kevin_robbins

I recently rewatched Good Will Hunting (1997) on Tubi. The storyline follows a kid from the streets with a troubled past, a tight-knit group of friends with their own charms and challenges, and a once-in-a-generation mind that retains and processes information like few others in the world. Working as a janitor at a prestigious college, he's discovered to be a rare genius. When the school takes him in, hoping to mold him into the next great intellectual, his past and his way of navigating society threaten to derail his potential. Can anyone reach him before his talents go to waste?

This picture is directed by Gus Van Sant Jr. (Elephant) and stars Matt Damon (The Departed), Robin Williams (Jumanji), Ben Affleck (The Dark Knight), Stellan Skarsgård (Chernobyl), and Casey Affleck (Gone Baby Gone).

This film does an exceptional job of humanizing its characters through its writing, casting, and execution. Every circumstance, conversation, and worldview feels authentic. It thoughtfully explores how people mentally compartmentalize the challenges they've faced in life, and how those experiences-directly and indirectly-shape their paths and ambitions, no matter how gifted they may be. The dialogue strikes a perfect balance between drama and comedy, and the relationships feel genuine, whether between friends, lovers or adversaries. There's a police cruiser story in here that cracks me up every time. The self-reflection, character evolution, and inner battles are brilliantly depicted, building toward an elite, heartfelt conclusion that feels both storybook and grounded in reality. There's a lot to appreciate here.

In conclusion, Good Will Hunting is an elite story about human nature. I would score it a 9.5/10 and strongly recommend it.

I recently watched the British film 🇬🇧 The Godsend (1980) on Tubi. The story follows a family who discover a pregnant woman and help her give birth. She then mysteriously disappears, leaving the baby behind. Although the family already has six children, there's something about this child that feels unsettling-unlike anything they've experienced before as parents.

The film is directed by Gabrielle Beaumont (He's My Girl) and stars Malcolm Stoddard (Treasure Island), Cyd Hayman (Percy), and Angela Pleasence (Your Highness).

The Godsend has a strong late-'70s atmosphere, a familiar premise, and a made-for-television feel. The background music does a good job of creating tension and mood, and the locations are well chosen for the story being told. The acting is serviceable, but the horror elements largely missed the mark for me. I was hoping for more from the dream sequences, and while the film seems to be building toward something impactful, the conclusion is ultimately a letdown.

In the end, The Godsend doesn't add much to the horror genre. I'd give it a 4/10 and recommend skipping it.

We recently watched Thunderbolts+ (2025) as a family. The storyline follows Valentina, now under the watchful eye of the government, as she attempts to destroy all remaining evidence of her past- including the assassins she's historically hired. Unfortunately for her, those assassins may not go so easily.

The film is directed by Jake Schreier (Beef) and stars Florence Pugh (Black Widow), David Harbour (Stranger Things), Sebastian Stan (A Different Man), Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Seinfeld), and Wyatt Russell (Overlord).

This is a smart follow-up to both Black Widow and Avengers: Endgame. It does a strong job of establishing the current state of the universe and the mindset of these characters in the aftermath of recent events. The film effectively introduces "the Void" and explores how it can manifest into one's own downfall- in this case, as a supervillain. The writing is sharp, with dry humor that consistently lands, along with clever metaphors and explorations of inner demons. Overall, I liked the direction this took.

In conclusion, Thunderbolts+ is a solid addition to the Marvel Universe and does a good job of setting the table for a post-Endgame relaunch. I'd score it a 7/10.