Movies, Film, and Chili

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...

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...