Rowesk
“Why are you always smiling?” “‘Cause it’s all so fuckin’ hysterical”
I felt zero emotional connection to this film, despite how well it’s shot, despite the story arc, despite liking Sam Mendes, it feels tonally flat — orchestrated and stiff — not to say it’s a bad film, it’s constituent ingredients are great, they just don’t add up to the sum of their parts.
★★★✩✩
Shamefully unseen and underrated, it’s an interesting film that revels in the little details of the character’s lives and requires patience but builds to a strong finale; it’s a pretty stock story but the actors sell it, Tom Hardy in particular ELEVATES the shit out of this film.
★★★★✩
I find it hard to dislike Will Smith even though he tries really fucking hard to get me to; Focus is fizzy and polished — though it falls apart under closer scrutiny — and Margot Robbie is spectacular in this, a real Hollywood star, and the while the first two thirds is enormously enjoyable, the third act (and the final twist especially) falls short; that said the gambling arc with BD Wong would make a perfect short and alone is worth the price of admission.
★★★✩✩
A clichéd mess, but Guy Pearce and Maggie Grace elevate this above other schlock and make it a fun, wise-cracking romp in the vein of White House Down and Die Hard.
★★★★✩
A film that really touched me, it’s about self-acceptance and reconciliation, resolving your past and your demons, the Appalachian trail looks beautiful and Reese Witherspoon is alone for most of the movie and delivers a spectacular performance.
★★★★✩