts during all the action scenes and while I’m usually not a big fan of slow-motion shots, I loved every single one this movie had to offer! More than that, the cinematography we got here from K. K. Senthil Kumar was awards-worthy! India is just an incredibly beautiful place and Kumar took full advantage of the setting the film took place in. And last but not least, when it comes to the techs, the VFX in RRR are superb! Spoiler alert, there are a ton of wild animals in this movie, specifically tigers, and they looked so damn real, so shoutout to V. Srinivas Mohan, the man who supervised the visual effects.

But despite how good the film looked, RRR sounded even better in my opinion. The background score that was composed by M. M. Keeravani was just terrific! It was just one of those background scores that brought so much to every scene, and let’s just say that I was humming it for the remainder of the day after watching this. As for the soundtrack though, it is truly fantastic. There were so many great songs from the soundtrack, but hands down the best one was "Naatu Naatu" which is I would say pretty much a lock to get a nomination for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, and it’s so good it might even win!

THE BAD

I don’t know what you want me to say, RRR is just one hell of a fun time from start to finish! That said, there’s no denying that this movie isn’t for everybody. For starters, it’s a foreign film that is spoken entirely in the Telugu language, and on top of that, the film clocks in at just over three hours with a 182-minute runtime. And I’m one that doesn’t really care too much about long run times, but even I’ll admit that this movie is way too long. Aside from that, the movie is pretty absurd at times with the situations our protagonists find themselves in and somehow get out of, but despite all that, the movie is just so freaking entertaining, and for that reason and that reason alone, I urge you to give RRR a try. I have a feeling you won’t regret it!

THE VERDICT

Thanks to incredible action sequences, amazing musical numbers, and some impressive filmmaking from S. S. Rajamouli, RRR is about as epic a movie as you will ever see! The Indian Telugu-language action drama film is entertaining from the 1st minute to the 182nd, and it’s carried by the unforgettable bromance that is N. T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan!

Sure, it has its flaws and it's over the top, but the movie is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and plus, it’s got a legit shot at getting a Best Picture nomination despite India not even submitting it as their entry for Best International Feature Film!

TED TAKES RATING - 8.5/10

RRR is now streaming exclusively on Netflix. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Banshees of Inisherin

By: Andrew Wing

The Banshees of Inisherin is a 2022 black tragicomedy film written and directed by Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). The film stars Colin Farrell (The Lobster, The Killing of a Sacred Deer) in the lead role, while Brendan Gleeson (Harry Potter films, Paddington 2), Kerry Condon (Better Call Saul, Ray Donovan), and Barry Keoghan (The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Eternals) also star in supporting roles. It reunites Farrell and Gleeson, who previously worked together on McDonagh's directorial debut In Bruges back in 2008.

The film follows two lifelong friends (Farrell and Gleeson) who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, which leads to alarming consequences for both of them.

The Banshees of Inisherin had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 5, 2022, where Farrell won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor and McDonagh won the Golden Osella for Best Screenplay. It was theatrically released in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States on October 21, 2022, by Searchlight Pictures. It was named one of the best films of 2022 by the National Board of Review.

THE GOOD

Going into 2022, The Banshees of Inisherin was at the very top of my most anticipated list. The reason is Martin McDonagh. For those who don’t know, Martin McDonagh is a British-Irish playwright who is hands down one of the most impressive writer-directors we have making movies today. As said in the introduction, his feature film was In Bruges, and he followed that up with the highly underrated Seven Psychopaths, before almost winning Best Picture in 2018 for his 2017 crime drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri which is just brilliant if you ask me. And with The Banshees of Inisherin, he was getting back together with the two stars from In Bruges in Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson so I just could not wait to see this on the big screen the first chance I got. Well, I got the chance to see it alright, but was it as good as I had hoped? Keep reading to find out!

No, it wasn’t. It was better! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but this is Martin McDonagh’s best work. The man just understands the black comedy genre better than anyone else. The script is flawless and it is just such a funny movie. The premise is so simple really, it’s about one friend basically unfriending the other friend out of nowhere, but I was just blown away by it. Because of how simple the film’s premise was, we were able to see how far these characters are willing to go, and we also actually come to understand why both characters are doing what they are doing. At the end of the day, the movie is just perfectly directed and McDonagh is worthy of a Best Director nomination. More than that, as already said, this original screenplay is just a masterpiece and in my opinion, it’s between McDonagh and Todd Field for TÁR (see my full review here) for Best Original Screenplay.

But now onto these amazing performances we got, and I have to start with one of my favorite actors who just killed it here, and that’s Colin Farrell. First things first, Colin Farrell is having himself one hell of a 2022. He was in the A24 drama After Yang (see my full review here), earlier this year where he gave a great dramatic performance that I felt didn’t get enough attention. He was also in one of the biggest movies of the year in The Batman (see Ted’s full review here), as he was totally unrecognizable as  Oswald "Oz" Cobblepot / Penguin. That said, he gives his best performance of not only the year but of his illustrious career in The Banshees of Inisherin.

Seriously though, I loved his performance and his character so much here. At the beginning of the movie, we see that his character’s identity is mostly rooted in his niceness. His character prides himself in being a nice guy despite being a little bit dull. That said, throughout the movie we see Farrell’s character begin to shift from being the nice guy to one who is enraged at his old friend for what he is doing to him and that is when Farrell really begins to shine through his performance. He has one scene that is just remarkable and it’s one of my favorite performances of the year. I think Farrell is definitely going to receive his first-ever Oscar nomination for this, and who knows, he could even win given the competition and I would be so happy for him because as previously mentioned, he truly is one of my favorites.

As for Brendan Gleeson, he is just one of the best-supporting actors working today and he was perfectly cast in this film as the friend who unfriends Colin Farrell’s character. Gleeson’s character’s motivation behind that decision is actually really interesting and it’s one of the most thought-provoking parts of the film. That said, because of how talented of an actor Gleeson is, we were able to see where he was coming from despite his unbelievable pettiness. I just thought his character felt so real despite both the mystery inside him and the extremes he goes to in the film, but all in all, Gleeson was fantastic and he is locked in for what would be his first Oscar nomination as well for Best Supporting Actor.

Gleeson wasn’t the only great supporting performance in the movie though, because Kerry Condon and Barry Keoghan both gave amazing supporting performances as well. First with Condon, and I had never seen her in anything before this, but she was certainly a standout in the film. She is really funny in this and her character has some of the best comedic moments in the whole thing. The other one who is responsible for the other best comedic moments in the film is Barry Keoghan. He plays the absolute dumbest person in this town and he just does it so well. It is just a perfect casting choice, and I don’t know how he plays idiots so well. Both Condon and Keoghan are serious threats too to get Oscar nominations which is insane because that’d be four acting nominations, but the acting from the whole cast in this is better than any other movie I’ve seen this year.

Aside from the performances though, the technical elements in this film are simply incredible. The setting of the movie takes place in this small Irish seaside town and the location really felt like a character in this movie because of how beautifully it was shot by Ben Davis. The cinematography is just outstanding here though. From the way he captured the landscapes to the way he shot the interiors of the bar, I was just in awe of Davis for taking this movie to another level. Also, the editing was done with an awareness of where the jokes were and how long the audience would be laughing at said jokes, so shoutout to Mikkel E. G. Nielsen, the editor of the film, who will most definitely be getting nominated. And last but not least, Carter Burwell’s score for this is just ridiculously good. It felt very fitting to the movie and I don’t see any way he doesn’t get an Oscar nomination either. All in all, this movie is just fantastic on every level and it’s a serious contender for Best Picture.

THE BAD

If you can’t tell yet, I absolutely loved this movie. It’s #2 on the year for me only behind Everything Everywhere All at Once (see my full review here). I just don’t have anything bad to say about it. Sure, the story is kind of absurd at the end of the day, there’s some gore, and the ending might lose some people, but I seriously recommend checking this out. You won’t regret it.

THE VERDICT

Thanks to Martin McDonagh, the master of black comedy himself, The Banshees of Inisherin is not only his best film but also one of the year’s very best films. It’s backed by Oscar-worthy performances from the four main cast members and it's just a seriously well-crafted film that is full of laughs throughout.

This movie is fucking hilarious, there’s no debating that, but there’s also something existential about the movie too that really makes you think about how you go about your own everyday life, and I don’t know what else to say, I loved everything about it.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.8/10

The Banshees of Inisherin is now playing in select theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Violent Night

Violent Night is a 2022 action dark comedy directed by Norwegian native Tommy Wirkola (Dead Snow, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters), from a screenplay by Pat Casey and Josh Miller, who also co-wrote Sonic the Hedgehog (2020), and Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022). The film is produced by 87North who previously produced Nobody, John Wick, Atomic Blonde, Deadpool 2, Bullet Train, and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw.

When a team of mercenaries breaks into a wealthy family compound on Christmas Eve, taking everyone inside hostage, the team isn’t prepared for a surprise combatant: Santa Claus (David Harbour, Black Widow, Stranger Things series) is on the grounds, and he’s about to show why this Nick is no saint.

The film also stars Emmy winner John Leguizamo (John Wick), Cam Gigandet (Without Remorse), Alex Hassell (Cowboy Bebop), Alexis Louder (The Tomorrow War), Edi Patterson (The Righteous Gemstones), and Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise).

Violent Night made its debut in theaters on December 2nd, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

Christmas is a big deal in my house, but my wife is much more traditional and just wants to watch Hallmark movies and drink hot chocolate. Now I will drink the hot chocolate of course, but you can keep the Hallmark movies because I need something a bit edgier; enter Violent Night. When the first trailer for the film was released I was immediately overwhelmed with the Christmas spirit, this looked awesome. First, who doesn’t love Mr. Stranger Things himself David Harbour best known as Hopper in the series. The 6’3 behemoth of an actor who makes Tom Cruise look like a child is perfect for the role of old Saint Nick. So yeah, to say that I was excited would be an understatement, the Holiday Season would not begin until this movie hit theaters. So, the day has finally come, did Violent Night spread the yuletide cheer I hoped it would? Keep reading to find out!

Move over National Lampoons Christmas Vacation because this might be my new favorite Christmas movie! Seriously, Violent Night was fantastic for so many different reasons. First off, I made it clear why I was excited about the movie in the first place, but it turned out to be so much more than I expected. I sort of thought it would be more in the realm of a horror comedy which would have been fine, but instead, it finds itself somehow teetering on over-the-top and ultra-violent action comedy meets Holiday classic. I certainly wouldn’t let any children watch this movie, but the underlying message is dare I say magical. Violent Night finds a way to instill the joy of Christmas while offering viewers the unique opportunity to watch Santa Clause fuck some shit up, pardon my French. David Harbour’s version of the jolly guy who delivers presents to kids one day out of the year is a damn legend, simple as that. Violent Night is immersive, hilarious, very well-paced, packed full of incredible fight sequences that are as brutal as they are satisfying, and still somehow manages to offer up some heart along the way. Also, the cast is nothing short of fantastic from top to bottom.

