I love going to the theater!
Surprisingly atmospheric and immersive, I loved how it's shot/edited. Clever script and a fun cast too! Rachel Sennott is amazing here. Charli XCX credits are the cherry on top.
Probably the most "gen z" movie I've ever seen.

I can't say I am a bit disappointed about this film, I can't really say that there was one thing in particular that I did not enjoy, it just didn't work for me as much as I would have liked. The plot line was fairly predictable, even with the twists and turns. Characters consistently make stupid decisions for plot's sake, even though that is the M.O. for slasher films, I expected a bit more from A24. The slasher elements were barely present, even though I knew that coming in, the marketing still makes this look like a different movie altogether. The comedy was lackluster, I understand it was suppose to be dry social commentary based humor, but I did not really find it funny one bit. Even with all my critiques, I still found this movie somewhat enjoyable.
**Score:** _65%_
**Verdict:** _Decent_
**Theater Verdict:** _Stream It_

If I were in the mood to watch adult content, Netflix would definitely not be my first choice. The movie I stumbled upon was a total disaster, making me extremely uncomfortable, especially when children unexpectedly walked into the room. It was a messy experience that I strongly advise against.
"365 Days" seems to be all about sex and trying to engage the audience solely on that basis. The sequel follows the same pattern, and both films are filled with excessive plot holes, acting issues, and seem to lack a meaningful storyline. It feels like they are veering towards the wrong direction, almost resembling pornography rather than a film with substance.
Despite being somewhat enjoyable, these movies left me questioning why they were even made. I only watched the sequel because I had seen the first one and felt compelled to review both at the same time, even though I found them both to be quite terrible.

In a word... boring?
These '365 Days' film are many a thing, but boring they are usually not - at least in the traditional sense. 'The Next 365 Days' kinda is, especially the last 30-40 minutes. Across the whole run time, I think there's less sex than usual - that's not to say there isn't sex, there's plenty, but it seemed slightly less constant.
The only pluses, albeit very minor ones, I have are basically the same as before: it uses decent music and has some solid shots spattered in there. They remain pointless in their existence and very much overstay their welcome, yet I kinda couldn't not watch them.
What are the odds on more sequels? There is no reason to continue the 'story', yet that hasn't exactly stopped Netflix before... has it? This one does end with something that feels like a final conclusion though, with no cliffhanger in sight, so we'll see.

The Outfit is an isolated who-done it set in the late 1950's as a group of mobsters desperately try to find the rat in their crime organization. The setting was superb and nostalgic, and the set is fixed to one room for the entire film, which really aided in the paranoia of the film.
This isolation led to the film primarily being carried by dialogue and exposition, which was superb here. The script and dialogue were complex and clever, and the performances worked great in conjunction with it. Mark Rylance stole the show, he was sweet and calm, but had suspiciousness to him that led the audience to believe he knew more than he was letting on. He outshined everyone in this film. Zoey Deutch was lackluster as she really didn't seem to play a character that was believable. Her delivery was very modern day. Johnny Flynn and Dylan O'Brien were fine, but Simon Russell Beale was a surprise. For the small time he was here, I really enjoyed his menacing presence and his chemistry with Rylance.
This film has multiple layers of mystery to it, and it was a joy to watch them unfold on the screen. However, I believe that there was too much towards the end. I was very satisfied with the twists and turns up to the end of the film, but then they just became absurd and over the top. I really did not connect with the final few twists and ultimately it hurts the enjoyment of the film in totality.
Score: 81%
Verdict: Great

**Overall : a talented cast and smart story craft a clever mystery that is worth a watch.**
An unsuspecting tailor attempts to survive a night filled with betrayal and danger as his shop is used as a temporary safe house by mobsters. The Outfit plays out similarly to a game of Clue as the hunt for the mole takes twists and turns in the tiny tailor's shop. As the story unfolds, it's surprising who the true mastermind is being all the bloodshed.

