January 2025 (Format Update)

Hello friends!
Sorry that I haven't posted anything in months. I moved states, had a whole grieving process about that, went on a hunt, and found out I'm gonna be having a baby boy! I hope to be doing more reviews here soon, I'm almost finished with the the next one: Tombstone.
In the meantime, I thought it would be a good idea to share my other review format! This year, I started a Letterboxd account (which you should follow me on if you have one, I'm NativeGuilt most places). You can see my ratings for lots of films there, I may even write about some of them here at some point. But not every film is going to require an essay of praise.

I watched 51 films in total this month, which is a lot for me! Here are my much shorter Letterboxd reviews of most of them:

Boogie Nights [1997]

Sometimes the diggler don't dirk.
They sought to make the perfect third act porn film and they sure tried. The incredible Julianne Moore! Really well shot. Burt Reynolds is iconic. Wahlberg was so young here, but it's hard to take his character seriously sometimes (especially after seeing some of his comedy work). Technically I finished this movie on New Year's Eve, but it still counts.

7/10

Beaux Score: "You just have to watch until he hangs dong"

Beowulf [2007]

Rewatched this expecting disappointment, but it's not as bad as I remember. The cgi is clearly dated, and they are trying too hard to show off at times but it's a fine telling—entertaining at times even.

6/10

Beaux Score: "I can't get high rn, so this trip was nice"

Tron [1982]

Unique and fun sci-fi for the whole family. I like it more as an adult.

6.5/10

Beaux Score: "It's just netrunning"

TRON: Legacy [2010]

HUGE improvements to the series on all fronts except Hedlund's performance of Sam Flynn, which was mid. I could listen to the soundtrack on repeat. Quorra is too cute

8/10

Beaux Score: "Significantly cooler netrunning with a pretty lady! 9/10"

The Suicide Squad [2021]

How is Viola Davis so good?

What a redemption from the 2016 version, such a fun movie! Harley Quinn teaches the audience what to do when men give you red flags. Felt kinda bad for Starro man ngl

8/10

The Dead Zone [1983]

¡Tierra de Aguafiestas!

My guy decided he would kill Hitler if he'd have had the chance, and he does it with a surprise standing shot? When he has a perfectly good chance to take it prone?

Kinda silly, not terrible though.

6/10

Civil War [2024]

The film set out to show us what a modern day Civil War might look like in America, and it does it.

It's about war time photography, and there are some excellently framed and intense moments. However, it didn't even need to go out of it's way to maybe try and discuss why a civil war might happen in the first place. In an effort to avoid being political, it felt hollow. There's a better version of this story, I'm sure of it.

6/10

Something the Lord Made [2004]

Mos Def is a better actor than Alan Rickman here (rip).

Story of the doctors who pioneered cardiac surgery. It has all of the racism you might expect from a biography / period piece about a black man. I don't usually care for inspirational films, but it's actually a really interesting story.

Probably won't see it again.

7/10

A Good Person [2023]

Zach Braff let me down.

It's a movie about grief, addiction. It is graced with phenomenal performances by Florence Pugh and Morgan Freeman. The writing was kinda flat for me, with an especially uncompelling conclusion. I wanted something more from this one, not even sure what.

5/10

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 [2023]

I think the entire film is a fine introduction to body horror.

Saw it in theaters, but I had to see it again to know if I actually liked it. Making the story about Rocket is a winning decision. I don't think it was possible for this story to get a higher rating than what I'm giving it, which I mean as a point of praise.

8/10

Beaux Score: "Give your money to someone besides Marvel, but I highly recommend pirating and watching this movie."

Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai [1999]

I almost couldn't believe this movie exists and I'm so glad it does.

Ghost Dog—a black man living the way of the Samurai—is targeted by the Italian mob. Somehow this movie manages to honor all three of it's subgenres well, and it also doesn't take itself to seriously. Love a movie that gives book recommendations.

9/10

The Batman [2022]

The only live action Batman that treats Gotham like the character it deserves to be!

Pattinson was incredible the Batman, and I even kinda liked the young angsty little Bruce Wayne. Paul Dano was a perfect Ridder, meanwhile Colin Farrell went through a metamorphosis that left me speechless.

I have some critiques about dialogue and the writing in general, but despite that I had a great time watching it. Maybe I'll do a more in depth review one day.

9/10

Beaux Score: "Agh 10/10! What a day to be bi"

Hercules [1997]

I will be showing this movie to my kids, but I am not compelled by the protagonist at all. The side characters carry this movie. Megra, if you're reading this, I love you.

