Watched 03 Feb 2026

The kind of movie that wears all of its seams proudly on its sleeve. To criticize its no-budget effects, look, and feel is to miss the point completely. It does anything for a laugh, even if it means setting up film language rules just to break them, even if it means hammering a joke well past the rule of threes. The punchlines are plentiful and well worth the ride, and along the way, you find yourself in a one-of-a-kind Buster Keaton Wile E Coyote B&W video game unlike anything I've ever seen.

Watched 02 Feb 2026

Despite mixed-to-negative reviews, I really wanted to like this, and I think I liked it more than I didn't. The plotting is unrealistic and has holes, for sure, but I didn't mind much if it got us some over the top satire. Unfortunately, there are no fireworks to match the reputation of its antagonist. It is also, yes, guilty of falling into a very common story trope of late, though I would argue it still has something unique to say with it. I just wish it were more fun, or scary, or anything.

Watched 02 Feb 2026

It seems I don't like this as much as most moviegoers do. I did make a point to go in blind, which I think enhanced my experience, but I also had high expectations based on the buzz around it. Weapons is unique and daring and darkly funny, but it's also kinda all over the place? Amazing moments are scattered throughout, some of the characters are compelling and I also love how much is shot in daylight...but it ultimately doesn't add up to much in the end. Fun filmmaking, underwhelming narrative.

Watched 26 Jan 2026

A masterpiece. The high contrast black & white is gritty, gorgeous, and a perfect statement for a film grappling with perfection. Unlike some tortured genius movies like A Beautiful Mind, this never reveals the extent to which our possibly schizophrenic narrator-protagonist can be trusted because that is only part of the story. I can't find a single plot hole, and that frees me up to dive into speculations on intelligent design, toxic isolation, conspiracy, capitalism, neurodivergence, and more.

Watched 23 Jan 2026

Killer 80s movie from noted satirist Paul Verhoeven, this is a stone cold classic in the realm of B movies. I'd seen Total Recall and Starship Troopers in years prior, and this is in line with those meta-commentative sci-fi American efforts. It's overblown in all the right places without the exploitative sleaze many pictures from the era succumb to, and everything serves a purpose. Hilarious, fun, satisfying, and scathing to both the trends of the time and the inevitable faults of capitalism.