Giants Being Lonely

Giants Being Lonely is a 2019 indie coming-of-age drama directed by Grear Patterson in his directorial debut, and written by Patterson and Sam Stillman. The film premiered at the 76th Venice International Film Festival and was part of the 2020 Official Selection at the Tribeca Film Festival.

In Hillsborough, North Carolina, high school seniors Adam, Bobby, and Caroline experience the ups and downs of sex, loneliness, murder, and baseball during the final year of high school. Star pitcher Bobby is beloved for his athletic talents, but is unmoored from life and neglected by his alcoholic father. Adam, the less skilled player, has a crush on their classmate Caroline but must deal with his abusive father and his closed off mother.[

The cast includes Jack Irving, Ben Irving, Lily Gavin, Amalia Culp, and Gabe Fazio.

Giants Being Lonely made its limited release on September 1st, 2019, courtesy of Gravitas Ventures, prior to a streaming release on Prime Video.

THE GOOD

Every now and then a movie flies completely under my radar until I either come across the poster or the trailer and it happens to catch my eye, and that is exactly what happened with Giants Being Lonely. I pride myself on giving the world of indie filmmaking the respect it deserves so I will always try and give anything that looks a bit indie a second look, and the poster for this definitely looked the part. After a quick look, I confirmed not only was this an indie film, it was a coming-of-age story which if you know me or have kept up on my reviews, you would know that is without question one of my favorite genres. Plus, add in the fact that the story is centered around a high school baseball team from the south, and I knew I needed to check this out immediately. So, was it worth my time, or did I miss it for good reason? Keep reading to find out!

One of the reasons I love indie films so much, especially indie dramas or coming-of-age stories, they don’t feel the need to fill every second with dialogue. In my opinion, it’s part of what is wrong with the world today, like people are afraid to be alone with their own thoughts. Films like Ain’t Them Bodies Saints, Drive, or even The Place Beyond the Pines, all sacrifice dialogue for the ability to feel something and live in the moment. To just watch the look in the eyes of a character and try to figure out what they might be feeling, really is the ultimate way to connect viewers to the experience which at the end of the day is what filmmaking is all about.

Giants Being Lonely takes this approach to heart and slowly gives viewers an intimate look at the film’s characters while leaving breadcrumbs of backstory as the film progresses. It may not always work the way it is intended to and some may find this approach frustrating, but for me and for most fans of indie film, this style is my happy place in so many ways. My advice, strive to be someone who can go to a movie alone, or maybe even to breakfast alone with a good book. At the risk of sounding like a self-help book, the first step towards self-actualization is the ability to be alone with your thoughts and just live in that moment.

Okay so back to talking about the movie, Giants Being Lonely is far from perfect but it did give me plenty to appreciate. I really loved how even though the film was essentially present day, it still felt much older as the teenagers portrayed didn’t have their faces buried in cell phones, and families still at least attempted to sit at a dinner table for a meal together. This added a certain layer of rare authenticity I surely appreciated. From a purely technical standpoint, this is a fantastic film. I mean sure it is still flawed, but as a debut film, it has a ton going for it. I loved the raw and gritty indie feel the film had throughout, making you feel as though you were right there in this small town in North Carolina.

My favorite thing about this film was the overall approach as far as the camera work and the score, making for a true indie feel that often relied on pure emotion and tone to deliver its message. This approach can be risky and doesn’t always work here, but all things considered, I felt like the identity of the film from a technical perspective was without question a big bright spot for the film and worth experiencing. Ben Morsberger serves up the perfect music to match the emotional tone of each and every scene. A perfect example is the film’s closing sequence which is equally chilling and thought-provoking thanks to the score/music and camera work.

THE BAD

The acting and the writing, more specifically a good portion of the dialogue, are the most glaring issues keeping Giants Being Lonely from reaching its full potential. The screenplay from Grear Patterson and Sam Stillman has a clear goal in mind but seems to lose focus somewhere along the way. I’m trying my best to avoid being overly critical of the cast because we are dealing with what is primarily a group of no-name actors. My issue is with the inability to play to your strengths and mask your weaknesses, and I just felt like the cast was left on an island with a script that felt nonsensical at times. The idea was to try and have an abundance of the awkward teenage moments that come along with high school and I get that, I just felt like the execution left a lot to be desired. What we are left with is a bunch of uncomfortable moments with characters that feel like a shell of their true selves. I had a hard time really relating to any of the characters by the end of the film, and just felt like that element of the film lacked substance.

Giants Being Lonely has lofty goals which include the film’s conclusion, and for me, the ending seemingly comes out of nowhere. I really liked how the ending was presented keeping with the stylish element of the film, but it all felt a bit out of left field (pun intended) thanks to the inability to effectively develop characters. The issues I had with how forced and generic the dialogue felt certainly played a part as well. Bottom line, even though the film is very clear in terms of what it is trying to do, the end result is a failure to meet the goal that seemed to be right there for the taking.

THE VERDICT

A coming-of-age indie drama with high aspirations that suffers from poor writing and uninspired dialogue, Giants Being Lonely ultimately squanders its full potential but still serves as a solid debut from director Grear Patterson. There really is a lot to like here and while the broader message is always clear, the film struggles to effectively convey the deeper meaning behind the inner turmoil impacting each character to a varying degree. In my opinion, this has to do with some of the film’s flaws I talked about earlier in the review, which holds the film back, which is unfortunate because it really could have been great.

I still recommend giving Giants Being Lonely a watch even if just for the technical elements alone, and at around an hour and 20 minutes it goes by pretty fast. I plan to give it another viewing to see if it comes together a bit better the second time around.

TED TAKES RATING - 5.9/10

Giants Being Lonely is now streaming on Prime Video. Check out the latest trailer below.

Cocaine Bear

Cocaine Bear is a 2023 black comedy thriller film directed and co-produced by Elizabeth Banks, from a screenplay by Jimmy Warden. Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner's plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild thriller finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a coke-fueled rampage for more blow... and blood.

The film stars Keri Russell, O'Shea Jackson Jr., Alden Ehrenreich, Matthew Rhys, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kristofer Hivju, Christian Convery, Brooklynn Prince, Margo Martindale, and the legendary Ray Liotta in his final performance.

Cocaine Bear made its debut in theaters on February 24th, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

Let’s be honest, when they initially announced Cocaine Bear I was sure it had to be some sort of a spoof. But when the first trailer released it was clear that this was in fact a legit movie, as crazy as it seemed. Add in the fact that it is based on a true story and I was counting the days waiting for the release. Luckily the stars aligned and this movie was given a wide release, and you know damn well my ass was firmly planted in that comfy theater seat on opening day. I held off on reading too much about the true story just to keep the mystery of the story in tact for the sake of my enjoyment. So, was Cocaine Bear the wild and hilarious ride the trailer made it out to be or just another example of a project that bites off more than it can chew? Keep reading to find out!

I’ll cut to the chase, Cocaine Bear was everything I needed it to be. The 80’s feel and the tone of the film was made abundantly clear within the first 5-minutes, and I knew right away I was going to enjoy this movie. Not only does it refuse to take itself too seriously and remain entertaining throughout, but we are also spoiled with a great cast that delivers above average acting. In many ways Cocaine Bear reminds me of the 2010 horror comedy Piranha 3D in terms of how the kills are equally hilarious and gruesome, and often more of the latter.

Not a spoiler but one particular scene during the final act of the film involving an ambulance had me laughing my ass off. The film isn’t shy with the gore, but it never feels like too much which speaks to the balance it has. The movie is hilarious and had me laughing out loud a ton, and I liked all of the characters who all seemed to serve a purpose. Even though Cocaine Bear is just loosely based on true events, just the fact that a bear ingested a ton of cocaine back in the mid 80’s is enough of a reason for viewers to buy into this bonkers story and see this movie. Kudos to writer Jimmy Warden for putting together a great screenplay that fully utilized the talented cast.

Cocaine Bear probably could’ve gotten away with a cast of mostly unknowns, but instead they brought in some legit acting talent. The film does a great job spreading the wealth in terms of screen-time making it so the movie really is a collection of characters without any real leads necessarily. To be honest I thought everyone was great and made sure this movie hit as hard as possible. Veteran actress Keri Russell is great as usual. Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson is basically unrecognizable and was hilarious in his role, and it was nice seeing Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr. on the big-screen again as he has been MIA for a bit since the underrated 2018 action thriller Den of Thieves (our review here).

I’m having a hard time choosing but I think Margo Martindale honestly may have been my favorite character in her role as the horned up Ranger Liz who had the hots for Ferguson’s character. Martindale is a ridiculously talented and versatile actress, although some of her best roles were in television including the FX series Justified and the HBO drama The Leftovers. It is certainly bittersweet seeing my guy Ray Liotta in his final farewell as he has since departed this cruel world just last year at the young age of 67, but man can you think of a guy who played a dirty cop better? Seriously, I loved him in every role he played, and one of my favorites in the last decade or so would probably be The Place Beyond the Pines alongside Bradley Cooper. He was also in the recently released Apple TV drama series Black Bird (preview and trailer here), which is absolutely worth a watch. He will be missed. So yeah, as far as the cast everyone delivered the goods.

Aside from having a superbly talented cast who clearly had a blast making this movie, the bread and butter of Cocaine Bear is the VFX and use of CGI. More specifically the creativity by which several unfortunate souls meet their demise during the film. Let’s just say quite a few body parts end up in the lost and found. From the opening scene it is clear that this is going to be a blood-soaked roller coaster packed to the brim with R-rated humor, gore, and drugs for days, and it was glorious. A giant bear that ingested an insane amount of cocaine does exactly what you would expect it to do, a bunch of absolutely ridiculous and bizarre shit.

I personally thought the bear looked fantastic, and come to find out Peter Jackson’s company Weta FX, which was also used in Avatar: The Way of Water (our review here), was the reason why. Needless to say the majority of the films budget was a check cut to Jackson’s company, but it was well worth every penny. I was curious about how they planned to go about making sure the centerpiece of the film kept viewers engaged for the hour and 30 minute runtime, and this bear looked great and was so much fun to watch. Forget what you learned about bear survival because Cocaine Bear is a rare breed. Just try and imagine Usain Bolt and Lawrence Taylor had a baby, and that baby went on a cocaine-fueled rampage.

Now I have to talk about actress-turned-director Elizabeth Banks and the job she did here. The Massachusetts native made her big-screen debut in the directors chair back in 2015 with Pitch Perfect 2, and followed that up with the Charlie’s Angels spinoff film in 2019 which sadly was a disaster. Banks invested a ton in that film and shouldered the majority of the blame for its downfall but she kept her head high waiting for her next opportunity. Cocaine Bear is clearly quite different from her first two films, and in an interview with Variety Banks talks about how much of a risk it was for her to take on this project after Charlie’s Angels.

She bought in to the insanity of the premise, and was determined to ensure this genre film gave audiences what they were hoping to see. I personally thought she did a fantastic job here, crafting a film that could easily have felt like a jumbled mess, but instead each and every scene felt intentional and necessary and I also loved the creative camera work. My hope is that Cocaine Bear dominates the box office, not only for her sake, but also so we continue to get more movies like this. So yeah, head to the theater and support this movie!

THE BAD

Alright listen, the movie is called Cocaine Bear and is based on true events, exaggerated no doubt, but still. Can we really sit here and pick it apart? I mean sure, the CGI can be a little much at times and 90% of what happens in the movie is far-fetched and physically impossible even on a ton of quality cocaine, but so what?! With a movie like this you simply need to embrace the ridiculous premise, turn your brain off, grab a few pitchers of your favorite adult beverage, and enjoy. Movies like Cocaine Bear should honestly have their own rating scale for the simple fact that being ridiculous and campy is a good thing.

The more I think about it the more I am reminded that my list of good and bad is far outweighed by the good. The movie is hilarious, the kills are super creative and just the right amount of gory, and the cast is fantastic. The story plays out exactly how I would imagine someone high as a kite on cocaine would tell the true story of Cocaine Bear, who has since been been stuffed, given the nickname Pablo Escobear, and now resides in a Kentucky mall. I mean, the movie basically wrote itself. With that being said, if you’re looking for an elaborate story or any semblance of substance, you should probably look elsewhere.

THE VERDICT

A delightfully gory and hilariously satisfying over-the-top horror comedy with the intoxicating 80’s vibe I just can’t get enough of, Cocaine Bear is an unapologetic drug-infused adventure that lives up to its name. I had a lot of fun with this movie, and I’m sure it will get even better with repeat viewings. Elizabeth Banks was due for a resurgence after the Charlie’s Angels Box Office blunder, and she deserves all the credit in the world for going all in on such a crazy concept. To say the 80’s were wild would be an understatement, I’m just glad Hollywood is finally willing to share some of these legendary stories with the rest of the world. Dig into those couch cushions and show Cocaine Bear your support because we need more movies like this. Last but certainly not least, RIP Ray Liotta. An absolute legend in the film industry.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.1/10

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

Magic Mike's Last Dance

Magic Mike's Last Dance is a 2023 comedy-drama film directed by Steven Soderbergh, written by Reid Carolin, and produced by Channing Tatum. It is the third installment in the Magic Mike trilogy, following Magic Mike (2012) and Magic Mike XXL (2015). Originally intended to be digitally released onto HBO Max, Warner Bros. Pictures opted to give the film a theatrical release following strong test screenings.

