Hoo boy, it has been a while! I really need to get back on schedule. Obviously, this won’t be everything that I watched, nobody has the time for that!
WAITRESS: THE MUSICAL
I have deep, deep regret. I skipped this one in theaters because my wife and I had recently seen a touring Broadway cast in Louisville. But this. My goodness. Sara Bareilles owns this role. Considering the fact that she wrote it, this does not come as a surprise. The supporting cast is also top notch. There are really no gaps in this production and it might be the best filmed stage musical for the screen. There are some interesting artistic flourishes and camera movement that is not usually seen in productions of this kind.
THE BEEKEEPER
This movie is irretrievably dumb. This is a compliment. If you were expecting smart cinema from a Jason Statham action movie, that’s your fault. Honestly, this felt a bit like transporting back to the early 90’s. Big guns, big explosions, invincible heroes, and one liners galore. If this is your thing, The Beekeeper is 1000% your thing!
SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK
Speaking of “your thing,” this is my thing! How to even talk about this. This is a Charlie Kaufman directed and written film (Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Anomalisa), and it may be the MOST Kaufman film ever made. Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP) is the lead and honestly, no one else could be. It is about…everything, really. It is a movie in which you absolutely cannot get caught up in a singular meaning or narrative thread. It is about Jungian psychology, the struggle of the artist, romance, struggle, parenthood. Like I said, everything. If you want a challenge, this is a good one.
LISA FRANKENSTEIN
This is so, so damn fun. I am so mad that audiences let this one fail. It is part Jennifer’s Body, part Heathers. Probably not a surprise given that Diablo Cody wrote it. This is definitely a movie that I hope finds its audiences on digital because it should be a midnight movie special. The romance works, the sister relationship works shockingly well, and the two leads are borderline great. Lots of laughs to be had here once you get on its very weird wavelength.
ANYONE BUT YOU
The rom-com is back baby! This one is so damn charming I almost cannot stand it. Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney might not seem like a dream rom-com team, but they definitely are! It is rare that we get true sexy stars in this genre. Both stars are equally sexualized, but more importantly, they are both really funny and have great romantic chemistry together. We have our new Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks. Make it happen, Hollywood!