All Movie Reviews, Horror, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Love It

Us (2019) Movie Review

March 23, 2019 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Jordan Peele understands the horror movie industry. Given he came out of the Blumhouse label with his directorial debut, the massively successful Get Out, this is no controversial statement. But his adept understanding of what works and doesn’t work about a horror film does not end at Jason Blum’s low-risk, high-reward model.

Peele has been transparent about his horror influences, and it is clear with Get Out and Us that he knows how to Continue reading Us (2019) Movie Review →

Captive State (2019) Movie Review

March 15, 2019 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Rupert Wyatt’s Captive State begins with the trope of the ominous, overlapping news audio playing over black screens and production logos. The newscasters speak of an “apocalyptic” state. Then, we see a city of Chicago in chaos. From the vantage of noxious, tight handheld closeups inside of a car, we witness civilians trying to evacuate and being contained by the military. The car we occupy gets through the blockade, just barely, but is stopped by an elusive, pitch-colored, form-shifting alien.

We are then transported to a computer screen being fed an outgoing message, and with it comes a Continue reading Captive State (2019) Movie Review →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Drama

Triple Frontier (2019) Movie Review

March 14, 2019 Alex Brannan 1 Comment

After a troubled development process, Triple Frontier, a military heist drama, has dropped on Netflix. Originally fronted by Paramount, Frontier was to be directed by Kathryn Bigelow (she retains producer credit) and starring Tom Hanks and Johnny Depp.

In its final form, it is directed by J.C. Chandor and starring Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, and Charlie Hunnam. Bigelow left the picture, reportedly to Continue reading Triple Frontier (2019) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Drama, Indie Films, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Paddleton (2019) Movie Review

March 4, 2019 Alex Brannan 1 Comment

Michael (Mark Duplass) sits in a doctor’s office listening to his diagnosis. Andy (Ray Romano) stands at his side. They’re friends, of a sort, though their go-to descriptor for the relationship is “neighbor.” As Andy tries to wrap his head around Michael’s diagnosis—cancer, most likely of the terminal variety—he stammers. Flustered, he tries to get a straight answer out of the doctor, who has nothing to offer.

Then, Michael and Andy go about their regular day. They play a racquetball variation called “Paddleton.” They watch the same kung-fu movies on VHS. They do puzzles together. They say little and share a lot.

Paddleton takes the very serious subject of Continue reading Paddleton (2019) Movie Review →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Drama, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Greta (2019) Movie Review

March 4, 2019 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

There is something perversely compelling about Greta, the new film from Neil Jordan. At the same time, there is something far too familiar about the film, a terse obsession thriller.

Perhaps the fascination begins and ends with the inimitable Isabelle Huppert, who literally pirouettes through her pathological, homicidal character. She is Continue reading Greta (2019) Movie Review →

2019 Academy Awards

2019 Academy Awards Predictions – Final Ballot

February 22, 2019 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

In January, I made my Academy Awards predictions for 2019. Since then, a lot has changed. Some of my original predictions should be considered null and void. That said, the following predictions are by no means expert predictions. And most importantly, the Academy Awards are not the end-all be-all of filmmaking achievement in a given year. There are plenty of films that the Academy chose not to honor that are deserving of some attention.

In any case, here are my final predictions for the 2019 Oscars.

Legend

Will Win: My pick to win

Upset Watch: A potential spoiler

Could Win: The race is too close to call it an upset, or I am picking against the favorite

Should Win: My personal favorite(s) out of the nominees

Best Picture

Continue reading 2019 Academy Awards Predictions – Final Ballot →

2019 Academy Awards

And the 2019 Academy Award for Best Picture Goes to…

February 22, 2019 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

With the 91st Academy Awards just days away, awards season is coming to an unceremonious end. That is unless the Academy has something up its sleeve after angering viewers at every turn. There will be no host, all categories will be presented during the telecast, and there is no Most Popular category. All of this backlash for a broadcast dedicated to handing gold trophies out to famous people.

Yet, love them or hate them, the Oscars still hold cultural capital in a mainstream sense. If Green Book beats out Roma for Best Picture, it Continue reading And the 2019 Academy Award for Best Picture Goes to… →

CineFiles Movie Reviews