8/10
Beaux Score: "What a dish, what a doll"

Pay it Forward [2000]

It was weird seeing Kevin Spacey stop a pedophile.

Truly just a bunch of cliche bullshit and a testament to the fact that acting alone cannot carry a movie.

4/10

The Wild Robot [2024]

Immediately in love with the concept, I wish this movie had any room to breathe at all.

7/10

Incendies [2010]

Checked out this movie because it's early Villeneuve that a lot of people seem to love. Visually incredible, but I think it was too slow and the ending felt contrived. Radiohead as the sole soundtrack sure was a choice.

7/10

Drive [2011]

Apparently I could watch hours of Gosling's micro expressions.
See Blade Runner: 2049

8/10

Moonrise Kingdom [2012]

A story about running away with your soulmate at 12 years old.

Adorable movie. Innocent love. Classic Wes Anderson.

8/10

A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night [2014]

Drug fueled vampire romance shot like a noir spaghetti western.

7.5/10

Mass [2021]

¡Tierra de Aguafiestas!

Kierkegaard wrote that salvation does not come from a universal ethics, but through embracing the paradox of faith. In the back room of a church, four anguished parents attempt to reach a catharsis—their only salvation. They go to a church and find that it comes not from accepting some universal truth to ascribe blame, but from and understanding of the paradox of love.

And then, a song from heaven.

Very emotional movie, but not too overwhelming. Incredible acting, especially from the two main actresses, Martha and Ann. Sorta wish one of them was more fidgety and poked at the room a bit more.

8/10

The Village [2006]

¡Tierra de Aguafiestas!

Very well acted, the romance was actually compelling, and Deakins is incredible as always. I just wanted the threat to be more than a mentally challenged individual not getting the help he needs because of some weird culty experiment.

I wish a real Wendigo lived in those woods and it was a Land Back message, but that's just me I guess.

6/10

I Saw the TV Glow [2024]

Coming of age horror, it made me uncomfy but in girlypop sorta way.

8/10

Beaux Score: "Not queer baited, but not not queer baited."

Nomadland [2020]

You want to see an artful movie about poverty and the 'American struggle™'? Do yourself a favor, miss this film and watch The Florida Project instead. It was nice to see the desert I guess.

2/10

Lost in America [1985]

I don't know which of the Howard's I hated more, but I loved every second of the disaster that was their Easy Rider era.
White America incarnate, and I say that with affection, disdain, and pity.

8.5/10

Slow West [2015]

I honestly think someone described what a Western is to a bunch of Europeans and they decided to make one from the memory of that conversation.

Paper thin characters and shallow ham-fisted dialogue abound in this film, to the point that I really don't think that was ever a concern for the filmmakers at all. I don't even know how I feel about the portrayal of Native Americans in this film, but at least it wasn't offensive? Sure was something though...

It's hard to describe this movie as a Western at all, as it plays more like a nihilistic romance film that just so happens to have the American West as the backdrop. At times, I wondered if what I was watching was indeed meant to be taken seriously at all, or if the writers have perhaps the driest sense of humor in filmmaking. The choices made in those final 10 minutes of the film will perplex me long after tonight.

At the end of the day, I really didn't hate the overall story but it wasn't a great telling.

3/10

The Killer [2023]

There is something so gripping about watching a meticulous person make an error. That tension is imbedded into the very framework of the film, however it was the soundtrack (Reznor & Ross 🙏) that kept me in a perpetual state of anxiety. I could watch Fassbender tell me his inner thoughts while doing yoga for hours.

9/10

The Prestige [2006]

The Greatest Showman, if it was a real drama and didn't suck!

It was funny to get to see another drawn out expository filled death scene from Nolan again (see The Dark Knight Rises). I think the movie went on a little long in general. It was entertaining, but not my favorite from him.

6/10

Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) [2020]

Such mixed feelings about this film.

There's so much I do love; seeing the weirder side of Gotham, it's anticop, I think Harley working through a breakup with Joker is legitimately interesting, and many cases of diabolical men getting exactly what they deserve—and I really enjoyed the cast! Robbie is an incredible Harley, Winstead's Huntress was adorable and I wish there was more of her, and McGregor's delightful & pathetic little psychopath made for the perfect antagonist for our heroes.

But something about it feels so HOLLOW! I felt it when I saw it in theaters for the first time too. One place I feel particularly robbed is with it's abysmal color grading, accompanied by a soulless soundtrack, and the fact that almost nothing happens developmentally to our two main characters after their initial set up. This movie really starts to bore me in the second half. I'm glad I rewatched it, but it's unfortunately just fine.