Mike takes to the stage again, following a business deal that went bust, leaving him broke and taking bartender gigs in Florida. Mike heads to London with a wealthy socialite who lures him with an offer he can't refuse.

The cast includes Channing Tatum, Salma Hayek, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Caitlin Gerard, Kevin Nash, Adam Rodriguez, and Kylie Shea.

Magic Mike’s Last Dance made its debut in theaters on February 10th, courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

THE GOOD

I feel like the Magic Mike films continue to be misunderstood in terms of what they actually bring to the table. Sure you get the male stripper element which makes it an easy ladies’ night out option, but they are much more than that. Director Steven Soderbergh’s original film hit theaters more than a decade ago, wow that makes me feel old, and I remember being very impressed with it. I told anyone who would listen how good it was and that there was much more than meets the eye as you got a great story, top-tier acting, and lots of great humor. Plus the cast, led by the man himself Channing Tatum, was fantastic. Back in 2015, we got the sequel to the original film in Magic Mike XXL, which even though Soderbergh left the director’s chair was still really good. Now Soderbergh is back with the third and likely final film in the franchise, but does it live up to expectations or pale in comparison to the other films? Keep reading to find out!

Alright, so it turns out that is a bit of a loaded question. Magic Mike's Last Dance does fail to match the expectations put in place by the first two films and I will talk more about that later in the review, but don’t panic because that does not mean all is lost. Even though I can’t stamp this as the perfect sendoff for the franchise, this is still an enjoyable film for several reasons. First and foremost, the cast should and will draw your attention. Channing Tatum is a boss no argument there, and the addition of the tantalizing Salma Hayek is a treat that may or may not send your sugar levels through the roof. The soundtrack and choreography got me fired up, and it was just great to see Tatum as Magic Mike yet again. The film as a whole offers up enough to satisfy audiences on both sides of the aisle, and you surely won’t leave the theater looking for a refund.

It wouldn’t feel right to review Magic Mike’s Last Dance without first talking about the cast. Now first and foremost, we all know that Channing Tatum has earned his place amongst the greats ever since his Step Up days. Tatum is not just a pretty face with a toned body, this dude is talented and he works his ass off. Tatum once again shows up and shows out in Magic Mike’s Last Dance, delivering yet another fantastic performance. New to the franchise and taking on the other lead role is the tantalizing and gorgeous Salma Hayek. I have been a fan of Hayek for as long as I can remember, and I have always applauded her versatility as an actress. Although I do feel she was a bit underutilized here, I still enjoyed her character and thought she delivered yet another great performance. I also really enjoyed Ayub Khan-Din as the personal assistant/driver of Hayek’s character, and Jemelia George as Hayek’s daughter. The supporting cast was fine, and as great as all of the dancers were they didn’t really get to do much actual acting which was fine of course.

What should we talk about next? You guessed it!! The dancing in Magic Mike’s Last Dance is amazing as expected. The choreography is top notch and we are treated to a ton of extremely talented people who were given a great opportunity to showcase their skills. We also get to watch Tatum’s Mike properly introduce himself to Hayek’s character during a steamy and powerful strip tease during the film’s first act. The soundtrack was epic as well, and it wouldn’t have been a Magic Mike movie without a little bit of Ginuwine’s Pony that is for damn sure. No joke, during the final dancing sequence my eyeballs were popping out of my head, and it wasn’t just because of Channing Tatum. Seriously, it was such a cool way to close out the film and send viewers home feeling satisfied with the overall experience. Actress Kylie Shea was incredible, end of discussion.

THE BAD

I enjoyed Magic Mike’s Last Dance but it absolutely left me wanting more, and my biggest issue was the story and the overall direction of the film. The first film is built around Channing Tatum’s character Mike Lane, better known as Magic Mike, and his coming-of-age journey as he struggled to make something of himself. Mike was a relatable character and I enjoyed embarking on his journey of self-discovery. I loved all of the other characters he met along the way as well, and thought they did a fantastic job with casting. The second film felt like a homecoming of sorts, bringing back all of the original characters for another hoorah, and it worked well.

With Magic Mike’s Last Dance Steven Soderbergh and writer Reid Carolin decide to change things up a bit which does work in some aspects, but also makes for an overall anti-climactic experience in my opinion. Carolin has a ton of experience working with Tatum as he wrote the screenplay for all three Magic Mike films, as well as last year’s gem Dog, so he knew what he was working with. Although it was clear that the goal for Magic Mike’s Last Dance was to bring the sole focus back to Tatum’s character and serve as a bit of a full-circle finale, it just felt less inspired and ultimately forgettable in terms of his character. More than anything else I just really just wanted to see the boys, Joe Manganiello, Matt Bomer, Adam Rodriguez, and Kevin Nash, back together again and they had the perfect opportunity to do it, but it just wasn’t meant to be and it really bummed me out.

THE VERDICT

While Steven Soderbergh fails to capture the magic and energy of the original film, Magic Mike's Last Dance is still an enjoyable addition to the franchise with fantastic choreography and a jaw-dropping final act. By no means is this a bad movie, I just found the overall story to be underwhelming and felt like leaving out the original cast was a mistake. The stellar dancing sequences alone are still worth a trip to the theater, and I’m sure wine sales will be up for the foreseeable future.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.9/10

Magic Mike’s Last Dance is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is a 2022 superhero film directed by Peyton Reed, from a screenplay by Jack Kirby and Jeff Loveness. It is based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Scott Lang / Ant-Man and Hope Pym / Wasp. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), and the 31st film of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne, along with Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, explore the Quantum Realm, where they interact with strange creatures and embark on an adventure that goes beyond the limits of what they thought was possible.

The cast includes Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton, Jonathan Majors, and Randall Park.

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania made its debut in theaters on February 17th, as the first film of Phase Five of the MCU.

THE GOOD

I’m a big fan of the Ant-Man movies, and a big reason which should be obvious is my guy Paul Rudd. Yet another home run as far as casting for Marvel when they brought him in. He brings a unique comedic element that has blended seamlessly within the MCU and is so charismatic as an actor that he seems to make it easier on everyone else. Seriously, find me someone who dislikes Paul Rudd, I’ll wait. I really enjoyed the first two Ant-Man films, and what has stood out to me most with those films is the fact that more than anything else they were fun and always hilarious, with great energy. So after a long and eventful four years, the sequel to Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) is finally here, but is it the Phase 5 debut we were all hoping for or a rare miss for Marvel? Keep reading to find out!

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was so much fun, and absolutely met my expectations. The visuals were fantastic as they had this blend of Star Wars meets Strange World, and I was really digging it. The movie is laugh-out-loud hilarious as expected, and the cast, which is loaded with talent, was great. I liked the story as well and it definitely felt like a springboard for Phase 5 which got my juices flowing.

I’ll be honest, I was slightly concerned prior to seeing Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania just because of the early screening feedback from critics, but I made it a point not to read any of the reviews before I could escape parenthood for two hours and see the movie for myself to form my own opinion. What a trendsetter I am! But in all seriousness, it really is such a satisfying feeling when a movie defies all of the criticism, plus full disclosure, I would have been super bummed if this movie was bad. Now it wasn’t perfect and I will talk more about that later, but the good far outweighs the bad and I had a smile on my face from start to finish.

For my money the best part of Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania in my humble opinion is the characters and how great they are together. The cast is stacked, from national treasure Paul Rudd to Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Evangeline Lilly, Kathryn Newton, Randall Park, and quite possibly the hottest actor working today in Jonathan Majors, and it really seemed like everyone genuinely had a blast making this movie. The tone of the film is kept fairly light for the most part, making for some opportunities for the writing team to have some fun with the cast and they take full advantage. I personally laughed out loud more times than I can count and thought the film had a ton of great one-liners you will want to share with your friends as soon as you leave the theater. I also thought the chemistry between the characters seemed genuine making it easy for viewers to become immersed in the overall experience.

I’ve heard some criticism in terms of the special effects/CGI for Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, but I honestly did not have an issue with it. Because the film takes place pretty much entirely in the Quantum Realm, the visuals are pretty wacky from the beginning. As I mentioned earlier in the review right away the vibe I was getting was Star Wars meets Strange World in terms of the environments and the characters. I thought the creativity of both was great, and I really liked how these ridiculous characters were able to add so much to the comedic element of the film. I won’t spoil anything, but my favorite antagonist who happens to be a surprise returning character is the epitome of the whacky visuals, and he cracked me up from the start because he was just so damn ridiculous. If you can’t have fun with these characters, you may need to re-evaluate your willingness to just let go and just enjoy the simple things in life. Just saying.

THE BAD

As I said Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania isn’t perfect, and certainly could have been better. First, it felt a bit light on story compared to the first two films, but as the first movie in Phase 5, it is a tricky balance. It just didn’t hit quite as hard as far as the emotional element as it did rely that much more on humor. This is personal preference but I would have liked to have seen more of the movie take place outside of the Quantum Realm, but it is called Quantumania after all. Mainly because it was a bummer not seeing Michael Peña and T.I. who are hilarious in the first two films.

As far as the CGI and the visuals in general, I thought they were great and fit the vibe of the film. For me, they never felt too over the top because they set the tone early on and sort of made it clear that anything goes in the Quantum Realm. I’m not going to talk about the hits or misses as it relates to the comics because well, I have zero familiarity with them, so in no way shape, or form does the movie rub me the wrong way. Some people may have an issue with the fact that Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania definitely relies on humor and lacks any sort of gritty feel, but for me, it worked and made for a very entertaining experience.

THE VERDICT

Visuals that deliver a Star Wars meets Strange World vibe with a hefty dose of laugh-out-loud humor thanks to several great one-liners from the talented cast, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania was just so much fun and absolutely met my expectations. Trashing this movie feels less about the actual film and more about issues surrounding the film and the industry as a whole. As regular guys who just happen to review movies, we strive to remain impartial and do what we can to give our unbiased opinions, and more than anything else we review movies based on what they are trying to accomplish, and whether or not they were successful. Our own personal enjoyment matters too, of course.

Bottom line, after seeing Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania I left the theater smiling and I can’t wait to see it again, so for me, this one is easy to recommend and is well worth the price of admission. Be sure to stick around for BOTH post-credit scenes, one of which is after the conclusion of the credits.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.4/10

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Infinity Pool

Infinity Pool is a 2022 science fiction thriller film written and directed by Brandon Cronenberg, who previously wrote and directed Possessor (2020). The son of famed director David Cronenberg, the man who brought us Scanners (1981), The Fly (1986), A History of Violence (2005), and most recently Crimes of the Future (Andrew’s full review here), Brandon intends to pave his own way in the industry. The film is an international co-production between Canada, Hungary, and France, and had its world premiere at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2023.

While staying at an isolated island resort, James (Alexander Skarsgård) and Em (Cleopatra Coleman) are enjoying a perfect vacation of pristine beaches, exceptional staff, and soaking up the sun. But guided by the seductive and mysterious Gabi (Mia Goth), they venture outside the resort grounds and find themselves in a culture filled with violence, hedonism, and untold horror. A tragic accident leaves them facing a zero-tolerance policy for crime: either you’ll be executed, or, if you’re rich enough to afford it, you can watch yourself die instead.

Infinity Pool made its debut in select theaters on January 27th, courtesy of Neon.

THE GOOD

Alright so when I first heard about Infinity Pool I was first intrigued by the cast because I am a huge fan of Alexander Skarsgård, and Mia Goth has also been a favorite of mine as of late. Add in the fact that Brandon Cronenberg wrote and directed the film, I knew that at the very least it was going to be a crazy experience, for better or for worse. And admittedly the trailer actually increased my excitement level, mainly because I thought the premise had a chance to be very interesting depending on where they decided to go with it. So as soon as Infinity Pool hit theaters near me I made my way right over. So, was it worth my time or too off the reservation to even be enjoyable? Keep reading to find out!

Wow, what an experience. I just loved this movie for so many different reasons which I will touch on in my review, but for starters, Infinity Pool is easily one of the most immersive films in recent memory. I mean my eyes were glued to the screen, and I was feeling what the characters were feeling within the first 20 minutes of the film, which is no easy task. The acting was incredible, the story is just wild and shocking, yet it somehow feels relatable if that makes any sense at all, and the technical elements were top-notch from start to finish. I feel like writer/director Brandon Cronenberg was incredibly intentional with this original story, and the weight of it hit me like a ton of bricks. I don’t know if my background and general interest in psychology played a part or not, but for me, Infinity Pool felt like a hard look at the dark side of humanity, essentially what we are capable of becoming without judgment or fear of consequences. The story itself is fairly straight forward as crazy as it is, but being able to connect with the characters and the emotions they are feeling takes this film to the next level.

The story in Infinity Pool is everything. It is crucial that viewers are able to connect with Alexander Skarsgård’s character James Foster, which should be easy enough as in the beginning he resembles most of us at some point in our lives. James is a failing writer who is struggling to find his place in the world so he takes this trip with his wife in the hope that he can find inspiration. Not only is he in a bad place in his career, but he is losing touch with who he is as a man, and more importantly as a human being. Bottom line, James is having an identity crisis, and just when he feels like he is destined to live the rest of his life as a failure with a glazed-over look on his face he meets Gabi, an energetic and intriguing woman played by Mia Goth. Needless to say, his world is soon turned upside down.

