Anna Tole

This is a beautiful, slow-burn style film. It was gorgeously made, but it is not for everyone. As someone who struggles to express feelings, and therefore struggles to connect/form relationships, this movie felt like it was made for me. It felt like the film was reaching out through the screen, wrapping me in a therapeutic hug, reaching out a hand to welcome me back to humanity. Do not expect action. I think if I had any critique for this film, it would be the marketing. They should have marketed this movie for what it is - a quiet, internal, beautiful character study/humanity study. The film is created gorgeously, I might add - the cinematography, editing, visuals, musical score, and sound design is awesome. This movie seeks to capture the essence of isolation, and it does it well. This is a quiet movie, best watched alone - on a big screen, in a dark room, with a solid sound system. I can't say enough about the score - it is BEAUTIFUL. The acting is understated and perfect. Brad Pitt has always been a great actor, and he truly captures a lonely soul. His character does not say much throughout the movie, but he conveys so much through his eyes. You can see his inner turmoil. This is a heavy movie, with heavy themes about what it means to be a human on earth. It's a nihilistic movie, but optimistic at the same time. This is best watched when you're in a pensive/reflective mood, and like I say - it's best watched alone. I waited a long time to watch this movie, for no particular reason. Now that I've seen it, it's become one of my favorite movies of 2019. Space has never looked so beautiful!

This movie was way ahead of its time. I'm serious. I think a LOT of actors/characters have borrowed 'inspiration' from Val's Chris Knight character. It's like Ryan Reynolds watched this movie and decided to model his sense of humor after Chris Knight. A third of the way into the movie, I had to pause the movie because I couldn't comprehend that this was the same person who played Doc Holliday. Anyone who doesn't think Val is a good actor is a fool, and this movie proves it. The writing is smart, the characters are fleshed out and have their time to shine, the cute romance is surprisingly excellent, and the soundtrack is killer. It's got dumb humor, it's got smart humor, it's surprisingly heartwarming, and somehow made me miss college... which is a miracle. This is certainly an underrated 80s movie, and has aged well. Chris Knight was a cool character back then, and he's just as cool today. This movie is a hidden gem, and it's worth adding to your collection.

I was not prepared for my emotional reaction to this documentary. The care put into it is palpable, and it's gorgeous. Just be prepared going in - seeing Val's condition is pretty shocking. You can tell that he's genuinely at peace with his situation, with a positive outlook on life. It seems that he's got a bit of Doc Holiday in him :) While Val has reached a good place, I found myself struggling. So many of my favorite movies have featured Val Kilmer, I almost felt as though I was mourning his death. This documentary really made me feel how quickly time passes, and how much life can change without you even realizing it. As a nostalgic person in general, this documentary has the perfect amount of angst/existentialism, while somehow remaining optimistic. I feel overwhelmingly nostalgic when it comes to my own life, and watching Val's life on the screen made me nostalgic for a life I never lived. All I can say is that I won't forget watching it, and I will probably check out his book "I'm Your Huckleberry" next. Like Val, I am optimistic about his future, no matter how bittersweet his current situation is. I would definitely suggest checking this documentary out - it is personal, touching, and mesmerizing.

I love this movie. You wouldn't expect him to be a good fit for a movie like this, but man it works. He feels like the everyday father, and the action scenes are still believable. Not only are they believable, but they're extremely well done. The violence feels real and visceral, and isn't overused (although I acknowledge that's a pretty subjective opinion). If you're a fan of movies like John Wick, you will enjoy this. It's obviously not as stylistic, but it has its own charm. Christopher Lloyd is an absolute joy as usual, and you can tell he really enjoyed his role. The entire team behind this movie put in a lot of effort and care, and it shows. It has a lot to say about men and masculinity, not all of it good and not all of it bad - very realistic. There is a time and place for those typical masculine characteristics, and if you want to read into those themes you can - otherwise, just sit back and enjoy the choreography!

I really, REALLY love this film. I may be slightly biased, of course: I've watched The Shining far too many times to count, and would include it in my top 5 favorite films of all time - I practically have the entire film memorized. Now I'm ashamed to admit this, but I didn't get around to seeing Dr. Sleep in theaters. I watched the trailer multiple times, and was, naturally, unbelievably excited. Unfortunately life is busy, and I didn't make this movie enough of a priority. Looking back, I think my subconscious was terrified that this movie would be a letdown. When I finally did rent it, I watched it with my father who (much to my chagrin) has never seen The Shining. He and I were both completely drawn in, and when the credits rolled we enthusiastically agreed that it was a great movie. A few days later, I found myself still thinking about it. I realized that I wanted - no, needed to watch it again. So, I bought the blu ray. When my dad realized I was watching it again, he quickly joined me... with my dad, he only rewatches movies that he truly enjoys. The credits rolled I realized that I didn't just like this movie... I love it! My dad and I ended up watching this movie 3 times over the course of a few weeks. He still hasn't seen The Shining, but he loves this movie. It will absolutely be one that we rewatch every year. If you're hesitating to watch this movie for whatever, don't. It doesn't try to be The Shining, which would've been a huge mistake. Instead, it is entirely it's own movie. It perfectly establishes new characters, has a wonderful storyline, great cinematography... the score is heavily influenced by the original, and I wouldn't have had it any other way. The pulsing, unsettling heartbeat is always present, perhaps symbolizing the fact that Dan hasn't escaped his past. Mike Flanagan did a fantastic job in every way. If you haven't watched his Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, do it now. He crafts great stories, builds tension, and handles character relationships beautifully. Going into Dr. Sleep, I was delighted with his attention to character. If you're like me, you're very attached to these characters. Jack, Wendy, Dick, Danny... I have a lot of emotional investment with each of them. Flanagan shows respect to each of these characters, and doesn't push them aside or mistreat them. If you're like me, and have a deep love for the original movie, you might find yourself getting teary-eyed a few times. Dan's story is relatable, touching, and surprisingly emotional. Ewan McGregor was, without a doubt, the perfect choice. He has a genuine melancholy that makes you 100% believe this is the same person that lived through the terrors of The Overlook. He portrays issues like PTSD and alcoholism beautifully. The rest of the cast is fantastic as well, and the villains are the best I've seen in a very long time. This movie is fantastic, don't let yourself miss out on it. This is fantastic psychological horror, a worthy sequel to one of the best movies of all time.

I don't remember the last time a movie affected me in such a way. This is criminally underrated. It's not easy to watch, and I found myself deeply disturbed each time a different sense was lost. The concept, losing every sense one-by-one, is so simple and yet so affective. The love story is very natural, and the soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous. I found myself disturbed, anxious, nostalgic, and overwhelmingly melancholic. And yet the undercurrent of this movie is one of hope and perseverance. Since watching this movie, I find myself noticing beauty in the mundane and appreciating my senses in ways I never did before. Do yourself a favor and watch this movie. Wrap yourself up in a blanket, have a warm comforting drink, and let yourself soak it all in. I would definitely suggest watching this movie by yourself, with no distractions. Have a loved one somewhere nearby, so you can give them a hug once you finish the movie - just trust me on that one.