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I nearly turned this movie off after the first 15 minutes, mainly because the male lead (Ares) came off as such a prick. Granted, I still found the “why he acts that way” back story a little weak, but he redeemed himself enough that I was able to overlook that. It also helped that these were teenagers… emotional fuckery is easier to forgive with characters that young.

All in all, this was a beautifully emotional love story that exceeded my expectations. Ares and Raquel had great chemistry, and I really liked most of the supporting characters. Would definitely recommend!

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

This movie wasn’t as dark as I expected, though I did enjoy it. Strong performances from two of my favorite actors (River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves), and damn, they looked hot. Call me shallow if you want, but for me, that was the focal point of the movie. I also liked the chemistry between them, and there were lines (especially from Keanu) that were legitimately funny.

Overall? It was a decent movie, though it feels like one I need to watch more than once to fully absorb it.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

So many of my favorite movies were released in 1992. Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Last of the Mohicans, Singles, Wayne’s World, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, The Bodyguard, Sister Act, Encino Man… I’d see them over and over, especially when they hit the dollar theater.

That’s how I ended up missing My Cousin Vinny. There were just too many other great movies to watch, and hey, I was a teenager. Christian Slater and Luke Perry were way more interesting than Joe Pesci.

Since then… I don’t know why I never got around to seeing it. It’s been 30 years (?!), and it’s been recommended by more people than I can count. I guess it just slipped through the cracks, which tends to happen with movies I don’t see right away.

Anyway, I digress. The point is, I finally watched My Cousin Vinny and I loved it. Joe Pesci was great, of course, but Marisa Tomei was brilliant. I totally understand why she won an Oscar for this movie… she was a pleasure to watch from beginning to end. I especially liked her automotive expertise, which was a nice departure from stereotypes that were all too common in the early 90s.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

For 30 years, I’ve heard people rave about this movie. They go on and on about how awesome it is, only to lose their shit when I tell them I’ve never seen it.

Now that I have? I still don’t see what all the fuss is about. Yeah, it was an interesting concept and Bill Murray gave a solid performance, but it didn’t strike me as some great modern classic. It felt average for the time period/genre… not terrible, but not remarkable either.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

I’ve always loved movies about complicated/dysfunctional relationships. Gone Girl definitely fits that criteria, helped by compelling performances from the two main characters (Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike). I was also impressed by Neil Patrick Harris as the creepy ex-boyfriend, and that sex scene? Whoa.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. The mystery/suspense was well done, and there were plenty of shocking twists. I also liked the conclusion (or lack thereof). It left me eager to know what happened next, so much that I wouldn’t mind a sequel.

In the meantime, I have the book, which I’ll be reading this weekend. I’m looking forward to seeing how it compares to the movie.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Renée Zellweger is one of my favorite actresses, and I thought she was the perfect choice for this role. She’s so good at playing fragile, vulnerable characters (i.e. White Oleander). Her portrayal of Judy Garland was no exception.

Needless to say, this wasn’t a cheerful movie. Judy’s life was far from easy, especially those final years when she struggled so much with her addiction. The movie doesn’t shy away from that, though it’s mitigated somewhat by bright spots and brief moments of joy.

Strange, maybe, but those happy moments moved me so much more than the sad ones. They turned a tragic archetype into a fully formed human, one who was still capable of hoping and dreaming and loving despite decades of struggle.

Renée Zellweger captured that brilliantly, giving what I felt was an Oscar worthy performance. It was as respectful as it was compassionate, which of course, is exactly what Judy deserved.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can’t even begin to express how much I adored this movie, other than to say it had me hooked from beginning to end. I loved the plot, I loved the actors, the visuals, the soundtrack… in short, it was the best movie I’ve seen in years.

What made it so good (at least for me) was that it was so fucking relatable. Casual misogyny, predatory sexual behavior especially from so-called “nice guys”? Every woman has had to deal with that shit, and I’m sure most of us have fantasized about payback (I know I have). In that sense, this movie was wish fulfillment, though still realistic in its handling of the subject matter. Vengeance comes at a price. The system is designed to protect the abusers, not the victims. There’s no easy way out for Cassie, something she’s smart enough to realize as she follows through with her plans.

Beyond that, I loved how she (and the movie in general) dealt with complicity. The friends who turned a blind eye. The college dean who insisted on giving the rapist the benefit of the doubt. Those who blamed the victim, the lawyer who slut shamed her in order to exonerate his client. It’s never just one person… this movie did a great job of illustrating that and giving the accomplices the justice they deserved.

All in all, a fantastic (and extremely relevant) movie. I’ll definitely be watching again!

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I really wanted to like this movie, but I just couldn’t get into it. “Understated” crossed the line into “boring”, mostly because the stakes felt so low and I never got invested in any of the characters. That’s not to say that the acting was bad or there was anything wrong with the movie. Just wasn’t my jam.

That said, I did like the soundtrack. Alanis Morrissette and early Dave Matthews are always great, and it was lovely to hear a bit of Ani DiFranco.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐

I was 22 when this movie came out, which happened to be 22 years ago. At the time, I was the target demographic, a huge Winona Ryder fan, and I was all about seeing new releases. Girl, Interrupted was a rare exception, mostly because I got tired of all the hype.

In the end, it took me more than two decades to see it. Now that I have? I can’t say I was blown away. There were things I liked – Angelina Jolie’s character was interesting, and of course, Winona Ryder gave a solid performance. I also enjoyed seeing Brittany Murphy, though her final scene was hard to watch. It just hit too close to home, an inescapable reminder of what happened to her IRL.

Overall? I’m glad I finally got around to seeing this movie, though I doubt I’ll watch it again.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

This movie was made in 1981, and boy, does it show. It’s cheesy, it’s over the top, and more often than not, the acting is terrible. There’s a lack of self-awareness, a tendency toward melodrama, both of which you rarely see in newer movies.

That’s why I enjoyed this one. It was shitty in a good way, stirring up nostalgia for a simpler (and occasionally cringeworthy) time.

Beyond that, I’ve always had a soft spot for teen movies, especially of the darker variety. This one wasn’t as dark as say, Heathers, though it does involve an obsessive boyfriend going off the rails when he can’t see his girlfriend anymore. It’s kind of like an early version of You (the book series/Netflix show) if Joe Goldberg was far more inept and a little less homicidal.

Overall, a fun movie. Not a great one, but fun.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐

To be fair, I came into this movie with a positive bias. I love disaster movies, especially when they involve asteroids. One of my favorites is Armageddon, which I love for its unapologetic idealism and sentimentality. It’s like a time capsule, recalling the innocence and optimism of my early 20s in a pre-9/11 world.

Similarly, Don’t Look Up reflects the world we live in now. It’s rife with cynicism, distrust in the media and scholarly expertise, demonstrating how much faith people have lost in institutions. Corporate greed is ever present, bolstered by corrupt politicians who are determined to use the impending catastrophe to their own advantage.

In short, it isn’t a cheerful movie. It has plenty of dark moments, though those are balanced out by understated yet highly impactful emotional performances and plenty of humor. I laughed as much as I cried, which made for a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