5.5/10

Beaux Score: 6/10 "I wish there was more hyena."

A Serious Man [2009]

It felt like a prank the Coen Brothers were playing on the audience. I will need to see it again (and therefore this rating may change), but my initial thoughts are: (1) How dare you, and (2) Roger Deakins.

9/10

The Blue Gardenia [1953]

Los Angeles, California. The scene is set for a murder most forgotten. The police are barely useful and piggybacking off the work of the great Casey Mayo. But then, TRAGEDY—a bland and meaningless plot twist force fed to us in the last act! Solid one liners throughout, I must admit.

5.5/10

Beaux Score: "Murder is secondary to the epic female besties sharing a flat"

The Lobster [2015]

An asexual introvert's worst nightmare. Love is weird. It's a great satire on how we view relationships. I think I would've enjoyed this movie more with an intermission for some reason.

7/10

10 Cloverfield Lane [2016]

Goodman is so very scary when he wants to be and I love it.

I really liked Winstead's performance, but her character was so hasty and it really annoyed me in the last minutes of the film. I also wish we saw less of the aliens, as I think that's part of what made the first film so special. In the Cloverfield world, it's not so much that the aliens are here, but what it does to us now that they are—and the film still is that don't get me wrong, it just didn't stick the landing.

7.5/10

Glass Onion [2022]

Putting Luigi in this would’ve made for a much shorter film but I would’ve enjoyed it 10x more.

¡Tierra de Aguafiestas!

I was absolutely enthralled by Janelle Monáe the first time I saw this film, and I was again today. But upon rewatching it, it's so hard to overlook how mid the story is. It seems to completely obvious to me what is going on, with the main character at one point calling the entire plot dumb repeatedly. The caricatures got old quick. It was fun to see a billionaire’s day get ruined, but ultimately there is no real justice for Andi or her sister.

5.5/10

Beaux Score: "We should do this to Musk"

Ex Machina [2015]

Eat the rich, death to the patriarchy, AI will destroy us but maybe we deserve it. It's a film with a very simple premise. It's also a little slow and it's not as good as I remember, but I still enjoyed it.

¡Tierra de Aguafiestas!

Oscar Isaac plays a particularly hatable billionaire and bless him for it. Maybe I'm just a Land Back boy, but when I hear that several hours of a helicopter flight are over a man's "private property", I instantly hate that guy. What surprised me most this watch is seeing how Nathan's treatment of the land reflected his treatment of his own creation—that is to say he reveled in it's conquest. The rocks bleed into his living room, the fresh glacier stream a pit stop of his workout routine, saplings growing inside, an facsimile of a woman holding him in her arms. It makes it all the more fun to see his ego blow up in his face, for him and Caleb.

8/10

Pathfinder [1987]

The best western I’ve ever seen that takes place in medieval Scandinavia.
Love to see indigenous stories, even when they’re white people. Goated spirituality, very well shot, and beauty in its simplicity.

9/10

Beaux Score: "How cool you become if you live till 40 in the frozen wasteland"

Let the Right One In [2008]

What a unique and morbid little coming-of-age film.

Lonely is the only word I wrote into my notes because that feeling struck me right away and stayed with me. The simple horror of feeling alone, and the need for companionship. And it is a need, a curse in its own right; is there anything so undoing as the people we love? That isolated feeling is honestly the most horrific part of this supposed “horror” film, despite some very minor blood and gore. Some of the best vampirism I’ve seen on screen, I gotta say.

I don’t know if it was a happy ending or a depressing one, but hey we’re only human—or at least some of us are. Thanks for all the vampire movies Kaylee!

8.5/10

Undercover Blues [1993]

Not the husband or the wife, but a secret third thing; his name—Muerte.

Sure it has Stanley Tucci doing a problematic Latino stereotype, and sure Dennis Quaid's smile looks a lot like the one my sleep paralysis demon makes, but dammit all if I didn't have fun watching it! Quaid and Turner ooze chemistry in every scene together and I fell in love with them immediately. This is my honest reaction to the fact that it was more of a chore to babysit the annoying ass police than it was for their own eight-month-old.

Thanks for this cute silly 90's adventure Micah! It is just your dad though.

8/10

Billy Elliot [2000]

What else is there to say but ACAB, and I hope Margaret Thatcher is burning in hell.

¡Tierra de Aguafiestas!

This movie did make me cry, but not for the reasons I imagine it did for others. I loved how tender of a relationship Billy had with his grandmother. I love how the spirit of his mother appeared (spirits be like that). I love how his community responded to him, despite the initial hesitance—my friend Gabbi and I are quite fond of seeing love shine through in flawed people. Well acted all around and ahead of it's time.

