Dave Millet

"War changes people something terrible." - Domnhall Gleeson as Starbroad Thewes This is one of those movies that I really don't have much to complain about. It's just a well-crafted piece of filmmaking all around, visually beautiful and emotionally engaging with dimensional characters that make the 2.5 hour journey more than worth it. One of the movie's greatest assets lies in its depiction not only of the brutal challenges of war, but in the way it changes people. The filmmakers really did a great job of giving these ideas genuine resonance without making this a completely depressing story. In fact, there's quite a bit of humor in COLD MOUNTAIN, much of it courtesy of Renee Zellweger's award-winning performance as Ruby, the spunky hands-on, no-nonsense young woman who helps Nicole Kidman's character, Ada, learn to survive through an excruciating time. Another major accomplishment comes from the fact that, despite Nicole Kidman and Jude Law's characters having so little time together onscreen, there's a genuine chemistry between the characters that makes their story surprisingly poignant. Overall, COLD MOUNTAIN works on more than one level: a gripping love story, an intense portrayal of war, and a deep and powerful testament to faith, hope, and friendship that never comes across as "preachy" or "sugar-coated." (And I'm not much of a reader, but part of me is tempted to plunge into the book on which this is based.)

A creative assault on the eyes, the mind, and surprisingly, the heart that can be a bit overwhelming visually, but it gives us characters that I found easy to identify with, along with some eye-popping action, comedy that absolutely sparkles, and an emotional core that truly surprised me. I'll admit that there were moments that were quite confusing, but thankfully, as the movie progressed, I was able to keep up a bit more, and boy, it was worth the ride. Just don't expect complete clarity in this adventure. The film took home seven Academy Awards - including Best Picture and Best Director - with three of those awards for acting, and mark my words, those praises were well-deserved. This cast is absolutely sensational, and amidst the frantic, almost dreamlike shifts from one reality to the next, they give the movie its greatest asset: an emotional and truly resonant core. Michelle Yeoh was finally given the leading role she's deserved for so long, and it's easily her greatest screen performance yet. She makes Evelyn a truly identifiable character, allowing us to feel the chaos and frustration of the world, and the pain of disconnection from those we love. She is given equally compelling support by Ke Huy Quan as Evelyn's soon-to-be ex-husband, and his endearing presence could not have been more perfect. As Evelyn's daughter, Joy, Stephanie Hsu provides the film a strong emotional pulse, and her relationship with her mother is captured in a poignant way. Finally, we have Jamie Lee Curtis in what is easily one of the best moments of her career thus far as Deidre, bringing both humor and heart to what could've been a one-sided role. She's an absolute blast to watch here, and I honestly can't wait to see what the future holds for her. It's always refreshing to see filmmakers take chances like this, and the Daniels have truly gone far above and far beyond to give this to the world. (Note: I'm still not sure if I'll be able to eat hot dogs or bagels again!😂)

The first film was a charming and endearing piece of fantasy filmmaking that has, over time, been embraced with love by audiences and critics, and it ultimately became a staple in the genre. The characters were appealing in that they were easy to like, the visuals felt unique and immersive (they're a bit dated now, but that's not really issue, thankfully) and the story, based on Michael Ende's novel, managed to pull you in with surprising ease. It's still considered a fantasy classic, and one that I, like many others, hold very dearly. Unfortunately, the 1990 sequel, while far from the worst movie I've seen, completely abandons everything that made its predecessor so fun to watch. For starters, the completely new cast didn't come close to matching the charm of the first movie's ensemble. I can't blame the actors here completely - Clarissa Burt as Xayide had a certain over-the-top yet seductive presence that I did enjoy - but aside from her , the rest were completely miscast and ultimately, completely hollow and much less likeable. Secondly, many of the visuals here have been dumbed down to the point where you felt like you were watching a play designed by young children beginning to explore their own imaginations - none of it was inspiring or convincing, and although there were a few sparks of creativity (the "Tri-Face" creature actually surprised me) and a few nice nods to the first film, but those moments are very few and VERY far between. I won't go so far to call THE NEVERENDING STORY 2 a complete trainwreck, but it's definitely a very disappointing movie that absolutely pales to the classic that came before.

A powerhouse lead performance from Natalie Portman guides this dark and delightfully strange psychological thriller/horror film that's hard to categorize into one specific genre, and watching it again recently, the film has lost none of its powerful sting. As a fan of director Darren Aronofsky's previous movies, BLACK SWAN takes a very different and anxiety-driven approach to the world of ballet, with the lead character's mental and emotional decline (if that's the proper word) being a genuinely terrifying experience. The line between reality and nightmare is often blurry which, for me, is really what made this such an exciting experience: you don't know who or what situation to trust. As the film progresses, the tension squeezes you tighter and tighter as Nina begins to let go of her innocence that proved to be something of an obstacle for her (I still find myself wanting to cheer for Nina when she finally takes the spotlight in that twisted final act). The film also carries one hell of a cast. Not much needs to be said about Natalie Portman that hasn't already been said, but needless to say, that Academy Award for Best Actress was beyond well-deserved, with her making Nina's transformation fascinating, scary, and completely believable. She's also got terrific support from a pitch-perfect Mila Kunis as the sexy and charismatic Lily who tries to help Nina break down the walls of fear; a captivating Vincent Cassel as Nina's somewhat mysterious director, and even a brief but heartbreaking turn from Winona Ryder as a well-known ballerina who has been forced out of the spotlight, refusing to believe that her days of glory have all but vanished. The bottom line is that if you're looking for a movie with complete clarity, as well as blood and guts, you're in the wrong place. It's definitely NOT for everyone. However, if you want something to truly mess with your mind, bury itself under your skin, and make every hair on your arms stand straight up, then you should give BLACK SWAN a shot if you haven't already watched it.

