Trainwreck (Quick Review)

Casting is key when it comes to Trainwreck’s effectiveness.

The Good Dinosaur (Film Review)

A title can say lots, or little, about a film.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay—Part 2 (Film Review)

What a great series.

Riley's First Date? (A "Short" Review)

Director(s): Josh Cooley

Date Released: 2015

Released Alongside: Inside Out* (Home Media)

That ACDC scene is really awkward to watch…

Inside Out (Film Review)

It’s taken quite some time to finally review Inside Out, and it’s not because I missed it in theaters.  I saw it, and was going to review it, but was stopped by the little fear emotion inside my mind.  See, I don’t hate Inside Out, in fact, I really enjoy it—but I don’t love it, at least not to the extent of so many viewers and critics.  I enjoy Inside Out, which to me is a critic's worst nightmare: finding a critically acclaimed film considered a masterpiece to merely be “very good”.  At least when I hate a beloved film, there’s passion within my words (Boyhood, Sicario, etc…)—a way to expressively release anger and disgust against the majority’s decision.  But how does one go about praising a critically acclaimed film while making clear they don’t adore it?

Krampus (Quick Review)

You better believe in the Christmas spirit…or he’ll be coming for you.

99 Homes (Film Review)

99 Homes is an absolutely captivating film that engages, thrills, and delivers two first class performances from Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon.  Shannon, in particular, deserves special recognition for another spectacular role—his third since 2008’s Revolutionary Road (a masterpiece which gets better with each viewing) and 2011’s Take Shelter (his finest leading role to date, in one of 2011’s best films).  Here Shannon delivers a powerfully compelling performance, commanding attention in every scene with nothing but the highest quality of acting—confirming once more that, when placed under the right direction, Shannon is one of the decade’s best actors.  Even without Shannon’s performance, 99 Homes remains a strong film—delivering a thoroughly engaging plot and solid performances, including Andrew Garfield’s most emotionally satisfying role.