Now I won’t give anything away of course, but the relationship that develops between James and Gabi is the beating heart of the film. The story gets crazier and crazier with each passing minute, and Cronenberg also utilized some very effective psychedelic sequences which seem to help viewers tap into the intense confusion James must be feeling. He loses himself over and over again, and so much of the story grows with the subtle yet extreme fascination James and Gabi feel for each other. Gabi is often seen observing James and relishing in the chaos she is causing. Bottom line, this story is wild right up until the final scene.

The cast was nothing short of amazing, but the standing ovation should be reserved for Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth. I will start with Skarsgård, who has been on an absolute tear since his days on HBO’s True Blood. The 6’4 stud of an actor has been dominating Hollywood along with his brother Bill aka Pennywise, but you have never seen him like this. Infinity Pool feels like an opportunity for Skarsgård to shed his skin a bit and become something entirely different on-screen, and man did he crush it. It feels like it may be a reach saying this is his best performance to date considering his illustrious career, but it is surely one of his best and easily his most unique and captivating.

Alongside Skarsgård is Mia Goth, and all I can hear is Ludacris rapping “move, bitch, get out the way!”. Like seriously, Goth has been in some great films, but she landed on my radar officially with last year’s surprise horror film X (our review here), where she did double duty. She followed that up with an Oscar-worthy performance in the prequel Pearl (our review here) and proved that she is an absolute force. She does seem to really shine when playing absolutely psychotic characters, but hey to each their own, right? She is sooooooo good in Infinity Pool as Gabi, a character that has many, many layers, and seems to be about as crazy as Jeffrey Dahmer after a night at the club, Too much? Perhaps. Her chemistry with Skarsgård jumps off the screen, and even though I thought the entire cast was fantastic, the film does not hit as hard as it does without the performances of these two. Simple as that. Cleopatra Coleman delivered a heck of a performance as well, along with the rest of the supporting cast.

Now to talk about the man behind the camera, Brandon Cronenberg. And boy oh boy, all I can say is like father like son. This dude is super talented and has clearly been paying attention to the storied career his father has put together over the years. From the unique camera work during the opening sequence of the film right up until the end credits, Infinity Pool just feels like a film that mattered to each and every person who worked on it, and I have zero doubt that Cronenberg is beyond pleased with this piece of art he was able to put out into the world. A film like this desperately needs a mesmerizing score and jaw-dropping cinematography, and that is just what we get thanks to Tim Hecker who provided the music for the film, and talented cinematographer Karim Hussain, who also worked with Cronenberg on Possessor. Also a well-deserved shoutout to James Vandewater for his incredible editing.

THE BAD

Infinity Pool is amazing, and you will be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t check it out, at least in my opinion. But, to say it is not for everyone would be an extreme understatement. If you are easily offended by graphic content, you may want to sit this one out. Your willingness to connect fully with and immerse yourself in the film will make all the difference, because if you sit back and just watch it scene by scene checking your phone periodically you will find yourself saying what the fuck, a lot. Brutal violence, check. Lots and lots of blood, check. Sexual depravity and endless orgies, check. Enough emotional and physical abuse to ruin anyone for life, check, check, and check. Similar to the senior Cronenberg, Brandon does not hold back with Infinity Pool. But what makes this film unique in my opinion is that it’s not so much the wild sci-fi element as it usually is with his father’s films, but this experience is much more rooted in reality even if most of us refuse to admit it. It all comes down to a raw and unadulterated look at the human condition, and I hate to be the one to break the bad news, but that is often not as glamorous as we would like it to be. So yeah, consider this our disclaimer for what is a damn good movie.

THE VERDICT

An immersive and harrowing observation of the human condition when cleansed of all inhibitions, Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool is a powerful and complex viewing experience elevated by incredible performances from Alexander Skarsgård and Mia Goth. I just can’t stop thinking about this movie, and when I try to describe the premise to people they look at me like I have three heads, which is fair of course. It left me with more questions than answers, but that is part of why it is just so damn good. As I said it certainly is not for everyone and is extremely graphic, but if you can appreciate the raw emotion and sheer creativity that goes into making a film like Infinity Pool, it is well worth your time and then some. I’m looking forward to seeing it again.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.3/10

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

Knock at the Cabin

Knock at the Cabin is a 2022 apocalyptic horror film directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan, from a screenplay he co-wrote with Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman. It is based on the 2018 novel The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul G. Tremblay, making it the first adaptation of one of his works.

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

The film stars Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn, and Rupert Grint.

Knock at the Cabin made its debut in theaters on February 3rd, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

As soon as Knock at the Cabin was announced, I was very intrigued. I thought the premise sounded really cool, and I was excited about the fact that it was yet another film from the talented albeit controversial M. Night Shyamalan. You simply cannot argue the fact that this dude belongs in the industry, but he is also far from bulletproof having attached his name to some duds over the years, most notably the live-action version of The Last Airbender from back in 2010, which had fans up in arms for good reason. But the fact remains, the director of the monster 1999 hit The Sixth Sense is more than capable of delivering the goods, including Unbreakable (2000), The Visit (2015), Split (2016), and more recently Old (our review here), which I actually really liked, and the Apple TV horror thriller series Servant, which is very well done. Knock at the Cabin has Shyamalan returning to the director’s chair and co-writing the screenplay, but as I mentioned in the intro, the film is not an original story of his. So, is this a film he can be proud of or just more ammunition for his haters? Keep reading to find out!

Good news ladies and gentlemen, Knock at the Cabin met my expectations and then some. I thought the cast was nothing short of spectacular, the story was extremely immersive and kept me guessing right until the very end, and the technical elements of the film were top-notch. One of Shyamalan’s calling cards is the unique and more often than not unsettling tone of his films, and that is very much present in Knock at the Cabin. The film utilizes several effective storytelling techniques with a patient approach, which really pays off in the end. As a cinephile, you are looking to check off certain boxes before you can feel good about giving a film the old thumbs up, but in my opinion, that is an easy determination here.

First I have to start with the story, which I loved. Now I know this is not an original story from Shyamalan and I have yet to read the book, but the book and the screenplay came together to provide one heck of a wild ride from where I was sitting, albeit more of a slow burn. Now I wouldn’t consider Knock at the Cabin to be in the horror genre necessarily, but in no way is that a criticism of the film. It is still able to effectively utilize certain horror elements, think The Strangers for example which is pretty obvious. This is a doomsday psychological thriller through and through, and without a doubt, it sinks its teeth in you. Bottom line, the story holds weight and really makes you think.

I found myself imagining what it would feel like if I were put in this position, on either side really, and that is impressive if you ask me. Knock at the Cabin is a complex film in a good way, and just when you think you have an idea of what is going on, another wrinkle in the story is revealed that flips what you thought you knew on its head. Just great misdirection storytelling that maintains an effective tone and never feels corny. I had my concerns about the ending for obvious reasons, but I honestly thought it was the perfect culmination and a satisfying conclusion. I’m looking forward to seeing it again. Kudos to Shyamalan, Steve Desmond, and Michael Sherman for their adaptation of Paul Tremblay’s novel, which I do plan on reading.

The cast is a massive bright spot for Knock at the Cabin and a big reason why the film works so well. I love me some Dave Bautista, the former professional wrestler who has become a legit movie star, and in my mind this is without a doubt his best performance yet. His character is so complex in terms of how he will be perceived by viewers, and I just loved his on-screen presence. Bautista’s commitment to his role brought out the best in the rest of the cast and ensured the story felt relatable and immersive. He was easily my favorite part of the movie. As an actor who has been typecast for the majority of his career, it was really cool seeing him get an opportunity to prove he can do more. The performances were fantastic from top to bottom, and it was great to see Jonathan Groff, the star of the Netflix series Mindhunter, in a feature film. As an actor, Groff has a certain demeanor about him, and I thought his character was equally interesting and intriguing.

Starring alongside Groff is Ben Aldridge, and I thought the two had genuine chemistry together which was crucial to the success of the film and the overall story. Harry Potter fans will recognize Ruper Grint, who also played a very impactful role. He plays the wildcard character who still manages to come across as sympathetic as you learn more about him. The performance of a young actor or actress can be the difference in a film like Knock at the Cabin in terms of ensuring the tone and feel remain throughout, and I was very impressed with young Kristen Cui. Cui and Bautista are the first characters viewers are introduced to, and the chemistry between them helps to build this story to its shocking conclusion. Shoutout to Nikki Amuka-Bird and Abby Quinn who were both great in their roles as well.

THE BAD

I do have a few criticisms for Knock at the Cabin but they are relatively minimal in terms of what they take away from the overall viewing experience. First, the pacing is a little slow so you do have to be patient. It is by design in terms of the buildup for the story and it honestly wasn’t an issue for me because I was so blown away by the quality of the acting, but it is something viewers expecting this non-stop crazy experience might have an issue with.

I also felt like the editing choices as it relates to the flashbacks felt a bit out of place, almost like I was supposed to get something from the flashbacks that I didn’t necessarily get. Now, this may be a me problem and could be fixed with a 2nd viewing, but it’s worth mentioning. This also may have been an attempt to involve more from the book. I also wanted to point out the fact that this film is timid in comparison to what we are used to getting from Shyamalan, but I do feel like that was a good thing because viewers tend to either love or hate the crazy twists in his movies. Not to say that we don’t get lots of twists and turns with Knock at the Cabin because we do, they just don’t feel quite as out of left field if that makes sense.

THE VERDICT

A thought-provoking doomsday thriller featuring an incredibly impactful performance from actor Dave Bautista, M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin will keep you guessing right up until its satisfying conclusion. As I mentioned in the review, this is easily one of Shyamalan’s best films in recent memory, and once again reinforces why this guy continues to get studio backing on a variety of projects. He has had some duds over the years, but he works his ass off and is deserving of some praise. Oh and keep an eye out for a great cameo from Shyamalan right around the start of the 2nd act of the film.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.1/10

Knock at the Cabin is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Plane

Plane is a 2023 action-thriller film directed by Jean-François Richet, written by Charles Cumming and J. P. Davis. The film was announced in 2016, acquired by Lionsgate Films in 2019, sold to Solstice Studios in 2020, and re-acquired by Lionsgate in 2021. It was shot in Puerto Rico.

Pilot Brodie Torrance saves passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island -- only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. When dangerous rebels take most of the passengers hostage, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare, an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI.

The main cast includes Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, Daniella Pineda, and Tony Goldwyn.

Plane made its debut in theaters on January 13th, courtesy of Lionsgate.

THE GOOD

I love me some Gerard Butler, end of story. The guy is great, and has been in some of my favorite action thrillers in the last decade or so, including the highly underrated Law Abiding Citizen (2009) which is a favorite of mine, Den of Thieves (our full review here), and most recently the stylish crime thriller Copshop (our full review here). The guy is just one of those actors who has an amazing on-screen presence. Getting back on track, this Plane movie came out of nowhere and I honestly expected it to be a straight to VOD movie but it actually made its way to theaters. Add in Luke Cage himself Mike Colter starring alongside Butler and I was sold. I made my way to the theater genuinely excited even though I had relatively moderate expectations. Was it worth my time? Keep reading to find out!

Well folks, Gerard Butler has done it again! Plane was a ton of fun to experience, and just a good old fashioned action thriller with the always welcome shoot-em-up element making sure it appeals to viewers who can appreciate the throwback 90’s action movie feel. The story is simple enough but still feels grounded in reality which helped to keep me engaged, the character development is fantastic making sure you care about the characters, and I thought it was just entertaining throughout.

I really enjoyed the story for Plane, and as I mentioned it seemed surprisingly realistic instead of over-the-top as you might assume especially considering the premise. From the beginning as we meet Gerard Butler’s character Brodie Torrance, an awesome name by the way, it all felt true to life in terms of my experience flying commercial airlines. I also liked how great the character development was in terms of how each character was introduced with their own unique element of intrigue that progressed throughout the film. Plane also added a strong emotional element to the story that paid dividends by the end, giving viewers a few different characters to root for. I felt like each character had a place in the story, and I also thought the primary antagonists were fantastic and almost had that Captain Phillips ruthlessness to them. The best part though was the private military contractors who show up to provide help, they were so damn badass. It had that 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi (our review here) feel to it, and man these dudes meant business. They contributed to so many of those satisfying scenes that make action thrillers so appealing. It damn near had me on my feet shouting “U.S.A!! U.S.A!!”.

The cast was without a doubt a big draw for Plane, and as I mentioned early Gerard Butler was awesome as per usual. Instead of being some ex-military badass, Butler played a pilot who finds himself drawing crap duty due to a situation where he let his temper get the best of him. By all accounts he is a family man who takes his job very seriously, and it was also believable when he was forced to pick up a rifle and fight bad guys because well, he is Gerard Butler after all. Next up is of course Mike Colter, who I thought was great as well. Colter has the most intriguing character who is pretty mysterious, but he becomes a fan favorite pretty quickly. Colter has the military background so he is able to serve as an important albeit unsuspecting piece of the puzzle when it comes to the rescue mission at hand. Colter had genuine chemistry with Butler as well which was huge. As far as the supporting cast, I have to give shoutouts to Daniella Pineda, Yoson An who I really liked as the co-pilot, Tony Goldwyn in a small but impactful role, Paul Ben-Victor, Evan Dane Taylor, Remi Adeleki, and Joey Slotnick.

