Movies, Film, and Chili

Idiots is written and directed by Macon Blair , who also has a small role in the film. The movie feels like Pineapple Express with more character development but worse pacing. There are some genuinely funny scenes that made me laugh out loud, and for a comedy, that's ultimately what it should be aiming for. Blair clearly understands how to write absurd situations and characters, but the film has several pacing problems, with scenes that could have been cut without hurting the overall story. When it works, though, the comedy lands and the character development gives the film more substance than expected. Dave Franco , known for Now You See Me and Neighbors , plays the drugged-out, lazy, down-on-his-luck type of character he has played before. He is entertaining in the role, but his character has very little development or arc throughout the story. O'Shea Jackson Jr. , known for Straight Outta Compton and Den of Thieves , gets the stronger character arc between the two and ma...

Insidious: Out of the Further is written and directed by Jacob Chase , who has made some solid shorts in the past but is making the first major motion picture of his that I've seen. There is very little to criticize about his direction, particularly when it comes to setting up scares. Chase understands how to build tension and makes especially good use of the film's more claustrophobic scenes, creating an uncomfortable atmosphere without relying entirely on cheap jump scares. The direction and horror setup are the film's strongest elements, even if the overall story doesn't quite reach the level needed for a full recommendation. Amelia Eve delivers a performance that feels reminiscent of Naomi Watts in The Ring . She channels that same exhausted and increasingly desperate energy, making her character feel convincing as the supernatural events escalate around her. The performance fits the tone of the franchise well and helps ground the film's more unsettling momen...

Mutiny is directed by Jean-François Richet , who directed Plane , and also who once again proves to be a better action director than character developer. The film's action sequences are staged effectively, but some of the quieter scenes feel strangely undercooked. I'm not sure if Richet simply ignored certain issues or chose to use the first take in order to save money, but several moments lack the polish the rest of the film displays. Writers Lindsay Michel and J.P. Davis do a good job setting up the action and giving Jason Statham's character a believable reason to find himself out on a boat, but the dialogue can be atrocious at times. The story works when it focuses on its action, but the writing becomes a noticeable weakness whenever the characters stop moving long enough to talk. Jason Statham , known for The Transporter and The Beekeeper , does exactly what audiences expect from him and does it well. He commands every scene he's in, bringing his usual physica...

  Tony is written and directed by Matt Johnson , and while I haven't seen Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie , this film has definitely made me want to. I've heard good things about it, and after seeing what Johnson does here, I'm curious to check out more of his work. Tony is filled with little details that I enjoyed, particularly in the way its characters mirror the relationships and careers of the actors playing them. The film doesn't quite reach greatness, but Johnson's direction and attention to those smaller details give the drama enough personality to stand out. Dominic Sessa  continues to find himself cast as the likable but uncharismatic underdog that audiences naturally want to root for. He was excellent in The Holdovers , and he's good here as well, but this is starting to feel like a type of character he could easily become stuck playing. Sessa has enough talent to become more than that, but he'll need to branch out soon if he wants to avoid ...

Sleepwalker is a horror thriller written and directed by Brandon Auman , who quickly reminds us why his career has primarily been in television rather than feature films. Writing for children's television can sometimes get away with simplistic dialogue and storytelling, but those weaknesses become glaring when stretched into a feature-length horror movie. The screenplay is filled with clunky dialogue and predictable horror beats, while the jump scares rarely land. Instead of creating tension, the film repeatedly left me sighing in boredom. Hayden Panettiere delivers a strong performance despite the material she's been given. It's clear that many of her lines weren't written with much care, but she does what she can to make the character feel believable. Knowing this is her final film makes the performance bittersweet, especially because she deserved a much better script to go out on. Fortunately, her performance here doesn't diminish the work she's done in bet...

Lanterns is one of the few television shows I've felt compelled to review because I'm a big fan of Green Lantern , particularly Kyle Rayner and John Stewart . While the story focuses somewhat more on Hal Jordan , I'm glad we get a solid actor playing John. The first episode does a good job establishing that John is still green and new to the situation, pun intended. The show has a solid foundation, although its interpretation of the Green Lantern characters isn't always what I would have preferred. Aaron Pierre immediately makes an impression as John Stewart . I had never seen him in anything before this, but his presence is undeniable, and his chemistry with Kyle Chandler is one of the show's strongest elements. Their banter is entertaining and gives the relationship some much-needed energy. John being inexperienced works well for the first episode, but I'm hoping the character develops into the confident leader he becomes in the comics. Kyle Chandler play...

The End of Oak Street starts with Anne Hathaway immediately establishing herself as the film's strongest performer, especially when compared to the wooden performance from Ewan McGregor . The premise of a writer struggling with an unsupportive spouse hits close to home for me. The split-focus direction from David Robert Mitchell isn't particularly new or uniquely executed. Instead, it often feels disorienting without accomplishing what I assume was the intention. Mitchell also struggles with the screenplay, as the dialogue can be atrocious at times and boring the rest of the time. This isn't his first failed attempt at writing interesting characters, which makes it understandable why he hasn't written or directed anything in eight years. Anne Hathaway is easily the best part of the film. She brings enough personality and emotional weight to keep the movie watchable despite the material surrounding her. Unfortunately, even Hathaway can't carry the entire film. Ew...

Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie is another cookie-cutter entry in the Paw Patrol franchise, so there isn't much to say about the story itself. This time, the focus is on Marshall, the team's resident firefighter, or perhaps "firedog" in this case. The movie is wholesome and delivers exactly what you'd expect from a Paw Patrol film, even if it doesn't do much to distinguish itself from the previous entries. Mckenna Grace voices Skye, although you would never know it from the performance. Her voice is so normal for the character that Grace's usual presence is virtually unrecognizable. Terry Crews , on the other hand, voices Alistair Stonewall, and you can definitely tell it's him. His recognizable voice and personality come through clearly and make the character more memorable. Snoop Dogg also makes a fun cameo as Dave, the owner of a yacht who enjoys fishing. It's a small role, but his recognizable voice and personality make it a welcome surprise. T...

Agent Zero is an attempt to deliver a female-led espionage action thriller, but unfortunately it comes across as boring and intentionally slow in an effort to make the action sequences feel more impactful. The problem is that the action is so poorly delivered that none of the payoff feels rewarding. Guillaume de Fontenay does a good job framing his scenes, but everything has the appearance of a first take, lacking the polish and energy needed to make the slower pacing work. The film spends so much time building toward its action that when it finally arrives, it rarely feels worth the wait. Marine Vacth plays her own version of Salt or Jason Bourne , portraying a highly capable operative who maintains a consistently quiet demeanor. Unfortunately, the character's attitude comes across as bitter rather than cool or mysterious. Vacth commits to the role, but the performance is restrained to the point of becoming monotonous, making it difficult to connect with the character or care ...

Ice Cream Man is written and directed by Eli Roth , and while there is a decent story underneath everything, the execution leaves a lot to be desired. The film does have a twist ending, although it's one most viewers will probably see coming well in advance. The biggest problem is the CGI, which is frequently distracting and looks noticeably cheap. Roth has even acknowledged using ai to help "bring his vision for the film to life," and unfortunately, that decision is difficult to ignore when looking at the finished product. There are so many strange creative choices throughout the movie that I repeatedly found myself wondering what the writers were thinking. Charlie Zeltzer is tasked with carrying much of the film as one of the few children who manages to avoid being captured by the Ice Cream Man. He does a respectable job considering how much responsibility is placed on him, and he provides much of the emotional center of the story. It's not an easy role for a youn...

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...