Alright so as far as the story, I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from Violent Night. But as I said I sort of imagined a horror comedy style of a film where this badass Santa Clause just wrecks house on these dudes for landing on his naughty list. Now that is honestly sort of what happens, it just doesn’t quite evolve how I pictured it. But before you get all bent out of shape, this is a good thing. I was genuinely impressed with the depth of the overall story and the fact that at its core this really is a Christmas movie, and is built around the traditions we all know and love. I mean listen, we all have rough days, weeks, months, or even years, and good ol’ Saint Nick is no different. I won’t say much more in terms of the story because I really don’t want to give anything away, but viewers will have plenty to sink their teeth into. The story really impressed me at every turn, and it perfectly complimented what I considered to be one heck of a fun roller-coaster ride.

We have to talk about the cast, and needless to say, we need to start with my guy David Harbour. Widely known for his role as Hopper in Stranger Things, Harbour reminds me of the great Michael Shannon in so many ways. Both actors are roughly 6’3 in height which is basically Tom Cruise x3 and are each incredibly talented. What is most impressive is the range they possess, which granted I have to give the edge to Shannon in terms of some of the versatile roles he has taken on, but as his career progresses I am getting more and more impressed by Harbour. I absolutely loved him in this role and felt like he was the man for the job. His believability was spot on whether he was selling viewers on the legend of Santa Clause and his reindeer, or the dark past that you will learn about once you see the movie. He was just great.

Next in line is honestly one of my favorite actors over the years in the talented John Leguizamo. I have been a fan of his ever since the over-the-top and ridiculous 1997 comedy The Pest, which has a 4% rating on Rotten Tomatoes just in case you were interested. Leguizamo really is a generational talent with 155+ acting credits and counting, and he recently played a great role in the fantastic satirical comedy-drama The Menu (our full review here), which is a must-see. In Violent Night Leguizamo plays the primary antagonist as he is the guy who will stop at nothing to get what he wants during a very well-planned and sophisticated heist. But what makes this movie so unique is that each pivotal character has an important backstory, and he is no different. Although Harbour and Leguizamo lead the way for me, the supporting cast is great as well. I have to give credit to Leah Brady who plays her best Kevin McAllister of Home Alone fame.

Alexis Louder, who is lights-out good in Copshop (our full review here), held her own as well and once again proved why she is an actress to keep an eye on. Veteran actress Beverly D'Angelo, known for the Christmas classic National Lampoons Christmas Vacation that I previously mentioned, also dominated a pivotal role as the matriarch of the Lightstone family. I’m not ashamed to admit that I have liked Cam Gigandet ever since his role in the underrated 2008 sports drama Never Back Down. He has always played that a-hole privileged guy role perfectly, and he takes on some of that here as well with some solid comic relief. Actress Edi Patterson was great as well in her role as Alva Lightstone and had great chemistry with the rest of the cast. The entire supporting cast was honestly as good as you could hope for and each did their part.

The action sequences and fight scenes in Violent Night are next-level awesome. When a film involves a guy named David Leitch, you know it is going to hit as hard as a 90’s era Mike Tyson uppercut. His resume is just insane. He directed the recent action thriller Bullet Train (our full review here), now streaming on Netflix, he also directed Hobbs & Shaw, Deadpool 2 (our full review here), Atomic Blonde (our full review here), and co-directed the first John Wick movie. So yeah, he knows his way around a fight scene or two. Violent Night sets the tone early, and the violence does not let up. Santa is a bit of a punching bag at first because I mean he only planned to be out delivering presents and didn’t exactly pack his brass knuckles, but the old muscle memory kicks in real quick. So many of the action scenes are a blast to experience, and each one felt unique and well thought out. I also loved the homage to Home Alone, and one scene, in particular, had me damn near yelling “ohh shit!!” out loud. So good. Bottom line, if you want to be entertained this holiday season, Violent Night is the movie you need to be seeing in theaters.

THE BAD

Alright listen, I loved this movie. I thought it was a blast from start to finish, but with being said, Violent Night is not for everyone. The film is extremely violent, excessively vulgar, and just a good old-fashioned wham-bam-thank-you-man when it comes to the season of sugar cookies, presents, and spiked egg nog. I feel like a broken record every single time one of these movies comes out because let’s be honest, it is very clear what kind of movie Violent Night is from the start. So if you don’t like the subject matter clearly you will have a hard time enjoying this movie. But with that being said, the film was right up my alley and even exceeded my expectations.

THE VERDICT

An epic and brutally violent action comedy that is basically Home Alone meets John Wick with a surprisingly wholesome underlying message, Violent Night is the next great Christmas classic and I will not be convinced otherwise. This movie was just so much fun I can’t even begin to describe how much I enjoyed it. The age-old debate about whether or not Die Hard is a Christmas movie can finally be put to bed because David Harbour is officially Santa Clause, and Violent Night is the next great Holiday classic. Mark it on your calendars folks, because you will be watching this bad boy for years to come. Be sure to fully immerse yourself in the true Holiday cheer of this masterpiece in theaters sooner than later, you won’t regret it.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.9/10

Violent Night is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Armageddon Time

By: Andrew Wing

Armageddon Time is a 2022 American coming-of-age drama film written, directed, and produced by James Gray (The Lost City of Z, Ad Astra). The film stars Anne Hathaway (The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables), Jeremy Strong (Succession, The Trial of the Chicago 7), Banks Repeta, Jaylin Webb, and Anthony Hopkins (The Silence of the Lambs, The Father). The film was shot in New Jersey with cinematographer Darius Khondji (Okja, Uncut Gems).

Inspired by Gray's childhood experiences, the story follows a young Jewish-American boy (Repeta) who befriends an African-American classmate (Webb) and begins to struggle with expectations from his family and growing up in a world of privilege, inequality, and prejudice.

Armageddon Time had its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2022, and was released in the United States via a limited theatrical release on October 28, 2022, by Focus Features, before expanding wide on November 4, 2022.

THE GOOD

For some reason, James Gray isn’t a household name, but his movies are all awesome. His 2019 science fiction film Ad Astra was one of my favorites of 2019, and that says a lot considering 2019 was arguably one of the best years in film we have ever had. That said, I was pumped once I first heard that his next movie, Armageddon Time, would be based on and inspired by Gray’s childhood experiences from growing up in New York in 1980. Not only that, but the fact that it was headlined by quite a trio of actors in Hathaway, Strong, and Hopkins, and I knew I was not going to miss this one during its limited run in theaters. But were the big names attached enough to make Armageddon Time a good movie at the end of the day? Keep reading to find out!

Yes! The answer is yes! For real though, James Gray has done it again! As I said in the introduction, he really isn’t that well known but he truly is one of most fascinating American directors working today, and with Armageddon Time, he takes us on an unforgettable autobiographical journey. I thought James Gray was really vulnerable here as the director for a lot of reasons. For starters, the movie’s main focus is on dissecting the white privilege that Gray grew up with, and I just commend him for acknowledging that and dissecting it so effectively throughout the film. Also, this movie just wasn’t as sensational as other films like this usually are, and I think that’s why I connected with it more. More than that, it never felt like Gray was forcing us as the audience to find one specific conclusion within all the threads in this boy’s life. Rather, it just felt grounded in reality and that is all it needed to be in my book so hats off to James Gray for yet another great job writing and directing!

Now let’s get into the amazing performances we got in Armageddon Time. I’ll start with Banks Repeta who plays the main character, Paul Graff, who we can assume is a reflection of James Gray as a child. This wasn’t the first I had seen of Repeta, but this was hands down the best I’ve seen of him. He was both kind of awkward and kind of charming, and I just thought he was perfect for this role. It didn’t feel like Gray was trying to cast someone perfect to play his younger self, but rather he wanted to cast somebody who felt believable as a misfit and Repeta was just great. As for newcomer Jaylin Webb, the other child performer in Armageddon Time, I thought he was excellent in his first feature film performance. His chemistry with Repeta was flawless, and the two of them provided some of the best moments the film had to offer.

But now onto that acting trio I previously mentioned that ultimately got my ass in the theater. I’ll start with Anne Hathaway who has been on a stinker streak lately, unfortunately. That said, her performance in this puts that streak to an end if you ask me. I loved Hathaway’s performance here and I thought she was very good. I did think she had the weakest of the primary familial relationships with Banks Repeta’s character Paul, but still, it’s Anne Hathaway and she’s incapable of giving a bad performance even if it’s in bad movies like The Hustle or The Last Thing He Wanted.

Continuing with that big three, let’s discuss the two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins. I mean what can I say? The man is a legend and he has given us some of the best performances we have ever seen in the history of film. Well, he puts another feather in his cap with his performance in this as the wise old grandfather, Aaron Rabinowitz. He is the one adult figure in Paul’s life who is able to get through to him and because of that, he was responsible for some of the more emotional and sentimental moments in the film that I’ll admit did hit me pretty hard.

And lastly, with Kendall Roy himself, Jeremy Strong, I thought he had the best performance in the entire film which also surprised me the most too. He comes across initially as this stern and emotionally distant father, but because of Strong’s acting talents, you can see how charming he is in some scenes with his kids. Also, he has some of the strongest scenes in the film as later in the movie we start to see his emotions come through the cracks, and similar to Hopkins, he caused my eyes to water a time or two. Strong really just continues to move higher and higher up my favorite actors list, and I cannot wait for season three of the best show on television right now, Succession.

THE BAD

News flash, I loved this movie. It made me as emotional as I have ever been in a movie which I wasn’t expecting, and this is undoubtedly one of my personal favorites of the year. That said, I really don’t understand why this film hasn’t gotten more buzz during this year’s awards circuit. Maybe it’s because we have gotten so many of these movies where the directors are basically just doing autobiographies of their own lives like Kenneth Branagh did last year with Belfast (see my full review here), and like Steven Spielberg is doing this year with The Fabelmans (see our preview here). But at the end of the day, this movie isn’t trying to be the charming Oscar bait we have grown accustomed to. It’s rather more of a matter-of-fact approach about this child at this point in his life and I was just totally absorbed by it, so I wish it got more awards attention because I think it deserves it.

THE VERDICT

Behind great performances from the entire cast, Armageddon Time is a really interesting memoir film from American filmmaker James Gray. I loved that he chose to tell this personal story that ultimately serves as a direct and damning takedown of the white privilege that was percolating in 1980 New York and still is today. The film is complex yet grounded in a familiar reality, and it really hit home for me on an emotional level.

I don’t know, maybe it’s because it is a movie that is free of nostalgia, but this movie is just getting no awards buzz for some reason. Yes, it’s a film that tackles a lot from the political angles, the family dynamics, to the friendships, but I just think it all comes together so nicely and I couldn’t recommend it more.

TED TAKES RATING - 9/10

Armageddon Time is now available for rent or purchase on demand. Check out the latest trailer below.