THE BAD

I honestly have very little to complain about when it comes to Plane in terms of what it offers as a cinematic experience, but it’s not exactly going to win any awards, and that’s okay. This is a real simple example of an easy to appreciate action film that isn’t trying to bite off more than it can chew. It also balances the action nicely allowing for plenty of character development ensuring the film has an impact on its viewers. The hardcore action fans may complain about pacing because it does take a bit before the real fun begins, but as I said I liked the balance. Plane does what it sets out to do, and for me that is more than enough.

THE VERDICT

An action-packed thriller with a satisfying story that somehow feels realistic considering the fairly outlandish premise, Plane is a fun movie that offers up a little something for everyone. The film kept me engaged from start to finish, and is yet another Gerard Butler gem with a ton of replay value. After seeing the chemistry he had with Mike Colter, I hope to see them together on another project in the new future. Sometimes all we need is a few characters that are easy to root for, some bad guys that are easy to hate, and some good old fashioned shoot-em-up action to get the blood flowing. Bottom line, Plane is easy to reccomend and well worth a trip to the theater.

TED TAKES RATING - 8.3/10

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

Men

By: Andrew Wing

Men is a 2022 British folk horror film written and directed by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation). It stars Jessie Buckley (I’m Thinking of Ending Things, The Lost Daughter) as a widowed woman who travels on holiday to a countryside village but becomes disturbed and tormented by the strange men in the village, all portrayed by Rory Kinnear (James Bond films, The Imitation Game).

The film was released in the United States on May 20, 2022, by A24 and in the United Kingdom on June 1, 2022, by Entertainment Film Distributors.

THE GOOD

News flash, but being the crazy sci-fi enthusiast I am, I absolutely love Alex Garland! Ex Machina is one of my favorite films from the past decade, and Annihilation is one of the most underrated movies from the past five years. Anyways, I still need to watch the FX miniseries Devs which he wrote and directed, but once I heard about Men and saw the trailer, I was freaking amped. However, it did get some pretty mixed reviews once it was released in May of last year, but while that may turn some people off from checking a movie out, a highly divisive movie only makes me more eager to check it out, and check it out I did! So what was Men? Was it another sci-fi classic from Garland? Or was it a step down for him? Keep reading to find out!

I mean, it was honestly both if you’re asking me. While Men was nowhere near the likes of Ex Machina and Annihilation, because well those were some of the best sci-fi movies of the past decade, I do think Men does have a chance to be one of those cult classic movies years from now. Why? For starters, like the rest of his movies, the visual storytelling is really strong here from Garland. A lot of the imagery in the film is really striking, and the rest of his filmmaking here was really good I thought. There are some drawn-out silent sequences where we just see the main character, Harper, walking throughout the forest, and because of how Garland decided to shoot those, we actually come away learning a lot about the character. I am just such a big fan of Garland, and I am really looking forward to his next film, Civil War which should hopefully be coming out later this year.

So I watched the movie with my Mom, and I told her going in that Jessie Buckley might be my favorite current actress, and after having watched the movie, I can say that she is. She was just great in this film throughout and thought she was perfectly cast. She was able to convey so many emotions for her character of Harper when she was feeling refreshed or when she was feeling unsettled, which was a lot to say the least. She was phenomenal when it came to showing Harper’s trauma, but at the same time she was able to show the resiliency of her too. All in all, I love Jessie Buckley so I might be biased, but this was another really good performance from her.

As good as Jessie Buckley was, the best performance might’ve belonged to Rory Kinnear. And I should call it performances because he literally plays like ten different characters in this film. All of his roles were good, but my favorite was hands down Geoffrey, the owner of the holiday house Harper rents, and I would love for him to have his own sequel/prequel movie or miniseries but that’ll never happen. Seriously though, his character was inviting but also jittery and creepy and Kinnear should’ve honestly got an Oscar nomination because he was unbelievable in Men, and he made a fan out of me!

I know I already touched on Garland’s visual storytelling, but to continue with the visuals of Men, the movie just looks incredible. The cinematography from Rob Hardy was thoroughly gorgeous. All of the colors were so vibrant, so much so that I was asking myself if grass can really be that green. But as for some of the other technical elements of Men, I loved the score from Ben Salisbury and Geoff Barrow and I thought it was really cool how they intertwined Jessie Buckley’s own vocals into their unsettling score.

THE BAD

Alright, when it comes to the bad, there is only one thing I want to talk about, and that is the ending. There’s no other way to say it, the ending to this movie was just bonkers. I’m pretty sure my mom gagged about two or three times during the last ten to fifteen minutes of the film because it’s really gross and honestly pretty disgusting so just a heads up, be prepared for some body horror.

To continue with the ending, I was just confused by the film’s message and the narrative approach as a whole. I mean the movie is called “Men”, and while it might just be me oversimplifying things, it felt like Garland just wanted us to know that men are bad. I’m sure there was a broader purpose to the film that I could better understand on a second watch, but I just wanted something more from the film’s conclusion that wasn’t just Alex Garland telling us that he supports women.

THE VERDICT

While it doesn’t reach the same heights as his first two films because of the overall messaging, Alex Garland’s Men is still a very interesting British folk horror film that has undoubtedly the craziest ending of anything 2022 had to offer.

As crazy as it was, I did really like the movie overall. I loved the visuals, the music was awesome, and I was very impressed by the performances of both Jessie Buckley and Rory Kinnear.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.8/10

Men is now available to stream on Showtime. Check out the latest trailer below.

Aftersun

By: Andrew Wing

Aftersun is a 2022 drama film written and directed by Charlotte Wells in her feature directorial debut. The film stars Paul Mescal (The Lost Daughter, Normal People), Frankie Corio, and Celia Rowlson-Hall (Vox Lux).

Set in the early 2000s, the film follows Sophie (Corio), an 11-year-old Scottish girl, as she reflects on the shared joy and private melancholy of a holiday vacation she took with her father, Calum (Mescal), at a Turkish resort twenty years earlier on the eve of her 31st birthday.

Aftersun was released in the United States on October 21, 2022, by A24 and in the United Kingdom on November 18, 2022, by Mubi. Paul Mescal earned a nomination for Academy Award for Best Actor. It was also named one of the best films of 2022 by the National Board of Review and was awarded top place by Sight and Sound on its poll for the best films of the year.

THE GOOD

Ever since the Cannes International Film Festival, Aftersun has been at the very top of my watchlist. It got great reviews there, and last month I saw this being at the top of almost every critic's best films of 2022 list, including the one and only Sight and Sound list too. Well, it hit VOD last week and the other day I finally had the chance to check out the latest drama from my favorite production company A24. But did it live up to the insane amount of hype? Keep reading to find out!

It really freaking did! The film was written and directed by Charlotte Wells in her feature directorial debut, and if there’s one thing I can say to people after having watched this is to remember her name. Seriously though, Aftersun is stunning and it is just a gem of a movie. The film follows Sophie as she reflects on a holiday vacation she took with her father, Calum and we really just follow them throughout that week and witness their bond, their love, and their connection, and we also observe some of the gaps in their communication and it was just amazing to watch this story unfold. It’s funny because the movie was produced by Barry Jenkins, the man behind the Best Picture-winning film Moonlight and also If Beale Street Could Talk, and it’s crazy to say how many similarities there were between this movie and his movies. I mean this movie was so empathetic, poetic, and human, and it truly is one of the most incredible directing debuts I have ever seen. I don’t want to put too much pressure on Wells, but after this, I don’t think I am alone in saying that she has what it takes to become one of the best writer-directors working today.

As good as Wells' direction and the original screenplay was, this movie is absolutely carried by the two lead performances from Frankie Corio as Sophie and Paul Mescal as Calum. First, with Mescal, he is phenomenal in this and I’m so damn happy he got the Academy Award nomination yesterday for Best Actor. I mean he truly deserves it. He was great at carrying the unspoken and darker qualities of his character because of how he feels about being thrown into fatherhood at a young age, and I don’t know if there’s an actor right now who has a brighter future than Mescal. As for Frankie Corio, she was just amazing as this girl who is coming-of-age and asking her father a ton of questions that he is not ready to answer. It was just fascinating to see how comfortable Corio was with the DVR recorder that was being used throughout the movie, and she just felt so real and so mature in this role. More than that, she was also capable of expressing really complex emotions in a subtle way and it was just one of those child performances that will be talked about for years to come.

As for some of the other elements with Aftersun, it just doesn’t miss. The editing in the movie is super unconventional and a little abstract, but it worked so well and I would’ve loved to have seen this get a Best Editing nomination. More than that though, the movie is just so beautiful visually speaking thanks to Gregory Oke’s cinematography, and also just some of Charlotte Wells’ compositions that will just burn themselves in your mind. Oh and last but not least, I won’t spoil it, but the ending is really great.

THE BAD

As for things I will spoil though, I loved this movie! However, if you’re one of those people who doesn’t want the movie to end before you are ready for it to, this might not be for you. As I said, I loved the ending, but there will definitely be some questions that you don’t get answered, but that’s okay because I think at the end of the day you will still get the release you want and I’d be shocked if it didn’t hit you emotionally.

THE VERDICT

Aftersun is without a doubt one of the best films 2022 has to offer. It is a deeply moving, empathetic, and truly human story that is brought to life behind one of the most impressive debuts of honestly all-time from Charlotte Wells, and also some of the best performances of the year from Paul Mescal and Frankie Corio.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.7/10

Aftersun is now available to rent and own on demand. Check out the latest trailer below.

Skinamarink

Skinamarink is a 2022 Canadian experimental horror film written and directed by Kyle Edward Ball in his feature directorial debut. The film was made on a $15,000 budget and after an initial limited theater release it quickly surpassed $1 million in earnings, allowing for a wide theatrical release.

In 1995, four-year-old Kevin injures himself in what his six-year-old sister Kaylee says is a sleepwalking incident. Sometime later, the two wake up in the middle of the night to find that their father has seemingly disappeared and that the windows, doors, and other objects in their house are gradually vanishing as well.

The cast includes Jaime Hill, Dali Rose Tetreault, Ross Paul, and Lucas Paul.

Skinamarink made its debut in theaters on January 13th and will be available to stream on Shudder on February 2nd, courtesy of IFC Midnight.

THE GOOD

When I started hearing rumblings about this Skinamarink horror movie, I’ll admit I was intrigued. I looked for the trailer and my first thought was that this will likely be a very limited release that I will be forced to watch VOD or when it hits a streaming service. To my surprise, it actually arrived at a few of my local theaters prior to its release on the Shudder streaming service in February, so I was pumped! I’m not ashamed to admit that I really didn’t know what the term ‘experimental horror’ actually meant, which forced me to do a bit of research. In a nutshell, the idea behind this subgenre is to unnerve viewers with a focus on atmosphere and visuals, usually with a seemingly straightforward plot. Most have heard the term elevated horror when talking about films like It Follows or The Babadook, but I’d say that experimental is another layer entirely mainly because it’s even less mainstream. So I made my way over to the theater for Skinamarink the first chance I got, but was it worth my time, or was the anticipation all for nothing? Keep reading to find out! 

Okay, so as I write this review I’m still trying to make sense of what I just watched. But as far as going right out and saying was it worth my time, I’d say definitely. Skinamarink was a very, very unique experience and more than anything else I appreciated the creativity. It never really feels like a low-budget film because of the overall style, which reminded me of watching an old crappy VHS tape on an even crappier TV. Now I understand that sounds about as enticing as an uppercut to the eyeball, but hear me out. The film is very grainy for I’d say about 90% of the time, and the majority of the scenes are very dark without any lights on. Every now and then you will see a bit of light and the picture will seem clearer, but these moments are very brief and before you know it you are right back in grainy image quality. For me, the commitment to this specific look added to the overall impact of the film and its ability to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, but it does require patience.

Now Skinamarkink is about as unnerving as you can get when it comes to horror movies for several reasons. I’m talking about a variety of unique shots where you might be staring at a door or a bare wall, eyes just darting from one side of the screen to the other waiting for something to happen. Oftentimes nothing happens, but needless to say, that is not always the case. This brings me to my next focus as it relates to the scare factor of the film, the jump scares. I’m usually not super vulnerable to traditional jump scares, but I no joke peed a little 3 or 4 times during this movie. The style of the film as far as the lack of music or dialogue sets up for a very hard-hitting element of surprise So yeah, consider that a warning.

Skinamarink often feels like a mix between Poltergeist and Paranormal Activity, and by the end, you get the vibe that something evil may be behind all of the weird shit going on in this house. I won’t give anything away but the elements that reminded me of Paranormal Activity really stood out for me personally, and I’m more so referring to the first film. Plus even though the story is as simple as it can get and the character development is nonexistent, you still feel for these kids and their situation even though you aren’t quite sure what is going on. I’m pretty sure we can all think back to times when we were kids and woke up in the middle of the night terrified with our imaginations running wild.

I remember several nights I’d wake up worried that something was going to happen to my parents even though they were in bed, and I wanted nothing more than for morning time to come. Bottom line, it can be terrifying to be a kid and Skinamarink embodies that feeling. A sense of helplessness and confusion only a child can explain. I also really liked how they took the things that children find comfort in, toys and cartoons for example, and made them part of this seemingly never-ending nightmare. After seeing the film and researching a few theories behind the premise, I am now even more intrigued and need to watch it again to try and piece together this puzzle.

