|
C+
|
Shazam! Fury of the Gods
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Lighting doesn’t strike twice for Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which is a bit of an Atlas Shrug.
Posted Mar 16, 2023
|
|
C+
|
Inside
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The way in which we see a criminal caught and involuntarily imprisoned for his actions is ironic though it stifles in artistic redundancy with every cinematic brush stroke.
Posted Mar 16, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Scream VI
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
It’s a bolder take, confidently campy preferring jokes over jump scares. The best being a jab at Letterboxd users that cuts bone deep.
Posted Mar 09, 2023
|
|
A-
|
I Like Movies
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
I Like Movies authentically encapsulates the era of video rentals striking a humorous nerve in suburban cinephilia.
Posted Mar 09, 2023
|
|
A-
|
The Quiet Girl
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The naturalistic approach to the moving material from the nuanced performances to the unobtrusive direction in an almost timeless setting humanely achieves genuine grace.
Posted Mar 03, 2023
|
|
B
|
Creed III
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Creed III hits above its weight when compared to Ryan Coogler’s knockout original, but that doesn’t mean Jordan’s solid sequel can’t hold its own as an entertaining boxing matchup.
Posted Mar 03, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Emily
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Emily like its subject doesn't bend to traditional standards, choosing to define itself through the title character's freethinking mindset.
Posted Feb 24, 2023
|
|
C+
|
Sharper
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Shot like a Michael Mann crime thriller with an ear for David Mamet-esque dialogue, Sharper cons audiences into thinking it’s the next great cinematic score.
Posted Feb 16, 2023
|
|
C+
|
Marlowe
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The twists and turns make it a minor effort in a pulpy canon of richer material. Marlowe doesn’t have anything on past incarnations of the hard-boiled hero.
Posted Feb 16, 2023
|
|
C
|
Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania is the weakest entry point to begin a new phase of the MCU.
Posted Feb 16, 2023
|
|
B+
|
Close
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Close tenderly tugs at your heartstrings without being cloying.
Posted Feb 03, 2023
|
|
B
|
Alice, Darling
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Alice, Darling has Kendrick giving one of the finest performances in her career.
Posted Feb 03, 2023
|
|
B-
|
Infinity Pool
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Infinity Pool will have midnight movie lovers diving headfirst into the hedonistic hell-scape.
Posted Jan 27, 2023
|
|
C-
|
The Son
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The Son, is a baffling disappointment on every conceivable level.
Posted Jan 20, 2023
|
|
B
|
Living
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
An introspective performance by Nighy will be the lasting legacy of Living.
Posted Jan 20, 2023
|
|
B+
|
When You Finish Saving the World
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
When You Finish Saving the World is a refreshingly funny take on familial dysfunction for the modern era.
Posted Jan 20, 2023
|
|
C-
|
Plane
(2023)
|
Eric Marchen
|
This is a substandard Plane movie that never takes off.
Posted Jan 11, 2023
|
|
C+
|
The Pale Blue Eye
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The Pale Blue Eye hasn’t got its heart in the right place, perhaps it should check for it underneath the floorboards.
Posted Jan 10, 2023
|
|
C
|
A Man Called Otto
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
A Man Called Otto is more out of touch than old fashioned with a helpful heaping of hokum Hanks.
Posted Jan 10, 2023
|
|
A
|
Women Talking
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Women Talking is a film we should all be listening to and learning from because it’s one of the year’s finest cinematic achievements.
Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
B-
|
The Whale
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The devastating ending emotionally manipulates you into believing the production is more cathartic than uncomfortable to behold. Ultimately what redeems The Whale in the end, are Fraser and Chau’s resolute portrayals in a very maudlin movie.
Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
A-
|
Babylon
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Babylon is delightfully depraved with a completely committed cast chewing the silent era scenery.
