Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2025)

 

Heavy on the religiosity and convoluted mystery that ultimately didn’t feel all that rewarding. It was fine. 

Rating: C

The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)

Despite a ridiculous title, it was a mostly heartwarming and occasionally funny adventure film.

Rating: C+

Sideways (2004)

A perfectly fine and entertaining movie, but not best picture nominee material.

Rating: C+

Spanglish (2004)

I like James L. Brooks' characters. This film is full of great ones, and it's fun to watch them interact. This is Sandler's second great dramatic role, although I prefered him in Punch Drunk Love. Tea Leoni is fantastic as his dysfunctional wife. Paz Cruz is  devastatingly beautiful. Sandler's daughter is perfectly cast. The story may not be perfect, but the rest of the film makes up for it.

Rating: B-

Killer Joe (2011)

I didn’t care for the beginning, but things got interesting once McCaughnahay came on screen. A real creepy, perverse role that he seemed all too comfortable with. The movie was dark and ultimately pointless.

Rating: D

Idiocracy (2006)

Does anyone else see the bitter irony here but me? It took the man responsible for helping to dumb down America via Beavis & Butthead to help us see just how dumb we are getting. This is one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. It's not difficult to believe in the possibility of this hypothetical future he has created.

While I don't see ignoramuses ruling the world anytime soon, I think he does proffer some good points. So grab a tub of buttery corn and enjoy this DVD, but make sure to read a few books after. For the sake of mankind.

Rating: B-

We Bought A Zoo (2011)

Unrealistic and bland. He forks over every penny he has for this zoo and then they call him a fraud? Motives and reactions didn’t make any sense. It was never really clear why his son was so dark and twisted. That doesn’t come from your mom dying. The time they spend moping on and on about his dead wife are agonizing. His daughter was the one bright spot. This would have been a much better film if they simply bought a zoo and skipped all the dead mom crap. The sad truth of it all is that the zoo should have been shut down from the very start. Most of the animals are living in terrible conditions and being abused.

Here’s a much better plot. Single dad moves with his normal son and daughter to the country to buy a zoo and start over. Comedy ensues with the city folk running a zoo. Wife is a divorced crack addict. Romance blossoms with Scarlett J and Elle F. Drama happens when the mom cleans herself up and returns to claim the kids. Eventually mom realizes family is better off where they are at. Zoo marriage. Run credits. No need for downer-city with the dead wife and obnoxious son. No old photo montages to illicit tears.

Rating: D

John Carter (2012)

I read the series as a kid, but nothing in the film seemed familiar. Friends of mine who read the books more recently said they played fast and loose with their interpretation. If you can get past the terrible dialogue, delivery, and trite plot devices, it’s a fun way to spend a couple hours. Looked great on the big screen. Curious if they can make their money back.

Rating: C

Smart People (2008)

The title is also the target audience, as the humor is oftentimes subtle, dry and high brow. Sorry fans of Blue Collar Comedy Tour. Very funny performances put in by this ensemble cast. Sure, I was slightly distracted by Sarah J Parker's massive mole, as usual, but not enough to disrupt my movie experience.

Rating: B-

Easy A (2010)

Cute at times. I especially liked her parents. I think I have a secret man-crush on Stanley Tucci. I had a hard time getting past the preposterous plot though. It was as far fetched as the high school she went to. Can't they at least try to make it remotely close to what high school is really like? This was borderline sci-fi.

Rating: D+