TÁR

By: Andrew Wing

TÁR is a 2022 psychological drama film written, directed, and produced by Todd Field (In the Bedroom, Little Children). It is Field's first film since the release of Little Children in 2006, and the film stars Cate Blanchett (Blue Jasmine, Carol). The cast also includes Noémie Merlant (Portrait of a Lady on Fire), Nina Hoss (Homeland), Sophie Kauer, Julian Glover (The Empire Strikes Back), Allan Corduner (Yentl), and Mark Strong (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Shazam!).

The film, set in the international world of classical music, centers on Lydia Tár (Blanchett), widely considered one of the greatest living composers/conductors and the first-ever female chief conductor of a major German orchestra.

TÁR had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022, where Blanchett won the Volpi Cup for Best Actress. It had a limited theatrical release in the United States on October 7, 2022, before a wide release on October 28, 2022, by Focus Features.

THE GOOD

When I first heard about TÁR, let’s just say I circled the release date on my calendar. I was excited for a number of reasons. Obviously, I was excited because it was getting a lot of buzz from critics after its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September, but I was also excited because it is Todd Field’s first film in sixteen years! More than that, it is headlined by one of the greatest living actors in Cate Blanchett as the title character, who critics were saying gave a performance of the ages. All of that said, my expectations for this film were higher than high, but did it match those expectations? Keep reading to find out!

It most certainly did, and I won’t keep you waiting, the main reason it did was because of Cate Blanchett! This movie simply is a long and patient character study that follows Blanchett’s character, Lydia Tár, and her fall from grace. Lydia Tár is a very secretive and elusive person who is very unemotional and stoic, and Cate Blanchett just brings this character to life so much that by the end of the film you’ll be Google searching to see if Lydia Tár was actually a real person. I mean it is really insane how she just transformed into this woman.

I’ll touch on the screenplay very soon, but every word Cate Blanchett says in this film is pitch-perfect. She elevates every single sentence, every single word, and every single syllable. She truly doesn’t miss in this. To continue, Blanchett doesn’t hesitate in this film and she never breaks character. She is locked in from the beginning to the end and it was just fascinating to see. I really think it is one of the greatest performances I have ever seen and as much as I loved Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once (see my full review here), Cate Blanchett needs to win the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in this film. Yes, it would be her third Oscar win and Yeoh hasn’t won one yet, but there’s just not a better performance we are going to see this year.

Next with Todd Field, and I’ll be blunt, the man is fucking back! He is really a genius when it comes to filmmaking. Every scene in TÁR was just so meticulously and expertly crafted and there is just no denying that Field will get a Best Director nomination. When it comes to purely directing, I don’t know if I was as blown away by what he did as I was by say the Daniels for what they did in the aforementioned Everything Everywhere All at Once, but what Field does is still fantastic. He rests so much of what this film does and is on just having an actress of Blanchett’s caliber who has the utmost talent to be front and center here in the film and that is what makes the movie and his direction so brilliant if you’re asking me.

Continuing with Field, the screenplay we got from him here was just the definition of a masterpiece. It is just full of so many interesting and enticing themes such as cancel culture, but also the topics of power dynamics, manipulation, and also the idea of separating the art from the artist. Furthermore, the screenplay grapples with the idea that the perception of these people like Lydia Tár is going to change over time and it is not going to be in our hands. There is a tight insistence throughout the film of Lydia controlling her image and her perception only for it to be overtaken by a changing tide that is the way in which people view public figures like Tár.

All of that said, after watching TÁR, it is evident that Field really respects his audience’s intelligence and I love that. I mentioned how this film is a character study, but more than that it is an examination of the infamous cancel culture I just brought up in a much less sensationalized way. At the end of the day, there was a lot Todd Field was trying to say with his script, but my favorite thing about it was that he didn’t give us answers. Instead, he gives us this movie in a way that allows us to observe that phenomenon in a broader sense and take away our own ideas and I think that is what makes a script like his so masterful and compelling. The skill in his writing is that the details are there to pick up on and as previously mentioned, he trusts you to pick them out. There are just so many subtle clues he leaves throughout the film that allows you to fill in the blanks and I know I’ve said this a number of times now, but I just loved everything he did with TÁR and I’m pulling for him to win for Best Original Screenplay!

Now onto the technical side of things with TÁR, and with this being a movie that follows a renowned composer-conductor, I have to start by talking about the music. Now the film doesn’t have a true score here like most other films because Blanchett is conducting Gustav Mahler’s 5th Symphony which isn’t the original score and there also is not a ton of music in the movie other than that. That said, the film’s score nevertheless was composed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, who is most known for her score in the 2019 film Joker, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Original Score. That said, while there isn’t a ton of music in TÁR, there is still a score that is made up entirely of sound that plays in the movie, and after doing some research after seeing this, I have to say that what she did is very impressive. Now it probably won’t get a score nomination because most people will watch it and be confused but all of the orchestra scenes in this were breathtaking and those were composed by Guðnadóttir, so I just got to give a shout-out to this woman who is one of the most remarkable musicians we have working today.

To continue, while there is no better performance than that of Cate Blanchett in this film, that doesn’t take away from all the great supporting performances this movie gives us. I personally thought Nina Hoss was the best of the supporting bunch. Hoss is a German actress that I had never seen before, but she was amazing in this as Tár’s wife and concertmaster, Sharon. I don’t know if she had enough screen time to get herself nominated but you never know. Aside from Hoss, I loved Noémie Merlant, Julian Glover, and Mark Strong (especially his wig), and also shoutout to Adam Gopnik, staff writer for The New Yorker who plays himself in the film and was just awesome.

In conclusion, I am just obsessed with this film. It’s my number three on the year and I don’t see it going any lower than that. It’s a lock for a Best Picture nomination and I really don’t see anyone other than Cate Blanchett winning for Best Actress. She literally created a movie persona in Lydia Tár that will be remembered in the same way we remember characters like Daniel Plainview. Oh, and last but not least, the ending to this film is just phenomenal and it left me with the biggest grin on my face.

THE BAD

Alright, as you clearly know by now, I don’t have much bad to say about TÁR, but the main critique of the film from what I’ve seen that has been widespread among critics is that the movie is too pretentious and inaccessible. Now I’ll admit, the dialogue is super witty and tense, and also extremely intelligent, but I just was never turned away from the movie. Also, and I almost feel like I’m breaking the law or cheating by writing this review after only having seen the film once, but it’s almost impossible to have the tightest grasp on the film and completely understand everything at play in my opinion after just one watch. It’s just one of those movies where you are trying to wrap your head around what is going on, but that’s why I loved it so much to be perfectly honest and I can’t express to you how excited I am to check it out again whenever it hits streaming.

Aside from that, the second biggest complaint that I have seen from other critics is the film’s runtime. I don’t know, I know I’m in the minority on this one, but I just truly don’t care how long a movie is as long as it is well-edited like this one was. TÁR clocks in at 158 minutes which some people just won’t be able to overcome and that’s okay I guess, but I have to say you will be missing out. The movie really flew by and I did not want it to end. Also, and this is more of a warning, but the first three scenes in the film take up like 25 to 30 minutes but just know that all of those scenes, and truly all of the scenes in the film are critically important and the movie wouldn’t be the same without them. The movie is really built and defined by these long, extended conversations and the reason that it works and is riveting is because the dialogue is just so dense and the delivery of every line of dialogue from all the actors is just flawless.

THE VERDICT

Behind a career best performance from Cate Blanchett that is one of the most incredible performances I have ever seen, TÁR is a five-star film that is hands down one of 2022’s best. As impressive as Blanchett’s performance as Lydia Tár was, Todd Field’s direction and screenplay are right there with her. It is a patient, smart film that is really watchable despite it being a 2.5 hour long movie that consists largely of conversations about classical music.

Sure, some people may find it to be inaccessible because it’s a movie that offers more questions than answers, but I loved being able to engage with so many different ideas and topics that are prevalent in today’s society, most notably cancel culture.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.7/10

TÁR is now available for rent or purchase on demand. Check out the latest trailer below.

Strange World

Strange World, formerly titled Searcher Clade, is a 2022 animated adventure film directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Moana, Raya and the Last Dragon), and written/co-directed by Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon). It is produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, and will be their 61st animated feature. It is the first Walt Disney Animation Studios film to be composed by Alexandre Desplat.

The legendary Clades are a family of explorers whose differences threatened to topple their latest and most crucial mission.

The voice cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal, Dennis Quaid, Jaboukie Young-White, Gabrielle Union, Lucy Liu, Karan Soni, Adelina Anthony, and Alan Tudyk.

Strange World made its debut in theaters on November 23rd, courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures.

THE GOOD

Let me just start by saying this has been a down year when it comes to family-friendly movies which is a bit of a bummer when you have kids who have become obsessed with going to the movies with dad. Now I have no issue bringing my 2-year-old to see Smile or Prey for the Devil considering he claims he likes “scary”, but something tells me my wife may have a few issues with that. So instead we had a great time taking both boys to see Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile which they talked about for weeks, and waited patiently for Disney to release the animated adventure Strange World, which looked right up our alley. So we packed the kids in the car, loaded up on popcorn and candy at concession, and rushed to our seats just as trailers started. We were ready! So, was Strange World worth our time and effort?! Keep reading to find out!

I won’t post the picture here of course, but the smiles on the faces of our boys standing in front of the movie poster said it all. Strange World was a blast to experience, and above all else it offered something for everyone. Needless to say the visuals stole the show, but the voice-acting was superb and the score was great as expected, but the big surprise for me was just how powerful and impactful the story was. I thought the film had an important message regardless of how you perceive it, but what I enjoyed most was the focus on family and what it means to pave our own way in life. Strange World offers viewers a beautiful and immersive environment that will leave you in a constant state of awe, and the twists and turns will surely keep you on your toes. The film also delivered several laugh out loud moments that had the kids and adults smiling ear to ear.

For me aside from the animation the cast of voice actors are without a doubt the bread and butter of the film. The talented group is lead by Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal as Jaeger Clade and Searcher Clade, and I really enjoyed the dynamic between these two characters. Much of the film focuses on these two in terms of what it means to be a part of the Clades family. But I mean let’s be honest, Gyllenhaal is great in pretty much everything he does, so putting him on the forefront was a good move. Gabrielle Union plays Searcher’s wife Meridian Clade, and I thought she was great as well. Jaboukie Young-White did a nice job as young Ethan Clade. The great Lucy Liu was amazing as expected as she played the role of Callisto Mal. Whether she is taking on family-friendly animated roles or beating the crap out of someone in Charlie’s Angels, Liu is easily one of the more versatile actresses working today and she deserves a ton of credit. The remaining supporting cast was great as well.

Aside from the incredible cast the visuals are a stand out as expected. Strange World is one of those films that you can just sit back and appreciate the incredible creativity that went into bringing to life every bit of this vibrant and immersive environment. Things really ramp up when the characters embark on their adventure to the unknown, but the animation in general is fantastic. I loved the look of the characters and just how fluid everything felt. The creatures in Strange World are so damn cool and are easily worth the price of admission. Right when you think you have a handle on the weirdness of what is going on, it will surprise you. I just couldn’t get enough of the vibrant colors and just watching my kids smiling and pointing at the screen every few minutes. So yeah, Disney has outdone themselves yet again.

