Some Dude Reviews Movies

"If this wasn't what he wanted, then why did he come to the field of desire?" It seems I was just writing about how rare the good Rom Com is these days. Well, it's time for me to put my foot in my mouth a bit, because there's a new young adult Rom Com that just dropped on Netflix. And it's all the rage. And of course I had to watch it. So, here we are. Summary: Lara Jean writes love letters to boys who will never receive them. It's her coping mechanism: A way to get past a crush or to move on from unrequited love. Only. Those letters got mailed. And now she's in a harebrained fake relationship (replete with an actual contract) with Lacrosse star, Peter, to try and salvage her personal life. But of course that doesn't freaking work. Pros: MORE REPRESENTATION!: I loved Crazy Rich Asians  and I loved that we got actors of asian descent to play almost all of the roles in the film. To All the Boys I've Loved Before  doesn't go ...

"There is no winning... You made sure of that." The Rom Com is an interesting genre: it plays by its own rules, remains largely archetypical, and is nevertheless incredibly popular. But when was the last whopper of a Rom Com? When was the last time a Rom Com stormed theaters and brought glory to the genre? I can't really think of one. That's one of the reasons I was so curious about Jon M. Chu's Crazy Rich Asians , which hit theaters this weekend. Just ONE of the reasons, mind: I was also curious about how the film would handle representation, and whether or not it would be any good (the trailer was fairly promising). So the wife and I decided to go spend our Saturday afternoon at the cinemas. Read on to find out how it went. Summary: Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) has been dating Nick (Henry Golding) for a year, and their relationship is getting serious. He invites her out East, to meet his family. Little does she know the world she is about to enter. It h...

"God bless White America." I have a difficult relationship with Spike Lee's movies. I seem to either love them, or hate them. One thing about him, though, is that he never backs down from a challenging idea. He explores difficult topics without fear. It is a kind of kismet, then, that his latest project tells the madcap story of how the first African American cop in Colorado Springs infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. It's the kind of story that only Spike Lee can tell. But will I love it, or hate it? Summary: Ron Stallworth is the first black cop in Colorado Springs. The first. In history. When he gets promoted to the intelligence division, doing undercover work, he decides to swing for the fences. He calls the local Ku Klux Klan's information hotline. And they call him back. What follows is a story of race, identity, and American values. Pros: Echoes: From the opening frames of this movie, a game Alec Baldwin doing his best Alex Jones impersonation, Sp...

"... like Sriracha hot." I love watching shitty movies. There's a lot of fun to be had enjoying the rotten fruits of someone's labor with friends. This weekend I visited friends, and we watched films together. They said they had what was reportedly one of the most unintentionally hilarious movies of 2017. So, naturally we watched it. Summary: Clare gets a magical Chinese wishing box that grants seven wishes. Her dad found it in the trash. He's a dumpster diver... professionally. I guess. She starts wishing for things, banal bullshit things, but the box exacts a blood price... and hilariously kills random people as recompense. If you don't kind of want to watch this movie after that, this really isn't for you. ** I have decided to forgo my usual Pro/Con format here: terrible movies can be enjoyed on a level separate from a traditional film** Things That Happen in This Movie: Sexy Saxophone:  When your dad is a professional trash picker (scrap...

When I was in high school, I discovered the works of Eugene Ionesco for the first time. He was a playwright who pioneered the Theater of the Absurd movement. He wrote plays that indicted normalcy and the "real world" by using absurd humor and satire. He explored human existence in a unique way. I ate it up. Absurdism, then, has always had a special place in my heart. Utilizing humor to explore complex philosophical ideas is right in my wheelhouse. You can imagine, then, how excited I was for Boots Riley's film, Sorry to Bother You . Summary: Capitalism is bad. Consumerism is bad. Horse people. Blah blah blah. Pros: I did not like this movie. I cannot think of a single strength of the film that does not ultimately become a weakness. Yes, it has a strong cast, but misuses them. Yes, it is funny, but its jokes undermine its story and stakes and sometimes feel like juvenile stabs are profundity. Cons: Too Many Ideas: The film is stuffed to the gills with ideas. Th...

"Eighth grade is the worst." I can still remember being in middle school. I went to a K-6 school, and transferred to a 7-8 school. My two years there felt like an eternity, as time does when you are very young. I remember stupid jokes, hating gym class, and that time all the girls got tongue piercings, because they were the cool thing. It was, to say the least, an interesting time. When I heard that comedian Bo Burnham had made his directorial debut (he wrote the film, also), my interest was piqued. When I saw that his little indie film was playing at my local theater (which very rarely EVER gets indie properties), I knew I had to see it. So I did. Summary: It is Kayla Day's last week as an eighth grader. She makes Youtube videos that no one watches, and spends most of her free time in the darkness, illuminated by the light of her phone or laptop. We're going to spend some time with Kayla. Pros: Music: The music is this movie is wonderful. Anna Meredith...

"Once again I must ask too much of you Harry." The table is largely set; the last few pieces moving into place. With Half-Blood Prince , the Potter franchise is rounding third, heading home. ** I will be openly discussing spoilers for the plot of this film. I try my best NOT to spoil major plot turns, but a discussion of this film, and its importance, is impossible without addressing a key plot turn. So, ya know, proceed at your own risk ** Summary: The Wizardng World can no longer deny the return of He Who Must Not Be Named, seeing as he showed up in the Ministry of Magic and tried to murder a bunch of kids. Harry and his friends, fresh from that dust-up with the dark lord, must return to school. Dumbledore has a special mission for Harry, too: there's a new Potions Master at Hogwarts, and he has key information that may help The Order defeat Voldemort. Harry's going to have to get that information, at all costs. Pros: Dumbledore: Schemer: Dumbledore is...

"... born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies..." Goblet of Fire  was, upon second viewing, a bit of a let down. It was scattershot, and failed to ably adapt one of the largest books in the series. I was worried about Order of the Phoenix . I remember being a bit upset with it when I first saw it, due, in large part, to my nerd-rage at the film's omission of "absolutely essential details from the book." These years later, does that critique stand? Summary: Harry Potter is headed back to Hogwarts for his fifth year. But he'll get some help from burgeoning wizarding resistance movement, The Order of the Phoenix. There is a new, bureaucratic evil at Hogwarts, and she has nothing to do with Voldemort. Harry is going to need to step up and take his, and his friends', education into his own hands. Pros: Beautifully Shot: David Yates steps into the director's chair for this outing, and would remain there ...