I will give any production with Mark Ryland in it a try, ever since I first noticed him in Wolf Hall. I enjoyed this film, with its taut script, realistic dialogue and several plot twists, which I won’t even mention for fear of giving things away.
This movie manages to be a noir piece, even though it doesn’t venture out into the dark and moody streets of Chicago. It is a set piece, taking place in one man’s tailor shop. I wonder if a theatrical production on Broadway is inevitable?
There are plenty of bad guys to be found here, but with enough shading of humanity as to make us root for a few of them over the others. But the script doesn’t care who you root for — the plot is the plot and it will runs its headlong course and draw us along with it.
Despite the periodic outbursts of violence, this is more a drama than a thriller. It reminds me of what Hitchcock is supposed to have said. Suspense isn’t a bomb exploding but rather it is wondering if it will go off. Of course, in thrillers, if you have a bomb, it must explode at some point. This movie isn’t that predictable.
The Outfit isn’t just a drama; it is a character study, and Ryland’s character bears up well under the plot’s scrutiny.

Whatta film!
'The Outfit' is excellent. Second time in roughly three weeks that I've had the pleasure of seeing a Mark Rylance flick on the big screen and again he delivers - such a reliable actor. The other release was 'The Phantom of the Open', which is very good but both the film and Rylance's performance is bettered here. A thoroughly enjoyable showing from him as Leonard Burling.
Things start off extremely strongly with a terrific opening scene with Rylance's Burling, so I was praying that it would keep that high level and I'm pleased to say that - in my opinion, of course - it absolutely did. There's a bit at the end that I was initially unsure about, though upon further thought I enjoyed it just as much as the rest.
One element of this 2022 production actually stays the same from start-to-finish, I won't say what but early on I thought it may limit proceedings but if anything it just adds to the overall vibe of it all. The support cast, meanwhile, are all faces I didn't know before now, though every one of them give good performances - standouts being Johnny Flynn and Nikki Amuka-Bird.

It has some pluses, though 'Disenchanted' is largely uninteresting.
The special effects are good, when Amy Adams and Maya Rudolph are onscreen together the movie is more watchable, some of the attempted heart from the story does eventually show up well and the animation bits are nice. Despite those positives, I still wouldn't say I enjoyed this. It was a bit of a slog to sit through in truth.
I narrowly liked the first film, but this sequel just didn't really click into gear in my opinion.

**Refreshingly innovative, mostly a kids-pleaser. (7/10)**
My expectations for this film were low, as it was not only a sequel but also one without even a theatrical release. And the first 20 minutes or so was about on par with your typical "sitcom sequel": Family moves out of the big city into the suburbs, angsty teen just wants to go home, mother who doesn't understand teenagers proceeds to embarrass her on her first day, etc etc.... Needless to say, I was settled in for a mediocre film.
I was, however, surprised by several things once the magical part of the film got rolling. While character development is thin in this film, a certain twist involving Giselle caught me off guard and there are several clever foreshadowing points and Disney callbacks throughout the film. Musical numbers range from OK to Good, but there's a particular jazzy duet that knocked my socks off. (If you've seen the movie, you know exactly which one I'm talking about.)
Unfortunately, the novelty wears off around the third act of the film, where it essentially just becomes your basic fairy-tale kids movie plot. Save the world before midnight, showdown with main villain, yada yada.. Anyway, the movie brings a few good ideas to the table, and it's probably worth a watch - it's not like you gotta pay for movie tickets after all. I'd reckon Disenchanted is about on par with the original Enchanted - no better, no worse; sometimes a movie just is.

So, moving on fifteen years from the first outing for "Giselle" (Amy Adams) et al., we return only to find that a bit of ennui has set into their idyllic lifestyle. As the saying goes - "the devil finds work for idle hands" and a careless wish plunges her, husband "Robert" (Patrick Dempsey) and their own new daughter into a series of adventures as she must race against the clock to stop disaster striking on the final toll of the midnight bell. Sadly, this has none of the engagement of the 2007 introduction to these characters. Sure, we don't expect much jeopardy with the storyline, but here it is all just a bit too contrived and there are also way too many rather bland songs that seem more a substitution for pretty weak dialogue and characterisations, than their ability to get you singing along. It does look good, and it is curious to see the entire cast reunited after the intervening years, but sadly this is little better than a television movie that might engage the youngsters for the first hour of it's over-long two hour duration, but afterwards I fear attentions may start to stray to what's going on out of the window. Pity - another sequel that we really didn't need.