THE BAD

I really enjoyed Strange World, but I have to say it did have a few things that sort of rubbed me the wrong way. First and foremost, and I won’t dig too deep into this because I honestly don’t care that much, but Disney is trying way too hard to be a part of the “woke” crowd. Certain elements of the film just felt overly forced to me and unnecessary, which in my mind just distracts and takes away from what is otherwise a very good film with a strong and impactful story. Also I wouldn’t necessarily consider this to be a negative because I felt like the writing was great and actually added more depth than you might expect, but the overarching message of the film will likely create some debate and rub some people the wrong way. My wife and I actually debated the film a bit and seemed to agree and disagree on a few aspects, but for my money I like when a film has you leaving the theater discussing more than just the obvious elements of the film. Even though it may not reach instant classic status, Strange World does what it sets out to do which is provide a theater experience worthy of viewers of all ages.

THE VERDICT

Jam-packed with gorgeous visuals and a spectacular cast of voice actors paving the way for this epic adventure, Strange World met my expectations and kept two high-energy toddlers entertained from start to finish. This is a fun movie that will surely satisfy you whether you want to just sit back and enjoy it as the spectacle it is, or want to dig a bit deeper into the story. It’s not an instant classic and certainly could have been better, and I do wish that Disney would take a step back and focus on what they do best instead of dividing audiences which has without a doubt impacted the films earnings. And trust me I am all for inclusivity, especially when it means all you can eat and drink at a luxurious tropical resort. Although Strange World may irritate some people in respect to the screenplay and the overall message of the film, the fact that it makes you think is an accomplishment in itself. Plus, I could listen to Jake Gyllenhaal and Dennis Quaid debate the greater purpose of life and family all day long.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.2/10

Strange World is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Menu

The Menu is a 2022 dark comedy directed by Mark Mylod, from a screenplay by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy. Mylod is best known for his directorial work in television, having worked behind the camera on hit shows like Game of Thrones, Shameless, and Succession.

A couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travel to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises.

The cast includes Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Ralph Fiennes, John Leguizamo, Judith Light, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Paul Adelstein, Rob Yang, Mark St. Cyr, Arturo Castro, and Peter Grosz.

The Menu made its debut in theaters on November 18th, courtesy of Searchlight Pictures.

THE GOOD

When the first trailer for The Menu dropped I was floored, simple as that. I mean first and foremost, the cast was just insane. Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nicholas Hoult, I mean that is a recipe for success. Plus a supporting cast full of familiar faces just to round things out. Add in the ridiculous production value and a seemingly creative premise, and it was clear this was destined to be something special. I was beyond excited and I knew that nothing was stopping me from seeing The Menu on opening night. So, did it live up to my expectations? Keep reading to find out!

I knew I was going to love this movie, but somehow it was even better than I could have anticipated. I’m not even sure how to explain it, but as strange as it is to say The Menu just hit home for me in some way. Maybe it is the fact that I have worked in several restaurants in my life so I could relate to it, or more specifically that I have worked in a Five Star restaurant where the Chef was as mysterious as he was intimidating. High-end restaurants are no joke, and as insane as this movie is at times, so much of it is rooted in the reality of that world. The mystique that is created around this unique dining experience the characters in the film embark on is equally fascinating and exhilarating, and had me on the edge of my seat from the start. The cast was amazing, and The Menu is one of those rare films that sort of gives you bits and pieces of perspective from all of the characters, allowing the film to feel a bit more well-rounded compared to the traditional leads with a supporting cast. Everyone in the film matters to the story and how things play out, and let me just say the tension that builds always feels like it could boil over at any moment.

I touched on the quality of the cast briefly but I have to dig a bit deeper. First, Ralph Fiennes is undoubtedly the star of the show. Even though he has a ridiculous filmography dating back to the iconic 1993 drama Schindler’s List, I feel like as an actor he is still somehow underrated. He is easily one of the most versatile actors working today, but he seems to really shine when he plays serious characters with a certain amount of mystery surrounding them. I don’t know if The Menu will get the awards recognition it deserves, but Fiennes should absolutely be in the conversation for best actor in my opinion. He becomes his character, and is the primary reason why this film works so well. Outside of Fiennes the primary cast consists of Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult. Taylor-Joy and Hoult are amazing in this movie, and part of the intrigue is the questions surrounding their relationship. Viewers are given breadcrumbs as the film progresses, but the chemistry between the two talented actors helps to get viewers invested in the story. I’m a big fan of both actors, and I would have to say that I was equally impressed by their performances here.

Now I mentioned how the supporting cast plays a pivotal role in the story, and we are treated to a great mix of talented actors and actresses in these roles. I won’t be able to talk about each individually because we would be here all day, but the core of the supporting cast that impressed me the most was my guy John Leguizamo whos character I really enjoyed, Hong Chau who was terrifyingly good in her role, along with Janet McTeer and Paul Adelstein. Rounding out the terrific supporting cast is Rob Yang, Mark St. Cyr, Arturo Castro, and Peter Grosz, just to name drop a few more. Just trust me when I say each and every person who played a role in this film, no matter how small, deserves a round of applause.

Who is director Mark Mylod you ask? I was asking the same question. Interestingly enough, Mylod is best known for his work in television, directing several episodes for hit shows like Game of Thrones, Shameless, and Succession. Now needless to say those three titles alone are enough to make for quite a resume, but the last film he directed was the 2005 dark comedy The Big White, which starred the late Robin Williams, along with Gioavanni Ribisi and Holly Hunter. A unique and quirky film that is actually better than critics will lead you to believe, it gives you an idea of the psyche of Mylod and the fact that he seems to gravitate towards the dark comedy genre. If you are curious, The Big White is currently streaming on Peacock.

As far as his work on The Menu, he was so damn good. His camera work matched the intimate feel of the film perfectly, and it was clear that he was in the zone. It honestly felt like a film that was helmed by a big name director, so good on him. I have to talk about the screenplay which was as delicious as a juicy and perfectly marinated piece of prime rib. A collaboration between Emmy-winning writer Will Tracy and Emmy-nominated writer Seth Reiss, the creativity and relevance to the draining, emotionally and physically, and often thankless service industry is spot on. I didn’t quite expect the story to have such tremendous depth, but it really makes you think and even touches on class and social hierarchy. Plus as dark as it can be at times, The Menu had me laughing out loud more times than I could count.

THE BAD

The Menu is amazing, simple as that. As far as the films identity and what it set out to accomplish, I personally believe it is damn near perfect. With that being said it is a dark comedy and requires viewers to fully invest themselves in the overall tone of the film. Perhaps I enjoyed it even more because of my experience in the restaurant industry, but I am hard pressed to think anyone could criticize what was accomplished here.

THE VERDICT

A thought provoking and immersive dark comedy with a heavy dose of satire brought to life by a superbly talented cast, The Menu is an absolute delicacy of a film and easily one of my favorite movies of the year. I am honestly still in shock, and I can’t remember the last time an hour and 45 minutes flew by so fast. When the screen went black I actually had to look at my phone to confirm that it was in fact over. From the opening scene to the final act, The Menu is never boring and makes for an experience you won’t soon forget. I was also pleasantly surprised by how funny the film was. I actually learned a lot believe it or not and found myself wanting to up the ante as far as my own culinary skills, but I won’t be boarding any boats destined for a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience anytime soon. Bottom line this movie is so damn good, and just bonkers in all the best ways. I cannot wait to see it again.

As Ralph Fiennes says several times throughout the film, it’s all part of The Menu. So on that note, get out to the theater as soon as possible because you do not want to miss this.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.3/10

The Menu is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a 2022 superhero action film directed by Ryan Coogler, who co-wrote the film with Joe Robert Cole. Based on the Marvel Comics character Black Panther, it is produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. It is the sequel to Black Panther (2018), which Coogler also directed in his Marvel debut, and is intended to be the 30th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Queen Ramonda, Shuri, M'Baku, Okoye and the Dora Milaje fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with Nakia and Everett Ross to forge a new path for their beloved kingdom.

The cast includes Letitia Wright, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira, Winston Duke, Florence Kasumba, Dominique Thorne, Michaela Coel, Tenoch Huerta, Martin Freeman, and Angela Bassett.

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is set to debut only in theaters on November 11th, courtesy of Marvel Studios.

THE GOOD

Hard to believe we have reached the point where we have a Black Panther movie without Black Panther himself, the late and great Chadwick Boseman. As most of you know by now, the talented actor fought a battle with cancer behind closed doors and left behind a legacy. Gone much too soon, but surely never to be forgotten. Black Panther blew fans away back in 2018, and to say we all latched on to Boseman in this role would be an understatement. When I was blindsided by the news of his death in the summer of 2020, I was devastated. As a movie guy through and through, Boseman was set to be one of the greats. It was undeniable. But I thought surely we couldn’t have another Black Panther movie without him, right? Like most Marvel fans, I was admittedly apprehensive about a Black Panther movie without my guy in the lead role. It just didn’t feel right. So, were my concerns justified or did they find a way to honor Boseman while creating an experience fans could be proud of? Keep reading to find out!

Well, this movie was absolutely amazing. From the opening Marvel title sequence that we all know and love that this time around featured only Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther and complete silence, I knew we were in for a special treat. You could literally hear a pin drop in the theater during what felt like a moment of silence, just amazing. I honestly don’t know where to start, but I have to first touch on the fact that I couldn’t have imagined a film that did a better job of honoring the memory of Boseman. I mean, not only is this already one of my favorite Marvel films which is certainly saying a lot, it just felt like so much more. In some ways I compare it to what the Fast and the Furious franchise did for the late Paul Walker, who was also a pivotal part of their success. More than anything, what Coogler was able to do here felt genuine and real, it felt like it was about Boseman first, and the franchise second, if you can believe that. How they managed to do that while also crafting a film that was an absolute joy to experience is beyond me, but they did it and that is all that matters.

As a fan my concerns were aplenty, like how do you make a Black Panther movie without Black Panther, and more than that if you do decide to try and replace him, how can you possibly do that while still satisfying a fanbase with sky-high expectations? Well first as you know we don’t spoil things here, but I will say that the story was better than I could have hoped. The villain was just perfect and added that much needed element to the film to make sure it packed the punch it needed. Plus, we are treated to a much better overall story than I initially anticipated complete with a few new characters. Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is everything a sequel should be and then some, as it picks up where the original film left off while also taking things to another level. I mean seriously, I saw the movie last night and I am still smiling. I went to sleep just trying to relive what I had just experienced, and I cannot wait to see it again. And again, and again. I wish I was kidding, but I did see Black Panther in theaters four times, but this was also before having kids when free time was still a thing. Dare I say I liked Black Panther: Wakanda Forever better?! I honestly feel a bit dirty even saying that, but considering all of the unknowns and having to live up to the original, I am forced to consider the possibility. I will let you know where I land after a few more viewings.

