Favorite films

Pinned reviews

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  Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. 2023

  ★★★★ Watched 20 May 2023

  “It gets tiring. Trying so hard all the time, doesn’t it?”

  Kelly Fremon Craig's adaptation of Judy Blume’s seminal novel emerges as a poignant coming-of-age triumph. Abby Ryder Fortson effectively encapsulates the nuances of adolescence as Margaret amidst a backdrop of ‘70s suburban New Jersey, while Rachel McAdams delivers a subtly stirring performance as Barbara, a mother grappling with rapid identity shifts.

  Respecting the forthrightness of Blume’s narrative, the film addresses puberty and religious identity with refreshing candor. This is…

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  Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 2023

  ★★ Watched 18 May 2023

   “Well that makes you the idiots then.“

  While a comfortingly familiar, unpretentious return of our ragtag brood of cosmic misfits, the extended two and a half-hour runtime is excessive, with Gunn’s stilted pacing serving no greater purpose than facilitating witty repertoire.

  Indeed, despite maintaining the series’ offbeat charm, ‘Vol. 3’ teeters on a tonal tightrope, intertwining grim cruelty with buoyant “A” plot. Pratt’s Quill remains an acquired taste—and it doesn’t significantly advance its thematic exploration of familial ties and friendship.…

Recent reviews

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  Catch-22 1970

  ★★★½ Watched 29 May 2023

  “Ok, let me see if I’ve got this straight. In order to be grounded, I’ve got to be crazy.”

  An exquisitely orchestrated dive into the macabre mirth of World War II, threading the needle of Joseph Heller’s 1961 masterpiece with striking bravado. A cascade of outlandish episodes coalesces into a piercing anti-war satire, while a stellar cast—featuring Orson Welles’ bombastic general and Jon Voight’s crafty mess officer—lends muscle to Nichols’ inventive storytelling. 

  Shadowed by Altman’s ‘M.A.S.H.’ in its 1970 release,…

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  The Last Days of Disco 1998

  ★★★★½ Rewatched 23 May 2023

  “Maybe in physical terms, I’m a little cuter than you, but you should be much more popular than I am.”

  Stillman offers a compelling coming-of-age narrative in the heart of metropolitan bustle. By delving into the raw, often tumultuous transition of post-grad life to navigating career paths and romantic pursuits, he captivates with sharp, snarky dialogue and relatable character dynamics.

  ‘The Last Days of Disco’ illuminates the struggles of a group of Ivy Leaguers, stepping out of their comfortable university…

Popular reviews

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  Close 2022

  ★★★★½ Watched 28 Jan 2023

  “We are together because we are best friends.”

  The quietest pain is the most excruciating. Landing on a semblance of hope through anguish and despair, it’s a hard-won lesson about our responsibility towards others and the difficulty of communicating feelings we haven’t been taught to share.

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  Chef 2014

  ★★★ Rewatched 09 May 2023

  “I may not do everything great in my life, but I’m good at this.”

  In this delectable indie delight, Favreau transitioned from the grandeur of superhero epics to the intimate hustle of the kitchen. The film’s charm lies in the relatable conflict of Carl’s (Favreau, in multi-hyphenate mode) struggle between culinary creativity and commercial success, Favreau’s direction savoring the masculine chaos of digestible artistry, initially hampering ‘Chef’s’ pace but eventually seasoning its charm.

  Although distracted by drool-inducing Americana (the journey…