Movies, Film, and Chili

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...

The Dink is a sports comedy centered around the world of pickleball, a premise that will probably turn away a good number of viewers before they even press play. Fortunately, director Josh Greenbaum understands exactly how ridiculous that sounds and wisely leans into the absurdity instead of trying to make the sport seem more important than it is. The film is self-aware from beginning to end, never taking itself too seriously. It's also easy to see why this skipped a theatrical release in favor of streaming. This feels like the kind of movie that will naturally find a larger audience on Apple TV+ than it ever would have in cinemas. Jake Johnson , known for New Girl and Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse , stars as the film's lead. While Johnson has proven to be a likable comedic actor in the past, he never quite generates enough laughs here to carry the movie on his own. Sean Clements , known for Workaholics , delivers the type of humor that reminded me why that series never...

One Night Only is a romantic comedy written by Travis Braun , creator of T.O.T.S. , that ultimately turns out to be something very different from what its marketing suggests. The trailers present it as a lighthearted Valentine's Day romance, but the film quickly pivots into a dystopian story that blends elements of The Purge with overt political commentary. Whether that shift works will largely depend on the viewer's expectations, but I found the bait-and-switch frustrating. The political messaging is so persistent that it frequently overshadows the romance at the center of the story. Despite that, the direction from Will Gluck is surprisingly strong, with confident staging and solid pacing that keep the film engaging even when the screenplay becomes heavy-handed. Gluck did Anyone But You and the romance really felt similar to the point I couldn't help but think of the film even though I had forgotten he had done the film back in '23. Another distraction is the amou...

Her Private Hell is written and directed by Nicolas Winding Refn , and unfortunately it continues the filmmaker's uneven output following the heights of Drive . This is a film that wields symbolism like a sledgehammer, repeatedly beating the audience over the head with imagery and dialogue that leave little room for interpretation. There is no subtlety to its themes, and the screenplay introduces some characters through clumsy exposition rather than allowing them to develop naturally. The score is another major distraction, overwhelming scenes that would have benefited from restraint instead of constantly demanding the audience's attention. To make matters worse, the ending is telegraphed so early that there is little satisfaction when it finally arrives. It left me wondering whether the brilliance of Drive was more a product of its cast and collaboration than Refn's direction alone. Sophie Thatcher , known for Companion and Yellowjackets , delivers what is easily her w...

Motor City is directed by Potsy Ponciroli and is a film that relies almost entirely on visual storytelling. With what feels like no more than six lines of dialogue throughout its runtime, Ponciroli places the burden on his direction and the performances to carry the narrative. He succeeds more often than not, using framing, pacing, and silence to build tension instead of exposition. The result is a revenge thriller that feels heavily inspired by Drive , directed by Nicolas Winding Refn , though it never quite reaches the same level of style or emotional resonance. Even so, paying homage to one of the best neo-noir films of the last two decades is hardly a bad thing. Also, it has an amazing elevator scene similar to the one in  Drive . Alan Ritchson , known for Reacher and The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare , plays a man who has been wrongfully accused and embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance. It's a role that perfectly suits his imposing physical presence, and he prove...

Pinocchio: Unstrung is written and directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield , the filmmaker behind Winnie-the-Pooh: Blood and Honey and its sequel. In terms of overall quality, this lands squarely between those two films. The direction is competent enough to keep the story moving, but it never rises above the low-budget slasher formula the filmmaker has become known for. The screenplay offers a few interesting ideas by reimagining the classic fairy tale as horror, yet it never fully commits to expanding the concept beyond its premise. While there are moments of creativity, the film is ultimately held back by uneven storytelling and inconsistent execution. Richard Brake , known for 31 and Barbarian , plays a dark interpretation of Geppetto and gives the film its strongest performance. It would have been easy for the role to become overly theatrical or cartoonish, but Brake keeps his performance restrained and unsettling instead. His quiet menace makes the character feel believable within th...