Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014)

There are some decent action sequences, but it mostly just gave me eyesprain from all the rolling. The subplot of "jealous girlfriend follows spy boyfriend to Russia" was particularly ridiculous, especially when she's immediately given clearance and a temporary job as spy arm candy.

C-

Operation Mincemeat (2022)

British Intelligence come up with a mission utilizing a corpse and false papers to mislead the Nazis about their plans. And it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect. It's interesting enough, but also pretty dry.

C+

Colossal (2017)

Gloria and Oscar are friends from childhood who reconnect after she hits rock bottom and has to move back home in disgrace. Corresponding with her arrival in town, a huge monster appears in Seoul, destroying buildings and killing people. When she puts it together that somehow she is "controlling" the monster, she has to figure out how to handle the situation.

This film is utterly original. You think you know where it's going, but it zags off that path. I loved the commentary on "nice guys" and abuse of power; it's both sobering and incisive. It also examines enablers who go along with destructive behavior rather than insisting on what's right, which results in a brilliant story that demands dissection. Great performances all around.

B+

The Pirates (2014)

A group of bandits on the run are rescued at sea by pirates. Eventually they join forces... and I'm sure there was a reason, some kind of mission, but I just can't be bothered to remember.

The fight sequences were pretty good, but it's way too long and the plot is (obviously) forgettable.

C-

La Strada (1956)

A simple-minded woman is sent-off to work with a traveling showman by her family. Despite the rough circumstances and his constant emotional and sometimes physical abuse, they forge a life together. She begins to take pleasure in the shows they put on and pride in his acceptance of her. It's a shitty deal, to be sure, but she finds joy among the hardships.

I, however, found no joy here. There was a relentlessness to his lack of growth. Waiting until the very last scene for him to display a moment of humanity was too late.

C

Save Yourselves! (2020)

A young couple still figuring our their lives decide to take an "unplugged" vacation at a remote cabin. Because they're cut off from all outside information, they are still enjoying a quiet getaway while the earth is invaded by aliens.

This probably wouldn't work if it weren't for the lead couple. They're believably millennial, yet truly sympathetic in their desire to grow and do better. I was caught off-guard by how much I liked this.

B+

The Wolfpack (2015)

Documentary profiling the Angulo family, comprised of parents, six brothers, and a sister living in a small New York apartment. And I mean living in the literal sense -- they rarely leave the place. They were homeschooled and, despite several being old enough to get their own jobs and move out, they are still in the apartment. To pass the time, they watch television and movies and elaborately recreate the films they see.

Without such a weak partner, the father would never have been able to hold such sway over his family. His fears and disdain for the outside world probably wouldn't have been able to so profoundly shape this group's experience. It's fascinating for a while, but then it just becomes weird and frustrating. I'm glad that the boys took some control and changed their course, but I wound up feeling like a voyeur.

C+

Six by Sondheim (2013)

I love musicals, which means I love Stephen Sondheim. But I had no idea just how much I'd actually love Sondheim the person. I could've listened to him monologuing about the history of his work, his motivations, and just general "how the sausage got made" insidery stuff for weeks.

Lovely man. Wonderful music. Brilliant documentary. The way they stitched together dozens of interviews into an organic whole was masterful.

A

Turning Red (2022)

Meilin is about as straight-arrow as an 8th-grader can get. Her mother is about as controlling as a parent can get. But Mei is going through puberty which -- for women in her family -- means more than the usual period/acne/boys. When Mei's emotions take over, she transforms into a giant red panda.

It took awhile to get into this movie's groove, but it was a fun ride once we did. Though I can't see this becoming a classic, the message of surrounding oneself with committed friends while also honoring one's heritage was strong.

B-

Lightyear (2022)

When fleeing a hostile planet, Buzz refuses help and winds up damaging his ship and the crucial part that allows hyper speed to be reached. This error strands more than a thousand people on a planet hostile to humans, so Buzz makes it his mission to correct his mistake. The problem is, each attempt pushes him 4 years into the future so that everyone ages around him while he remains the same.

Convoluted, boring, and fails to effectively provide emotional connection to the characters. Robot kitty is cute, though.

C

A Long Way Down (2014)

Four different people have the same idea: jump off the top of a building known for suicides on New Year's Eve. But when they encounter the others on the roof, they form a kind of support group instead. The quartet have nothing in common: there's a locally famous disgraced talk show host, a manic daughter of a politician, a middle-aged woman who's a caretaker for her disabled son, and a pizza delivery guy -- but their bond is real and they each come to depend on it.

Though diverting, there's very little depth of character.

C

The East (2013)

Jane has gone undercover for a private intelligence firm. She's tasked with infiltrating an anarchist collective called "The East," to find out their plans, membership, etc. Once she's embedded, she finds herself empathizing with the group's mission if not their methodology.

We've seen undercover films plenty of times, but Brit Marling always bring that special something that kicks it up a notch. I especially enjoyed the "home" scenes with her out-of-the-loop partner simply trying to give her the support she needs. 

B+