Category: Three Sentence Movie Reviews

All Movies Watched on Kanopy May—Present

Kanopy. Quality films for free.

Here are five movies I’ve loved that you can watch right now. For free!

Five Really Great Movies on Kanopy Now

  • Night Moves. I call this Kelly Reichardt’s most “commercial” film as it stars people who have also been in superhero films. But it’s still a very quiet contemplation of environmental activists.
  • Humpday. Lynn Shelton’s portrait of two guys at different phases in their lives who goad each other into dumb things is astutely observed and quite funny.
  • A Town Called Panic. If you want a good laugh, take in this animated feature from a couple of hilarious Belgians. Nutty incidents abound.
  • The Spectacular Now. Shailene Woodley on her way up, and near-peak Miles Teller, this story about a high school senior who made the transition from fun drunk to alcoholic earlier than his peers has a lot of great moments.
  • Drinking Buddies. You have to be the kind of person who likes ponderous films where not much happens, but if you are: wow! The tension is amped up in this film about brewery employees.

Good

  • The Watermelon Woman
  • Picture of Evan Rachel Wood, Callum Rennie, and Ellen Page in the film Into the Forest
  • Picture of Dominique Fishback and Tatum Marilyn Hall in Night Comes On
  • Drawing of the stars of the Hitch-Hiker: Edmond O'Brien, Frank Lovejoy, and William Talman
  • A depiction of a reel of film with the faces of Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Keanu Reeves, Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Billy Bob Thornton
  • Picture of Taysha Fuller, Irene Bedard and John Reddy in the motion picture Songs My Brothers Taught Me.

Skip

  • The Beat Beneath My Feet
  • A picture of Francisco Solorzano and Patrizia Hernandez with a sketch of NYC brownstones behind them
  • A picture of Kristen Wiig in the film Welcome to Me.
  • A picture of Cynthia Nixon and Jennifer Ehle in the film A Quiet Passion

The Last Thing He Wanted: Not Great

Anne Hathaway and Rosie Perez in The Last Thing He Wanted

The Last Thing He Wanted

Directed by Dee Rees
Written by Marco Villalobos, Dee Rees

The review:

This was the kind of subpar movie where even analyzing what went wrong didn’t make it more fun. I think ultimately, not enough was revealed to the viewer to hook them in* and what results is 110 minutes of not-quite getting it and 5 minutes at the end where things are revealed. I also found the terse speech patterns of Anne Hathaway’s character to detract from, rather than add to, the film.

The verdict: Skip

Cost: Netflix monthly fee $8.99
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*Or perhaps I didn’t catch the things I was supposed to catch.

Questions:

  • Would you be interested in other films that portray women journalists?
  • Where do you think this film got off track?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Ben Affleck replaced Nicolas Cage.

Other reviews of The Last Thing He Wanted:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: In a perfect world we make perfect choices. In the real world we make real choices. —The Last Thing He Wanted. Read the three sentence movie review: 3SMReviews.com

Loser is Uneven, Has Charming Bits

Mena Suvari and Jason Biggs in Loser

Loser

Directed by Amy Heckerling
Written by Amy Heckerling

The review:

This is an excellent chronicle* of not fitting in** and has a killer 2000-era soundtrack.*** While I found the performances of Jason Bigg and Mena Suvari subpar, I think this film does represent how awkward starting college in a new town can be. You might only watch this if you are Heckerling completeist or freshman-year curious, but there are some nice scenes.

The verdict: Skip

(unless motivated by the above categories)

Cost: $3.99 via Google Play
Where watched: at home

Consider watching instead:

Further sentences:

*It’s a lesser chronicle of nuanced characters in that the bad people are very bad and the good people are very good.
**I completely related to the not fitting in plot when I first watched this as I was in the midst of not fitting in at the time.
***”Teenage Dirtbag” starts us off, and it just keeps getting better.

Questions:

  • Would this movie have worked better if the characters had some nuance?
  • What was the most memorable scene?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

In a February 2017 feature at The Ringer that interviewed Amy Heckerling and wrote about her entire career, Heckerling said that the main reason this film failed is that the studio insisted it be delivered as a PG-13 film even though it was intended by everyone else, from Heckerling to the since-departed studio executives who’d greenlit production, as an R-rated comedy. The studio said that R-rated comedies weren’t welcomed by enough audiences and forced the film to be watered down considerably. Heckerling said the movie failed because audiences could tell it was not doing what it was intended to do

(Yet another opportunity to observe that making good movies is hard!)

Other reviews of Loser:

The links are all dead. Here are some takeaways:

  • Amy Taubin, Village Voice: The most progressive, good-hearted studio film of the summer.
  • Maitlan McDonagh, TV Guide: A sweet-natured and refreshingly uncartoonlike look at the trials of an unworldly Midwestern college boy negotiating his freshman year at NYU
  • Kim Morgan, The Oregonian: The script is atypically bland for Heckerling.
I love self-loathing complaint rock you can dance to. —Loser. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

All Movies Rented from Redbox July–Present

Five really great movies at Redbox right now:

There’s nothing new to report on the Redbox front. I’ve still got the problem of movies not really being released. But I do have five new recommendations for you.

