Between this and Presence, Steven Soderbergh (and writer David Kopek) have owned 2025 early on.
It doesn’t matter the genre, these two are both making really entertaining movies.
Cate Blanchett and Michael Fassbender are a sleek, easy couple to root for.
They match each other perfectly with intelligence and coldness yet you believe they do love each other.
The crisp 94 minute run time keeps the intrigue moving and you even get a fun Pierce Brosnan performance.
There is no line wasted or useless character.
Everything has a purpose.
This is an easy movie to recommend and even better, it’s a perfect date movie.
Black Bag: B+
Novocaine is one hell of an enjoyable movie.
I also need to mention that every line Matt Walsh says is laugh out loud funny.
Haven’t seen a small part this funny since the coach in Teen Wolf.
But, so what?
This is just a fun 110 minutes with characters that are really likable.
I also have to give credit to the fight choreography as it’s also well shot and lit.
Quaid really sells each scene he is in.
Finally, Ray Nicholson (Jack’s son) is a good villain.
Hatable but also pretty damn compelling.
The good performances and sharp script really elevate this movie.
I definitely recommend Novocaine.
Novocaine: B
Movies are a manipulation.
They manipulate what we see and hear but most importantly, how we feel.
Or at least, they are supposed to.
Manipulation is a heavy word but for a movie to work, we have to be manipulated.
Opus fails to make us care about what we are watching.
This should work but there is a disconnect emotionally.
It’s a script without a motive.
The notion of celebrity is not enough to propel a movie for 100 minutes.
The blame for this falls squarely on writer/director Mark Anthony Green.
We are never going to care about the fame of a fictional pop star.
That same passion can’t be emulated in the first act of a movie.
Instead, what should come from the first act is caring about the people on the screen.
Instead of focusing on celebrity focus on the actual people.
That also might be a good life lesson.
Opus: C-
I enjoyed the first half of Looney Tunes: The Day The Earth Blew Up.
If you are expecting the whole Looney Tunes cast of characters, you’ll be disappointed.
You’re only getting Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and Petunia Pig in this one.
But honestly, when the movie is focusing on comedy, that’s enough.
They are such great characters and so perfectly matched.
I can’t recommend this movie but it’s far from bad.
But this is the rare one where the comedy hits that well.