I was hesitant to give 9-1-1 a try when it first began, mostly for the fact that it didn't look like anything we haven't seen before. After the first season ended, however, I was really shocked by what I had seen. It was an addictively fun show: the characters were all engaging and likeable, with each having their own interesting stories and personalities; the humor was surprisingly sharp (the delightfully absurd scenarios the 118 find themselves in always put a smile on my face) and the action was genuinely exciting and well-staged. Needless to say, I have no regrets jumping on board to this show. Whether or not the transfer to ABC paid off, I'll have to continue to follow it as the season progresses, obviously. That gargantuan three-episode opener, however, had everything I love about 9-1-1, so naturally, like many others out there, I'm pretty excited to see where it goes. I'm not that much of a TV person (only two or three on my list) but It's nice to be truly hooked on television again.

ANATOMY OF A FALL is one of those movies that I'm glad I went in not knowing a lot, aside from the basic plot. It proved to be more than simply a "courtroom drama" or a murder mystery; it's a blistering and complex character study that relies mostly on their story, and events that fuel the possibility of such a horrific death. The cast here is impeccable, with Sandra Huller delivering an intensely believable and emotional performance that easily stands among the best of 2023 - and a surefire contender for every major award the acting world has to give. The other big standout here was Milo Machado Graner as Sandra's blind son, who is forced to make a difficult decision regarding his mother's innocence. I'm hoping he gets some more attention during awards season, as it's one of the best performances from a young actor that I've seen in a long time. Many people will question the film's final outcome, but honestly, that wasn't a big issue for me, and the use of multiple languages was really well done. My only real issue centers around some of the courtroom scenes. Most of them were compelling and brilliantly staged, but the constant shift between the events inside and outside of the courtroom did become a tad redundant after a while, and I found myself wanting to "get on with it" at a certain point. Looking back, however, I realize that it was a much better way to tell the story than to throw it all in your face at once without taking time to develop the characters and allow the audience to connect with them. Overall, the accolades surrounding ANATOMY OF A FALL are truly well-deserved, and while it's a slow-burning ride that won't sit well with everyone (not every question is answered), those willing to be patient may find this a rewarding experience.

I'm not sure where to start on this one, as my feelings about it are all over the place right now. On one hand, it's a nice glimpse into Spielberg's own journey to become a filmmaker. The problem is that I was never truly stirred by it, and in the end, for me, it was a bit of a disappointment, but this is Steven Spielberg - expectations are going to be absurdly high, so I suppose I'm the one to blame for that. For starters, this did NOT need to be 150 minutes long. A slow-paced film isn't always a bad thing, but there were quite a few plot threads that were simply dangled in front of my face without completely pulling me in emotionally. The story involving Monica felt completely pointless, and her character somewhat awkward. The story involving the "bullies" could have been trimmed considerably, especially with the "jock," whose character felt tacked on. And while Michelle Williams certainly does deliver one of the best performances in the film, her character's story in the end felt like it had been suddenly thrown out of the film with no real sense of resolution. But, then again, this is a personal story; we can't expect to see every detail of a filmmaker's life in only two-and-a-half hours. It did have moments that were genuinely warm and funny, and I never got the sense that self-indulgence was Spielberg's fuel for telling his own story, which was refreshing. The man's love for filmmaking shows in all of his work. Long-time collaborating composer John Williams wrote a beautifully understated score that was a nice departure for him. But as a whole, The Fabelmans was a painfully long and, for me, somewhat emotionally distant film that just never truly pulled me in. But, it's by no means a bad film, and perhaps one day my opinion will change. I'll always be a fan of Steven Spielberg, that much I do know.