So much of Skinamarink feels like an optical illusion, almost like it is purposefully messing with your eyes, because well, it is. I won’t go too in-depth talking about this aspect of the film because it is without a doubt a big part of the experience and I don’t want to spoil anything but trust me when I say you will be questioning whether or not it is time to finally schedule that visit with the eye doctor that you have been pushing off for years. But seriously, this part of the film was awesome in my opinion, and I personally can’t wait for Andrew to see it so we can discuss our thoughts. Assuming he can get through it, because well, horror doesn’t really agree with him. The camera work plays into the unique identity of the film as you never really see any of the characters or environments at eye level, instead either having a view angled towards the ceiling or sort of a view from the floor. It takes some getting used to for sure but seems to help build up the idea of being disoriented. As far as the acting in the film is concerned, I don’t know how I would even begin to evaluate it. You’ll get what I mean once you see the movie.

THE BAD

I know I’ve said this before, but perhaps not as emphatically as I’ll say here. Skinamarink is not for everyone. This film is unique in pretty much every way, and whether or not you will enjoy or appreciate it fully depends on you accepting its overall approach. The film lives and dies through its creativity and willingness to be different, and I commend that. Did I have a wtf is happening look on my face during 85% of the movie? Damn right I did, but that doesn’t make it a bad movie. Case in point, just because you don’t like a movie, does not make it bad.

With that being said, I’m not at all surprised by the high critic score and relatively low user score for Skinamarink because of its unorthodox nature. You absolutely have to go in expecting a very strange and unnerving experience, and just let things progress from there. I honestly did my best to leave all of my expectations at the door so I could just take it all in. If you are hoping for a normal horror film with an interesting story you’ll be disappointed because Skinamarink does not care about your preconceived notions about horror films.

THE VERDICT

A dare-to-be-different experimental horror film with Poltergeist and Paranormal Activity vibes that will undoubtedly captivate some viewers while sending others for a refund, Skinamarink is a unique experience that is as creative as it is terrifying. I honestly found myself thinking how do you even begin to edit a film like this?! It is just so out there and basically impossible to piece together, for better or for worse. I would love to sit down with the crew to find out how they decided on the final edits. I just have so many questions. Love it or hate it, Skinamarink is a film you won’t soon forget, and I feel like I need to see it again so that I can start unraveling this cinematic mystery.

As I mentioned in the introduction the film will debut on Shudder in a few weeks, but if you want the full experience I suggest seeing it in theaters. If you decide to wait and stream at home instead, be sure to eliminate all distractions and turn off the lights to get the full experience.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.6/10

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

The Whale

By: Andrew Wing

The Whale is a 2022 American drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream) and written by Samuel D. Hunter, based on his 2012 play of the same name. It stars Brendan Fraser (The Mummy, Journey to the Center of the Earth), Sadie Sink (Stranger Things, Fear Street trilogy), Hong Chau (Inherent Vice, Downsizing), Ty Simpkins (Iron Man 3, Jurassic World), and Samantha Morton (Minority Report, Synecdoche, New York).

The film follows Charlie (Fraser), a reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter (Sink) for one last chance at redemption.

The Whale premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2022, and had a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 9, 2022, before a wide release on December 21, by A24. Fraser won Best Actor at the 28th Critics' Choice Awards and earned nominations for Best Actor at the 80th Golden Globe Awards and the 29th Screen Actors Guild Awards. It has so far grossed $11 million against a budget of $3 million.

THE GOOD

I have been eagerly awaiting seeing The Whale for what feels like forever now. Seriously though, for the past year, all I’ve heard from people on social media was that Brendan Fraser was going to make his triumphant return to Hollywood as he was playing a morbidly obese, 600-pound man. But after the film premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in early September of last year and videos began circulating of Fraser receiving a long-standing ovation for giving one of the best performances of the current century, my anticipation for this movie was at an all-time high! Thankfully though, I finally got the chance to see it earlier this week, but did it match my otherworldly expectations? Keep reading to find out!

I don’t know if the film did as a whole, but one part of the movie somehow went above and beyond my already high expectations, and that was Brendan Fraser’s performance as our main character Charlie. Fraser was just unbelievable in this movie. He feels very down to earth here as Charlie. He made this character so easy to care a lot about, and this movie just really hit me emotionally and it was almost entirely because of Fraser’s performance. He just gives so much vulnerability in this role to the point where viewers can somehow feel what he is feeling at any given moment. He goes really big in some scenes and he just pours everything out on screen, and it was just one of those performances where the actor gives everything he has. Every line delivered was flawless and it is hands down the best performance of 2022 in my opinion, and he should be winning Best Actor for this at the upcoming 95th Academy Awards.

There’s no debating that Fraser won the movie, but there are some really good supporting performances in The Whale too. I thought Hong Chau without a doubt had the best supporting performance, and she just continues to make me a really big fan of hers. Her character was very grounded, felt real, and was a very likable person. She is also best friends with Fraser’s character, Charlie, and I thought their chemistry was fantastic. I mean she even had a couple of scenes where she was the standout which says a lot given Fraser’s performance. But with this, and also The Menu (see Ted’s full review here), she had herself one hell of a 2022, and she is looking likely to get an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Oh, and Samantha Morton, like she did in She Said (see my full review here), comes in in one scene and pretty much steals the movie. She just crushed it in every aspect.

But aside from the performances, let’s talk about the director Darren Aronofsky. I’m not the biggest Aronofsky fan, but I love how all of his movies stay with you for a while after you watch them and how they always make you think. Well, this was his first film since his 2017 highly divisive psychological horror film mother!, and I found this to be an improvement over that one. This was much more of a contained drama which is not something I am used to from Aronofsky, but I thought he directed the film really well. That said, with this film we still get that famous Aronofsky maximalism in a different form because of the way he shows this character whose mental health has trapped him in this life.

And as for some of the technical elements of The Whale, I was a big fan of its visual style. The film really takes place in one location, Charlie’s apartment, and I just loved how they shot this movie and what it looked like. Also, this film has a 4:3 aspect ratio, and while that might annoy some other viewers, I was a huge fan of it. It’s done with almost all practical lighting as it is kind of a dim movie and it just felt quite dark which I think added a lot to the movie as a whole because Charlie’s character is also in a dark space himself not only physically speaking, but mentally as well. The makeup was amazing too as Fraser looked so real, and that has to be a huge threat to win the Oscar for Best Makeup & Hairstyling. And last but not least, I really liked Rob Simonsen’s score and I loved when it became really big at moments. It was just a really interesting score that really worked for me.

THE BAD

Now there’s no denying that I liked the film as a whole, but I did have a few problems with it. My first problem would have to be the runtime. The movie clocks in at just under two hours, and while I don’t usually have a problem with longer movies, this movie definitely could’ve been shorter. Maybe it was just the way I was feeling on the day I saw it, but I felt kind of out of it at points, and I think a big reason was because of the screenplay, which is based on Samuel D. Hunter’s play of the same name, feeling a lot well, like a play. It was just very ‘writy’ at times and I just didn’t vibe with it. That said, it will certainly be getting an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay just given the competition for that category.

But to continue with that complaint, you can just feel that throughout the movie. The story never felt restrained, and it just felt pretty obvious at times where we were going and how things were going to end. But aside from that, my last complaint is unfortunately on a performance that was getting a little bit of Oscar buzz a couple of months back and that performance belonged to Sadie Sink. Her character was just needlessly cruel and she had this very abrasive personality. I don’t know, I just didn’t like the character and Sink’s performance because it felt unrealistic to me and it just felt like overacting in my opinion.

THE VERDICT

Behind the best performance of 2022 from Brendan Fraser that could win him the Oscar for Best Actor, The Whale is a powerful, deeply moving drama film from Darren Aronofsky that I was emotionally invested in from start to finish.

I liked Aronofsky’s direction, Hong Chau had a great supporting performance, the camerawork was fantastic, the score was awesome, and I’m just really looking forward to seeing this for a second time!

TED TAKES RATING - 8.2/10

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

A Man Called Otto

A Man Called Otto is a 2022 comedy-drama film directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by David Magee. It is the second film adaptation of the 2012 novel A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman, and a remake of the 2015 Swedish film of the same name written and directed by Hannes Holm.

Otto is a grump who's given up on life following the loss of his wife and wants to end it all. When a young family moves in nearby, he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol, leading to a friendship that will turn his world around.

The film stars Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, and Cameron Britton.

A Man Called Otto began a limited theatrical release on December 30th, 2022, before a wide release on January 13th, 2023, by Sony Pictures Releasing.

THE GOOD

Let me be honest here, it really didn’t take much convincing for me to check out A Man Called Otto as soon as it hit theaters. First of all, Tom Hanks is a national treasure and has been a favorite of mine ever since his role in the 1988 hit film, Big. Hanks is without a doubt one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood and has attributed to quite a few teary eyes over the years with incredibly powerful films like The Green Mile (1999). After watching the trailer it was clear Hanks was the man for this role, and that notion was just reinforced as I began reading the book the film is based on. So yeah, needless to say, I was excited to check out what looked to be another quality Tom Hanks film. So, was it worth my time? Keep reading to find out!

Let me get this out of the way right now, I loved this movie. First and foremost, I was surprised by just how hard it hit me on an emotional level. I will talk more about the overall writing and story later on in the review but trust me when I say be sure to have tissues handy when you watch it. I knew going in that A Man Called Otto was more than just a dark admittedly quirky comedy, but I had no idea to what extent it went beyond what the trailer or the brief synopsis showed. This film has many layers, and to say that it will leave a mark on viewers is an understatement, and it will surely hit some people harder than others depending on their own personal life experiences. It got me good, I will say that. The writing was great, I really enjoyed each and every character, and I felt like the tone was consistent throughout. You never quite knew what direction the film would go, and I enjoyed the ride we were taken on as viewers. I also felt like the film was very inspiring in terms of what it means to be a positive influence, and a nice reminder not to judge a book by its cover.

Believe it or not, even though Tom Hanks is in the lead role I won’t be talking about the quality of the acting right away. One of my biggest takeaways from A Man Called Otto was just how much more there was to the story than what you’d realize after watching the trailer. As I mentioned I am currently reading the book, usually a chapter or so before bed so admittedly it is taking me a bit, but as far as I can tell so far the film stayed fairly true to the novel it is based on, and David Magee did a heck of a job adapting the screenplay. What I am enjoying most about the book so far, which also happens to be one of my favorite aspects of the film as well, is the flashbacks to the early years of Otto, where we get to learn a bit more about how this seemingly grumpy man came to be. I will focus on the film for obvious reasons but the flashbacks were fantastic, simple as that. They held so much weight, and I never had that I wish they would ease up on the flashbacks feeling I’ve gotten from films in the past.

Now add in the fact that young Otto is played by Hanks’ real-life youngest son Truman, and it really is something special. Now I will admit, I had no idea who this dude was when I saw the movie, and I thought he played his role like a seasoned vet so naturally, I was curious as to who he was. After watching the film and doing a bit of research as I put together my review I found out that not only is he the son of Hanks, but this is also his first role in a film. He doesn’t even have a picture on IMDb, and is primarily credited as working in the camera and electrical department according to his filmography. Just wild. I won’t give anything away, but let me just say that Truman Hanks was so good at playing young Otto that he was easily one of my favorite things about this movie, and a big reason why it tugs at the heartstrings the way it does.

Okay so obviously the acting was great. I talked about Truman Hanks who deserves all of the recognition in the world for coming out of nowhere and delivering a memorable performance, but his dad was fantastic as always. Tom Hanks really becomes his character, and for the majority of the film, I forgot he was just playing this role. Otto is such a unique and layered character that viewers will enjoy unraveling just what makes him tick, and I really liked all of his quirks and his overall view of people and the state of society. Maybe I am just getting old but I actually agreed with him more than I probably should have. As far as the supporting cast, I thought everyone pulled their weight. Aside from little Hanks, I would say Rachel Keller made the biggest impact as Sonya. Keller is best known for her recurring roles in shows including Fargo, Legion, and Dirty John. As far as her performance here I thought she was fantastic. She plays this no-nonsense character who is the perfect person to stand up to Otto and his grumpiness, ultimately forming a unique and genuine bond. I thought she had awesome chemistry with Hanks as well which is really saying something considering his pedigree as an actor. I won’t talk too much more about the cast but I thought everyone was great.

THE BAD

I’m honestly struggling to pick this film apart because I genuinely enjoyed it. Is it perfect? No, I wouldn’t say that, but in my opinion, the final product delivered where it mattered and amounted to a special cinematic experience and I can’t wait to see it again. Now the film does need a few disclaimers because, for one, it deals heavily with the idea of suicide as a means to an end. I will say that such a sensitive subject was handled perfectly and with care, and in no way glorifies it or attempts to stray from its significance. A Man Called Otto is a dark comedy at its core because of the subject matter, but they manage to keep that quirky element throughout without taking away from the overall impact of the film’s message. It also includes other real-life and significant elements of loss and trauma that personally hit me pretty hard, but speaking from my own personal experiences it just made me feel closer to the film and made it matter to me that much more.

THE VERDICT

A compassionate, heartbreaking, and genuinely inspiring story about a complicated and grumpy old man with a story to tell, A Man Called Otto is a beautiful film that impressed me at every turn. I usually go into the theater with at least an idea of what to expect, but this experience was unique. The story pulled me in so many directions, and I kid you not I had a tear running down my face by the end of it. Life is complex, and as human beings, we are often quick to judge, but this film is a perfect example that we have no idea what the person we pass on the street may have been through in their life. It is a reminder that sometimes all that you need to do is try to be kind, no matter how grumpy and unpleasant a person may seem at first. What happens next may surprise you.