(I’m not sure how regional Redbox is. Your mileage may vary.)

  • A Star is Born. (2018) One of my top films of 2018, and one of three versions of ASiB you should watch. (The others are the versions from 1937 and from 1954.)
  • Belle. Looking for a costume drama that also focuses on issues of race? This here is your film. Plus a great performance by Gugu Mbatha-Raw
  • Coach Carter. Is it basketball season again? Regardless, check out Samuel L. Jackson as a coach with high expectations for his players. Also features a young Channing Tatum.
  • Central Intelligence. A dumb comedy that is very funny with Kevin Hart as the straight man. You need to laugh? Watch this film.
  • Clueless. Amy Heckerling’s version of Emma. You can probably still get the 2020 version of Emma also.
  • Picture from movie The Assistant
  • Picture of Marsai Martin and Issa Rae stars of Little

Recommended

  • A picture of Hailee Steinfeld hugging the robot Bumblebee in the film Bumblebee
  • A picture of Alexis Rae Forlenza, Pete Davidson, and Luke David Blumm in The King of Staten Island
  • Picture of the cast of Murder on the Orient Express including Kenneth Branagh, Penelope Cruz, Michelle Pfeiffer, Judi Dench, Olivia Coleman and more.

Good

Shithouse: An Imperfect Window into Freshman Year

Cooper Raiff and Dylan Gelula in the film Shithouse

Shithouse

Directed by Cooper Raiff
Written by Cooper Raiff

The review:

Movies that capture transition periods are my favorite, especially of those that capture transitions around college,* so I greatly enjoyed watching Alex Malmquist (Cooper Raiff) struggle during his freshman year. This film is great at capturing the discomfort of not connecting,** and echoes a bit of Before Sunrise, though it also lingers a little too long in the middle. I’m also not thrilled with the ending, but enjoyed the performances*** enough to make it worth watching, though I do think the title could have been better chosen.****

The verdict: Good

Cost: $6.99 via Google Play
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*Either into college or out of college. I think those times, which generally feature the loss of established support networks, leave a lot of room for drama.
**The conversations Raiff had with his stuffed animal were both amusing and painful to watch.
***Dylan Gelula is great as the RA that Cooper spends the night with. Logan Miller (whom I last saw in Love, Simon) continues his mostly odious streak as Sam, Alex’s roommate.
****The name comes from a house where a party is held. The house is named Shithouse. The scenes spent at the house were few, and I didn’t feel like the title extrapolated to the rest of the movie in a way that made it worth its use of a swear.

Questions:

  • College freshmen with full beards, do they exist? Did Cooper Raiff’s facial hair make him seem much older than a freshman?
  • Did anything about this movie seem similar to a college experience you had?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

Nothing IMDB, I found a rambling interview that gave me this factoid:

Jay Duplass served as Cooper Raiff’s mentor after Raiff tweeted a screener at Duplass with the caption, “Bet you won’t click on this link!”

Other reviews of Shithouse:

Top Movies October 2020

(11 total films watched) (2 re-watched)

As you can see, October was a great movie-watching month!

Re-watched:

Saving Face

When your mom comes to live with you.

Lynn Chenn looking at Michelle Krusiec in the film Saving Face. A star with text: Good. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com: Saving Face

The Birds

When the birds come to town.

Still from Alfred Hitchcock's film the Birds: Tippi Hedren fleeing from some awesome crows along with two children. A star with text: Good. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com: The Birds

Northern Soul

When you find your thing.

A picture of Elliot James Langridge in the film Northern Soul. A star with text: Good. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com: Northern Soul

How to Talk to Girls at Parties

When movies are bizarre.

Alex Sharp and Elle Fanning in the film How to Talk to Girls at Parties. A star with text: Good. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com: How to Talk to Girls at Parties

The Trial of the Chicago 7

When justice isn’t being served.

Alex Sharp, Jeremy Strong, John Carroll Lynch and Sacha Baron Cohen backed by a wall of protesters in the Trial of the Chicago 7. A star with text: Recommended. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com The Trial of the Chicago 7

Rebecca (1940)

When you marry that guy you met in Monte.

Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine in Rebecca. A star with text: Recommended. An arch with text: 3SMReviews Rebecca (1940)

Rebecca (2020)

When you try your hand at a classic.

Armie Hammer and Lily James in Rebecca (2020). Star with text: Good. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com: Rebecca (2020)

Adrift

When the trip doesn’t go as planned.

Shailene Woodley in the film Adrift. A star with text Good. An arch with text: 3SMReviews.com: Adrift

Songs My Brothers Taught Me

When your family is fractured.

Picture of Taysha Fuller, Irene Bedard and John Reddy in the motion picture Songs My Brothers Taught Me. A star with text: Good. An arch with the text: 3SMReviews.com: Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Songs My Brothers Taught Me Shows Lives on the Rez

Picture of Taysha Fuller, Irene Bedard and John Reddy in the motion picture Songs My Brothers Taught Me.