I know we talk about how Marvel changed the game by bringing on Chris Evans or Robert Downey Jr. to join the MCU, but as crazy as it sounds handing the reigns for Black Panther over to director Ryan Coogler fresh off his success from Fruitvale Station and Creed, may have been their best decision to date. This dude is incredibly talented, and his dedication to the Black Panther franchise has been nothing short of amazing. His films are packed with emotion and just a unique blend of cinematic elements that have become his trademark. When you see one of his movies in theaters, you will be changed in some form or fashion because of his ability to create art. If you haven’t seen Fruitvale Station or the first Creed movie, get on that as soon as possible because you will undoubtedly notice a certain style that translates so perfectly to the on-screen experience. Coogler just gets it, and when he decides to hang it up, I dare to say he will leave filmmaking as one of the absolute greats. I just hope that time is many, many years down the road.

As far as the acting is concerned, it was all great of course because the cast is just stacked with talent. Letitia Wright essentially takes the reigns in the lead role and I thought she was amazing. To say that she is an actress making the most of her opportunities would be a drastic understatement. I love my guy Winston Duke, and I couldn’t be happier for him and the fact that his character M’Baku has become such a big part of the success of the Black Panther franchise. He is easily one of my favorite characters in the film. Angela Bassett is amazing as she always is. Martin Freeman continues to be a great addition to the MCU in a fairly unique role bridging the gap between Wakanda and the U.S.. Lupita Nyong’o is fantastic yet again, as well as Danai Gurira, Florence Kasumba, and Michaela Coel. Bottom line, the entire supporting cast was awesome.

I have to bring up the performance from Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta, because if you want to talk about a guy bursting onto the scene and hitting a grand slam in the bottom of the 9th to win game 7 of the World Series, well that is basically what happened here. Huerta plays Namor, otherwise known as the Fish Man, and the films primary antagonist or villain. I don’t read comics, but after doing a little bit of research I am now realizing just how big of a deal his character really is. Known as the Sub-Mariner, he is one of the oldest and most popular characters in Marvel history after his comic debut in 1939, and to say he is a badass would be an understatement. Fans of the comics are in for a real treat, you can thank me later. All I know is Huerta was amazing in this role, and as much as I love me some Jason Mamoa, Namor is exactly what I always hoped Aquaman would become. So if the Amber Heard drama wasn’t enough of a blow to the Aquaman films, a better version of that character is sure to leave quite a dent. Plus we are treated with an unexpected appearance by a certain character from the first film, but I won’t give it away.

On the technical side of things, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever blew me away. Simple as that. The CGI and special effects were incredible and worth every penny, the cinematography was absolutely beautiful, and the soundtrack just hit so damn hard as expected. I really enjoyed all of the edge-of-your seat fight sequences we were treated to throughout the film. Also the scale was just massive from start to finish. Coogler has such an innate ability to immerse viewers and take full advantage of the technical elements of a film as they blend seamlessly with his intimate style of camera work.

One thing that superhero movies need are those exciting moments where you can just feel that something big is about to happen, and I honestly lost count in terms of how many times I had that feeling with Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. I feel like a great deal of credit is owed to the films primary antagonists lead by Tenoch Huerta as Namor and how they were used, mainly because you needed something that rivaled just how big and powerful the country of Wakanda is. The film just feels gritty, fun, and intense but also funny when it needed to be, and the technical elements all come together to make for one very satisfying experience.

THE BAD

I’m genuinely struggling to think of any criticisms for the film. I suppose you could say the 2 hour and 45 minute runtime is a problem, but most people prefer that with a massive movie like this, plus the pacing is fantastic and it never feels boring. The underwater CGI felt a little strange at times but I think that may have been by design. I guess if you don’t like over-the-top superhero movies you may have a problem with it, but aside from that I got nothing.

THE VERDICT

A wildly immersive and visually stunning cinematic experience with a phenomenal soundtrack, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is not only an exceptional film and a jaw-dropping sequel, it is a genuine and heartfelt tribute to the late Chadwick Boseman. To be honest I’m still trying to wrap my brain around just how impressed I was by this movie. Everything about it just felt right, and not once did I start to question any decision that was made by Coogler or the rest of the writing team. I just sat back and watched a sequence of events unfold culminating in one of the most invigorating theater experiences I have had in quite some time. I loved the scale and how immersive it was, and at this point I’m just trying to figure out when I can see it again. Also, even though at times it felt like Black Panther meets the new Avatar, I surely wasn’t complaining.

Bottom line, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever feels bigger than a movie, and we owe it to not only ourselves to see it in theaters, we owe it to the memory of Chadwick Boseman that will live on through the pure joy of cinema. Plus as I said, even if none of that matters to you, this movie is just that good. Be sure to stick around for the post-credits scene as well. I’ll leave you with two words that will surely be ringing in your ears as you leave the theater… Wakanda Forever!!

TED TAKES RATING - 9.6/10

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Causeway

Causeway is a 2022 psychological drama directed by Lila Neugebauer, from a screenplay by Elizabeth Sanders, Luke Goebel, and Ottessa Moshfegh. The film had its world premiere at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022.

Lynsey, a U.S. soldier, experiences a traumatic brain injury during her tour in Afghanistan which forces her to return home. She struggles to return to her daily life with her mother as she waits for her eventual redeployment.

The cast includes Jennifer Lawrence, Brian Tyree Henry, Linda Emond, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Jayne Houdyshell.

Causeway made its debut in select theaters and on Apple TV+ November 4th.

THE GOOD

By the time the trailer released, Causeway was buzzing thanks to involvement of A24, as well as the cast which includes Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry in the lead roles. All I needed to hear was A24 and I was invested, so Lawrence and Henry were just icing on he cake for me. I knew the film would have more of a indie feel, and the trailer did not disappoint. I did however show my wife the trailer in the hopes that she may want to watch it with me, but after she watched it she promptly said I have no idea what this movie is even about. Now she wasn’t wrong as the trailer is very mysterious and sort of ominous, but that plays in to the overall impact of the film which I will touch on. So needless to say I ended up giving this a solo watch, keep reading to find out if my excitement matched the final product.

Bottom line, this movie was amazing. First of all, Causeway was much different than I expected it to be, at least at first. As I touched on with the trailer not giving anything away, it was clearly by design and I feel like it was a very smart move. Viewers are essentially thrown into the fire as it relates to the extremely dire circumstances the main character Lynsey finds herself in, without the ability to prepare yourself for any of it. You are essentially dropped into the middle of the story as you patiently wait for the details of what happened before that led us here. I mean Jennifer Lawrence, who plays Lynsey, is so unbelievably incredible in this movie she absolutely needs to be in the conversation for Best Actress. A film like this hinges so strongly on the performances, and all I can say is I felt for her character from the first 5-minutes, and the emotion she conveyed through just her eyes was something to experience.

I will talk more about the cast in a bit but I have to touch on the story. The screenplay for Causeway is rooted in dire circumstances and raw emotion. It is about our innate ability as human beings to dig deep for that strength we never knew we had, or our obsession with distractions and hiding from our reality when life gets unbearable. Life is hard, and in Causeway the main character is dealt one bad hand after another to the point where she is willing to put her life on the line once again if it means dulling the pain, or just hiding from the life she tried to forget. I do feel like in order to truly relate to Lynsey, or co-star Brian Tyree Henry who plays her newfound and equally devastated friend James, you need to have experienced loss on some level. Also, what I found really unique was the fact that both characters have a very different yet equally traumatic story to tell, and somehow they found each other in their ultimate time of need.

Causeway is a slow moving film that somehow never feels boring or labored in terms of the story and the pacing, and that is a testament to the performances. I know I keep bringing up the cast but I just can’t help myself. I already talked about the incredible performance from Jennifer Lawrence, and I briefly touched on the performance given by her co-star Brian Tyree Henry, but it needs more talking about. Star of the hit series Atlanta who has seen his career take off in the last few years, Henry delivers what I felt was easily his best performance to date. He plays a man who is clearly well-intentioned with a big heart, but he has some demons that he is grappling with from his past. As we have all been told, grieving is a process, but what you may not know is it is quite common to abandon that process altogether choosing to instead bury the pain because it is just too much. Henry delivers a powerful performance and honestly had me on the edge of my seat, all while feeling so much sympathy for him and what he had gone through. I mean, Lawrence and Henry deserve standing ovations for their performances, simple as that.

As far as the rest of the cast, you won’t find a weak link. I have to talk about Jayne Houdyshell who plays the nurse that cares for Lynsey in the beginning. I just loved how genuine she was, and by the end of it I just wanted to give her a hug. I just loved her character so much. Veteran actor Stephen McKinley Henderson plays a smaller supporting role as Dr. Lucas, the man Lynsey is required to see before she gets her clean bill of health. I really liked his character and felt that he was able to display genuine concern for a patient who he knew was struggling significantly. The last interaction between the two during the films final act was powerful. I also really liked Linda Emond who played Lynsey’s estranged mother Gloria. Also I have to shout out to director Lila Neugebauer for a job well done, as well as composer Alex Somers for delivering a score packed so full of raw emotion it was practically bursting at the seams. Cinematographer Diego García was amazing as well, doing such a fantastic job immersive viewers in the true feel of Louisiana.

THE BAD

I personally have no issues with the film, but it is worth pointing out that it is not for everyone. For example as I touched on a bit already, Causeway is a very slow-burn style film and for that reason it requires a deep investment in the characters, primarily the lead played by Lawrence. Plus, it deals with an extremely difficult and very real subject matter in loss, drug addiction, and PTSD. The main characters often feel alone and hopeless, and you have to be prepared to share these same feelings during their complicated journey.

THE VERDICT

Anchored by profoundly captivating and often gut-wrenching performances from Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry, Causeway is admittedly a difficult watch due to the subject matter but absolutely rewards viewers willing to give it a chance. Lawrence and Henry became their characters, which is quite an achievement considering how many roles they have both had at this point. This is an amazing film, and is quite simply one of those movies that is more of an experience than anything else as I was absolutely enthralled from start to finish. Every single second of this movie felt like it mattered, and although the ending may feel unresolved, I felt like I got the conclusion I needed as I stared at a blank screen waiting for the films credits. You have done it once again A24, kudos to you. It seems crazy to me that this was filmed way back in the summer of 2019, but it was well worth the wait. If you’re willing to give Causeway a chance, it will leave its mark on you that I guarantee.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.2/10

Causeway is now streaming on Apple TV+. Check out the latest trailer below.

The Estate

The Estate is a 2022 comedy written and directed by Dean Craig (Death at a Funeral), and is produced by Marc Goldberg, Sarah Gabriel, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Alison Benson.

Two sisters try to win over their terminally ill, difficult-to-please aunt in hopes of becoming the beneficiaries of her wealthy estate, only to find the rest of their greedy family has the same idea.

The talented cast includes Toni Collette, Anna Faris, David Duchovny, Rosemarie DeWitt, Ron Livingston, Keyla Monterroso Mejia, Kathleen Turner, Patricia French, and Danny Vinson.

The Estate made its debut in theaters on November 4th.

