recent product reviews
For Sama (2019)
A powerful companion piece to 20 Days in Mariupol, both harrowing first-person accounts of war, both featuring Russian-driven brutality, and both centered on the courage of frontline journalists. But For Sama is more personal, more intimate. Waad Al-Kateab captures her life in Aleppo with remarkable bravery. The footage she assembled…
Full Review
Seaspiracy (2021)
An eye-opening expose, blowing the lid off of an industry in true Michael Moore fashion. Makes me rethink the wonder and glory of the world’s oceans as shown in David Attenborough’s documentaries. Maddening and painful, but everyone should see this. I can’t imagine anyone walking away from this unchanged, especially…
Full Review
Sketch (2024)
Great concept, the story of children’s drawings of monsters coming to life finally gets told. But it needed a star actor to anchor this thing. Tony Hale’s exasperation and overwhelm grows old quickly, and the kids painfully struggle through their dialogue. But it still works. One of the best horribly…
Full Review
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)
Nice to see the passion, precision, and reverence that go into Jiro’s craft, but there’s not much to this story that’s particularly dramatic or engaging. Interesting to see so much reverence for a character like Jiro. A similar character here in the US would be ripped to shreds by critics,…
Full Review
Pride & Prejudice (2005)
One of literature’s great standards, lovingly brought to life by sophomore director Joe Wright. A thoughtful exploration of character and circumstance. Everyone feels real, and the coming-of-age arcs and the slow-burning romantic tension between Elizabeth and Darcy unfold with grace. It’s not just a drama of love and social intrigue,…
Full Review
Apocalypto (2006)
Apocalypto is an ambitious project. Visually stunning, intense, and steeped in mystery. Mel Gibson has made another historical epic. The ending is great, with its haunting implication that a much bigger story, one we already know, is about to begin. While not as polished or dramatic as Braveheart, it’s every…
Full Review
Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
Right from the start, it gives off strong Stepford Wives and Truman Show vibes. Everything retro, everything too perfect. Then come the echoes of The Matrix, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Clockwork Orange, The Game, and Get Out. Florence Pugh is fantastic. She carries the film with an emotional,…
Full Review
Elio (2025)
Pixar’s answer to Carl Sagan. The set-up is good, and there are moments that are almost poignant, but it veers too hard to silly and cute to really have the impact I was looking for. A couple of laughs.
Full Review
20 Days in Mariupol (2023)
Horrific, harrowing, nearly unwatchable. Life and death, captured in real time. The graphic horror exceeds even what Hollywood can conjure up in war films like Saving Private Ryan and Hacksaw Ridge. So many gut-wrenching private moments shared, willingly, in the hope that eyes in safer, distant lands might bring help.…
Full Review
The Remarkable Life of Ibelin (2024)
A touching, beautifully nerdy love letter to a kid who made a difference. The immersive dive into the game world might seem corny to some, but it works. The graphics are striking, and the attention to character expression clearly took effort. But at the risk of sounding insensitive… Did Mats…
Full ReviewAbout Me
I'm a photographer, web developer, travel enthusiast, and movie buff living in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.In the summer of 1993, I started writing reviews for every movie I saw and haven't looked back. I'm up to 2,371 reviews now. This makes me cool or a complete dork, depending on your perspective.
Some of these reviews contain spoilers, so if that bothers you, don't read!
Recent Comments