The Glass Castle

I remember reading this memoir when it came out and being incredibly moved by it. When I saw they were making it into a film I was leery, but, when I saw the casting, I knew it would be a thing of beauty, and it was. Brie Larson and Woody Harrelson should both get nominations this year for their work in this film. In fact, the entire cast, including the youngest children, were all amazing and excelled in bringing the emotion of the story to life. Cretton's screenplay and direction was very intimate and moving. He had such a handle on the small nuances of the story, and it was really beautiful how it all came together. I was really affected by this, and I hope they remember this film during award season. 4.5/5

The Glass Castle on Netflix

Tanner Hall

The acting was solid but the plot and characters weren't nearly dark or complex enough to hold up the story. 3/5

Tanner Hall on Netflix

Room

I'm going through too many emotions right now to properly review this. I don't think there's a human alive that won't be stunned, horrified, amazed, and haunted by this film. It is at once brutally visceral and dauntingly imaginative. The set and direction are outstanding, but the movie is made by it's two stars, Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, both of whom well deserve Oscar nods (if not wins) for this. I was in tears for most of the end. I'm still in tears now. There really are no words for what this film is able to accomplish on an emotional level. Just see it. 5/5

Room on Netflix

Trainwreck

In many ways this dark-edged comedy is a big step forward for Apatow. I feel Apatow has been treading water for a time and tends to fall back too frequently on his raunchier words rather than relying on his actors to deliver the complex, dark, and yet wickedly funny adult stories he's so good at telling. I like Apatow best when he's dealing with real adults having real problems which can take absurd or raunchy turns. I feel as if he sat down and watched some of the more daring and successful black comedies of like like "Problem Child" and "The Skeleton Twins" before he made this, and I thought the realness matched the adult nature of the comedy well. On another note, this was my first experience with Amy Schumer, and I enjoyed her work immensely. However, the funniest thing in this whole film was John Cena. That.... that was pure comedic gold. All in all, great work from Apatow and Schumer. 4/5

Trainwreck on Netflix

Short Term 12

One of the most unflinchingly honest portraits of child abuse I've ever seen with te3rmendous acting throughout. 4/5

Short Term 12 on Netflix

21 Jump Street

I think I would have liked this better with a different name - it was funny with decent action & good acting. 3/5

21 Jump Street on Netflix