8.5/10

An American Tail [1986]

"Fuck you in particular, Fievel Mousekewitz!" — Poseidon

A little too Pro-America for me personally. Strangely, it embraced the uglier side of late 1800's immigration (such as the enticing lies of paradise, being robbed of their native identities, and the poverty that followed), but ended on the message—because we are Americans—with the powers of free speech and organization, anything is possible; that there really can be no cats in America.

Despite all that, Fievel is the cutest little mouse I've ever seen and I loved him, and I can see why this movie was so important to my wife growing up <3

6/10

Beaux Score: 7/10 "I forgot how little he was—he was my sized last time I watched this!"

Children of Heaven [1997]

The opening shot of this movie is of a shoemaker's hands—tired and calloused motions repair worn, pink shoes.

This movie is about a boy with infinite love, and the weight of the world on his shoulders. It's also about the bond between siblings. Incredibly atmospheric movie with a gentle score accompanying what is mostly just the sounds of the streets of Taran. I waited all film for Ali's efforts to pay off, and I was stunned when they finally did.

And then the final shot—tired and calloused.

¡Tierra de Aguafiestas!
Was not expecting the heart wrenching one to come from you KC, if I'm being honest.

9/10

Sweet Smell of Success [1957]

New York City. We follow Sidney Falco—an amoral son of a bitch in a tight spot—doing the bidding of the dirty J.J. Hunsecker.

Falco is a man I thought I could look up to; I admired his focus, his drive. He was slick when he needed to be slick, because in these streets that's what separates the bozos from the big dogs; and sure he's down in the dumps now, but every dog indeed has his day. Who cares about all these dames and their "needy sympathetic arms"? If only such devotion wasn't going to waste to serve a crook like Hunsecker, a man that embodies the disease at the heart of a press more concerned with money and power than truth.

A cynical, sharp, jazzy film that I enjoyed very much!

9/10

Robin Hood: Men in Tights [1993]

I haven't sat down to watch this movie in maybe twenty years, which sorta gave me a weird deja vu viewing experience with flashbacks of watching this on a much smaller TV on the floor of my grandparents living room. I remember this movie killing me with laughter then, it made me wish I was there again. It was worth the rewatch for that alone honestly, thank you Matt.

It is not my favorite Brooks film and it hasn't aged well, but there were fun parts that I didn't fully comprehend as a child: Dave Chappelle, the Brando impersonator, and Sir Patrick Stewart himself!

4.5/10

Stranger than Fiction [2006]

The first thing to strike me was the incredible and nuanced performance from Will Ferrell. It had surprising heart, and was a charming wholesome midlife crisis story with a really interesting premise. I did feel like Ana Pascal's story was not fleshed out nearly as much as it deserved to be. Maggie Gyllenhaal plays a woman after my own heart and I loved her, but why does she want to be with Harold exactly? I'm not saying I disagree with the pairing or that it can't be rationalized, only that it wasn't at all.
For a story about grappling with life, death, and loneliness—it's a great film. Judging it as a romcom, it was just okay.

7/10

Gilda [1946]

Buenos Aires, Argentina. Gilda is the title of our film and the main character of the picture. Now even I know if you ever see a woman that enjoys the attention she gets playing games, you oughta take a second look to see what she really is—a viper in a cocktail dress. Yet one cannot deny the charm about her, the magnetism she exudes. I couldn't take my eyes off her no matter how hard I tried or how stiff the drink, and neither could our two leading men.

While this film's love / hate triangle was well told, the rest of this story was a complete let down. Nazi tungsten monopolies is exactly the sort of trouble I imagine a dame like Gilda would find, and it is a shame that everything happening around her ultimately went nowhere and contributed nothing.

6.5/10

The Assassin [2015]

Wuxia is not a genre I am very familiar with, and I don't feel comfortable giving this movie a rating (yet), but here are my initial thoughts:
It is one of the most gorgeous films I have ever seen. The camera work is subtle and leaves a lot of empty space, but at no point is that empty space a void. I became lost in it's imagery, almost too much. The story happens slowly and almost entirely visually, so much so that I almost forgot what was going on several times.
I loved the tension this movie created; not about her ability or the kill itself, but the turmoil within her. All to the sounds of rustling leaves, birdsong, the gentle fall of rain, the rhythmic beating of a drum.
I am glad for it's runtime, as it already felt long, but I'm rooting for our main gal. I hope she finds what she's looking for.