THE GOOD

Somehow this movie literally appeared out of thin air considering I hadn’t even heard of it until it popped up on the release calendar at my local theater. Once I saw this stacked cast it baffled me that it could have flown under-the-radar for me like it did, but here we are. I watched the trailer for The Estate and was immediately intrigued by the potential for this R-rated comedy which seem to be fairly rare these days. So, needless to say I made my way to the theater on opening day to see The Estate so that you would know whether or not it is worth the price of admission. Keep reading to find out!

Alright so just like the movie itself, I am going to keep this short and sweet. I’m not going to sit here and sing the praises for The Estate from the rooftops or anything, but I enjoyed this movie for what it was and thought writer-director Dean Craig serves up some quality entertainment. I went in with realistic expectations, and for me it delivered. The premise was very simple allowing viewers the opportunity to shut their brains off and focus on the great cast, and I really enjoyed the characters. The dynamic between Toni Collette and Anna Faris in the lead roles worked well, and I also liked the rivalry between their characters and their seemingly uppity cousin played by Rosemarie DeWitt. Plus, I love me some Ron Livingston who plays a fish-out-of-water character as DeWitt’s husband, and the only non-family member who quickly realizes he needs to get the heck out of dodge.

The ageless and legendary Kathleen Turner was amazing as expected, but my favorite character was undoubtedly perverted cousin Richard from Florida, played by David Duchovny. Each time his character with the spray tan and ridiculous mustache was on-screen, I had a smile on my face. He had some great off the cuff one-liners that had me cracking up. I often felt like he was afforded the opportunity to adlib which was a great decision by the writing team in my opinion. Speaking of, I would love to see the outtakes for this movie. If you can keep a straight face looking at this guy in his fancy tracksuit sipping bourbon from a gold rimmed glass, you are stronger than I am.

I was also pleasantly surprised by actress Keyla Monterroso Mejia, who played the oddball Dungeons and Dragons loving half-sister of Collette and Faris. I also have to give a shout out to Danny Linson, Patricia French, and Gichi Gamba for their effective supporting roles. Linson in particular was great. Like I said the story itself was simple yet effective, and I thought the film thrived with the awkward character interactions that often caught the unsuspecting “normal” characters by surprise.

THE BAD

As with most comedies, the majority of the funny parts were shown in the trailer which always annoys me. I mean sure, I still laughed at the majority of them because they were still funny, but I wasn’t surprised by nearly as many not shown in the trailer scenes as I was hoping for. I also felt like to an extent they squandered such a talented cast in terms of the films ceiling, but part of me feels like that was by design. Anna Faris sort of channeled her character in the Mom sitcom, and Tony Collette Rosemarie Dewitt were really good as usual, just not great. Plus it is definitely dry humor which may not do it for some viewers.

The acting in general just felt sort of average with nobody really trying too hard to separate themselves from the pack. The story was definitely predictable, but again not a deal breaker. If I’m being honest, I would have preferred the film to center on Duchovny and his character, but that is probably more so because I like that brand of humor. So yeah, I could go on and on if I wanted to try and pick this movie apart, but The Estate has a clear identity from the start which made it easy for me to sit back and appreciate it for what it was. Also if you have an issue with profanity, you better sit this one out because the swear jar is basically a Powerball ticket by the end.

THE VERDICT

A run-of-the-mill raunchy comedy that often feels like a feature-length sitcom, The Estate won’t win over audiences expecting more but offers plenty of laughs for those willing to accept a well deserved hour and a half escape with some ridiculous characters. As I mentioned in the review I do feel like they could have accomplished more with such a talented cast at their disposal, but I also understand the fact that they weren’t going for substance. I had fun with the characters and I was satisfied with the story as a whole, and I did like the ending. Plus, I would come back for more of Duchovny and now I feel like I need to go re-watch his hilarious comedy series Californication. This is a project that the cast clearly enjoyed working on, and for my money The Estate serves its purpose and is a nice reminder that raunchy comedies do still deserve the theater treatment, at least in my opinion anyway.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.3/10

The Estate is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Till

Till is a 2022 biographical drama film directed by Chinonye Chukwu (director of Clemency) and written by Michael Reilly, Keith Beauchamp, and Chukwu. It stars Danielle Deadwyler (The Harder They Fall, Station Eleven), Jalyn Hall, Frankie Faison (The Wire), Haley Bennett (Cyrano), and Whoopi Goldberg (Sister Act).

The true story of Mamie Till-Mobley's relentless pursuit of justice for her 14-year-old son, Emmett Till, who was brutally lynched in 1955 while visiting his cousins in Mississippi.

Till made its limited theatrical release on October 14th before a wide release on October 28th, by United Artists Releasing.

THE GOOD

Alright so as soon as the first trailer for this movie dropped, I was beyond excited to see it. The trailer itself was amazing, and it just had the instant feel of a movie that would be raking in the awards. I did some light research on the story Till was based on, and I was beyond ready for the October 28th release date. Unfortunately due to the fact that the film was a limited release from United Artists Releasing, I had to wait about a week longer than I had planned to see it. Don’t worry though, my excitement did not waiver and as soon as one of my local theaters made it available, I was in the car and on my way. So, was it worth the wait and was it the sure-fire contender I knew it would be come awards season? Keep reading to find out!

This movie was amazing. I went into the theater with sky high expectations for obvious reasons, and I was still blown away. Till was nothing short of incredible, and just one of those theater experiences that feels like much more than a movie. From the story, to the acting, to the phenomenal score and soundtrack, this movie simply has it all. There wasn’t a dry eye in the theater, and it wasn’t just because I saw it with a bunch of older ladies.

As a grown man who watches football religiously who could live on red meat and beer, I had tears streaming down my face at an alarming rate. I haven’t had water works like that since the dramatic and heartbreaking end to the Patriots historic undefeated 2007 season. But in all seriousness, as heartbreaking as this movie is, this story is told in such a genuine and effective way that all viewers can appreciate what these people went through. One thing is for sure, you will leave the theater with a special place in your heart for the memory of 14-year-old Emmett Till, that I can guarantee.

Till is an absolute clinic in terms of the acting. Danielle Deadwyler takes on the lead role as Mamie Till-Mobley, and it is honestly hard to put her performance into words. To say that she paid honest and genuine tribute to this story with her performance would be an understatement. This was by no means an easy role to take on, and I could feel the pain she was feeling as well as the transformations her character made from devastated and defeated mother, to strong-willed civil rights activist hellbent on getting justice for her son. Till-Mobley dedicated her life to ensuring that her sons death was not in vein, and Deadwyler exuded her strength and perseverance. Come awards season if she isn’t at least nominated for Best Actress, it will be nothing short of a travesty. She deserves all of the praise for a performance that should open quite a few doors for her as an actress.

Starring alongside Deadwlyer as her son Emmett Till is Jalyn Hall. A relatively new actor who is slowly carving out a place for himself in Hollywood, Hall was simply fantastic. In order for this story to work you needed to buy in to his chemistry with Deadwyler and you needed to genuinely care about his character, and he hits it out of the park on both accounts. From his sweet smile to his care-free attitude and genuine appreciation for the simple joys in life, Hall allowed audiences the opportunity to understand Emmett Till and just how tragic and senseless his death was. I’m looking forward to seeing what Hall does next.

Deadwyler and Hall play the primary roles in the film, but the supporting cast is amazing as well. Now although he played a fairly limited role in terms of screen time, I really loved John Douglas Thompson as Moses Wright, otherwise known as Preacher. Thompson recently took on the role of Chief Carter in the hit HBO series Mare of Easttown. Wright is Till’s great Uncle, and his character is burdened with the full weight of Emmett’s death and the circumstances surrounding it. I felt so incredibly bad for him, and the fact that he was helpless to stop his nephew from being taken, and more than that he was forced to choose his family over the only child of his beloved niece. He was put in a position that no human being should ever be put in. But as far as Thompson as an actor, he brought his character to life in such a way that blew me away. Actress Keisha Tillis plays Elizabeth Wright, the strong-willed wife of Moses Wright, who is a mother as well. One scene in particular involving Tillis and Deadwyler had me in full on tears, and I honestly cannot remember the last time a scene dropped me to my knees in such a way. I could spend an hour talking about how flawless the entire cast, was but I will let you experience it for yourself.

The technical elements were extremely impressive and a big reason why everything worked so well. Till is an intense film in so many ways, but the way that it effortlessly shifted from care-free to intense was a huge reason why it worked so well. During some of the more emotional scenes, good luck not reaching for a tissue because the odds are stacked against you. I felt like the score was about as integral a part to the film as it could be, and it was just one more reason why I loved this movie so much. It was almost as if composer Abel Korzeniowski’s score flowed seamlessly with the powerful emotions of the story. A versatile talent who has dabbled in a variety of genres, Korzeniowski clearly understands the importance of feel and the difference between manipulating audiences and providing an opportunity to experience real feelings.

THE BAD

If you’ve been reading this review, you likely guessed this section will be fairly empty. I guess if you have a sensitivity to the subject matter or have a hard time dealing with raw and real emotion, this movie may not be for you. Otherwise, you’d be hard pressed to criticize Till in any form or fashion. So yeah, that’s about it for this section.

THE VERDICT

A powerful and tragic true story told with the utmost care and brought to life by a transformative and career-defining performance from actress Danielle Deadwyler, Till is the sheer definition of a must-see movie and an experience you won’t soon forget. This movie hit hard for me, and even though I knew what was going to happen, I was not prepared in the least. It’s one thing to try and tell a story that meant so much to the history of our country while also honoring the memory of a young man who lost his life in such a senseless way, but I honestly don’t know how they could have done a better job. Till is one of those movies that will have you sitting in your seat 5-minutes after the end credits, and for good reason.

I simply can’t get this movie out of my head. I mean, this happened in 1955, just think about that for a second. The last time I had an experience even remotely similar was when I saw Ryan Coogler’s Fruitvale Station (2013), and I had to wait a few minutes just to gather myself before exiting the theater. Do yourself a favor and see Till in theaters as soon as possible, because you will be hearing a lot about this movie come award season.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.7/10

Till is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Prey for the Devil

Prey for the Devil is a 2022 supernatural horror film directed by Daniel Stamm (The Last Exorcism, 13 Sins) and written by Robert Zappia (Halloween H20), based on a story by Todd R. Jones and Earl Richey Jones. It is the final film to feature actor Ben Cross before his death in 2020, and is dedicated to his memory.

In response to a global rise in demonic possessions, the Catholic Church reopens exorcism schools to train priests in the Rite of Exorcism. On this spiritual battlefield, an unlikely warrior rises: a young nun, Sister Ann. Although nuns are forbidden to perform exorcisms, a professor recognizes Sister Ann’s gifts and agrees to train her. Thrust onto the spiritual frontline with fellow student Father Dante, Sister Ann finds herself in a battle for the soul of a young girl, who Sister Ann believes is possessed by the same demon that tormented her own mother years ago, and soon realizes the Devil has her right where he wants her… and it wants in.

