The Florida Project (Film Review)

Sean Baker is a name few people will recognize, being primarily a director of very obscure independent films.  His films Prince of Broadway, Starlet, Tangerine, and even this post’s focused film The Florida Project, likewise, share their director’s obscurity with the public.  I myself had never heard the name Sean Baker, let alone seen any of his films until a few years ago when my good friend took me to, what I like to call, a super-indie theater to see Tangerine (as of now I’ve seen all of Baker’s films).  Yet Sean Baker is a name that deserves to be recognized, as not only is he one of the decade’s best directors, but a prime example of how much a filmmaker can accomplish with so little.

Phantom Thread (Quick Review)

Paul Thomas Anderson began directing in the 1990s with his debut film Hard Eight.  Since then he’s released a film every one to several years, each distinctly different in tone, atmosphere, and genre.  I love Anderson’s work from the 90s, and I love his work from the 2000s.  The 2010s, however, have only been adequate.  I’m not certain what exactly happened, but his work during this decade dropped in quality—still good films, but far from what they use to be.  Interestingly, all of Anderson’s films from the decade—2012’s The Master and 2014’s Inherent Vice—starred Joaquin Phoenix and were the only ones to do so (could Phoenix have been a possible bad luck charm?).  Yet Phoenix is nowhere to be found in Anderson’s latest feature Phantom Thread—instead replaced by Daniel Day-Lewis in the lead role, whom Anderson previously worked with in his masterpiece There Will Be Blood.  Phantom Thread is certainly Anderson’s best work since There Will Be Blood (further adding fuel to my Joaquin Phoenix being a bad luck charm theory), and while the film is not on the level of Anderson’s 90s-2000s work, it certainly is a step in the right direction.

FRJ's Top 5 Superhero Films of 2017 (Film List)

It’s staggering how far superhero films have come.

Micro Reviews #24: Frank Serpico & Murder on the Orient Express

This negative episode of Micro Reviews is brought to you by the director Sidney Lumet, who connects these two films together with his previous, superior work.

Micro Reviews #23: Call Me by Your Name & Lady Bird (Micro Reviews)

Every year since the 2010s began, there’s been at least one Best Picture nominee (or winner) I give a thumbs down to.  This year, there’s two, and I just so happen to be reviewing them together right here.

Defective (Link Review)

Here's a link to a review I wrote on a sci-fi film called Defective.  I wrote the review on the website The Nerd Mentality.  Defective recently released on video on demand.

...And that's all I've got, go give my review a read if you're interested.

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri and Its Poorly Written Black Characters (Quick Review/Ideas & Thoughts)

I’ve seen two of Martin McDonagh’s films: Seven Psychopaths and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.  The former is an unusual yet highly effective balance between satirical comedy and somber drama—the latter tips the balance, focusing more on drama and less on comedy.  As such, Three Billboards is less effective than Seven Psychopaths, though not enough to make it a failure.  The film is rich with strong performances, and while its plot drags at times, its characters and occasional comedy gold are enough to keep the story engaging.

Maze Runner: The Death Cure (Film Review)

And so ends The Maze Runner series, a series that began rather lackluster, had an unexpectedly delightful middle installment and ended on what I consider a satisfactory finale.  May I add how much I appreciate Maze Runner: The Death Cure not being separated into two parts like every other Young Adult franchise.  Director Wes Ball has come a long way since the first installment.  He’s figured out how to effectively integrate comedic relief and character interactions into the story—and while The Death Cure is not the same adrenaline-pumping, fast-paced thrill ride as The Scorch Trials, it certainly contains enough engaging entertainment to deliver without disappointment.

The Scorch Trials is One, Big Naughty Dog Adaptation (Film Analysis)

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials is in every way superior to its predecessor The Maze Runner.  The film is fast-paced, consistently engaging, introduces new, colorful characters with investing dynamics, balances drama with slices of comedic relief, and is chock-full of exciting action within a variety of perilous obstacles.  It’s one of the finest Young Adult film adaptations and a delight to view—yet, believe it or not, The Scorch Trials is also an ideal video game film adaptation.