Sleight

This wasn't the movie I was expecting from the ad campaign, which I always find a bit disconcerting, but it was a movie that I became more and more interested in as it developed. The acting was quite strong from a group of young actors with whom I was not familiar. I enjoyed the direction and pacing as well. I do feel like the script left a few things out I wish had been further developed, and the ending was just a big giant tease for an apparent sequel with no pay off for the film I had just been watching. Overall I thought this was a fun and fairly strong film. 3.5/5

Sleight on Netflix

Annabelle

When I first saw "The Conjuring" I was supremely interested in the Annabelle doll and it's story. I had hoped that eventually we would learn more about the doll, so when I heard that this movie had been released I was really happy. The good news is that this film really looks and feels like like it belongs in the "Conjuring" universe, and that's a compliment. Although not directed by Wan, this film had a similar tone and pacing to Wan's films, and I appreciated the attention to detail. The acting was fairly good, but I felt let down by the script, which felt very by-the-numbers to me. Plot-wise there wasn't much to this film, and atmosphere alone will only take a horror movie so far. In the end, this was good but not great, but I do hope for more films set in the "Conjuring" universe. 3/5

Annabelle on Netflix

Patient Seven

#FTRQ "Patient Seven" - I would like to take the group of seven writers of these short horror films and force them to read psychology textbooks until they stop making idiotic mistakes. For example:
1)  There is no condition named "anorexia bulimia". Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are two separate and distinct conditions.
2) A person would never be diagnosed with both bipolar disorder and depression comorbidly. Depression, like any other emotional lability, is diagnostically necessary to have bipolar disorder and thus would not be comorbid.
3) A person cannot be sentenced to be confined to a psychiatric facility "for the rest of their life". One can only be confined until one is no longer a danger to oneself or others, and then they must be released.
Some of these shorts were fun, but most were just annoying. Honestly, had I known this was an anthology film I would have skipped it, as I generally don't like them. This was no exception. 2/5

Patient Seven on Netflix

Mulan

In my quest to watch more animated films, I realized that there was a rather large chunk of Disney films I had missed in the 90's and 00's. I watched "The Little Mermaid" last week when I had pneumonia, and tonight I watched "Mulan". Here's the thing. I hated both of them. Now I remember why I stopped watching animated films, because I was finding I disliked more and more of them. "The Little Mermaid" was so sexist and gender-conforming it was ridiculous. And "Mulan" was so culturally insensitive I was honestly stunned a few times. I see that reviewers on Netflix praise "Mulan" for teaching girls they can be anything, but that wasn't what I saw. The gender and race tone of this film really bothered me a lot. I now understand the argument for the "revolution" as it were of Disney princesses, because what I've been seeing is just bad. Maybe it's just me, maybe I'm looking at something 20 years old with the eyes of today, but I just can't get behind these films. I think I'm moving back to the modern era for a bit. 2/5

Mulan on Netflix

Fireworks Wednesday

A few weeks ago I saw "The Separation", an understated drama by Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, and I enjoyed it so much I immediately put more of his films in my queue. This quiet little drama by Farhadi really hit me in the heart and the gut. It takes such a talent to write deftly-crafted stories with well-rounded characters and still keep the film very low-key, understated, and cerebral. These are stories that make you think, and the more your think about what you are seeing, the more you will see, and the harder the story hits you when it all finally unravels. I was incredibly impressed by this, and will definitely continue to go through Farhadi's catalogue. Highly recommended. 4/5

Fireworks Wednesday on Netflix

Project Almanac

I really don't get the hate in Netflix reviews for this, as I really enjoyed it. It's tough to do a time travel film that makes sense, and I thought this film was smart and well thought out. Yes, even I rolled my eyes at the found-footage aspect of it, but it really was the only way the story could have been told. The acting was fairly decent as well. As a bonus, there were a few alternate endings and openings on the disc, which I always enjoy. I liked this a lot, I recommend it to time-travel movie fans. 4/5

Project Almanac on Netflix

Death of April

The DVD I was going to watch tonight stopped playing halfway through, so I found this indie horror film on Amazon streaming and watched it. It's the kind of film I tend to like, but, really, I've seen pretty much this same film several times over. There was nothing new at all about this film - if you've seen "Paranormal Activity" or anything like it, you've seen this film. The other big problem was the acting, which was really weak across the board. I do understand this was an IndieGogo funded project and thus made for barely any money, but these type of films almost entirely hinge on me believing the characters are believing what's happening to them, and I just didn't. I'm sorry, but this really didn't work for me, although I will give them points for trying. 2/5

Death of April on Netflix

To Jennifer

Up front, I have to say it, the "twist" is so obvious it's kind of ridiculous. About ten minutes in, if you know anything about modern psychiatry, you know something is up, and it's not a big leap to figure out what it is. Having said that, for a movie that appears to be shot, acting in, produced and directed by four people for about $20, it's not a bad effort. I certainly give them points for trying, but, end of the day, this isn't a great movie. 2.5/5