Songs My Brothers Taught Me

Directed by Chloé Zhao
Written by Chloé Zhao

The review:

Depictions of Rez Life are rare in film, and it’s saying something that a Chinese director, not an American, was the person who made this film about Johnny and Jashaun Winter and their life on the Pine Ridge Reservation.* This is a Wandering Through sort of film and there’s much to observe, though there is a bit of plot holding everything together.** This film showed depressing and hopeful aspects of a community that seems to exist in America without much notice by the general public.

The verdict: Good

Cost: Free via Kanopy, the library’s free streaming service.
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

  • The Rider
  • Smoke Signals
  • I don’t have much knowledge in this area.
  • Here is a list from Indian Country Today

Further sentences:

*I was first introduced to Zhao with the 2018’s excellent The Rider, which also takes place on Pine Ridge.
**As with The Rider, the plot is not super important. Zhao is great at holding your attention.

Questions:

  • What would life on the Rez look like if a billion promises hadn’t been broken?
  • What do you think it would take to have a regular pipeline of Indian-produced films?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

On a DVD extra, director Chloé Zhao said of the tight budget, light plotting, and neo-realist style casting, “We’re capturing truth—because truth is the only thing we can afford.” The production used mostly local residents as actors, and, according to Zhao, 80% of the story depicted is true to the actual life of the young man playing Johnny Winters (John Reddy). The house that Winters lives in is the house that Reddy lived in, and Reddy, also one of twenty-five children to one father, has many of his real family members playing members of his family. In fact, the man shown delivering the eulogy for Winters’ father is Reddy’s actual father.

Other reviews of Songs My Brothers Taught Me:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Thing about breaking a horse is, don't run 'em all the time. 'Cause if you're gonna just keep running a horse, you're gonna break its spirit. Anything that runs wild got something bad in 'em. You want to leave some of that in there. 'Cause they need it to survive out here. —Songs My Brothers Taught Me. Read the three sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com

Adrift is a Survival Win

Shailene Woodley in the film Adrift.

Adrift

Directed by Baltasar Kormákur
Written by Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell, and David Brandson Smith

The review:

I think one has to be in a certain mood to watch survival-at-sea-type films, and if you are anywhere near such a mood, please find time for Adrift which is not only a solid entry into the genre, but a great depiction of a woman getting things done.* I thought the back-and-forth structure worked well for the film’s general tension—there was both respite and insight in the flashbacks and I liked how they were often linked to the present. Claflin is good, and Woodley is her usual excellent self, so there’s no reason not to find and watch this film of survival.

The verdict: Recommended

Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*That we don’t have a better pipeline to these types of films is frustrating. I was intrigued by the trailer but did not prioritize this film for a few years. Part of it was not being in an ocean survival mood, but I wonder if I would have been quicker on the draw if I knew how much woman power this film has?

Questions:

  • How would you have cut the trailer to better bring out this story?
  • What’s your favorite Shailene Woodley role?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

According to Shailene Woodley, there were times on the open sea when, except for the director and cinematographer, everybody was throwing up overboard due to severe seasickness.

(I’ve never wanted to be an actor, and for sure I’ve never wanted to film a movie on open water.)

Other reviews of Adrift:

Orange background with a white frame. Text: What's it like sailing out there on your own? —Adrift. Read the three sentence movie review.3SMReviews.com

Rebecca 2020: A Reminder to Catch Up With The 1940 Best Picture

Armie Hammer and Lily James in Rebecca (2020)

Rebecca (2020)

Directed by Ben Wheatley
Written by Jane Goldman, Joe Shrapenel, Anna Waterhouse

The review:

While this new version of Rebecca brings us the story of the second Mrs. de Winter in Technicolor and with a bigger budget* than its predecessor, it manages to drag, even though its runtime is eight minutes shorter.** I appreciate Kristin Scott Thomas’s take on housekeeper Mrs. Danvers, but it wasn’t as effective as Judith Anderson whose performance made the 1940’s version so enjoyable. Overall, the kind of newer version that is fine, especially if you haven’t seen the previous version, and perhaps it will encourage people to seek out Hitchcock’s classic.***

The verdict: Good

Cost: Netflix monthly fee ($8.99)
Where watched: at home

Consider also watching:

Further sentences:

*So much lingering on vast vistas! Perhaps that’s what made it seem long.
**On the plus side, though Maxim’s proposal retains its put down, Lily James has a bit more agency as the second Mrs. de Winter, especially near the end of the film.
***Which, if your library doesn’t have it, is a little hard to find. This needs to pop up on streaming tout suite!

Questions:

  • What’s your Rebecca pleasure? 1940 or 2020?
  • Would you like to live in the suite of rooms that were Rebecca’s?

Favorite IMDB trivia item:

The car is a 1937 Bentley.

I got some great Cruella de Ville vibes from the driving scenes.

Other reviews of Rebecca (2020):

Orange background with a white frame. Text: Show me an eligible bachelor and I'll show you a room full of women acting like they've lost their minds. —Rebecca (2020) Read the three-sentence movie review. 3SMReviews.com