**_No Spoilers_**
Knowing some of the same people involved with LOST were working on this is what got me to watch it. First season there were definitely more questions than answers but that's not a bad thing. It keeps you wondering what's going to happen next and how the heck at they going to get out.
I think the current 3rd seasons has really upped the game with a story line on the 'outside' and inside which gets you thinking how it's all connected. Season 3 also seems to take some pretty big steps in answering some questions we've had in the back of our minds for the first 2 seasons. I hope they learned their lesson from LOST and don't let it drag on like that and wrap up the story in 5 seasons, 6 max.
**I highly recommend** it for anyone who enjoys a good mystery/drama but the horror aspects might be a little much for some. Even though it does add to the suspense and terror knowing you might lose a character at any moment who you've been rooting for or just enjoying their storyline so far.

A solid 10/10 series from a storytelling perspective. Honestly, the trailer didn't attract me that much, but I decided to give it a chance, and after the first 3 episodes, I couldn't stay away from this show. What fascinated me the most was the people behind this series because the story is exceptional; I found myself deeply engaged with the characters, trying to find an escape route along with them. I quickly finished the first two seasons, and now I have to wait for season 3, but I can't wait for it to come out. I have an idea of how the next season could be based on the ending of season 2, but my mind is not as brilliant as the minds of the people who created this show. If you enjoy series that make you think and deliver a guaranteed outcome for you, only to completely change the situation and leave you in suspense and mystery, then this is a great show to watch.

Great TV series

Loved the series!

As a fan of “Lost,” I was intrigued when I heard that some of the same people were involved in the new EPIX series “From.” Unfortunately, the show doesn’t live up to the expectations set by “Lost.” While it starts off incredibly promising and has a unique feel, the lazy writing and subpar acting hold it back as the season progresses.
The unforgiving gore and genuine horror element that the show first offers are among its most distinctive features, but even these begin to wear thin as the season progresses. By the time I finished the first season, I couldn’t help but feel underwhelmed.
Although a second season is in the works, “From” barely does enough to keep me returning for more. I would probably tell my past self not to watch it if I could go back in time.
Even though I’m drawn in by the mystery, I’m worried about the show’s future. The writing is reminiscent of J.J. Abrams; the writers are adding mysteries at whim with no idea how to resolve them. Intriguing at first, but the poor writing soon began to sour the experience.
If you enjoy mysteries, you might want to give “From” a shot, but be aware that it features subpar acting and a superfluous plot that will make you lament the wasted opportunities. It’s far from bad, but it’s also not particularly noteworthy given the calibre of television we’ve been spoilt by in 2022.
___
[From] - Season One: 6.6/10 (Fair)

Who doesn't love a good Liam Neeson film? Well... This film is a shallow, forgettable attempt at a thrilling espionage movie. The script is a dissatisfying mix of over-explanation and fanfictionesque prose with a healthy dose of woke undertones that'll have you rolling your eyes at the over-the-top typecasting. You're never given a reason to really care about any of the characters, who feel like more like caricatures than actual characters. The climactic fight scene was the one good part of the film, but can't redeem everything around it. Neeson's age shows throughout the film as he hobbles around, struggling to run for the entire movie. The plot amounts to guy-think-he-on-good-side-but-maybe-he-on-bad-side! Don't waste your time.

predictable.
* shadowy government agency
* hired killers
* cover-ups
* grizzled professional
... if you've seen others of this type, you know the plot.
Entirely predictable and formulaic; but done by old hands, so solid enough if you don't expect anything original.
---
PS: A female turncoat or mole would've been an improvement, and be par for the course of this type of movie. This script however suffers from ideology; *all* women are good, *all* men are bad or in need of redemption in this movie. Which makes it even more predictable.