Bottom line, A Man Called Otto is a funny, satisfying, and meaningful film that I absolutely recommend people see in theaters.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.3/10

A Man Called Otto is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

M3GAN

M3GAN is a 2023 science fiction horror thriller directed by Gerard Gladstone (Housebound), from a screenplay by Akela Cooper (Malignant, The Nun 2) and a story by horror legend James Wan, the man behind the Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring franchises, and produced by Blumhouse, the production company behind the Halloween films, The Black Phone, and The Invisible Man.

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes a friend and teacher, playmate, and protector, for the child she is bonded to.

When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw from The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

The cast includes Allison Williams (Girls, Get Out), Violet McGraw (The Haunting of Hill House) Ronny Chieng (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings), Brian Jordan Alvarez (Will & Grace), Jen Van Epps (Cowboy Bebop), Lori Dungey (The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, extended edition) and Stephane Garneau-Monten (Straight Forward).

M3GAN made its debut in theaters on January 6th, 2023, courtesy of Universal Pictures.

THE GOOD

When it was first announced that M3GAN was a horror film with the involvement of Jason Blum and Blumhouse, I knew I would be seeing it on day one. When the first trailer was released I was genuinely excited because this looked really good. I couldn’t quite describe the feel initially in terms of whether it would lean more toward horror thriller or more horror comedy, but the premise was intriguing and the overall production value looked pretty damn top-notch. Plus, I was sold on the cast from the jump. So, was M3GAN just yet another run-of-the-mill horror thriller that left me wanting more, or was it able to leave a mark? Keep reading to find out!

Oh, it left a mark alright, this movie was an absolute blast to experience! More than anything else, M3GAN is such a well-rounded film that effectively utilizes elements from a variety of genres. If I had to try and describe the film, I guess I would say it is a horror thriller with a heavy dose of dark comedy, but it also has some unexpected feel-good moments mixed in believe it or not. The pacing is fantastic so I was never bored, and the stage was set pretty early on in terms of the anticipation for what M3GAN would become. I bought into Allison Williams as a genius workaholic engineer from the start, and I also really liked how they put our obsession with technology front and center as well. And to be honest the film somehow managed to be darker and also funnier than I expected, which needless to say took me by surprise in a good way. M3GAN is the perfect protagonist turned antagonist, and she is one heck of a badass not to be messed with. Long story short, similar to my wife, she likes to hold a grudge so best to stay on her good side.

I liked so much about M3GAN, but if I had to try and narrow down what I liked most about it I’d have to say the tone of the film. The premise really could have gone either way, but man they did it right. The writing was great, and believe it or not, balancing comedy and horror/thriller elements really isn’t an easy task. Either you make it clear from the start that things will be a bit ridiculous with the feel of a throwback slasher for example, or you keep the audience guessing. In my opinion, M3GAN accomplished the latter, sprinkling in a comedic tone while staying true to an overall feel that is nothing short of terrifying at its core. I was honestly very impressed by how many times I laughed out loud considering how certain characters meet their demise, but because the tone is so damn effective I didn’t even feel bad about it. That is a big win in my book.

M3GAN expresses herself verbally as well of course, but the scenes where she says nothing are the most intense. This brings me to my next talking point, the technical elements of the film. I was blown away by how amazing M3GAN looked, and just how great of a job they did with her. I did little to no research prior to seeing the film in terms of how they planned to bring her to life on-screen, and the entire time I was in awe of her. Her movements, voice, facial expressions, and mannerisms all came together to create this next best toy in the making turned murderous little psychopath. Trust me when I say you will not sit back and think this film is corny, not for a second. She is unsettling, to say the least. After seeing the film I did some brief research and learned that M3GAN came to fruition using a variety of methods, including VFX, puppetry, and a damn good performance from child actress Amie Donald. The film utilized several puppet versions of M3GAN to successfully accomplish the vibe and tone they were going for in certain scenes, and to say that an insane amount of creativity went into making this film would be a significant understatement, so kudos to everyone who worked on the project.

I knew the cast would be a bright spot for the film and it did not disappoint. Allison Williams is awesome in the lead role, and I have been a fan of hers since the HBO series Girls. Williams has quickly become an actress to watch after she starred in Jordan Peele’s Get Out, and I felt like she once again proved her abilities here as a lead actress. For those of you who don’t know, as a fun fact she is in fact the daughter of NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams. I love me a good young actor when it comes to horror films, and man is Violet McGraw quickly becoming a favorite of mine. The 11-year-old McGraw has a real understanding of acting through emotion, and more than anything else she is believable in her emotionally complex role. I am looking forward to watching her career develop. Jenna Davis was fantastic as the voice of M3GAN, and Amie Donald was great actually playing the dangerous A.I.-empowered doll. I actually really enjoyed Ronny Chieng in his over-the-top role as goofy as he was alongside his pushover assistant played by Stephane Garneau-Monten. Both played a big part in keeping with the underlying comedic tone. Also a well-deserved shoutout to Brian Jordan Alvarez and Jan Van Epps, as the friends/co-workers of Williams’ character.

THE BAD

Full disclosure, I have very few issues with M3GAN, but it may not be for everyone. The film is very violent and often pokes fun at death in order to achieve the creative tone it was going for. It also has some very serious depictions of loss which may be difficult for some viewers. The film is rated PG-13, so the blood and gore are kept at a minimum, but they still get their point across with the violence. Plus, if you have an issue with creepy dolls in any form or fashion you may want to skip this one because believe me when I say you will likely be in for a few sleepless nights. With that being said I don’t personally consider the film to be scary, which isn’t a knock on it because that simply is not what they were going for here.

THE VERDICT

A visceral horror thriller infused with a unique and effective balance of dark humor, M3GAN packs a punch that will undoubtedly keep viewers fully immersed and on the edge of their seats. I admit I was nervous initially in terms of whether or not the film would feel too corny or over-the-top, but I felt like they succeeded in getting the most out of its PG-13 rating while staying true to what they were trying to accomplish. The film is a genuine slap-in-the-face wake-up call in terms of our reliance on technology, and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I have been much kinder to Alexa since watching the movie. M3GAN was able to keep me entertained from start to finish, and I will continue to trust in just about anything James Wan, Jason Blum, and Blumhouse decide to attach their names to.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.3/10

M3GAN is now playing only in theaters. Check out the latest trailer below.

Crimes of the Future

By: Andrew Wing

Crimes of the Future is a 2022 science fiction body horror drama film written and directed by David Cronenberg (The Fly, Videodrome). The film stars Viggo Mortensen (The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Green Book), Léa Seydoux (The Grand Budapest Hotel, No Time to Die), and Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Saga, Spencer).

It follows a performance artist duo (Mortensen and Seydoux) who perform surgery to audiences, in a future world where human evolution has accelerated for some individuals. Although the film shares its title with Cronenberg's 1970 film of the same name, it is not a remake as the story and concept are unrelated, and there is no connection between the two films whatsoever. The film marked Cronenberg's return to the science fiction and horror genres for the first time since Existenz (1999).

An international co-production of Canadian, French, British, and Greek companies, Crimes of the Future had its world premiere at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival, where it competed for the Palme d'Or and received a six-minute standing ovation. The film received a theatrical release in France on May 25, 2022, opened in Canada on June 3, 2022, and had a same-day limited release in the United States.

THE GOOD

You can’t be a cinephile and not know who David Cronenberg is. The Canadian film director is one of the principal originators of what is commonly known as the body horror genre, with his films exploring visceral bodily transformation, infectious diseases, and the intertwining of the psychological, the physical, and the technological. Furthermore, he is best known for exploring these themes through sci-fi horror films like The Fly and Videodrome. That said, as much as I love sci-fi, I prefer Cronenberg’s drama thriller films such as A History of Violence and Cosmopolis. However, once I saw the trailer for Crimes of the Future, I was immediately hooked and knew that I wasn’t going to want to miss this. So did it live up to my expectations? Keep reading to find out!

It did! As previously mentioned, Cronenberg is the father of the body horror genre, a genre that despite its many challenging aspects has a number of great films, most recently Titane (see my full review here), which was one of the best films of 2021. That said, I was excited to see Cronenberg return to his true genre and he did not disappoint. He created this insane world where significant advances in biotechnology have led to the invention of machines and analog computers that can directly interface with and control bodily functions, and I was just in awe of his wild imagination. I’ll touch on some of the things I thought he could’ve done better later on in the review, but I thought this was a very well-directed film from Cronenberg and it’s great to see him back working in this genre.

As much as I liked the filmmaking from Cronenberg in Crimes of the Future, the thing I enjoyed the most were the performances we got. This was unlike any other performance I’ve seen from Viggo Mortensen before, but it was very good and pretty impressive to see his range. Léa Seydoux was also really good and I’ve just yet to see her give a bad performance. All that said, my favorite performance in this movie belonged to Kristen Stewart. She did this jittery, nervous kind of thing with her character Timlin, who is this weirdo, and I was totally on board with it and I honestly found her to be quite hilarious in the film too.

Aside from the performances though, the movie is visually striking so shout out to cinematographer Douglas Koch. The movie is very darkly lit and shady throughout, so much so that it made me question if it was ever daytime in this future world. Also, all of the interiors are very grimy and industrial looking. All in all, there is just great world-building here from the aesthetic presentation of the world. Oh, and the score by Howard Shore absolutely slaps and is without a doubt one of the best aspects of this movie!

THE BAD

It’s funny, the one complaint I have with the film is what will probably make more general audiences want to watch it, and that was that this movie didn’t deliver on being disgusting. I mean don’t get me wrong, there are a number of gross things that happen in this movie, but there are far crazier and gorier body horror films out there and the film was just a lot tamer than I expected. At the end of the day, I liked it and enjoyed it, but I was just disappointed in the lack of horror from Cronenberg and I thought he relied on exposition a bit too much. And lastly, when it comes to my complaints with Crimes of the Future, the end of this film just felt so abrupt and I really thought we were going to get another fifteen to thirty minutes where things really started to get crazy.

THE VERDICT

Although I wanted the film to be a lot crazier, Crimes of the Future is still a return to form for David Cronenberg. The world building was marvelous, the body horror was unsettling, and the performances from the big three were all amazing in their own different ways.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.5/10

Crimes of the Future is now available on Hulu. Check out the latest trailer below.

All Quiet on the Western Front

By: Andrew Wing

All Quiet on the Western Front (German: Im Westen nichts Neues) is a 2022 epic anti-war film based on the 1929 novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. Directed by Edward Berger, it stars Felix Kammerer, Albrecht Schuch, Daniel Brühl (Inglourious Basterds, Captain America: Civil War), Sebastian Hülk (Red Sparrow, Hanna), Aaron Hilmer, Edin Hasanovic, and Devid Striesow.

Set in the closing days of World War I, it follows the life of an idealistic young German soldier named Paul Bäumer (Kammerer). After enlisting in the German Army with his friends, Bäumer finds himself exposed to the realities of war, shattering his early hopes of becoming a hero as he does his best to survive. The film adds a parallel storyline not found in the book, which follows the armistice negotiations to end the war.

All Quiet on the Western Front premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2022, and was released to streaming on Netflix on October 28, 2022. In August 2022, the film was announced as Germany's submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards and made the December shortlist. It was also named one of the top five international films of 2022 by the National Board of Review.

THE GOOD

Heading into 2022, I was well aware that Netflix was making a remake of the 1930 Academy Award-winning film and the 1979 television film All Quiet on the Western Front. However, after it premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September and got amazing reviews, it certainly moved its way up my most anticipated list. On top of that, it was Germany’s submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film for the upcoming 95th Academy Awards, and every year I unsuccessfully try to watch all of the films that get shortlisted, and I’m glad to say I finally checked this out! But was it good enough to take home the Oscar for Best International Feature Film? Keep reading to find out!

It most certainly is good enough! Not only is it good enough to win in that category, but this film is so good it might get a Best Picture nomination! I am a fan of both kinds of war movies, both war and anti-war like this one is, as dark and terrifying as they may be, and so is the Academy, and I really think this movie is nearly as good as 1917, the Sam Mendes film that almost won Best Picture back in 2020. Seriously though, this movie is incredible, and call me crazy, but I thought it was better than the 1930 film adaptation that actually won Best Picture.

The director Edward Berger just knocked it out of the park here. I felt like the main purpose of this film was to immerse us in World War I and make it feel real and alive again, and he 100% achieved that. I mean this was some really powerful visceral filmmaking from Berger here that puts us right in the mud with these soldiers and takes us on this very spectacular and enthralling, yet deeply terrifying experience with them. And as an anti-war film, I really don’t think Berger could’ve given us anything better because he makes war look so not fun and miserable, so much so that watching this film will entice anybody to never enter into a draft. All in all, Berger is very deserving of a Best Director nomination and he’s got an outside chance.

Continuing with the filmmaking, Berger and his team of people working on all the technical elements of the film made this movie a technical masterpiece. The movie was stylish, and while it wasn’t super different from the stuff we’ve seen in war films of the past, it was still told in such an immersive way and was more than faithful to the source material’s anti-war message. For real though, this movie is so technically well done. James Friend’s cinematography is so beautiful and is some of the best cinematography I’ve seen in a long time, Volker Bertelmann’s score was big and bombastic, the camera work is extraordinarily smooth, the production design is just absolutely insane, the visual effects are blended perfectly into the environments, the makeup is super impressive and character-driven, and the sound design is just on another level, especially for a war movie.

