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In: 2017, Hot Take

Hot Take: How can a film with such talent attached be this awful?

At first, I wanted to compare Suburbicon to Pleasantville. There’s something about the way the town of Suburbicon is presented that reminds me of Pleasantville. However, the two films are nothing alike. Actually, the most relevant aspect of the film is the way a bunch of white males (characters and creatives behind the film) minimize both the female and black characters of the film to the point where a second storyline completely marginalizes a black family in the ’50s white suburb being tormented by the citizens of Suburbicon while the other storyline — a man (Matt Damon) uses a break-in to stage the murder of his handicapped wife (Julianne Moore) for the insurance money — takes center stage. From the Coen Brothers and George Clooney, we’ve come to expect more… and better. Suburbicon accomplishes neither and devolves into a brutal watch that you seems to never want to reach its conclusion. While the film is only 105 minutes, it feels much longer and if you find a way to care about any of these characters, please let me know how you did it because damn if I could.Read More →

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In: 2017, Hot Take

Hot Take: They made The Great Wall. It’s a huge disappointment… and the audience is going to pay for it.

If you choose to see The Great Wall, realize you are in for an absurd spectacle. Realize this isn’t based on any reality as the scrolling narrative explains at the top of the movie. Realize Matt Damon is the star and he can’t quite decide which accent he’s using from scene to scene. Realize the movie tries to be funny and is funny but rarely when it tries to be. Realize director Zhang Yimou makes spectacular visuals with a flair for the outrageous but couldn’t care less if the story works. Realize the story is the least important aspect of the movie. Realize all of that, lower your expectations accordingly and you should only be slightly disappointed in The Great Wall.Read More →

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In: 2016, Hot Take

Hot Take: Action overload! The first hour is 90% action and 10% plot. By the time the movie settles in and gets good, you’re too worn out. Maybe I’m just getting old or maybe not much really happens here.

Having never seen a movie in the Bourne franchise makes me an outsider when discussing the appeal of Jason Bourne. However, when I say Jason Bourne feels all too familiar, I’m not referring to the fact that it is the fifth installment in the Bourne franchise. Unfortunately, all the hyperkinetic action that takes place in the film (which is actually some pretty impressive action, by the way) can’t hide the fact that Jason Bourne doesn’t really have anything fresh to offer.Read More →

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In: 2015, Hot Take

Hot Take: Ridley Scott’s best since Gladiator. Matt Damon’s best since Good Will Hunting. 2015’s best so far. The Martian has an excellent mix of emotion, tension, humor, action and intelligence and partners it with beautiful visions of Mars. It’s a great experience.

Astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is left behind after a fierce storm cuts a manned mission to Mars short and Mark’s crew thinks Watney is dead. Not dead (Surprise!), Watney must science the shit out of things to survive long enough for the next manned Mars mission to arrive… in four years, unless NASA can speed up the timeline with a rescue.Read More →

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In: #5LinkMinimum

Is it still Friday somewhere? It’s time for #5LinkMinimum:

1. Watch It: Project Greenlight is back!
The premiere went off with a whimper until #Damonsplaining became the hot topic due to an interaction in the season’s first episode between Matt Damon and Effie Brown. Beyond the controversial scene is a show that has proven in the past to be an enlightening glimpse into the making of a feature film. This year’s director is Jason Mann. You can see all of the clips of who he beat out on Project Greenlight‘s YouTube Channel or just enjoy the short film that got Mann in the mix:

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In: 2015, Hot Take, Trailers

Anticipation (Before Preview): 70 out of 100

Anticipation (After Preview): 90 out of 100

Ridley Scott, Matt Damon, a great supporting cast. Why isn’t this 100/100? There’s just something about it that can’t commit to this being absolutely, without a doubt, must see.

Maybe it’s the derivative Rounders-esque narration from Damon? Or maybe it’s just fatigue after Gravity and Interstellar? Or how similar the Damon character in The Martian looks to the character he played in Interstellar? Then there’s that whole “Help is only 140 million miles away” tagline combined with the “He’s 50 million miles away from home” line dropped by Chiwetel Ejiofor in the trailer that seems unusually vital to the plot. (Just a guess here: On average, Mars is 140 million miles away from Earth but his potential rescuers discover Mars will be closer than normal which provides a window for rescue. Am I close?)

Needless to say, even at 90 out of 100, I’ll be strapped in for take off.