Vengeance is far more than its marketing would lead you to believe, as this murder mystery comedy doubles as an astute observation of modern American society, getting right to the root of our current ills without letting its commentary descend into demonization or dismissal of one side or the other. It’s a film that asks the tough questions, but actually has the brain to offer affecting answers, too.
Read my full review on Loud and Clear Reviews!
The wistful and wrenching Where the Crawdads Sing does its shockingly successful source material justice, with an affecting adaptation delicately directed by Olivia Newman and dutifully led by Daisy Edgar-Jones.
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Against all odds, I fell head-over-heels for Hustle. I couldn’t know less about basketball, but its sharp script, deft direction, and pair of powerful performances from Adam Sandler and Juancho Hernangómez will earn your interest whether you’re a fan or not. A slam dunk success.
My full review on Loud and Clear Reviews!
As someone whose favorite book of all-time is Pride and Prejudice, I ate this riotous modern retelling UP. (It’s our Clueless!!!)
Fire Island is the rare romcom that has something for everyone - it’s smart, it’s silly, and it’s SO sexy. It’s everything you could want from a movie - especially a splashy summer affair - and more.
AND, the refreshingly diverse representation it brings to mainstream LGBTQ+ entertainment - which is increasingly white- and cis-centric - feels like a…
Crimes of the Future finds David Cronenberg back directing genre fare for the first time in over two decades, but this much-anticipated “cinematic comeback” leaves a bit to be desired, despite some wondrously immersive world building.
My full review for Loud and Clear Reviews!
Well FUCK.
Top Gun: Maverick represents the best of what blockbuster filmmaking can be, brilliantly blending spectacle with sentiment to exhilarating effect, while also featuring one of Tom Cruise’s most powerful and poignant performances to date.
It’s pretty much perfect.
And this is what the movies were made for.
(My full review for Loud and Clear Reviews!)
I liked a lot about Netflix’s Senior Year, a throwback to the high school/teen comedies of the late 90s/early 00s that doesn’t stray too far from the tried-and-true tropes of the subgenre but is bolstered by a reliably lively lead performance from Rebel Wilson.
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The Northman is an epic the likes of which we hardly see in Hollywood anymore. Staggering storytelling on an unprecedented scale for Robert Eggers is complemented by Jarin Blaschke’s consummate cinematography and powerhouse performances from Alexander Skarsgård, Nicole Kidman, Claes Bang, and Anya Taylor-Joy.
This is the movie Eggers was born to make. Stylistically and thematically, it showcases him operating at the peak of his creative powers, turning in his most daring work to date and finding supreme success fashioning a raucous revenge saga that stirs the soul as much as it stuns one’s senses.
Full thoughts over at Loud and Clear Reviews.
The Lost City is a TERRIFIC throwback to star-studded studio comedies of the 90s/00s and an action-adventure romcom done right.
Sandra Bullock is as lovely a leading lady as ever, but the side-splitting Channing Tatum (and Brad Pitt, in an exceptional extended cameo) steal the show.
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To Leslie features a familiar redemption plot, but with enough fascinating flourishes (and poignant performances from Andrea Riseborough and Marc Maron) to leave a lasting impression.
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Ti West skillfully blends style with substance in A24’s X, delivering a riff on The Texas Chain Saw Massacre with a few subversive – and sexy – twists. The rare slasher homage that manages to transcend its influences and become something invigoratingly original all on its own as well.
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Linoleum may sometimes struggle to balance its storylines and several disparate tones, but thanks to poignant performances and a deeply felt finale, this sci-fi dramedy sticks the landing.
Read my full review on Loud and Clear Reviews!