Tag Archives: 2018

All Movie Reviews, Drama, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Is the Steven Soderbergh-Produced Movie Perfect (2018) a Hidden Gem? — Diamonds in the Rough

May 29, 2020 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Diamonds in the Rough (DitR, /dɪ’tər/) takes some of the most derided, divisive, controversial, financially catastrophic, and meme-worthy movies and tries to find the silver lining. Bad movies don’t always start as bad ideas, and flops aren’t always flop-worthy. DitR seeks to find the good within the bad, because the world could use some positivity. And when all else fails, making fun of bad movies is oh-so satisfying.

In this installment, we look at the 2018 Steven Soderbergh-produced, Flying Lotus-produced science fiction film from Eddie Alcazar, Perfect. [Caution: Spoilers Ahead].

Perfect

Rotten Tomatoes: 17% (12 critics)
Metacritic: 36 (7 critics)
IMDb: 5.5/10 (1,496 ratings)
Letterboxd: 3.6/5 (369 ratings)

I should be transparent from the outset: I found Perfect to be insufferable. This is Diamonds in the Rough, though, thus I am here to mine these films for their positives. However, this one was Continue reading Is the Steven Soderbergh-Produced Movie Perfect (2018) a Hidden Gem? — Diamonds in the Rough →

All Movie Reviews, Drama, Like It

On the Basis of Sex (2018) Movie Review

January 13, 2019 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

While On the Basis of Sex illustrates the obstacle-laden road Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Felicity Jones) had becoming a lawyer, it pauses for a moment of attachment. A place where we understand the to-be U.S. Supreme Court Justice on a deeper level than we can by simply following her real-life legacy.

In this scene, Martin Ginsburg (Armie Hammer) is diagnosed with testicular cancer. He cracks a wry joke at the doctor’s expense, but Continue reading On the Basis of Sex (2018) Movie Review →

Lists

Top 25 Best Movies of 2018

December 26, 2018 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

The arduous task of movie list-making has never been my forte. I am too prone to adjusting my opinions and tweaking grades up or down a half-letter grade. Most years, I shuffle my list around until a breaking point is reached and I publish impulsively.

This year is no different. With almost 200 films from 2018 in my head, it is difficult to narrow it down to 25. It is harder to take those 25 and rank them in any meaningful way. Each film in my top five could be number one. There are films in my top 50 that could have moved into the top 25 (for now, Avengers: Infinity War is at the 50-spot, and that was an enjoyable film which I saw twice in the theater). It pains me a little to not be able to give a blurb to Sorry to Bother You, which narrowly missed the top 25.

Long story short, 2018 was a very good year in film. I may not have seen a standout, A+ film. But I witnessed many, many A-/B+ films.

The following 25 films are, as of this writing, my favorite of the year. But there are many other noteworthy films out there. You can see my full ranking of 2018 films (subject to continual change) at Letterboxd.

Honorable Mentions: Sorry to Bother You, Shirkers, Roma, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, Won’t You Be My Neighbor Continue reading Top 25 Best Movies of 2018 →

All Movie Reviews, Quickie Reviews (<400 Words), Short Films

2019 Oscar Shortlisted Short Film Reviews – Black Sheep, Marguerite, My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes

December 25, 2018 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

There are 30 short films which are shortlisted for Academy Awards across the three shorts categories—Best Live Action Short, Best Animated Short, and Best Documentary Short Subject. This will be cut in half come January 22nd. Before that happens, let’s take a look at a few of the shorts vying for nomination.

Black Sheep

This documentary short, commissioned by The Guardian, tells the story of a man who, as a youth, Continue reading 2019 Oscar Shortlisted Short Film Reviews – Black Sheep, Marguerite, My Dead Dad’s Porno Tapes →

All Movie Reviews, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Short Films

Skin (2018) Movie Review – 2019 Oscar Shortlisted Short Film

December 24, 2018 Alex Brannan 1 Comment

Skin, directed by Guy Nattiv from a story by Sharon Maymon, is a story of white supremacy with a twist. Film Threat equated the twist with those of The Twilight Zone, and perhaps that is accurate. But the final moments of Skin do not Continue reading Skin (2018) Movie Review – 2019 Oscar Shortlisted Short Film →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Leave it, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Vice (2018) Movie Review

December 24, 2018 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Adam McKay likes to show. And show. And show.

As he moves further from straight comedy and more toward a dark comedy examination of political America, McKay’s showy style becomes more apparent. In a way, it is more permissible to have a broad comedy film be brash and in-your-face. While such a style is not destined to fail in a more dramatic setting, it is harder to grapple with tone in that setting.

McKay’s The Big Short shows some signs of this tonal problem. Largely a depressing subject, the comedy flourishes in that retelling of the housing crisis don’t translate well. The non sequitur cutaways to celebrities are jarring and ineffective. What shines in that film are the performances, showing that the director understands the import of Continue reading Vice (2018) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews

Screener Season 2018 Reviews – Roma, Beale Street, The Mule, Green Book, Can You Ever Forgive Me

December 22, 2018 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Once again, I am too back-logged with movies to watch to write proper reviews for every one. So here are a handful of capsule reviews of some of the latest films.

The Mule

The Mule is a silly movie. There is no other way to describe it. Clint Eastwood plays a runner for the drug cartel, and it is Continue reading Screener Season 2018 Reviews – Roma, Beale Street, The Mule, Green Book, Can You Ever Forgive Me →

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

The Favourite (2018) Movie Review

December 20, 2018 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Lady Sarah: Love has limits

Queen Anne: It should not

Those unfamiliar with the work of Yorgos Lanthimos may be surprised to hear that The Favourite is the man’s most accessible film to date. A court drama about the shifting power dynamics between three women—Queen Anne (Olivia Colman), her long-time confidant Lady Sarah (Rachel Weisz), and new arrival Abigail (Emma Stone)—this feverish portrayal of high society at its lowest states of depravity is Continue reading The Favourite (2018) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Animation, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) Movie Review

December 16, 2018 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

Rather inexplicably, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse is the best Spider-Man film made to date. It is hard to imagine that an animated film about multiverse theory and multiple incarnations of a single comic book character coming together to fight a rogue’s gallery that is only recognizable to fans would not only be an inspired origin story for Spider-Man, but also be an entirely accessible experience.

Yes, it is a lot of information to take in, the plotting story churning forward endlessly without a breath. Those completely unfamiliar with Continue reading Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Drama, Indie Films, Quickie Reviews (<400 Words), Western

Screener Season 2018 Reviews – Burning, The Tale, Destroyer, The Sisters Brothers

December 14, 2018 Alex Brannan Leave a comment

It is the busiest time of year for the film world. With awards season on the horizon, studios are juicing voter ballots with For Your Consideration screeners. As I was recently granted membership into the Online Film Critics Society, this the first year where I myself have been given the honor of receiving these promotional screeners.

Unfortunately, this is also Continue reading Screener Season 2018 Reviews – Burning, The Tale, Destroyer, The Sisters Brothers →