kevin_robbins

I recently rewatched Fried Green Tomatoes (1991) for the first time in a long time on Tubi. The storyline follows a frustrated housewife who strikes up a chance conversation with a woman in a nursing home. The older woman begins sharing vivid stories from her past-tales that may just give the housewife the inspiration she needs to overcome her own struggles.

This picture is directed by Jon Avnet (88 Minutes) and stars Kathy Bates (Misery), Jessica Tandy (Driving Miss Daisy), Mary Stuart Masterson (Benny & Joon), Cicely Tyson (The Help), Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds), and Chris O'Donnell (Batman & Robin).

This is one of those movies where the execution perfectly matches the quality of the writing. The depiction of the era-through sets, costumes, backdrops, and dialogue-completely pulls you into its world. The cast is top-tier, delivering authentic and relatable performances. The characters are easy to root for, and you genuinely hope for good things to happen to them. That said, Kathy Bates' "seductive" moments were... let's just say, uncomfortable-but in an awkwardly funny way once you get past the initial cringe. There's a staircase scene that's rough and hard to watch, yet brilliantly delivered, and the purple hair scene throws me off every single time. Oh, and I always forget Krispy Kreme is in this movie.

In conclusion, Fried Green Tomatoes is a brilliantly written, beautifully executed character and period piece that's absolutely a must-see. I'd give it an easy 10/10.

I just finished watching Freaky Tales (2024) on MAX. The storyline takes place in 1987 Oakland, where a strange green ooze infects people in different ways. We follow the intersecting journeys of aspiring rappers, a hitman, a basketball player, and a group of artists-each facing Nazi attacks and strange twists as the ooze impacts them in unexpected circumstances.

This picture is co-written and co-directed by Anna Boden and Ryan K. Fleck, who also collaborated on Captain Marvel. The cast includes Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Jay Ellis (Insecure), Keir Gilchrist (It Follows), Ben Mendelsohn (Rogue One), and Too Short (Menace II Society).

This movie was far better than I expected. While not a horror film, it has a Sin City-style vibe-several standalone stories that all tie together over the course of one wild night in the same city. The universe it creates is both fun and unique. Having Too Short as the narrator and a mix of offbeat characters was a perfect touch. The story is sharper and more intricate than I anticipated, with memorable characters, unpredictable twists, and brilliantly staged violence. The fight scenes overflow with gore, wild weapon choices (loved the slingshot), and playful blood splatter. Normally I'm not a fan of CGI blood, but it works here. The rap battle exceeded my expectations, Pedro Pascal's character was fantastic, and the final fight scene was spectacular.

In conclusion, Freaky Tales is a clever, supernatural-tinged action film that's smarter and more entertaining than it has any right to be. I'd give it an 8/10 and strongly recommend it.

I recently rewatched Oblivion (2013) on Prime. The storyline follows the remnants of mankind on Earth and a small crew tasked with keeping the planet stable. When a maintenance worker discovers signs of life, he investigates the survivor and begins to uncover the truth about what really happened-both to humanity and to his own family... but is what he's seeing real?

Directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick), the film stars Tom Cruise (Risky Business), Morgan Freeman (Se7en), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones), Zoë Bell (Death Proof), and Andrea Riseborough (Possessor).

This is a well-crafted film with an excellent cast, impressive special effects, and a storyline that blends science fiction with post-apocalyptic elements. The props and costumes are top-tier, and the immersive world-building clearly reflects the film's big budget. The performances are strong across the board.

The plot offers a lot of potential, with some engaging twists and turns that keep you invested and curious about how everything will tie together. Unfortunately, the conclusion didn't land for me-it felt underwhelming compared to the buildup.

Overall, Oblivion has enough going for it to hold your attention and make it worth a watch, but it doesn't quite stand out in the genre. I'd score it a 7/10.