Posted Dec 17, 2022
|
|
B+
|
Dual
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The double entendre of Dual, as deadly as it might be, makes for a delightful, distressing experience.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B-
|
The Menu
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
An over seasoned satirical thriller from producers Adam McKay and Will Ferrell bites off a little more than it can chew.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Cagemas came early! But, don't call it a Charlie Kaufman metastyle narrative, for you might be disappointed with this otherwise delightful, multi-hyphenate genre flick starring the one and only Nicolas Cage in the role he was born to play, Nic Cage.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
C
|
Downton Abbey: A New Era
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Will it win over new fans in the process? Not a chance. Downton Abbey: A New Era, same capital.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B+
|
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On
(2021)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On gels on the big screen making for a surprisingly swell animated feature film.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
A-
|
Nope
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
If you’re expecting another Get Out or Us, you’ll be sorely disappointed. But if given the chance to enjoy it for what it is, then you’ll be saying Nope is dope! That’s a huge yep from me.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
Vengeance
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
From Ashton Kutcher to Whataburger, B.J. Novak’s shrewd feature length directorial debut quite literally comes out of left field swinging.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B-
|
Prey
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Prey makes for a pragmatic prequel to Predator, but not a pulsating entry to reinvigorate the franchise.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B+
|
Emily the Criminal
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Plaza absolutely crushes it!
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
C+
|
Spin Me Round
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Not even Nivola’s unsettling charm can drum up intrigue into what’s underneath the surface of high society’s most hedonistic tendencies. It’s like a recipe that’s way more fun to make than it is to eat, in cooking terms.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
Pearl
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Holy mother of Pearl, this is one perilous journey steeped in maniacal misery.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B+
|
Barbarian
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The less you know about Barbarian going in the better, but know that it gives new meaning to the phrase bargain-basement.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B+
|
Resurrection
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Hall gives one of the year’s best performances in the unruly Resurrection.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
The Wonder
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
An adept adaptation of Room author Emma Donoghue’s novel of the same name examines how storytelling can compel, but also conflict, causing further strife amongst those who want to believe in the power of narrative as gospel.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
Bros
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Bros is a sweet, raunchy R comedy filled with a positive message and indelible performances especially by Eichner himself.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
C-
|
Blonde
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Marilyn Monroe’s own true tragic story is cruelly depicted here, dehumanizing an individual who suffered far beyond a lifetime, transforming her into a famous figure head to be resurrected again and again.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
D
|
Amsterdam
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
The nearly impossible narrative is not quick witted let alone charming enough to be in the same vein as Preston Sturges or Ernst Lubitsch.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B-
|
Dead for a Dollar
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Overall, it’s not bad, but just disappointing. Dead for a Dollar looks like it was made for exactly that much.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
A-
|
The Banshees of Inisherin
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Bristling with dark comedic tension, McDonagh’s foreboding script chafes with colloquialisms as escalation ensues.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever makes for a melancholy conclusion to phase four.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
A
|
Decision to Leave
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Decision to Leave is a mesmerizing mystery to fixate on.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
Causeway
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Jennifer Lawrence, in a low key leading role, gives her best performance since Winter’s Bone.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
B
|
X
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
If you're looking for a slow burn horror flick with plenty of atmosphere and faux-grindhouse aesthetics then X gon' give it to you!
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
C
|
All My Puny Sorrows
(2021)
|
Eric Marchen
|
It's better suited to the page than screen as the pain gets passed off in purple prose, which in turn undermines the emotional core.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
C
|
The Cursed
(2021)
|
Eric Marchen
|
There’s no real silver lining when it comes to The Cursed, which is all bark and no bite.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
A-
|
Turning Red
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Turning Red celebrates femininity, friendship, and family, in addition to being really funny.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
C
|
The Adam Project
(2022)
|
Eric Marchen
|
Free Guy director Shawn Levy reteams with star Ryan Reynolds for a half-hearted attempt to recapture the heyday of Amblin Entertainment, which results in one of the laziest sci-fi blockbusters in quite some time.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
|
A
|
After Yang
(2021)
|
Eric Marchen
|
A futuristic portrait of familial loss, After Yang, lingers in the absence of a son left with only the memories to mourn.
Posted Dec 10, 2022
|