MORE SPOILER-FREE MINI-REVIEWS @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/mini-reviews-2022-edition
"Emancipation struggles tremendously to justify its existence. The overly performative, superficial screenplay fails to elevate and distinguish the unique, true story of "Whipped Peter" from all the other generic movies that treat slavery as a mere plot point to "yet another" action/survival flick - surely there's a better way to adapt these stories?!
Cinematography (Robert Richardson), cast - mainly Will Smith - and some of Antoine Fuqua's direction do a lot of the heavy lifting, but it starts to get tiring and painful to continue to watch shameful, traumatic events of our history being used repeatedly for pure Hollywood entertainment."
Rating: C-

FULL SPOILER-FREE REVIEW @ https://www.msbreviews.com/movie-reviews/no-exit-spoiler-free-review
"No Exit is one of the biggest surprises of the year, shocking viewers with an extremely (in)tense narrative full of suspense, twists, and high levels of entertainment.
Damien Power takes the simple premise of his screenwriters and builds an immersive atmosphere through single-location filmmaking, where the camera work and the score are technical highlights in a visually fascinating work.
Havana Rose Liu contributes tremendously with a superb lead debut as the smart and courageous protagonist. Apart from some characterization details that become irrelevant or accidentally depicted in a strangely positive manner, it's hard to imagine the general public not enjoying such an unpredictable, constantly captivating story.
At the time of this review, it's one of the best films of the year."
Rating: A-

Decision to leave looks great. The way the camera moves, the layout of the scenes and the staging of it all, great. But, its a bit plodding, and I didn't quite understand the character motivations. I partly wonder if im at a loss of understanding the korean/chinese ethno-nationalist relationship, since it seemed to play into it all, but overall I didn't see what was so overwhelming about the Chinese girl that the Korean detective was obsessing over.

When a man is found at the base of a mountain with his skull crushed, it looks like he slipped, or did he commit suicide, or was he pushed? Well it falls to detectives "Jang Hae-joon" (Park Hae-il) and his young sidekick "Soo-wan" (Go Kyung-Po) to get to the bottom of it. They are suspicious enough, but the only realistic suspect is his younger widow "Song Seo-rae" (Tang Wei) - but she has an alibi. She looks after ageing grannies and they swear that she is the milk of human kindness. Gradually, the older policeman begins to obsess a little about her. He stakes out her apartment at all hours, follows her - and she knows it too. Is she playing with him? Toying with him? Skip forwards a few years and he and his wife are in a market where they encounter "Seo-rae" and her brand new husband - a man on the run from folks he owes a great deal of money to. An embarrassed exchange follows before they leave, only for the officer to discover a few days later that there is a corpse in swimming pool and yep, it is that of her new husband. Is she a serial killer? Is she completely innocent? The inspector is convinced she is behind it, but he cannot prove it and his personal and increasingly destructive fascination with the woman, along with her own considerable skills at deception and manipulation lead us to a denouement that, well, certainly surprises. The acting here is strong, especially the young Tang We; there is some humour and we are also given a few clues, ourselves, as to just what might have happened - and whether or not she might be (or not) the perpetrator - there are red herrings a-plenty here. Jung Young Sook offers quite a charming contribution as the ageing and ostensibly corroborating granny "Hae-dong" too. The plot has loads of twists and turns, and essentially offers us two stories rolled into one. It's quirkily entertaining - and we are never quite sure! I really enjoyed this.

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"Decision to Leave is far from Park Chan-wook's best works, but it's still an intriguing, layered story about obsession and "forbidden love".
It captures the viewer's full attention during the engaging first part, where the central theme and the respective romance appear to be in sync. However, momentum is lost with the repetitive, lengthy second half in which the same narrative points are approached without the same impact.
Surprising humor provides a good balance, but it strangely ceases to be used after a certain point."
Rating: B-

Based on the pacing and acting, this should be a top-tier movie, but I found it difficult to watch because of the cruddy subtitles I had.