To Jennifer on Netflix

Sleeping with Other People

The description of this movie on Netflix doesn't do it justice. This film is magical. I haven't felt like any film lived up to the tender mix of comedy and drama that "When Harry Met Sally" had until right now. Jason Sudeikis and Alison Brie were so so so good in this. I honestly believed their chemistry, and their comic timing was truly excellent. The script was refreshingly honest as well. I really loved this - it's been a good week for romantic comedies for me! 5/5

Sleeping with Other People on Netflix

Man Up

OMG, I loved loved loved this. Loved it so much. Simon Pegg and Lake Bell are both perfect in this. Their timing and chemistry were just divine. The script was really smart and funny, with these beautiful moments of tenderness and an utterly charming tone. I would watch this again right now I liked it so much. Highly recommended! 5/5

Man Up on Netflix

The Childhood of a Leader

I don't even know how this film ended up in my queue, but I'm so glad it did, because it just blew me away. This is the actor Brady Corbet's directorial debut, but it felt like the polished hand of Kubrick more than the the first work of a new director. It was lush and beautifully framed throughout in impressive fashion. But I have to talk about the score for this, because that was the real star. The moment the credits started and the overture began, I was captured. The music is bombastic and cacophonous and just perfect in every way. I was utterly entranced by it, so imagine how stunned I was when I saw that it was none other than Scott Walker who composed it. I only recently discovered Walker in a documentary called "Scoot Walker: 30th Century Man" about his life and career, and, when I saw it, I really disliked his work, rather immensely so in fact. Clearly I need to listen again, because this was amazing. This movie won't be for everyone. It's brash and intense and stylistic and nebulous, and I will say I didn't get the very very end at all, which is why I deducted a half star. But I loved it, really. Highly recommended. 4.5/5

The Childhood of a Leader on Netflix

The Tunnel

HOLY SNOT THIS WAS SCARY!!!! I get creeped out a lot, disturbed by some things, and grossed out only now and again, but I'm rarely actually scared watching a film. I'm such a avid watcher of thrillers and horror that there isn't much that actually affects me in that way. But, after watching this, I don't think I'm going to sleep well tonight. I really felt that this was the true inheritor of "The Blair Witch Project", which, as regular readers know, I feel is the scariest film I've ever seen. "The Tunnel" took all the lessons of "Blair Witch" and made a solid documentary style film that isn't just found-footage, but something far more, and reminiscent of the TV documentaries that preceded the release of "Blair Witch". If you are a fan of that type of horror, you have to see this. Loved it.  5/5

The Tunnel on Netflix

Moana

Well, I think I'm in the minority with this film, because I wasn't really jazzed by it. I saw a lot of similarities between this film and "Kubo and the Two Strings" in terms of message and how the story unfolded. But I also felt that it was trying to be witty and clever and endearing ln the way that "Trolls" was. Unfortunately, because those two purposes were at odds with each other, I felt this film failed to really deliver on either front. I thought the message of the film came off as trite and actually played into some of the gender stereotypes it was trying to overcome. I also felt much of the humor felt stale and the songs weren't nearly as good as in other Disney films or in "Trolls". In the end, this didn't really do it for me I'm sorry to say. 3/5

Moana on Netflix

Partisan

Y'know, I'm all for films that require a bit of work from the audience. I love films that make me think or figure things out or see the subtext beneath the surface. What I'm not for is when films pretend that you will be able to figure things out if you try hard enough and then never give you anywhere near enough information to understand anything that's happening. I honestly have no freaking idea what I just watched. I don't know when this film took place (post apocalypse maybe?), where it took place, who the characters were, what their relation was to each other, or why they were doing anything they did. Literally none of that was clear at all. And then, it just ends. All of a sudden. With no warning or clue about what was happening or going to happen after the end. That was so annoying. I have to give it two stars because the acting was strong, as was the cinematography, but the plot? Non-existent. Bah humbug.  2/5

Partisan on Netflix

Trolls

This and "Moana" arrived together, and I have the worst food poisoning of my life and needed something funny. All I knew about "Trolls" going in is that most said it was damn funny and I liked the theme song. I didn't know it was a musical, so that caught me off guard, as I'm kind of meh on many musicals. This was really really funny though - the script was both snappy and witty. I'm absolutely awful as placing voices, so I was really surprised to see everyone who voiced this in the credits - they were all great, with special nods to Zooey Deshenel and Russell Brand, and obviously the two leads were awesome.. It really did make me laugh out loud quite a bit, so I'm happy I went with this tonight, I will watch Moana in a day or so. 4/5

Trolls on Netflix

Before I Fall

I'm going to be honest at the start and say there's nothing original in this script. Nothing new or groundbreaking is being added to this "Groundhog Day" basic plot design, which I did find a tad disappointing. The acting is pretty solid all around, and I did like the fluidity of the direction. There's nothing wrong with this film, but it has all been done before, so this was just okay for me. 3/5

Before I Fall on Netflix

Gardens of the Night

Wow, this movie will punch you right in the gut. It's harrowing and disturbing and extremely difficult to watch. There were some portions I honestly wanted to just turn off they were so dark. Gillian Jacobs was amazing in this and is far more accomplished an actress than I previously thought. There was an odd gap in the story I wish had been filled, but it was a great film nonetheless. If you can handle the darkness of this, I do highly recommend it. 4/5

Gardens of the Night on Netflix