Movies, Film, and Chili

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 ...