Sing

Okay, I straight up loved this. There was nothing about this feel-good film I didn't love. I cannot say anything bad about it, honestly. It was sweet, I loved the redemption story, and all the character work was awesome. I had no idea ScarJo could sing either, so that was a bonus for me. Loved this! 5/5

Sing on Netflix

Kubo and the Two Strings

This animated film was just gorgeous. I don't think I've ever seen stop-motion done quite like this - it was insanely beautiful. I really loved the story, the pacing was excellent, the comedy was witty and yet dark enough to convey the tragedy of the story. My one gripe? Maybe this is being a little hard, but I didn't understand why we heard Theron, Fiennes, Mara, and McConaughey voicing Japanese characters. It just seemed like a awfully strange choice to me. The movie tried so hard to ground this in Japan and Japanese culture that I really didn't get why I wasn't hearing Japanese accents and voices. But, that aside, this is a wonderful film. I normally don't watch much animation, so this is high praise from me. 4.5/5

Kubo and the Two Strings on Netflix

The Sea of Trees

I have to start this review by noting something. When "The Forest" was released, there was a lot of backlash against the film, saying it didn't do justice to Japan's "suicide forest" and Japanese culture. I think that if we, as a culture, are going to point out when a film does something wrong, as was the case with "The Forest", we should also be ready to point out when one does it right. "The Sea of Trees" is the film that those bashing "The Forest" wanted to see. It is a reverent, dark, tragic, and yet ultimately uplifting and magical film about the culture of suicide, both in Japan and in America. It is some of the best work Gus Van Sant has done of late, and one of the most powerful performances McConaughey has given in a while. It is thoughtful, slow paced, and very packed with emotions. I went from weeping to laughing to weeping again before it was over. "The Sea of Trees" should be celebrated as the film many wanted to see made. I know I very much loved it. 4.5/5

The Sea of Trees on Netflix

EDtv

An extraordinarily average script with extraordinarily amazing actors. An odd dichotomy - the actors deserved more meat. 3/5

EDtv on Netflix

The Wolf of Wall Street

DiCaprio is brilliant in this lush & quite funny biopic, that, while it could use editing in places, really had me engaged and laughing. Jonah Hill was also just marvelous. Geniunely wonderful - someone give Leo an Oscar already.

The Wolf of Wall Street

Dallas Buyers Club

I've been waiting to see this film for a very long time. To be on-the-table from the start - I'm a HUGE fan of anything Jared Leto does and I'm very much a fan of Matthew McConaughey as well. I walked into this hoping both would be as amazing as all the awards would suggest. However, I also walked into this expecting things I wouldn't like, or things I thought could have been better, or anything that would justify the trans communities backlash against Leto. I found none of those things. I always knew Leto had this performance in him - anyone who has followed his career closely would have known it. I think that most people think of Leto as Jordan Catalano and not much more, so the sweetness and subtlety of this truly transformative performance simply shocked many. On the other hand, Matthew McConaughey has been knocking it out of the park in every film he's been in for the last three years, so how utterly outstanding he was should have been no surprise. This film is borne by it's two stars - without them it would have fallen apart. The plot is not rich, the direction nothing special, but the acting? Well, that's worth everything, and it is truly outstanding from beginning to end. I loved this. 4/5

Dallas Buyers Club on Netflix

Killer Joe

McConaughey blows the doors off in this dark & violent thriller by Friedkin. Just wonderful casting & great script. 4/5

Killer Joe on Netflix

Mud

McConaughey is perfection in this slow-cooked Southern drama that is teased out in a wonderful way. Fantastic film. Not as good as "Southern Wilds" but much in the vein of "Winter's Bone" - definitely overlooked for an Oscar. 4/5

Mud on Netflix

The Paperboy

I thought the cast might elevate this but the script is so poorly held together that nothing would save it. 2.5/5

The Paperboy on Netflix

Bernie

Put away your perceptions of Jack Black - he is amazing in this witty black comedy with everything done right. 4.5/5

Bernie on Netflix

The Lincoln Lawyer

A terrible name for a rather stylish thriller that had enough plots twists to keep me very intrigued. 4/5

The Lincoln Lawyer on Netflix

The Wedding Planner

This surprised me. It was sweet, thoughtful, & people were actually honorable. I found it endearing. 3/5

The Wedding Planner on Netflix