Tag Archives: Miles Teller

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Movie Review

When I went to see Dr. Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, I was more excited by the “extended look” at Top Gun: Maverick than I was by the movie I had come to the theater to see. The ad was the dogfight training montage sequence that occurs early in the film, in which Tom Cruise’s Maverick hunts the helpless young Top Gun graduates with an all-out aerial assault, all set to the tune of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.”

It is a cracker jack sequence, very exciting and well-edited. Within the context of the film, you realize that the joke of the sequence—that the first person to get “shot down” by Mav has to do 200 push-ups—doesn’t track across the entire montage. For some reason, the rules change halfway through the montage so that everyone who gets shot down by Mav has to do push-ups. But as an isolated sequence where the rules are not very important, it is a superb set piece.

This ad was the first time I felt genuinely excited for Top Gun: Maverick. Sitting in the theater for this sequel, coming 36 years after Tony Scott’s original, I soon realized that Continue reading Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Movie Review

Bleed For This (2016) Movie Review

Vinny Pazienza (Miles Teller) is a boxer on his way out. After losing a title fight his representation, in lieu of dropping him outright, strands him with an alcoholic trainer (Aaron Eckhart) who is also on the way out.

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This, this 45 minutes of the film, is not the narrative crux of the film, though. In a way, it is a thematic introduction, but it is a lengthy one. Risking everything, Pazienza “The Pazmanian Devil” bulks up two weight classes and finds himself Continue reading Bleed For This (2016) Movie Review

War Dogs (2016) Movie Review

David Packouz (Miles Teller) is in his 20s and tired of getting pushed around: by retirement home owners who reject his fine linen get rich quick scheme and by naked massage clients that give him money in the meantime. Enter his junior high best friend Efraim Diveroli (Jonah Hill), a budding international arms dealer. Efraim plucks David from his mundane existence, and, as they work dirty arms dealing with governments, they quickly find themselves over their heads. And…movie.

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War Dogs is a dark comedy from the director of The Hangover trilogy. It is, perhaps, a tale too dark for Continue reading War Dogs (2016) Movie Review

Fantastic Four (2015) Movie Review

 

Reed Richards (Miles Teller) is a child with a dream: to create a teleportation device and change the world for the better. After his prototype device is disqualified from his high school science fair, scientist Franklin Storm (Reg E. Cathey) hires him to work on a government funded device of the same ilk for the sake of accessing a nondescript alternate dimension dubbed “Zero.”

 

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From there, Fantastic Four is a haphazard jumble of plot points inserted abruptly with no sense of pacing or flow. The opening sequence with Continue reading Fantastic Four (2015) Movie Review

Whiplash (2014) Movie Review

Damien Chazelle’s jazz drama (who would’ve thought those two words would ever be put together?) stars Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons. It centers on jazz drummer Andrew (Teller). Andrew studies at Shaffer Conservatory and aspires to be one of the greatest drummers of all time. One day, Andrew is confronted in a practice room by intimidating Conductor Terrence Fletcher Continue reading Whiplash (2014) Movie Review

Fantastic Four Teaser Trailer Reaction

Nowadays, pretty much any superhero movie being backed by a major studio becomes a spring/summer blockbuster. Somewhat surprisingly, the superhero genre of action films has started producing really good movies on a more consistent basis.I can’t think of a superhero comic book adaptation post-Green Lantern that drew unanimous distaste from audiences. This being said, 2015’s new Fantastic Four film is a reboot of some of the worst superhero movies out there. Continue reading Fantastic Four Teaser Trailer Reaction

The Spectacular Now (2013) Review

The Spectacular Now is a teen romantic drama starring Miles Teller and Shailene Woodley. James Ponsoldt’s (Smashed) film follows high school senior Sutter Keely (Teller) as he struggles with relationships, family, and his impending adulthood. Continue reading The Spectacular Now (2013) Review