Aside from all of the aspects that went into the filmmaking, the performances we got from the entire cast were superb. First and foremost though was the performance from Felix Kammerer as the main character Paul Bäumer. He was really amazing in this movie and because of all the subtleties in his performance like his facial expressions and his eyes, I felt deeply connected to his character. It’s also a credit to the writing, but there were some scenes in this movie where we get some intimate moments between Paul and the other soldiers, and that made me care a lot and become emotionally invested. He was just perfect in this role and this looked like such a grueling part to play but he was so committed to it, so much so that it felt like we were really watching this young soldier in World War I.

Continuing with the performances, Helmut Zemo himself from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Daniel Brühl, was really good here as a German politician who is seeking to end the war. All of the scenes he was in felt important and I think a lot of that was simply because of Brühl’s acting talents. Albrecht Schuch was also pretty great in All Quiet on the Western Front too as he played Stanislaus "Kat" Katczinsky, an older soldier whom Paul befriends. Schuch has some of the most emotional moments in the film and he just crushed them, and it’s not surprising that he was the only actor from the film to earn a BAFTA nomination.

THE BAD

If you can’t tell yet, I was a huge fan of All Quiet on the Western Front. That said, it certainly won’t be for everybody. With it being an anti-war film that definitely gets its anti-war position across, there is a lot of violence in the film so be warned. It’s just a tough movie to watch if I’m being completely honest. It’s a German film spoken entirely in a foreign language, and more than that, it’s pretty long too at 147 minutes, and as much as I loved this movie, I’d be lying if I said it didn’t drag at some points when we weren’t in combat.

THE VERDICT

I was completely blown away by Edward Berger’s All Quiet on the Western Front, which is the third adaptation of the 1929 novel of the same name. The film is the current leader for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards, and it should be because this film is a technical masterpiece that is carried by a remarkable lead performance from Felix Kammerer.

At the end of the day, If you liked 1917, you will really like this film as they are quite similar. With both films, you get an immersive experience where the camera work is meant to make you feel like you were there, you get great performances, and you get some unforgettable scenes that show you the soul-destroying horror that was World War I.

TED TAKES RATING - 9.4/10

All Quiet on the Western Front is now streaming on Netflix. Check out the latest trailer below.

She Said

By: Andrew Wing

She Said is a 2022 American biographical drama film directed by Maria Schrader (Unorthodox, I’m Your Man) and written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (writer for Ida and Small Axe), based on the 2019 book of the same title by reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey. The film stars Carey Mulligan (Drive, Promising Young Woman) and Zoe Kazan (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, The Big Sick) as Twohey and Kantor, respectively, and follows their New York Times investigation that exposed Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women. Patricia Clarkson (Shutter Island, The Green Mile), Andre Braugher (The Mist, Primal Fear), Jennifer Ehle (The King’s Speech, Contagion), and Samantha Morton (Synecdoche, New York, Minority Report) co-star, with Ashley Judd (Heat, Divergent) appearing as herself.

The book was optioned in 2018, and the film was announced in 2021 as a co-production between Annapurna Pictures and Plan B Entertainment. Filming took place in New York with cinematographer Natasha Braier (The Neon Demon, Honey Boy). During post-production, editing was completed by Hansjörg Weißbrich and the score was composed by Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk).

She Said had its world premiere at the 60th New York Film Festival on October 13, 2022, and was released in the United States on November 18, 2022, by Universal Pictures. It was also named one of the best films of 2022 by the American Film Institute.

THE GOOD

As a huge fan of the Oscars and all of the awards shows, She Said has been on my radar for a very long time. Anytime there’s a journalism movie like this, it is usually going to be in the awards conversation. And whenever there’s a movie that deals with the movie industry itself, that is usually going to be in the awards conversation as well. That said, She Said checked both of those boxes as it follows the New York Times investigation that exposed former film producer Harvey Weinstein's history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women that worked in the film industry. Needless to say, I was pretty eager to check this one out, but did it live up to the hype? Keep reading to find out!

I certainly think it did! Now I am a huge fan of journalism movies. From the classics like All the President’s Men to recent ones like Spotlight and Bombshell, and I do not think I’m overreacting when I say that this belongs in near the same realm as those other movies. This movie is more like Spotlight as it is straightforward and faithful to how the story unfolded and I loved it! This movie never felt amped up like some of the other movies in this genre like Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 from a few years ago (a movie that I also loved), and I felt that was the right way for the director Maria Schrader to go about this. This movie really just is the reporters slowly doing this story and I just thought that was a good choice because it was important to see how these two incredible women broke this story and it also still managed to build a lot of tension.

Aside from Schrader’s solid direction, I was really impressed by Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s adapted screenplay. There are so many interesting and great scenes throughout the film, and a lot of those I felt were a credit to the dialogue. For example, there are a number of interviews that take place throughout as the reporters meet different people as they’re in pursuit of writing this piece on Harvey Weinstein and all of the dialogue in all of those scenes is really good and had me absolutely locked in. There are a number of standout moments in the film from the ensemble cast, and I’ll touch on that, but I think these moments worked so well because of Lenkiewicz’s screenplay that is a lock to be nominated for an Oscar and may even win.

But now onto the performances of Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan. I am a fan of both of them, and I really liked both of their performances in this even though they weren’t career-best performances. Kazan played Jodi Kantor and Mulligan played Megan Twohey, and you could tell how immersed they were in these roles. It was really cool seeing the actresses themselves being completely immersed in their work of playing real people who were completely immersed into their work. Does that make sense? Well anyways, I do think Mulligan did have the better performance and I could very well see her getting a Best Supporting Actress nomination that would be well deserved.

As good as the lead performances were from Kazan and Mulligan, the performances that really shined in She Said were the ‘one-sceners’ that played during the interviewees. For starters, Samantha Morton has one scene where she is truly phenomenal, and Jennifer Ehle had a couple of scenes where she really stole the show. Those two were probably my favorite performances here, but I also quite enjoyed Andre Braugher as Dean Baquet, and Peter Friedman as Lanny Davis. All in all, as good as these performances were, part of me wishes we got more of them, but I still really liked the film overall.

In closing, I just wanted to shout out some of the technical elements of She Said. I thought the editing was good which is essential in these journalism movies, the visuals were interesting given all of the different locations we get, and Nicholas Britell’s score was really good. Britell is just great, and he used a lot of cascading pianos and strings in this score and the score as a whole was just super prominent in the film at all the right times.

THE BAD

Now I obviously really enjoyed the film, but I can definitely see some people not liking it as much as I did. As I previously said, this movie is straightforward and it doesn’t fabricate the story, so there aren’t a lot of creative liberties taken to dramatize the story, and I do think that because of that some people will view the movie as being either boring or dry, and I respect that. Also, the two main characters that we follow don’t really get arcs in the film which will be a problem for some people, but at the end of the day, these women are already heroes just for doing their jobs, and despite me knowing how the story ended, I was still emotionally invested in the story and also the characters so I can’t complain too much.

THE VERDICT

Maria Schrader’s She Said is a really good journalism movie that follows the New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey and their investigation that exposed Harvey Weinstein’s history of abuse and sexual misconduct against women.

Zoe Kazan and Carey Mulligan both have good performances as Kantor and Twohey respectively, the story is powerful, the writing is really good, and it’s just an easy movie for me to suggest checking out!

TED TAKES RATING - 8.9/10

She Said is now streaming only on Peacock. Check out the latest trailer below.

White Noise

By: Andrew Wing

White Noise is a 2022 absurdist comedy-drama film, written and directed by Noah Baumbach (Frances Ha, Marriage Story), adapted from the 1985 novel with the same title by Don DeLillo. It is Baumbach's first directed feature not to be based on an original story of his own. The film stars Adam Driver (Marriage Story, Star Wars sequel trilogy), Greta Gerwig (Frances Ha, 20th Century Women), Don Cheadle (Ocean’s Eleven, Avengers: Endgame), Raffey Cassidy (The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Dark Shadows), Sam Nivola, and May Nivola.

Set in the 1980s, Jack Gladney (Driver), professor of Hitler studies at The-College-on-the-Hill, husband to Babette (Gerwig), and father to four children/stepchildren, is torn asunder by a chemical spill from a rail car that releases an “Airborne Toxic Event”, forcing Jack to confront his biggest fear – his own mortality.

White Noise had its world premiere at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on August 31, 2022, and was released in select cinemas on November 25, 2022, before its streaming release on December 30, by Netflix.

THE GOOD

Going into 2022, there was not a movie I was more excited about than White Noise. Why? Well because it was Noah Baumbach’s first film since Marriage Story, which is one of my all-time favorites, so there was that. But more than that, it was starring my favorite actor, Adam Driver, as a professor of “Hitler studies”, so needless to say I was interested to see what he was going to bring to the table. All that said because it was one of my most anticipated films of 2022, it of course didn’t come out until the second to last day of the year! Regardless, I watched it the first chance I could, but was it worth the wait? Keep reading to find out!

It was! As previously mentioned, I am a huge fan of Baumbach’s, and I was really impressed by what he did in the director’s chair here. This felt like his most daring and ambitious project yet, and while it wasn’t perfect, I still feel like it was an overall success. A lot of the movie is just exploring this strange, heightened world that Baumbach built, and exploring that was honestly one of my favorite parts of the movie. Now this movie is absolutely absurd and everything just feels off and strange, and a lot of that is because of the writing, but it’s also because of the genre-hopping Baumbach does in the movie. At the end of the day, this movie is a dark comedy through and through that is really funny, but at times it felt like a Spielberg adventure movie, while at other times Baumbach does thriller and also noir. I don’t see him getting a Best Director nomination, but nevertheless, I was really impressed by Baumbach’s direction here.

But now to get to what I really want to talk about, and that’s Adam Driver’s performance. Driver plays a man who, like many of us, fears death, and the film follows how he and the other people around him cope with this fear, and I really thought he carried the film. Driver and Baumbach just need to keep making movies together for the rest of eternity because this now marks their fifth movie together and every time Driver just gives another amazing performance so different from the one before. Driver just never allowed me as an audience member to take his character as seriously as the character does himself and he just killed the dry humor in this.

Driver definitely took home the gold here, but all of the other performances were really good too. Baumbach’s wife, Greta Gerwig, plays Babette and I thought she was perfectly cast in this as Babette is this sort of awkward, upbeat, emotional character. Don Cheadle is given some hilarious moments, and I also really liked all of the performances from the actors who played the children in this. I thought they were all very funny and I look forward to seeing what they do down the line.

Aside from the performances though, this movie’s technical elements are just top-notch. I loved the production design here that was just an immaculate feast of 1980s vibes, and as someone who stocks shelves at a supermarket part-time, I was in awe of all the perfectly stocked shelves. Danny Elfman’s score was certainly one of the highlights of the film, Lol Crawley’s vibrant cinematography was remarkable as it felt slightly heightened from our reality, and LCD Soundsystem’s original song “New Body Rhumba” comes on right at the beginning of the end credits and it was just perfectly used and would honestly win the Oscar for Best Original Song if it was up to me.

THE BAD

As good as Baumbach’s direction, the performances, and the techs were, there are just some problems with the film that I had and that most general audiences will have if they watch this. For starters, it feels weird critiquing Baumbach’s writing because he’s one of the best writers working today, but the screenplay just felt inconsistent. Now a lot of that is due to the novel he is adapting into a film being called ‘unadaptable’, but there is just no consistent plot and there are a number of varying tones at play in the film that greatly affected the viewing experience. Also, I think the movie just could’ve been a good fifteen to thirty minutes shorter.

THE VERDICT

Despite its inconsistent plot and the weirdness of it all, White Noise is Noah Baumbach’s most ambitious film yet and I felt it was a true spectacle and an overall success. It’s an absurdist comedy that is really funny throughout and it’s carried by another great Adam Driver performance, and also some stunning cinematography, a fantastic score, and just an awesome original song from LCD Soundsystem!

Now I just need to order the novel right now and get to reading it, so I can rewatch this film and really determine if Baumbach truly adapted the so-called unadaptable.

TED TAKES RATING - 7.2/10

White Noise is now available only on Netflix. Check out the latest trailer below.

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

By: Andrew Wing

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (titled onscreen as simply Glass Onion) is a 2022 American mystery film written and directed by Rian Johnson (Knives Out, Star Wars: The Last Jedi) and produced by Johnson and Ram Bergman. It is the sequel to the 2019 film Knives Out, with Daniel Craig (James Bond film series, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) reprising his role as master detective Benoit Blanc as he takes on a new case revolving around tech billionaire Miles Bron, who is played by Edward Norton (Fight Club, The Grand Budapest Hotel), and his closest friends. The ensemble cast also includes Janelle Monáe (Moonlight, Hidden Figures), Kathryn Hahn (WandaVision, Step Brothers), Leslie Odom Jr. (Hamilton, One Night in Miami…), Jessica Henwick (The Matrix Resurrections, The Gray Man), Madelyn Cline (Outer Banks, Boy Erased), Kate Hudson (Almost Famous, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days), and Dave Bautista (Guardians of the Galaxy, Dune).

Johnson had considered the idea of several films featuring the Benoit Blanc character prior to the first film's release. A sequel was greenlit by its original distributor Lionsgate in 2020, but in March 2021 Netflix bought the rights to two Knives Out sequels for $469 million. The cast signed on that May. Filming took place with a $40 million budget on the island of Spetses, Greece in June and July 2021, and continued in Belgrade until September 2021.

