thebrothersbev

A disaster of a disaster movie with many endearing qualities, including sound mixing that would make Robert Altman's head explode and the most choreographed end credit sequence since Buckaroo Banzai. As fun and fascinating as it is incoherent and pretentious, White Noise is an ambitious but ill conceived Hollywood spectacle disguised as a pessimistic, antiestablishment indie. Fortunately, the film is too lighthearted to double down on its halfhearted cynicism, so the end result is a bombastic, Baumbachstic romp with plenty for Adam Driver to do as he navigates through the intentional and unintentional chaos.

Grade: B-

Laugh, cry, squirm a little, it is all just part of being human. A brutally honest romp, which dares to dance with the unpleasant, yet hilarious awkwardness in begging the question "why can't people just be nice?" The Banshees of Inisherin made me want to cry because it made me realize how long it has been since I have seen an actual film. One with compelling performances, especially by Colin Farrell and Barry Keoghan, and a captivating story with no hint of an agenda outside of wanting to feed one's soul. Whether or not it rightfully sweeps the Oscars, this McDonagh masterpiece is an utter triumph.

Grade: A-

Black Friday is sure to disappoint many a whinny fanboy, but this holiday-horror is no turkey. The cast is good enough and the filmmaking is competent. The whole thing goes through the motions like a C student who is too lazy to try harder. The premise is worthwhile, even if the execution leaves a lot to be desired. Maybe due to budgetary restraints, or perhaps because it is another pseudo-zombie flick being cranked out in the 2020s to capitalize on the recent mainstream popularity of the genre/sub-genre (thank you, The Walking Dead). The good news is that Bruce Campbell and Devon Sawa are a couple of pros who know the routine and are willing to go through the motions with glee, if only because they need the money. The movie is lame, no question, but that does not equate to bad. Actually, like Thanksgiving with the fam year after year, the familiarity of it all is rather comforting.

Grade: B-