Favorite films

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Recent reviews

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  Godzilla vs. Kong 2021

  ★★½ Watched 05 Apr 2021

  This was undoubtedly a fun watch, but unfortunately the script was vapid and incredulous. It meandered its way to the titular battles by giving paper-thin roles way too much screen time and causing unnecessary confusion via convoluted plotting. It was clear that the writers struggled with how to organically bring these Titans together. Don't get me wrong: the battles were indeed epic, well-choreographed, and expertly realized visually. Kong was also given surprising gravitas (ironically, he was far and away the…

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  Ruby Sparks 2012

  ★★★★ Watched 26 Mar 2021

  4.25/5

  Zoe Kazan's screenplay is simultaneously whimsical and profound. In an albeit fantastical way, it reflects on the importance of respecting freedom despite how human nature constantly inclines people to try and change each other. We carry our past as well as our feelings and desires into our everyday interactions, often unaware about how much they inform them. Writing well-realized characters like Paul Dano's misanthropic Calvin, Kazan's own multilayered Ruby, and even Scotty the ever-withholding dog seemed effortless for Kazan in this one. The result was a truly imaginative film (with a captivating score by Nick Urata to boot).

Popular reviews

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  Promising Young Woman 2020

  ★★★★½ Watched 27 Dec 2020

  Everyone needs to see this film. It expertly and devastatingly captures the horrific reality of sexual assault and misogyny. Despite the #MeToo movement, this epidemic still needs more light shone on it. The fact that crimes like those depicted in this film occur regularly speaks to how unacceptable our society remains. Watching this should make us question what more we could be doing.

  This film strikes every note so convincingly - the vibrant pastel color palette juxtaposed with the malicious…

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  Pixie 2020

  ★★★ Watched 01 Jan 2021

  Olivia Cooke consistently delivers grounded, well-realized performances. It seems like she always knows which buttons to push in order to imbue her characters with disarming charm and realistic affect. She once again shines in the otherwise messy and half-baked Pixie. I also appreciated the deadpan Irish humor sprinkled throughout, but there was not much else to highlight here. Namely, the wobbly tone as well as the erratic and at times illogical character behavior ultimately left me feeling like there was meat left on the bone that a better film would have cashed in on.