The film stars Jacqueline Byers, Colin Salmon, Christian Navarro, Lisa Palfrey, Nicholas Ralph, Virginia Madsen, and Ben Cross.

Prey for the Devil made its debut in theaters on October 28th, courtesy of Lionsgate.

THE GOOD

I will skip the spiel about how I am a horror movie fanatic and live for the genre etc etc because if you have read any of my reviews, you have likely heard the same story a few times already. I will say that I live for this time of year, especially when we are treated to a few quality horror movies in theaters, and this year has been pretty good. When the Prey for the Devil trailer made its debut I was extremely intrigued, it just looked really good. From the production value to just how well made the trailer was in general, I knew this was going to be the Halloween movie I needed to see in theaters as soon as it released. So, did the trend solid horror movies continue or was this a dud? Keep reading to find out!

Alright so bottom line, I really enjoyed this movie. Prey for the Devil is as advertised and brings to the table tremendous production value, well above average acting, a top-notch score, and just an overall horror package that feels well-rounded and balanced. I wasn’t sure exactly what to expect as far as the cast in general, but that was a massive bright spot for me along with what I felt like was a great story with lots of depth especially considering the short hour and a half runtime. One of the things Prey for the Devil does best is it appeals to a broad range of audiences, offering something for the jump scare crowd and also appeals to my preference which is more of tense and chilling moments that give you chills. Bottom line, it all works and equates to a movie perfect for the Halloween season.

I thought the screenplay was a big reason why Prey for the Devil really stuck with me. I expected a quality story to go along with the great production value, but what I got was much more depth than I originally anticipated. This film has a clear identity, and for that reason it goes well beyond your standard run-of-the-mill exorcism style film. The story revolves around an earlier trauma involving the main character, and for that reason you are constantly wondering how much her personal story has impacted the events she finds herself involved in. Any horror thrill with a twist that catches audiences by surprise has an opportunity to do big things, and I think that is more often than not the case here.

I touched on it briefly but the cast definitely overachieved here. Lead Jaqueline Byers, who by all accounts is a fairly unknown actress but did play a supporting role in the 2018 crime thriller Bad Samaritan, is fantastic. In many ways she reminded me of former Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, and believe me when I saw that is a compliment. Not only is Byers very attractive even though she is not a natural blonde (I know, spoiler alert), she can act. Her character has a great deal of depth and is the most important part of the overall story, and she handled everything like a veteran actress. I personally thing Byers has a talented future ahead of her, and how good she looks in that nun uniform certainly doesn’t hurt.

Another actor who I really liked that also played a pivotal role is 13 Reasons Why star Christian Navarro. Navarro plays another character that is very important to the story, and he has great on-screen chemistry with Byers. I feel like Navarro also impressed as an actor trying to make a name for himself, and I think he has a bright future. Veteran actor Colin Salmon, who has been in literally everything since his career began in the early 90’s, plays an important supporting role. Salmon has a powerful on-screen presence so he tends to do well in horror movies. I personally take him very seriously no matter what role he plays and I loved the decision to bring him in for this movie.

Any great horror film needs a powerful and effective score, and Prey for the Devil has that and then some. The film is decked out with intense sequences, and audiences are treated to music that absolutely compliments exactly what is unfolding on-screen. For me the sound just got me that much more immersed in the film, and instead of having visual queues in terms of when I should be prepared for something crazy to happen, the great music and sound added another unique and impactful element. The story and the acting was a big positive for me, but the score was right up there in terms of why Prey for the Devil worked so well.

THE BAD

Prey for the Devil isn’t perfect, and some of the issues are admittedly personal preference. First and foremost, I just wish it was scarier. Plain and simple. Now that isn’t necessarily a knock on the film in terms of the overall effectiveness, I just needed a little more emphasis on certain elements. I definitely got chills more than a few times during the film and even jumped a few times which is rare for me, but if they had built more on the elements of the film that really got me I do think it would have been even scarier. I also felt like the final act could have been finessed a bit more even though I really liked the overall twist to then story and the fact that everything came full circle.

THE VERDICT

A well-crafted and chilling supernatural horror thriller from The Last Exorcism director Daniel Stamm, Prey for the Devil takes full advantage of its strengths serving as a very solid genre entry. I was genuinely impressed with the screenplay and the performances in particular, but more than anything else the fact that the final product was able to match the excitement generated by what I considered to be a couple damn good trailers. This is a quality experience for horror fans any way you look at it, and proves that this genre can thrive with with a lesser known cast as long as the other elements of the film come together. Prey for the Devil impressed me, and if you give it a chance I believe it will impress you too.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.8/10

Prey for the Devil is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Halloween Ends

Halloween Ends is a 2022 horror slasher film directed by David Gordon Green and written by Green, Danny McBride, Paul Brad Logan, and Chris Bernier, the creative team between the 2018 franchise re-launch. The film is based on characters created by John Carpenter and Debra Hill. It is a sequel to 2021's Halloween Kills and the thirteenth installment of the Halloween film franchise. The film is produced by Jason Blum through his Blumhouse Productions banner, alongside Rough House Productions, Miramax and Trancas International Pictures.

Four years after the events of last year’s Halloween Kills, Laurie is living with her granddaughter Allyson and is finishing writing her memoir. Michael Myers hasn’t been seen since. Laurie, after allowing the specter of Michael to determine and drive her reality for decades, has decided to liberate herself from fear and rage and embrace life. But when a young man, Corey Cunningham, is accused of killing a boy he was babysitting, it ignites a cascade of violence and terror that will force Laurie to finally confront the evil she can’t control, once and for all.

This is Laurie Strode’s last stand. After 45 years, the most acclaimed, revered horror franchise in film history reaches its epic, terrifying conclusion as Laurie Strode faces off for the last time against the embodiment of evil, Michael Myers, in a final confrontation unlike any captured on-screen before. Only one of them will survive.

Starring Jamie Lee Curtis, James Jude Courtney, Andi Matichak, Rohan Campbell, Will Patton, Kyle Richards, and Omar Dorsey.

Halloween Ends made its debut in theaters and on Peacock October 14th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

I’m a slasher guy through and through, and while the Friday the 13th franchise is my all-time favorite, Halloween has always been high up there for me as an iconic franchise. Both franchises were born many moons ago with Friday the 13th making its debut in 1980, and the original John Carpenter Halloween arriving back in 1978. These movies serve a purpose, and that purpose is to provide lots of satisfying kills, while highlighting the main attraction which in this genre is usually the killer. With the Halloween franchise in comparison to my beloved Friday the 13th, the formula is slightly different as you have the iconic survivor in Laurie Strode played by the great Jamie Lee Curtis. This leads us to the latest entry in the Halloween franchise as Laurie takes her final stand against the masked epitome of evil Michael Meyers. So, who survives the final bloodbath and are fans treated to the great finale they deserve?! Keep reading to find out!

Alright so this movie is very much a mixed bag, and I am going to do my best to try and break it down without spoiling anything as per usual. Although my expectations weren’t high necessarily, I was underwhelmed by the final product. I will talk more about what I didn’t like about the movie later in the review, but first I will touch on the bright spots. First, Halloween Kills starts off with a very intense opening sequence that honestly caught me by surprise and that had me on the edge of my seat early. I was also impressed right away by the acting and the overall feel of the film as it just felt like more than just a run-of-the mill slasher. the score and soundtrack also made its presence known right away, seemingly going for that hopeless and detached feel we got from the horror classic The Lost Boys (1987), which I can certainly appreciate.

The story is surely the centerpiece of the film as Halloween Ends is set to be the finale for this new trilogy, so how they decided to end things is sure to garner hate or admiration from fans of the franchise. The writing team had a decision to make in terms of how they would close things out, whether they would pick up where they left off with the last movie, or try and take things in a new direction. I personally would have preferred the latter as a fan of the franchise, but I guess the creative juices were flowing. Although they did some great things and added some intrigue with a few new wrinkles to the story, they definitely took a left when we expected them to take a right. Dare to be different right? I’ll talk more about the story later in the review.

I was genuinely impressed with he quality of the acting in this movie, which to be honest surprised me. Last year’s Halloween Kills was packed with corny acting, but it was expected. This movie throws a wrench into the usual formula offering up solid performances from the primary cast. Jamie Lee Curtis was much better here than she was in the previous movie, and I thought Andi Matichak really showed up. Matichak jumped off the screen more for me in this movie, and I thought she played a much more developed character. My biggest surprise in Halloween Ends is easily actor Rohan Campbell who plays Corey Cunningham, a new and pivotal character to the story. Cunningham, who is best known for the series The Hardy Boys and the Netflix series Virgin River, delivers a very commendable performance. I thought he was tasked with a fairly difficult role requiring a decent amount of depth, and from where I was sitting he delivered.

THE BAD

Let me just preface this section by saying I don’t find any joy in picking apart one of my favorite genres, but when the formula and recipe for success is fairly obvious yet still ignored for the most part, my hands are tied. On the forefront of my issues with his movie, Halloween Ends made the questionable decision to make Michael Myers a co-star in his own movie. This decision baffled me for many reasons, and I won’t go into detail because as usual we don’t spoil movies here, but fans hoping for the epic sendoff Myers deserves will likely be disappointed. I mean sure, we went into this expecting a UFC fight between a couple 70-year-olds, one of which is a psycho killer, and the other is part stay-at-home mom and part Sarah Connor. Sadly, Dana White is a no show and for that reason we are left wanting more, much more.

Myers, once a feared pillar of the community you could say, is relegated to obscurity since the last movie. I mean his reign of terror did last 50+ years, so I suppose that is something. But seriously, the writing team makes the decision keep Myers in the shadows for the majority of the movie, and considering the way the last movie ended, it felt uneven to me. As a fan of the franchise and slashers in general, I can’t help but think they should have just concluded this reboot with Halloween Kills, because for me that is how you send Michael Myers out. Staring out his sisters window after basically murdering the entire town in a no-holds barred street fight.

I touched on it already briefly but the primarily complaints with this movie are the story, which is no real surprise considering it is meant to be a culmination of a franchise that kicked off in 1978. I mean sure, nobody actually believes this will be the last Halloween movie ever made, but we are supposed to leave this movie feeling like that is actually a possibility. Aside from the fact that Myers is now in his 70’s and isn’t exactly prioritizing his health, the beating heart of the franchise has been the fact that his menacing presence is unstoppable. If you take that out of the equation, what do you have? Here is a good analogy, if you want to call yourself the best heavyweight boxer of all-time you would want to knock out Mike Tyson in his prime, not old and out of shape Mike Tyson. I mean sure you beat the man, but as a shell of himself how satisfying is it? I want to see Michael Myers in all of his butcher knife wielding glory get taken down as he fights until the very end, but I guess that is just me.

I’ve heard complaints about the ending which is interesting to me considering that part of the movie actually fits better within the franchise in terms of how they seemingly wanted to close things out. I will say it still felt a bit half-assed and a bit forced and out of left-field, but I think they got their message across. This movie needed to have some level of closure in order to stay true to its name, and I do believe they accomplished that. Now whether you like how they decided to conclude the legend of Michael Myers, well that is another story entirely.

