Movies, Film, and Chili

Hadestown: The Musical is a filmed stage production that takes the audience through the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice with a distinctly modern theatrical style. The first act is considerably weaker than the second, taking longer to find its rhythm and emotional footing. Fortunately, the production improves significantly as it progresses, with several performances becoming more effective the longer they are on stage. While the production has plenty of talent behind it, it never reaches the level of theatrical excellence found in Hamilton or Beetlejuice , leaving me feeling that I've seen stronger musicals. Amber Gray grows considerably into the role of Persephone. Her performance takes some time to click during the first act, but by the second act she becomes one of the production's most compelling performers. Eva Noblezada is excellent from beginning to end as Eurydice, providing the consistency and emotional weight that the production needs. She gives the character a ...

Leviticus is directed by  Adrian Chiarella and presents itself as a horror film, although it takes well over a third of its runtime before delivering its first genuinely scary or tense sequence. Instead, the film spends most of its time revisiting conversion therapy, particularly the kind of practices associated with the 1990s. The story treats the subject as though it remains as prevalent as it once was, while largely ignoring how much societal acceptance has changed. Perhaps the film's setting in small-town Australia is intended to explain some of that disconnect, but the screenplay never does enough to establish that context. It's also difficult to ignore the film's apparent disdain of organized religion, which might alienate certain moviegoers. There is character development throughout, but several scenes feel unnecessary and don't contribute much to the overall plot. Talk to Me  supporting actor,  Joe Bird delivers a solid performance as the film's central c...

Super Troopers 3 is written and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar , who also returns as Thorny. The first two Super Troopers films were built around dumb, juvenile humor, and this third installment understands exactly what its audience is coming for. If that kind of comedy is your cup of tea, there's plenty here to enjoy. A comedy ultimately lives or dies by how consistently it generates laughs while still maintaining a coherent story, and this film manages to do both. There aren't many wasted scenes, and nearly everything introduced throughout the movie eventually comes back around, allowing the story to wrap itself up with a satisfying bow at the end. The original Super Troopers cast is back, with Kevin Heffernan , Paul Soter , Erik Stolhanske , and Steve Lemme each getting opportunities to shine in their own way. Their chemistry remains one of the biggest strengths of the franchise, and it feels like the actors are having just as much fun making the movie as the audience is ...

Soulm8te is written by James Wan (among others) and directed by Kate Dolan , presenting a surprisingly grounded vision of a future shaped by artificial companions. Rather than leaning immediately into horror, the film spends much of its first half exploring how synthetic relationships could realistically compete with human ones, making the premise feel less like fantasy and more like an inevitability that's only a few years away. Because of that approach, the film often plays more like a science fiction thriller than the horror movie its marketing suggests. While some narrative decisions are genuinely head-scratching, the grounded setup and believable world-building make the story compelling enough to overlook many of its flaws. Isabelle Bonfrer plays the artificial companion and delivers the film's most memorable performance. For much of the runtime she channels the cold, emotionless efficiency of The Terminator , creating an unsettling presence through subtle expressions an...

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is directed by Destin Daniel Cretton , the filmmaker behind Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings , and he brings a welcome sense of energy and confidence to the latest chapter in Spider-Man's story. Cretton keeps the pacing brisk and knows exactly when to indulge in fan service without letting it completely overshadow the story. There are enough crowd-pleasing moments that longtime fans will likely leave satisfied, even if the film falls just short of true greatness. Tom Holland , known for The Impossible and Spider-Man: No Way Home , gives what I consider to be his strongest performance as Peter Parker. I'm usually critical of his acting, but here he shows far more emotional range and confidence than in his previous appearances. Zendaya , known for Dune and Challengers , also delivers one of her best performances to date. Which if you know me, that is a considerable statement. The chemistry between the two feels more natural than ever, and bo...

I Can Only Imagine 2 continues the story established in the original film, but it relies too heavily on manufactured drama to justify its existence. Rather than allowing conflict to arise naturally, the screenplay feels like it's throwing darts at a wall, pulling together different events simply to create another emotional character arc. Director Andrew Erwin once again proves he can get the most out of his cast despite the weaker material, doing his best to elevate a script that often undermines the growth established in the first film. Unfortunately, much of the character development that made the original so effective feels lost here, making this sequel a noticeable step down. John Michael Finley returns as Bart , but his portrayal leans far more into melodrama this time around. While it's understandable that the screenplay wants to give its protagonist another emotional journey, it comes at the expense of believable character progression. After everything his character e...