Weekly Recap: Power of the Dog, West Side Story, Nightmare Alley & More!


It's the final month of the year, which means a variety of films will be opening that range from huge blockbusters to small films intended for award consideration. There are only so many new releases available for all to see this week, but I did want to provide some special mention to The Power of the Dog. While I previously linked my review, I just feel the need to point out how I've rewatched the film, and while my initial take was that I found the film impressive, upon further study (it hasn't really left my mind), it's genuinely one of the best of the year, and worth watching on Netflix now.

Additionally, I have early reviews for Steven Spielberg's terrific West Side Story and Guillermo del Toro's moody noir, Nightmare Alley. Plus, take a listen to our latest podcast covering House of Gucci. So, enjoy all of these reviews and more, and be sure to check out my various essays, lists, and new trailers available to dig into as well. Enjoy, stay safe out there, and thanks for reading!

New Movie Reviews:

(All Reviews Are Linked)

Recent Reviews:

New On 4K/Blu-ray/DVD:​​ 

Podcast:

  • House of Gucci - Aaron and Abe made sure to get on the right lists so they could talk all about Ridley Scott's second film of the year, House of Gucci, starring Lady Gaga, Adam Driver, Jared Leto, Jeremy Irons, and Al Pacino.
  • Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Commentary - Aaron is joined by Brandon Peters, Yancy Berns, and Scott Mendelson to discuss Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (or Philosopher's Stone) on its 20th anniversary.
  • All Episodes
By

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Sex, Drugs, Car Chases – It’s Not High School, It’s ’21 Jump Street’

Image
21 Jump Street :  4 out of 5 Jenko:   Always one strap it.   Always So anyone that was hoping for the dark and gritty reboot of the 80s undercover cop drama 21 Jump Street in the same way that Michael Mann rebooted Miami Vice , they will be disappointed with what has actually been made.  Instead, this is a delightfully funny and wild take on that material, which is like a crack-addicted blend between John Hughes and Lethal Weapon .  This new take on 21 Jump Street maintains the same basic premise of assigning cops to undercover roles as high school kids, but ups the raunchy factor significantly.  The film is at times crude, but also a lot cleverer and more self aware than one would expect.  It is entertaining in a wonderfully over-the-top sort of way, with Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum making for a great comedic team.
Read more

Out Now Bonus: Aaron And His Mom Discuss ‘The Babadook’

Image
This bonus episode of Out Now with Aaron and Abe is a real treat. Aaron’s mother, Denise, returns to the podcast! She has recently seen the acclaimed Australian horror film The Babadook’ and really wanted to talk to Aaron about it, so here they are discussing the film in full. Keep in mind that this is a full-spoilers discussion of the film, so be sure to check out The Babadook , which is now available to rent or own and is currently streaming on Netflix. You can also find links to the episode at AudioBoom .  Subscribe via iTunes HERE listen to ‘Out Now Bonus: Aaron And His Mom Discuss ‘The Babadook’’ on audioBoom
Read more

‘Texas Chainsaw 3D’ Tears Through The Floors And Hits Rock Bottom

Image
Texas Chainsaw 3D :   1 out of 5 Nikki:   Do you know anything about this place? Heather:   Just the address. Starting this year out on the right foot, the latest entry in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise manages to put Hollywood in a position to go nowhere but up.   I do enjoy my share of horror films and was happy to enter into this film with an open mind, but man is it terrible.   Given my love for the original film and my general fondness for the second, the idea of a film billed as a direct continuation of the original entry written and directed by Tobe Hooper was slightly intriguing.   Even in a post- Cabin in the Woods world, where horror movies can be boiled down to words on a dry erase board, I went for it.   The results were not good.   Texas Chainsaw 3D is not just a bad film, it is an idiotic one that literally cannot do basic math.   Read on to find out why.
Read more

The Homesman Is Surreal, Grim Stuff (Movie Review)

Image
The Homesman :  3 out of 5 Marry Bee Cuddy:  Come on, girls. How grim is too grim and when does it just start becoming a little humorous?  Earlier this year we had a novel idea for a film in the form of A Million Ways to Die in the West .  That film did not work for me overall, but the idea of making a western film that put emphasis on how terrible a time it could really be was a funny one.  Tommy Lee Jones’ second directorial effort, The Homesman , based on the novel by Glendon Swarthout, is a film that sits in grim territory, but pushes things so far that it becomes a strange sort of dark comedy.  The film has a large cast of great actors, but they all provide merely decent to good performances.  Hilary Swank stands out, but that makes sense, given that she does most of the heavy-lifting, with strong support from Jones to back her up.  Really, the film seems confused by how sprawling it could be versus how effectively poignant it may be if the film felt a bit more consiste
Read more

‘Pain & Gain’ Is A True Story Of Bodybuilding Kidnappers Filmed Bay-Style

Image
Pain & Gain : 3 ½ out of 5 Daniel Lugo :   My name is Daniel Lugo and I believe in fitness. Pain & Gain is what it looks like when Michael Bay decides he wants to make a little movie, as opposed to another action epic.   The director known for making bombastic action blockbusters has taken a step back to make a smaller film based on a true story, but it does not mean he put his signature style in check.   Pain & Gain is very glossy film, gorgeous at times, and certainly not subtle.   It is also an incredibly dark comedy, with a story so ridiculous that it has to be true, and it is.   Based on a true crime story, this film does its best to depict what happens when seemingly good-natured crooks get in way over their heads and resort to drastic measures to achieve their American dream.   While Bay’s style can be grating for some, the mix of a strong cast and a messy, but compelling story makes this a film with a lot more going on than the standard Bay blockbuste
Read more

Search This Blog