THE VERDICT

Although it still has redeemable qualities and makes for an entertaining movie experience in its own right, Halloween Ends strays from a tried-and-true formula that helped build an iconic franchise dividing audiences in the process. You have to commend the writing team for taking a chance here and I wish I could say it worked out in the end (pun intended), but unfortunately we are left with what feels like a jumbled mess and an overall unfinished product. I personally think they bit off more than they could chew, and easily needed an additional 30-minutes to try and flesh out this new backstory they aimed to create. Now I’m not saying it would have made this a great movie because you are still making Meyers more or less a background character, but at least you would fill some of the holes in the story and make things feel a bit more cohesive.

As I mentioned earlier in the review, I was impressed with the acting and still enjoyed the movie for the most part, but to say it is a worthy sendoff for such an iconic franchise would be like saying the earth is flat. Just because some people believe it, doesn’t make it true. The reality is we will see more of Michael Meyers in the future with the next franchise reboot, and I will be watching.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.9/10

Halloween Ends is now playing in theaters and streaming on Peacock. Check out the latest trailer below.

Black Adam

Black Adam is a 2022 superhero film based on the DC Comics character of the same name, directed by Jaume Collet-Serra from a screenplay by Adam Sztykiel, Rory Haines, and Sohrab Noshirvani. Collet-Serra, who had his directorial debut back in 2005 with the horror thriller The House of Wax, recently directed the hit Disney action adventure film Jungle Cruise, also starring Dwayne Johnson. Black Adam is intended to be a spin-off of Shazam! (2019), and the eleventh film in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU). The Black Adam character was first introduced in the comics as a one-off villain way back in 1945, but for the last 15 years or so Johnson has made it his mission to breathe new life into this controversial antihero.

Nearly 5,000 years after he was bestowed with the almighty powers of the Egyptian gods -- and imprisoned just as quickly -- Black Adam is freed from his earthly tomb, ready to unleash his unique form of justice on the modern world.

The cast includes Dwayne Johnson as Teth-Adam / Black Adam alongside Noah Centineo, Aldis Hodge, Sarah Shahi, Quintessa Swindell, Pierce Brosnan, and Mohammed Amer.

Black Adam made its debut in theaters on October 21st, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

THE GOOD

I will be the first to admit that I have had tempered expectations when it was officially announced that Black Adam was finally happening. Dwayne Johnson, who I am a huge fan of, has been marketing the crap out of this movie for what feels like two years at this point. When the first trailer dropped I remained skeptical mainly because it had the feel of yet another mish mash DC movie that veered into the world of over-the-top corny more often than it should. But, after that 2nd trailer, I was like okay, we might have something here. It had that gritty feel I was looking for, which caused me to change course a bit, becoming hopeful for what was set to debut at the end of October. So, was I right to be concerned initially or was the 2nd trailer an indication that DC finally got it right? Keep reading to find out!

I’m very pleased to admit, I was genuinely impressed with Black Adam. I went in with my fair share of reservations as I mentioned, but I left the theater satisfied and excited for what is surely to come next. Superhero films are a dime a dozen these days, but one constant has been that DC is best known for duds, and Marvel on the other side of the aisle packs theaters. But little brother DC is clearly sick of being pushed around, and a behemoth of a man with a shiny smooth bald head is here to change the narrative. The origin story for Black Adam often has a 300 feel to it which I loved, and the characters were just fantastic. One of the primary reasons why big-budget Marvel films continue to succeed is their ability to entertain while giving viewers several characters to root for, not just the headliner. My eyes were glued to the screen for the entire movie thanks to impressive pacing and an engaging story. Black Adam is a big-budget blockbuster that feels like a big-budget blockbuster, if that makes any sense at all. Bottom line, my criticisms were few and far between with this movie, and that is a big win in my book.

I was intrigued by the origin story of Black Adam and felt like it had more depth than you would usually expect from a superhero film. It also has a ton of great one-liners, and bunch of perfectly funny interactions between characters that feel very authentic. One of my big issues with DC films is they often come across as either trying so hard to be gritty that they miss the mark altogether, or they want so badly to be funny that it feels forced and comes across as corny. That couldn’t be further from the case here, and I think the writing and the chemistry between the cast was a big reason why it all worked so well. I keep picturing certain scenes that had me laughing out loud in the theater, and they are still putting a goofy smile on my face. I honestly can’t wait to see Black Adam again.

Okay now it’s time to talk about the cast, and I personally thought it was fantastic from top to bottom. If they asked for my feedback, this is the cast I would have envisioned for this movie. Dwayne Johnson has been fighting for this project to come to fruition for a decade and a half, and you won’t question his commitment to this role even for a second. Johnson is locked in, and even though he is a larger-than-life personality and a fixture in our lives these days, I was still able to see him as Black Adam which to me was an incredible accomplishment in itself. He crushed this role, simple as that. Although Johnson is most certainly the main attraction, the rest of the cast is pivotal to the success of the movie as a whole.

I have to start with actress Sarah Shahi, a former model who’s birth name is Aahoo Jahansouzshahi. I’m guessing its obvious why she decided to go with a different name professionally. I’m not gonna lie, I was infatuated with her character from the outset because not only was she absolutely gorgeous, she was a badass. She plays Adrianna Tomaz, a tough-as-nails mom hell bent on making life better for her people who are currently oppressed. She was simply amazing in this role, and I couldn’t imagine anyone playing it better.

So during the movie I felt like she looked familiar but I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but after doing a bit of research I had a big “ohhh that’s who she is!” moment. She was in one of my favorite shows, the unique crime drama Person of Interest, where she plays the sexy and tough Sameen Shaw. Her character in that series is not so different from who she plays in Black Adam, reinforcing the fact that she is the right person for roles like this. The Euless, TX native has been making a name for herself, mostly in television, since her career began way back in 2000. I can’t understate how happy I am for her and the success she is having. If you want to check out Person of Interest, all 5 seasons are currently streaming on HBO Max. I highly recommend it.

Next I have to talk about another actor who I am excited to see finding so much success, and that would be my guy Mohammed Amer. The Palestinian stand-up comedian turned actor who was born in Kuwait before his family made the decision to flee to Texas during the first Gulf War way back in 1990, has seemingly come out of nowhere in the acting world. After making his acting debut in an episode of the HBO series Crashing, his big break was in the Hulu comedy drama series Ramy (preview and trailer here), where he starred as a supporting character alongside Ramy Youssef.

I watched the series which I very much enjoyed and definitely recommend, and Amer was easily one of my favorite characters. So when I found out he was getting his own series loosely based on his own life experiences as a refugee trying to make a living in Texas, I was pumped. The Netflix original series Mo (preview and trailer here), is now streaming and is absolutely worth a watch. Amer has such an incredible on-screen presence, and he is absolutely hilarious. I really enjoyed his character in Black Adam as he provided the majority of the comic relief as Karim, the brother of Shahi’s character.

The rest of the cast was great as well, mainly the core crew that made up the Justice Society from acting legend Pierce Brosnan as Dr. Fate, Aldis Hodge as Hawkman, Noah Centineo as Atom Smasher, and Quintessa Swindell as Cyclone. This group had awesome chemistry with each other, and I loved the toe to toe interactions between Hawkman and Black Adam. I wouldn’t say it was a ripoff or anything, and to be clear I know zero about the comics, but Hawkman felt very similar to Anthony Mackie’s Falcon, and I thought that Atom Smasher had a ton of similarities to Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man. I mean this as a compliment in the sense that I gravitated towards these characters, and although Atom Smasher and Cyclone play smaller roles comparably, the chemistry these two shared added some additional depth to the film. Plus, Centineo definitely added to the comic relief element.

On the technical side of things, I personally thought the CGI and special effects were great. They were over-the-top more often than not, but they hit hard and that’s exactly what I was hoping for. The action sequences were a blast to experience, and I also loved the 300 cinematic style we were treated to during the earlier parts of the film as well as the flashback scenes. Plus, the nice thing about casting Dwayne Johnson in a role like this is you don’t need any CGI up make him look like an absolute beast. The film also served up a ton of slow-mo during some of the crazier action scenes which I thought actually worked quite well all things considered, and in general I never got the corny feel from the film which was something I was initially concerned about.

The score and soundtrack are pure fire any way you look at it, and was hugely beneficial to the overall experience. Composer Lorne Balfe is one of the biggest names in the business with 167 credits according to his IMDb filmography. This guy is a machine, in 2022 alone he did Ambulance, Infinite Storm, Top Gun: Maverick, Ticket to Paradise, and now Black Adam. And next year looks massive for him yet again with The Lego Batman Movie 2, Tetris, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, and Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One. The guy is like the Dwayne Johnson of composers, always burning that midnight oil. He is definitely one of the greats. As the icing on the cake to the incredible work from Balfe, we are also treated to music from The Smashing Pumpkins, Player, The Rolling Stones, and Kanye West. Plus, I have to give a bit shoutout to director Jaume Collet-Serra because he brought his A-game for Black Adam.

THE BAD

Listen, I’m not going to talk about Black Adam like it deserves it’s rightful place in cinematic history. I mean, at the end of the day it’s a superhero movie and its not perfect, but that’s okay. The special effects and CGI sometimes feel a bit too over-the-top, but that’s really par for the course, right? I’m not going to knock the acting because as I said it was well above average. I felt like they took full advantage of the 2-hour runtime, making sure each scene had a purpose. So kudos to the editing team for that. Above all else, entertainment factor remained from start to finish and in my mind that’s really all that matters. The good far outweighs the bad, and after seeing Black Adam I have every reason to believe this could be the next franchise that gives DC that boost it so desperately needs. So yeah, I’m going to keep this section short and sweet because at the end of the day Black Adam defies expectations, and that’s the story I’m sticking to.

THE VERDICT

An action packed superhero origin story with genuinely likable characters and an engaging storyline, Black Adam is not only one of the best DC movies in recent memory, it gives big brother Marvel a run for its money. Dwayne Johnson’s 15-years in the making passion project was intense when it needed to be, but still provided the necessary balance of humor to ensure it was always fun. I loved the cast, and I am ecstatic for the opportunities a movie like this will afford actress Sarah Shahi and actor Mohammed Amer, who are very deserving of their success. I haven’t even bothered reading what these so-called critics over on Rotten Tomatoes have had to say about this movie, but who cares really. At the end of the day it’s about whether or not YOU will enjoy it, and as a fan of superheroes on the big screen who also happens to write these half-ass reviews that I hope you enjoy reading, this was a theater experience that was absolutely worth my time.

As I mentioned I’m not a comic book guy so I went in fairly blind in terms of what to expect, but after seeing this movie I’m pumped about Black Adam and his place in the DC universe. Plus, an epic mid credits scene has me excited and full of anticipation. Ignore the haters and get out to the theater ASAP to see Black Adam because it is worth your hard earned money, and then some. That’s right, you heard it here first. So, what are you waiting for?!

TED TAKES RATING - 8.3/10

Black Adam is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.