I got what I expected from 'Shotgun Wedding'.
It is exactly the type of film that you'd think it would be, mostly in a negative way. I like Jennifer Lopez and she's solid enough, while Jennifer Coolidge and Lenny Kravitz are the minor standouts elsewhere. The rest? I don't have any positives, I'm afraid. The plot is pointlessly overdone and overstays its welcome, as anticipated.
I, personally, wouldn't go as far to say it's a bad movie, but it most definitely fails to entertain. I do like the final scene of Kravitz's though, it's pretty cool and fairly well done. For me, overall, this is a standard 6/10 flick - the type that I won't remember by the end of the week, unfortunately.

**Shotgun Wedding struggles to balance its goofy tone but has some funny moments.**
Shotgun Wedding used the kidnapped couple in danger and rediscovering love plot that we have seen in many other rom-coms like The Lost City but struggled with balancing the serious subject matter with its goofy moments. With all the wedding guests taken hostage, it raised the stakes a little too high and made it harder to laugh. But Jennifer Coolidge cut threw all that and delighted, entertained, and stole every scene she was in, proving her comedic chops once again. Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel were fun, but the script forced a frustrated couple plot that didn’t take the time to develop. It seemed like the first 20 minutes and last hour and a half had two different couples because they became total goofballs as soon as the action started. My absolute favorite part of the movie was the final climax and big death scene. I laughed out loud and rewound it to watch it again. Shotgun Wedding is a straight-to-stream rom-com that stands above some of the other streaming rom-coms (like the Father of the Bride remake or The Valet) …but not far above.

Shotgun Wedding was a bit of a surprise. The story is very generic, with a movie being released last year with a very similar overarching theme, but the dialogue and characters really save it. There are plenty of genuinely funny moments in the film that had me and my fiancé cracking up. Jennifer Lopez shines and Josh Duhamel is great, their chemistry was superb together. I did find some of the scenarios to be completely unbelievable, but that is part of the fun in these romantic comedy action movies. Overall, don’t expect anything grand, but if the audience is able to turn their mind off there is plenty of fun to be had with this film.
Score: 54%
Verdict: Average

With lesser actors this movie would be just another bit of rom-com fluff. But with Clooney and Roberts at the helm, it elevated to a glossy, shiny bit of rom-com fluff. I could see most major plot developments coming from a mile away, but this genre has its own formula and must follow it.
I liked Kaitlin’s Dever in Booksmart and am inclined to like her anyway due to a startling resemblance to a loved relative of mine. Sure glad she isn’t playing villains!
And even though it was predictable, I still had hopes they wouldn’t take the easy way out with the Clooney/Roberts duo. No such luck. Oh well, it could have been a lot worse. The local color was interesting.

_Ticket to Paradise_ was a blast! The plot is not overly complicated and is pretty generic to be frank but that didn't matter. The actors carried the entire film and were a joy to watch on screen. Julia Roberts and George Clooney's chemistry was top notch, they played incredibly off each other creating a genuine love story between the two leads. Their comedic timing was brilliant, every line delivered and had me audibly laughing more times than I can count. Kaitlyn Dever did okay in this film, she did not have a lot to work with and was constantly out shined by Billie Lourd who was hilarious. My fiancé and I were crying every time she was on screen. Overall, this movie doesn't do a lot, but it delivered fantastic performances and great laughs which is all I want in a rom-com.
**Score:** _73%_ |
**Verdict:** _Good_

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"Ticket to Paradise delivers precisely the formula it sells: a witty, light, fun rom-com that's well worth watching for its exceptional cast.
George Clooney and Julia Roberts share some of the most engrossing, authentic chemistry I've witnessed all year. Kaitlyn Dever also deserves to be mentioned - one of the most promising actresses working today. Ol Parker manages to create quite an enjoyable viewing despite the spoiler-filled trailer.
It doesn't reinvent concepts or hold any surprises, but it definitely works."
Rating: B-