Category: Movie Review

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Faye

John Stark

A documentary that allows Faye Dunaway to tell her own story in her own words. Often with this type of documentary, we get surface level, and the director is only comfortable going as far as the subject matter is willing to let them. I’m always pleasantly surprised when someone reveals anything about them that is less than perfect, and Faye Dunaway does that. She also gets to comment on a few of her most enduring performances, like Network and Bonnie And Clyde, and why she can’t stand wire hangers. A handful of commentators, including her son, help bring perspective, but … Continue reading Faye

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Royal Hotel- A Second Look

John Stark

Rather than update my old review, I wanted to make a point that I came back around to The Royal Hotel after Hulu addded audio description. Originally, they dropped this film a few months back, and it did not have audio description. since then, Neon has become a little more aware of their content heading to Hulu, and rectified the lack of accessibility. So, it is no longer “unwatchable”.\ It very much is a wild experience watching a film I’ve never visually seen without audio description, and now doing it again. there were so many things I was unable to … Continue reading The Royal Hotel- A Second Look

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Angels In The Outfield: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Despite what many believed, Disney Plus did not launch with every Disney movie ever made. Fans of movies like Air Bud and Angels in The Outfield found out they had to wait. Well, i waited. So, where’s the audio description? Disney is usually pretty good about making sure their own films, especially Disney theatrically branded content, has audio description. Some pretty random titles have it, and they can’t claim they didn’t know the debut of a 30 year old movie was coming. So, am i supposed to pray for accessibility? Is this some sort of meta lesson? Will Christopher Lloyd … Continue reading Angels In The Outfield: 30th Anniversary

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Civil War

John Stark

When I learned Alex garland was taking this bold topic on as a high profile A24 release, my interest was super high. I was initially worried how the film would be received. Politically, we are a mess right now, and heading into the films release, I was hesitant to sit in a theatre for this. But, reviews were mixed, and then I became even less likely. Now, at home, I can enjoy civil War, or I could, if it was good. Alex Garland managed to take on a hot button topic that has nothing to say. On one hand, there … Continue reading Civil War

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Tyler Perry’s Divorce In The Black

John Stark

It is almost a national pastime at this point to review a Tyler Perry movie that, shockingly, isn’t very good. One of the great advents of the streaming era, is that his schlocky nonsense is headed directly to various streamers. this is his second film this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he pushed out a third. So, what’s up with Divorce In The Black? Meagan Goode unironically plays a woman trying to make her abusive partner love her, until he’s just finally had enough, and decides he wants a divorce. He’s a loser in every frame he’s in, … Continue reading Tyler Perry’s Divorce In The Black

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

If

John Stark

This has certainly been a weird year for imaginary friends. Between the creepy imaginary friend in imaginary, to a realistic imaginary friend in The imaginary, and now to If, which is an acronym for Imaginary Friend, where a girl (Kaley Fleming) explores her grief by finding lost imaginary friends and trying to reunite them with new or reunited owners. All three of these films were released in just a little over a three month span. What If If was the best? John Krasinski walked away from the Quiet Place prequel to direct this film, so it must be good. the … Continue reading If

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Challengers

John Stark

Is your seat wet? Do you feel hot and bothered? Perhaps someone who told you about Challengers was just in your presence. The overhyped tennis drama supposedly had audiences feeling randy when it was in theatres, and I’m glad I missed the orgy. At home, I was able to have my solo experience. Director Luca Guadagnino is a boundary pushing contemporary chasing that auteur status where his name on a film excites fans. he’s almost there, and I think if he was known for more than Call Me By your Name, he would be. Most people are less aware of … Continue reading Challengers

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Tarot

John Stark

Holy Hell Batman! We have got ourselves a true blue contender for the worst film of the year. I say contender, because, *spoiler alert* it is the worst film of 2024 thus far. I do not like to give a film an F grade, because with all the artists working on set, it is like saying there’s no redeemable quality here. I’m suggesting your life will be more rewarding if you do not watch this film. Staring off into space for 90 minutes is more productive. This film is terrible, but it does have audio description. So, a win for … Continue reading Tarot

