Rambling Film

Official synopsis:  In 1950s Mexico City, an American immigrant (Daniel Craig) leads a solitary life amidst a small American community. However, the arrival of a young student (Drew Starkey) stirs the man into finally establishing a meaningful connection with someone. Director Luca Guadagnino started last year on a high note with Challengers and I expected it to end on that same note with Queer . Especially after hearing all the praise for Daniel Craig's performance.  I wanted to like this so badly, but I STRUGGLED with Queer. Craig does give a wonderful performance but Starkey is drag compared to him. It's the same way I felt about Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer in the far better  Call Me By Your Name. The lead is doing all the heavy lifting, and the supporting man just flops. The same could be said for the film itself. It's starts off strong. It's vibrant and interesting, then when our characters leave Mexico City the entire film goes down hill. It almost f...

Official synopsis:  When intelligence agent Kathryn Woodhouse (Cate Blanchett) is suspected of betraying the nation, her husband (Michael Fassbender) - also a legendary agent - faces the ultimate test of whether to be loyal to his marriage, or his country. Steven Soderbergh's newest is a stylish spy thriller that clocks in at an easy 93 minutes. Blanchett alone would have me seated, but her with Fassbender and a strong supporting cast really elevated this film above my expectations.  This was the image that immediately came to mind when the film kicks off with what might be the most awkward dinner table scene of all time and it keeps that energy throughout. It's well paced, it kept me guessing, and it always had my interest.  Blanchett and Fassbender are perfectly cast. She's mysterious and elusive, he's almost robotic in his nature, but it's never off putting. The supporting cast around them is excellent as well. Particularly Naomie Harris and Marisa Abela.  There ...

I was talking about Severance with my friends recently, and one of them remarked on how he hopes the show doesn't "end up like Lost " and not answer all the questions it asks. Thankfully, this season answered a lot of our burning questions. As always with on going seasons, I'm splitting this review up into the good, the bad, and what I'm looking forward to. The Good * Tramell Tillman is an absolute treasure. I have big "i can fix him!" energy when it comes Mr. Milchick. I just know he's got good in him somewhere. With every episode, I feel we're getting closer to him turning. Or at least I can hope.  * We know what the MDR team is going! They could've easily dragged that out another season, but I'm glad we got our answers now. * Less Ms. Cobel. Patricia Arquette is fine, and I thought what we learned about her character this season was very interesting, but I liked that we had less of her and more of Mr. Milchick and the introduction of ...

Official synopsis:  A man, Mickey (Dante Basco) comes up with an outlandish plan to avoid alimony obligations to his fashion executive ex-wife, Avery (KC Concepcion). How far would you go to avoid alimony? If your answer was catfishing a gorgeous yet awkward dude, Lee (Paolo Montalban) on a dating website with the profile of your ex-wife, then coaching him into saying all the right things so she falls in love with him - then you and Mickey would be fast friends. I have to admit I don't watch many rom coms anymore, but the premise of Asian Persuasion was enough to pique my interest. Not to mention, it kind of makes you fall in love with this side of Queens. Director  Jhett Tolentino shot this during COVID, and while that is kind of obvious with how people are staged, it almost gives you more space to enjoy the scenery. Plus Mickey owns a coffee shop called "The Fili Beans" and that is an A+ name. Solid premise aside, the range of acting skills in this film is...vast. Some...

This 4 part mini-series follows the Miller family. There's Mum and Dad (Christine Tremarco and Stephen Graham) and their two children Lisa and Jamie. (Amelie Peace and Owen Cooper) Only, it's not a normal Saturday morning. On the morning we meet the Millers, police are breaking down their door and arresting their 13 year old son for the murder of one of his classmates.  Jamie, small, frail, and confused cries that he didn't do it. His dad of course believes him. Then when all the evidence is laid out on the table, this series turns from the murder mystery you thought it might be to the aftermath of what toxic masculinity and the manosphere can do to a child.  We follow Jamie's story in 4 distinct parts. Episode one is the day of the arrest. Episode 2 is a few days later and follows the police investigation. Episode 3 is a session with a psychologist, and episode 4 goes back to Jamie's family in the wake of it all. Each episode is shot as one continuous take.  What s...

Official Synopsis : Mickey 17 (Robert Pattinson), known as an "expendable," goes on a dangerous journey to colonize an ice planet. I'm a simple woman. I see "new film by Bong Joon Ho" and I go see it. I have not read the novel on which this is based, so I cannot compare the two, but this was on my must see list nonetheless. Mickey 17 can now be counted as the film that finally got me on the Robert Pattinson bandwagon. I never thought he was a bad actor, just one I really cared for. He was never the standout for me in a film, but here he absolutely is. The Mickey we spend the most time with is kind of slow, but very sincere, and Pattinson plays him well. His accent in the trailer sounds somewhat cartoony, but it fits so well in the film itself. When he has to play another more brooding version later, he easily transitions. He's also helped by some tremendously strong supporting performances from Naomie Ackie, Mark Ruffalo, and Toni Collette. Ruffalo in partic...