Better Nate than Ever
Delightful. Better Nate Than Ever achieves the goal of putting a smile on your face throughout its entire runtime. It's a love letter not so much to Broadway, but a love letter to the love of theatre.
I Want You Back
I Want You Back knows what it is and does it really well. If you heart romantic comedies, this will quickly be added to one of your favorites.
Cheaper by the Dozen (2022)
I have never seen the other reiterations of Cheaper by the Dozen, so I had absolutely no expectations except to have a fun viewing experience with my family. Did this 2022 version provide that? Certainly. But man, this movie was all over the place.
Belfast
At first glance, it seems like a lot of my film community is trashing this film. I can completely understand how Belfast can be seen as an Oscar-bait checklist. It may seem to be utilizing a very tragic movement to elicit false emotion, but similar to Jo Jo Rabbit, I think the contradiction of sentiment is justified by the perspective of the child protagonist.
Turning Red
Much has been made about the symbolism of Turning Red and as a dad of two young girls, I'm here for it. Like Inside Out (although not as complex), Turning Red does an excellent job of blending the mental hurdles of youth with animated fantasy.
The Batman
Just by watching one trailer, I knew The Batman was going to be a gloomy tale. As one friend said to me, "I don't know how excited I am for a grim, 3-hour Batman movie." What I didn't expect was a David Fincher-like detective story with social commentary on class and angst.
Drive My Car
I'm a bit befuddled by how this movie received a Best Picture nomination. Not because it's a bad movie, but because a three-hour international drama about a man processing grief somehow pushed out other contenders.
West Side Story (2021)
I don't know how he did it, but Steven Spielberg pulled off a remake that is both reverential and original. This version is not a reimagining either. It's West Side Story through and through.
The Eyes of Tammy Faye
There are two sides to every story, which makes me more fascinated to see the documentary that this film is based on. But it's hard not to leave this movie feeling more empathy for Tammy Faye.
Nightmare Alley (2021)
Even though this film leans more into film noir, director Guillermo del Toro has become the master of cinematic fairy tales. The carnival aspect of this tale leans into these tropes and del Toro has always loved exploring the sinister nature of man. He goes all-in with Nightmare Alley, making us follow Stan (Bradley Cooper) who is not a good guy from the get-go and never seems to follow a path of redemption.
Being the Ricardos
There is no denying that there are scenes in Being the Ricardos that work better than others, but I love the rhythm and flow that Sorkin gives to the characters of this film.
The Tragedy of Macbeth
I can't claim to be a Shakespeare scholar, so I can't aptly say how well The Tragedy of Macbeth holds up to other film adaptations of his work, but I was enraptured by this film.
DMX: Don’t Try to Understand
I can't claim DMX as my favorite artist, but after watching this documentary, I certainly have a greater understanding of his influence.
Clifford the Big Red Dog
For a family film, Clifford the Big Red Dog delivers. It was way better than I expected, but completely silly and forgettable at the same time.
The Lost Daughter
The Lost Daughter sets up a lot of expectations but ultimately lands flat. It makes sense that an actor-turned-director (Maggie Gyllenhaal) created this film because she lofts up softballs for the actors to hit out of the park.
The Beatles: Get Back
I was enamored by this behind-the-scenes look at the best band of all time (yes, I said it). I don't think you have to be a Beatles fan, or even a music fan for that matter, to really appreciate what's going on here.