The Substance (2024)

 

Perhaps there were some life lessons to be learned from this movie, but the closing sequence will have erased them from your mind. There’s a decent story in the first half, which descends into a gonzo freak-fest in the second. Demi Moore put her whole self into this character. It’s something to behold, although you may wish you hadn’t. 

Rating: D+

Drive-Away Dolls (2024)

How is this a Coen Brothers film? How did they get Matt Damon and Pedro Pascal to debase themselves with cameos? Was this supposed to be a comedy? It wasn’t funny. Was it supposed to be a sexy lesbian romp? No heat or chemistry at all. A dark thriller? This flick had zero pulse. 

Total disappointment. Complete flop. 

Rating: F

Poor Things (2023)

I’m not particularly fond of Yorgos Lanthimos’s work, but I was intrigued with the award nominations and Emma Stone, so went to see it with my cousin. Captivating and often funny, but seemed way too focused on her sexual awakening. Multiple people got up and left the theater midway through. 

Emma’s performance was pretty spectacular. I’m sure many would say brave. She put it all out there. Not for the squeamish. 

Rating: C

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood (2019)

Another slow buildup to a wild finale like Hateful Eight--but with more buildup. For a while I was afraid the entire film would simply be Brad Pitt running errands.

At the same time, it was fun to see old Hollywood so meticulously recreated. The end is a bloody trip. Not one of Tarantino’s best, but still unique and fun. 

Rating: B-

The Nice Guys (2016)

Why are movies even a thing anymore when television shows surpassed them years ago? If this were a pilot, I would have stopped watching halfway through.

Rating: D+