When it comes to the announcement of a new release from Pixar, it's pretty safe to say that it's easy to become ecstatic. Over the years, the studio has consistently proven themselves to be true masters of blending mind-blowingly beautiful animation and equally brilliant storytelling. So, needless to say, like most Pixar fans, I was beyond excited to see ONWARD. So, was it worth the wait? To be honest, it's tough not to compare ONWARD to the studio's earlier works. While this film does contain many elements that have made the studio what they are, including sublime animation and character designs, as well as some wonderfully creative ideas and humor - for me, the overall package was rather tame and somewhat uninspired - something I didn't think I would say about a Pixar film. My biggest criticism is that there were so many underdeveloped ideas that felt as if the writers had been constantly juggling them, and like kids playing in a giant sandbox, eventually just threw those ideas aside, leaving several characters' arcs unfulfilled (Julia Louis-Dreyfuss was definitely terrific, but seriously underused) and the potential for a much bigger emotional and thematic punch felt brushed aside. While ONWARD does carry a few moments of genuinely quiet power, those moments are often overshadowed by the film's constantly manic tone. The concept of Ian and Barley's "half-conjured" father is pretty hilarious, but it's surprisingly poorly executed here. Now, don't get me wrong, ONWARD is not a complete disaster. Far from it. I have to admit that there were moments that even my own inner cynic couldn't help but be drawn into this world. As I stated before, the animation is so vivid and beautiful, and there are some genuinely funny moments. Younger kids will surely get a kick out of this colorful world, particularly with the brilliant character designs (I especially loved the giant ears on the elves) and will no doubt have a blast. The cast here is also put to good use, particularly with Tom Holland as Ian, who is celebrating his 16th birthday when we first meet him, and a showstopping Octavia Spencer as "Manticore." While definitely a great idea for the role of Ian's brother, Barley, Chris Pratt's character felt more like a nuisance than anything else. That may have been the idea, but for me, it was far too over-the-top, and occasionally, downright annoying. Thankfully, that wasn't always the case, and Pratt does manage to give Barley some genuine heart. Overall, ONWARD can be a pretty fun ride, and as is always the case with Pixar, it's a visual masterpiece. But those expecting a film along the lines of TOY STORY or UP, may find themselves feeling a bit underwhelmed.

So after nearly ten years, I finally decided to take the trip back to Middle-Earth. I'll admit, though: I was a tad nervous about this one. Trying to expand one book into three films (a 9-hour saga altogether) didn't seem like the best idea. Now that I've seen AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, I found myself much more immersed in Peter Jackson's world than I had expected, and despite a few issues with the runtime, and a few sequences that could have been chopped out, I'm pretty excited to see how this unfolds over the next two films. For starters, the cast is stellar, both new and old. Martin Freeman couldn't have been a more perfect Bilbo, bringing both humor and genuine heart to the role. The dwarf company altogether was a joy to behold, at once playful and silly, but as a whole, there was also a soulful bond to the group that I think was one of the film's biggest assets. However, it was Richard Armitage as Thorin, the dwarf leader, who really had the biggest impact for me, and I can't wait to see how his story develops. Of course, we have some familiar faces to revisit as well, including Ian McKellen, who steps back into the role of Gandalf the Grey as if THE LORD OF THE RINGS had just finished filming. Hugo Weaving also has a brief but commanding turn as Elrond, and Christopher Lee and Cate Blanchett are both equally magnetic as Saruman and Galadriel (her scenes with Gandalf were particularly touching). To call AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY a visual feast would be a gargantuan understatement. Every part of Middle-Earth is absolutely glorious, and there were moments I found myself holding my breath as I got to revisit some old places - particularly Hobbiton, which looked every bit as warm and cozy as it did with the LOTR saga, to the celestial and dreamlike Elven city of Rivendell, which has to be seen to be believed. The film's spectacular opening also introduces us to the dark, yet majestic city of Erebor, which the dwarves are attempting to reclaim. Overall, it's a mind-blowing return to a world that is frequently even more beautiful than before. I did have a small criticisms, however. The runtime was a tad overkill, and it did feel like some of the characters were tossed aside for far too long. While the action is always thrilling to watch, there were a few sequences that could have been completely removed or trimmed (the Stone Giant sequence, in particular, as well as the sequence with the Trolls), but the moments I found myself on the edge of my seat, smiling like a 10-year-old kid far outweighed those nit-picks. I particularly loved the final scene, which was a perfect and chilling setup for the next film. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with Peter Jackson's first chapter of this saga, and am anxiously waiting to watch the next chapte,, THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG.

So I had the chance to sit down and watch E.T. again after God knows how long. Lately, I've been revisiting some older movies (mostly from the early 80's) and I finally landed on this one. Director Steven Spielberg's been known for creating some of the most exciting blockbusters in Hollywood history, and with good reason. He creates movies that can truly appeal to all of us - whether we're 7 or 77 years old. With his 1982 classic about an alien creature becoming stranded here on Earth, he did exactly that, and it's been widely praised not only as being among Spielberg's most endearing and powerful works, but also as a timeless addition to science fiction (the image of Elliot and his newfound friend traveling airborne on his bike across an unusually large but beautiful moon, remains one of the most exciting and beautiful images the movies have blessed us with). Along with an outstanding cast, with Henry Thomas being the film's anchor, Spielberg and writer Melissa Mathison bring tremendous emotional power, humor, and stunning technical elements to what could have been a "by-the-numbers" children's film. Even now, as a 40-year-old, I can't find much to complain about; E.T. has been, and will be remembered as one of Hollywood's greatest releases.