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Big Daddy: 25th Anniversary

John Stark

25 years ago, Adam Sandler put out a film that launched the career of the twins that would go on to Suite Life their way to one of them living in Riverdale, and this year starring in Lisa Frankenstein. And to think it all started because Dylan and Cole Sprouse could wipe their own ass. I would say I’m a Sandler fan. Some of his films are desert island comedies for me (Billy Madison, happy Gilmore, Big daddy, The Wedding Singer, and maybe even 50 First Dates), I saw him do solid acting in films other people ignore (Reign Over … Continue reading Big Daddy: 25th Anniversary

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Descendants: The Rise Of Red

John Stark

Somewhere way back there, I reviewed Disney’s Descendants, because it became this phenomenon, and I have touched base with a few of their big touchstones. I made sure to check out the first two High School Musical film, I’ve seen Camp Rockk, and of course Descendants. Now, The Rise Of Red is on Disney Plus, both the first and most recent effort are Deluxe by Laura Post. So, rather than go yet another review of the first film, let’s just leapfrog. This version has basically set the original crew free. There’s a nice tribute to the deceased Cameron Boyce, but … Continue reading The Descendants: The Rise Of Red

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Sausage Party: A Second Look

John Stark

Yes, I’ve reviewed this film before. The great thing about maintaining a website this long is that someone can look back and see what I initially wrote about Sausage Party. with the release of the new Amazon series Sausage Party: Foodtopia, I took the advantage of Sausage party being on Netflix, with audio description, to watch and see how the audio description holds up and compares. Also, is this film still funny? I do want to type this part out. It’s important. This film stars the vocal talents of: Seth Rogen, Kristen Wiig, Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Edward Norton, Salma … Continue reading Sausage Party: A Second Look

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Space Cadet

John Stark

Emma Robert’s press tour for this was a nightmare. It’s never good to go out and talk about how film criticism has devolved before your film comes out, because it hasn’t. There are just more film critics. I can promise Emma, that if we went back to the simpler times, with eight critics as she remembers (which never happened in her lifetime), her Rotten Tomato score would still be zero. I look at this, and I wonder what Emma saw in it to defend it so much. The movie is based around a young woman (Robert’s) who once was super … Continue reading Space Cadet

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Speed: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Often when critics and various awards groups gather at the end of the year to honor the years best, it is with a very narrow view of what we thought best represented that year.Many times, blockbuster films, or even films that just didn’t reach a wide enough audience, end up being rediscovered, or really holding on and becoming an essential film standing the test of time. This is often the toughest job of all, because film critics and historians can always pull lesser known films throughout the years, but the truth is that a film like Speed ends up with … Continue reading Speed: 30th Anniversary

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

Legends Of The Fall: 30th Anniversary

John Stark

Edward Zwick’s sprawling romantic epic turns 30 this year, so naturally, it’s time to take a grown up look at this film. I remember parts of this, from a part in time when my mom would make me close my eyes during certain sequences. Not that 11 year old me was really excited about Legends of The Fall, but it does feel like we should revisit it. After all, it is an Oscar nominee, and has an impressive little ensemble of Anthony Hopkins, Brad Pitt, Julia Ormond, Aidan Quinn, and Henry Thomas. Hopkins plays the patriarch of this family living … Continue reading Legends Of The Fall: 30th Anniversary

Movie ReviewLeave a comment

The Imaginary

John Stark

This is the year of imaginary friends I guess. I’ve seen three films centered around them, and this is my review of the second. Netflix has an animated adventure about an imaginary friend, who becomes worried that he’s being forgotten, and gets some help from other imaginary friends on how to stay alive. It’s actually kind of interesting how this film handles imaginary friends, with them disappearing if forgotten, but they find safe havens, like libraries, that radiate with enough imagination to keep them alive. However, when our main imaginary friend suspects that something might be wrong with his human, … Continue reading The Imaginary