Movies, Film, and Chili

Buzzkill is a slasher that suffers from overacting, cringe dialogue, and characters who are almost impossible to take seriously. The first victim is supposed to be college-aged, but the actress looks like she is clearly in her thirties, which makes the setup immediately distracting. The movie also constantly makes references that feel like even the actors have no idea what they are actually talking about. It gives the impression that the writers wanted the characters to sound clever without bothering to make their dialogue feel natural. Siena Agudong gives off obvious final girl vibes, and she has the presence to carry that role. The problem is her character is so annoying that it becomes difficult to understand why everyone around her treats her with such reverence. The movie seems determined to convince us that this character is far more likable and important than her actual personality suggests, which makes the character development feel completely backwards. The writing also ends...

Primetime is directed by Lance Oppenheim , who is known for making some other pretentious movies, and unfortunately that reputation feels right at home here. The film offers an interesting look behind the scenes of a television production, but it spends far too much time trying to be artsy and meaningful instead of simply telling its story. Robert Pattinson is easily the best part of the movie. His character is completely Chris Hansen in both voice and mannerisms, which makes his performance unintentionally hilarious at times. Even so, Pattinson fully commits to the role and gives the film some much needed personality. The biggest problem is that the movie never really wraps up his story, making all that investment in his character feel strangely incomplete. Skyler Gisondo gets the unfortunate distinction of being the character we ultimately end on. His character feels like a self-insert, especially with how frequently he brings up the musical Rent . Instead of giving the ending th...

The Dog Stars is directed by Ridley Scott , which certainly gives the post-apocalyptic film some serious filmmaking pedigree. Unfortunately, the movie starts off very, very slow, taking its time before it really gives the audience much to latch onto. Once it gets going, though, the performances help carry it, particularly the natural charm of its lead. Jacob Elordi brings a lot of charm to the film, which is especially important considering how slow the story develops. His presence gives the movie some much needed vibe and makes it easier to stay invested in the character even when the pacing is dragging. He's continuing to improve his performances even after Frankenstein. Josh Brolin continues to prove that he can make a strong impression in supporting roles. Much like his work in Weapons , he brings a level of confidence and presence that helps elevate the scenes he is in. He may not be the main focus of the movie, but he is one of those actors who can make a supporting role f...

Labyrinth is an anime film about a girl's dreams of stardom turning into a mission to save the planet from brainrot. It is directed by Shôji Kawamori , who has been involved with the Macross franchise since the 1980s and also worked in the art department on the original Ghost in the Shell , so he is definitely a veteran of Japanese animation. Writer Taichi Hashimoto is not nearly as well known, but if Kawamori liked the script enough to turn it into a movie, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Unfortunately, the premise feels like it should be more universally entertaining than it actually is. The only voice actor I immediately recognized was Tomokazu Sugita , who has been in an enormous number of anime and games. You might recognize him as Gyomei from Demon Slayer or Yusuke Kitagawa from Persona 5 . He brings the kind of recognizable voice presence you'd expect from someone with such an extensive resume, although there was not really a performance that ...

Practical Magic 2 is directed by Susanne Bier , who previously worked with Sandra Bullock on Bird Box . The film brings back the Owens sisters, with Sandra Bullock  and Nicole Kidman returning. Sally is still the more grounded and tightly wound of the two, while Gillian remains a little more aloof and unpredictable. Unfortunately, the movie struggles with pacing, and there are several moments where the suspension of disbelief starts to wear thin. Sandra Bullock returns as Sally and continues to fit naturally into the role. Sally's more serious personality provides a good contrast to Gillian, and Bullock still has the presence to make the character enjoyable to watch. Her chemistry with Nicole Kidman remains one of the more important parts of the movie, especially because the two sisters have such different personalities. Nicole Kidman returns as Gillian, bringing the same more carefree and aloof personality that separates her from Sally. Kidman seems comfortable stepping back...

Return to Silent Hill is written and directed by Christophe Gans , who also directed the original Silent Hill and, oddly enough, the French Beauty and the Beast . Unfortunately, the film has problems almost immediately, with questionable directorial choices that make it difficult to get fully invested. It is obvious that Gans has a great deal of respect for the source material, and there are moments where that appreciation comes through, but respecting the game and adapting it effectively are two different things. The film often feels too concerned with recreating what was already there rather than figuring out what works best for a movie. Jeremy Irvine , known for War Horse and Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again , plays the iconic James Sunderland and unfortunately struggles with the performance. He goes over the top in several scenes, and some of his line deliveries are so unnatural that I found myself wondering why they were not simply redone. James is supposed to be an emotionally com...