Following its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, Glass Onion began a one-week limited theatrical release on November 23, 2022, receiving the widest theatrical release ever for a Netflix film and grossing $115 million; Netflix began streaming it on December 23, 2022. It was named one of the top ten films of 2022 by the National Board of Review and received two nominations at the 80th Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for Craig.

THE GOOD

The time has finally come! Once I heard that there would be a sequel to the smash hit from 2019, Knives Out, I have been so excited! Knives Out was a top ten movie from 2019 for me, which was just a stacked year when it came to movies, and it is one of my personal favorites. More than that, once I saw the ensemble cast that was headlining the sequel, I knew this movie was just going to be amazing. It finally hit Netflix a couple of weeks ago, but before I could watch it, I just felt like I had to rewatch the original and let’s just say it holds up on a rewatch. That said, I finally got around to checking out Glass Onion, but did it live up to my crazy high expectations? Keep reading to find out!

It most certainly did! I loved Glass Onion! Just like the first one is already considered a murder mystery classic, I really think Glass Onion lives up to the first one in every which way and will likely also become a classic of the murder mystery genre. I know that’s kind of crazy to say, but I really believe that, and a big reason I do is because of Rian Johnson’s abilities as a writer/director which he absolutely put on full display here! I am such a huge fan of Johnson. His sci-fi film Looper from 2012, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis is very underrated and I don’t care what all the psychotic Star Wars fans say, Star Wars: The Last Jedi was a freaking awesome movie. I hate that he got a lot of online hate for what he did in that movie, but I’m glad that he has a chance to shut the haters up soon as he is reportedly going to get to write his own trilogy of Star Wars films down the line and get to direct the first installment which just puts me over the moon!

As for what Rian Johnson does in Glass Onion, he just crushed it in every aspect! I felt like he leveled up as a director honesty with some of the framing in some of the shots we got in Glass Onion. There was truthfully purpose behind every single shot. As for the story, he certainly had a challenge here following up on such a great film, but he freaking did it! The script and the movie itself felt less like a sequel and more like an anthology in my opinion as it felt like a separate movie if that makes sense. That said, Johnson still provided us as an audience with those same delicious pleasures with the comedy and the fun we have unraveling this mystery! It’s truly remarkable to me how he can come up with these stories. I can’t even imagine trying to come up with a murder mystery but he makes it look so easy and you can feel while watching the film the giddiness and enjoyment he got from writing this screenplay. The script is just so masterful as it is filled with so much great dialogue from quirky characters, and also a ton of great social commentary. All in all, I’d say Johnson and Ram Bergman, the man he co-wrote the screenplay with, are locks to get nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay.

I won’t lie, Chris Evans’ performance as Ransom was my favorite performance from Knives Out, but Daniel Craig’s character of Benoit Blanc was certainly my favorite from that film. And as much as I loved Blanc in the first film, I really think I came to love him more in this film because he represents the audience in a sense as he is desiring to have a good mystery just like we are as we watch. His character is just so funny and he brings so much joy, unlike any other character I watched on screen this year! As for Craig’s performance as the character in this sequel, he, like Rian Johnson, just did it again! I love Craig as an actor obviously being a huge fan of the James Bond films, but I just can’t get enough of his thick southern accent here. Sure, some will say he is overacting and is cartoonish, but I was just such a huge fan of everything he did here and I wouldn’t mind seeing him get an Oscar nomination for his performance here because it’s unforgettable!

As I previously mentioned, once I heard the ensemble cast that would be alongside Daniel Craig in this one, I almost passed out. Seriously though, the cast is stacked and I just loved getting a whole new colorful cast of characters. And let’s just say, the ensemble cast did not disappoint because they were extremely fun! I won’t touch on all of the members of the ensemble cast, but Janelle Monáe definitely got the largest role and this was just a showcase for her because she is fantastic and more than worthy of a Best Supporting Actress nomination. Kate Hudson is very funny as she gives a very big performance in this and I thought Edward Norton was a huge standout for me as he had one of the best performances as the tech billionaire Miles Bron.

As for some of the technical elements, let’s discuss the cinematography. The cinematography in the original was great and Steve Yedlin beautifully captured the New England region. But with Glass Onion, we get an entirely new location in Greece that was beautifully shot once again by Steve Yedlin. As a whole, the movie is just so stunning to look at. The costumes are awesome and the production design is on another level. The mansion in this film looks incredible and all the props in the mansion felt thematically significant to the film and I really think they deserve an Oscar nomination as well! And last but not least, I really liked the score from Nathan Johnson here as it is definitely one of the best of his career!

THE BAD

I’ll say it again, I loved Glass Onion! That said, I just have to put it a tick below the first. I could maybe even be convinced that it is as good on a second watch, but I just can’t say it’s better. One reason for that is because the story we get in Glass Onion, as much as I enjoyed it, is a far more complicated story than Knives Out. I have seen some critics call the movie an “explainathon” because, for a majority of the movie, you are getting explained what is going on. And sure, it takes a lot of time and maybe that time could have been better spent exploring the characters, but in my opinion, all the explaining was so fun and the big conclusion did not let us down so who cares about how we got there!

THE VERDICT

Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is such a fun movie full of amazing performances from the entire ensemble cast that is once again led by Daniel Craig as the hilarious private detective, Benoit Blanc. The writing is amazing and so fresh, the production design is outstanding, and Nathan Johnson’s score is arguably the best of his career!

As I said earlier in the review, I have this just a tick below Knives Out, but I couldn’t recommend this movie more, so watch it ASAP with family and friends because I guarantee you will have a good time with it!

TED TAKES RATING - 9.3/10

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery is now on Netflix. Check out the latest trailer below.

BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths

By: Andrew Wing

BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths (Spanish: BARDO, falsa crónica de unas cuantas verdades), or known simply as Bardo, is a 2022 Mexican drama film co-written, co-composed, edited, produced, and directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), The Revenant).

The film stars Daniel Giménez Cacho (Y Tu Mamá También, Cronos) alongside Griselda Siciliani, and follows Silverio (Cacho), a renowned Mexican journalist and documentary filmmaker who returns to his native country of Mexico and begins having an existential crisis in the form of dreamlike visions. It is Iñárritu's first film to be fully filmed in Mexico since Amores perros in 2000.

BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in competition for the Golden Lion on September 1, 2022, and was released in theaters on November 18, 2022, then streamed on Netflix on December 16, 2022.

THE GOOD

Going into 2022, Bardo was without a doubt one of my most anticipated movies. I love Iñárritu as a director and Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) is a perfect film in my opinion that is easily one of my favorites. The movie was getting a lot of awards buzz in early 2022, but after it premiered at the 79th Venice International Film Festival, it got very mixed reviews and all the buzz around awards pretty much disappeared. To be completely honest, that only made me more excited to finally check this out once it hit Netflix, and I finally got around to it! So was this another great film in Iñárritu’s catalog, or was it what some are calling his worst film yet? Keep reading to find out!

While I don’t think it was as great as his masterpieces like Birdman or other amazing films of his like Amores perros and Babel, Bardo is still a really good movie in my opinion. It certainly won’t be for everybody and I will touch on that later in the review, but I am always so amazed by what Iñárritu does in the director’s chair. This movie was daring and ambitious and some people will fault the movie and him for that, but I really admired what he did here. He tackled a lot of big ideas here and while he didn’t do it perfectly, I still think he is worthy of a lot of praise. His framing and blocking in every scene were top notch and I am obsessed with the way he uses camera movement in his films. And lastly, I loved all of the comedy in this movie, and it really just makes me want to watch Iñárritu do a dark comedy movie because I think he would crush it.

Aside from Iñárritu’s direction, this movie is carried by a great lead performance from Daniel Giménez Cacho. I have seen Cronos, the 1993 Guillermo del Toro movie he had a supporting role in, but this was only the second performance of his and I was really impressed. He absolutely carries this film on his back as the main character Silverio, who is a stand-in for Iñárritu himself. Cacho conveys a lot of his character’s emotions in the film through his facial expressions, but he has some scenes that are heavy with dialogue too that I thought he crushed. Also, he has a great couple of minutes of dancing too in what was one of my favorite scenes of the film. Aside from Cacho’s lead performance, I do want to give a shout-out to Griselda Siciliani, the beautiful Argentine actress who played Silverio’s wife, Lucía, who I hope following this gets in more stuff!

As good as Iñarritu's direction and the performances were, the best part of Bardo is without a doubt Darius Khondji's cinematography. Khondji has shot some pretty great films in the past like David Fincher’s Se7en, Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, the Safdie brothers’ Uncut Gems, and also earlier this year, James Gray’s Armageddon Time (see my full review here). That said, what Khondji does here is remarkable and it is right up there with some of his best work. There are just so many shots throughout the film that I was in awe of and I put it right up there with Nope (see my full review here) as the film with the best cinematography of 2022. It’ll be a true shame if Khondji doesn’t get nominated for Best Cinematography at this year’s Academy Awards, but I’ll hold out hope that he can get a nom for the next movie he is shooting, Bong Joon-ho’s upcoming sci-fi film Mickey 17 that I just cannot wait for!

THE BAD

As previously mentioned, I thought Bardo was a really good movie, but I totally can see why the movie has gotten such mixed reviews. The writing, and the movie in general, has gotten a lot of flack for being a little too self-indulgent, and I get that. That said, this movie is a deeply personal one from Iñárritu that tackled his identity and his life, and I was just fine with it. That said, and I am not one to complain about long movies, but this movie could’ve lost a whole hour off the final cut, which is crazy to say considering that this cut was 22 minutes shorter than the one screened at Venice and Telluride for critics. The film clocks in at 160 minutes which along with the fact that it is completely in the Spanish language just makes it hard to recommend because that is certainly a commitment.

THE VERDICT

Despite the long runtime, BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths is still a really good, deeply personal drama film from one of my personal favorites, Alejandro González Iñárritu. It is backed by great direction from Iñárritu, good performances from Daniel Giménez Cacho and Griselda Siciliani, and some of the best cinematography of 2022 from Darius Khondji!

TED TAKES RATING - 7.7/10

Bardo is now streaming only on Netflix. Check out the latest trailer below.

Ticket to Paradise

By: Andrew Wing

Ticket to Paradise is a 2022 romantic comedy film starring George Clooney (Gravity, Ocean’s Eleven) and Julia Roberts (Notting Hill, Pretty Woman) as a divorced couple who team up to sabotage the impending wedding of their daughter in Bali.

The film is directed by Ol Parker (Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again) and written by Parker and Daniel Pipski, while Kaitlyn Dever (Booksmart, Dear Evan Hansen), Billie Lourd (Star Wars sequel trilogy, Booksmart), Maxime Bouttier, and Lucas Bravo (Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris) also star.

Ticket to Paradise had its world premiere in Barcelona on September 8, 2022, and was released in the United Kingdom on September 20 and in the United States on October 21, by Universal Pictures and Working Title Films. It has grossed $171 million worldwide.

THE GOOD

Ticket to Paradise was nowhere on my radar going into 2022, but once I saw that first initial trailer I knew I had to check this one out. I mean it’s two of the biggest Hollywood stars that are still working today in Julia Roberts and George Clooney in a romantic comedy, and as much as I claim to be a man’s man, I just couldn’t resist. But were these two megastars coming together enough to make for a great romantic comedy? Keep reading to find out!

As much as I enjoyed this movie, I just don’t think I can call it a great romantic comedy, but I’ll dive into why a little later on in the review. But for now, I am going to discuss what I did like about Ticket to Paradise, and what I did like were the performances from the two stars. I mean these two are two of the best to ever do it, so I shouldn’t be surprised, but it was just crazy to see how easy it comes to the two of them. As good as dramatic actors as they are, I was really blown away by their comedic chemistry. I just couldn’t get enough of the bantering and bickering between the two of them, and I hope this isn’t the last time the two of them share the screen together.

As for the other things I liked about Ticket to Paradise, I do want to give some praise to the director Ol Parker who also co-wrote the screenplay with Daniel Pipski. This film isn’t some groundbreaking achievement in direction, but I did think that the film was nicely edited, especially during the comedic scenes and continuing with the comedy, I thought all of the jokes were fantastic and I laughed at every single one of them. Aside from that, the only other thing with Ticket to Paradise that I wanted to shout out was the cinematography that was done by Ole Birkeland, which showed the viewer just how beautiful Bali truly is, and also the score that was composed by one of the best, Lorne Balfe.

THE BAD

Now I know I said how much I enjoyed Ticket to Paradise, and I hate to be a party pooper, but this film was just so generic. I mean at the end of the day, the film is selling Julia Roberts and George Clooney, and they are both great, but I just had some problems with the film. For starters, you just know how the film is going to end from the time you watch the trailer, but if not that, then the first act of the movie. More than that, and this isn’t something I was expecting to complain about with this movie being a romantic comedy, but I did not buy a single second of the film’s romance, whether it was between Roberts and Clooney’s characters, or their daughter and her fiancé and that was really disappointing.

THE VERDICT

Despite being pretty generic and having lackluster romance, Ticket to Paradise is still an enjoyable, easy-to-recommend movie that features good performances from the two megastars, Julia Roberts and George Clooney, whose bickering and bantering alone is worth giving this a watch.

TED TAKES RATING - 6.1/10

Ticket to Paradise is now streaming on Peacock. Check out the latest trailer below.