Must love movies. (and dogs)

Sep 22, 2021

"Don't you look at me, FUCK!"

PINNED: this newsletter started as a way to highlight movies coming to theaters (see: the name). Then, "the bullshit" happened. And I started featuring movies in theaters, VOD or streaming (see: the +). Point is, if there's a movie worth checking out, you'll probably find it here.

From seven movies last week to one this week? I know. It's almost as if the movie studios don't talk to each other.

If you're not feeling Dear Evan Hansen (understandable), maybe check out some other recent flicks we've covered together, but you haven't gotten a chance to watch, yet. Liiiiiike: the Nic Cage pig movie.... Pig, Apple TV +'s feel good CODA, or maybe you're feelin' a documentary like Anthony Bourdain: Roadrunner or how about that "that whale one?"

Maybe just pick an old WIT+ edition and see what you can find eh?

Extra Credit Movies: I'm not sure this will help your score at the end of the semester, but you're more than willing to give a shot to Melissa McCarthy and Chris O'Dowd's new movie The Starling, about overcoming the death of a child, that looks very handed, and per critics, is.

(from top, left to right)

Dear Evan Hansen:

I can imagine that right now, Universal, star Ben Platt and all those involved in this cinematic version of musical Dear Evan Hansen, are really trying to channel some legit 2007 Kanye West vibes, specifically this line from his song Good Life - "And if they hate, let 'em hate and watch the money pile up."

Cuz this movie version of Dear Evan Hansen? Weeeeell, it has a few haters. Now, this isn't entirely new for Platt and the whole Evan Hansen brand as it were - there were detractors of it's earnest take on anxiety, depression and teen suicide on stage - but I bet it is was a bit easier to tune out any negativity when you become one of the most award winning and beloved Broadway shows in a while.

The dark side of life for Hansen started with the release of the trailer in May, with people thinking out loud on Twitter, hmm, Ben Platt does NOT look 17, or 18, or, 19 or 20, or... ok, maybe he looks 32, his actual... shit, he's 27??  They also made fun of Platt's wig, which, was not a wig, but his real hair. They critiqued the amount of makeup used to age him down and... you get the point.

Fun stuff, but that was just the trailer, not the movie. So like chill. But nope. Critics did not have the chill. Because after its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, the response was roughly the same tone, if a few more specifics. They noted Platt's somewhat odd casting, even if he was the show's star, but more than that they talked about the things that didn't translate from stage to screen, or just didn't work in the story itself.

Now, I'm highlighting a lot of negative stuff here, but if you look at the RT score, clearly some people liked it, right? Right! But that's the thing about "haters," they are always gonna be there. And even if they sometimes bring up valid points, like this one from Vulture, “It’s that all the film’s efforts to transform him into a plausible teenager have the reverse effect of making the character of Evan Hansen appear to be somewhere in his mid-40s.” That doesn't mean non-haters have to hate too.

But what about the movie?! Like tell me about it, I never saw the musical! Honestly, go peep the trailer. I can describe the plot born from its platitude heavy theater show, or discuss its extremely earnest vibe, but three minutes of viewing will do you much better than thirty seconds of reading.

Oh, as for the money pilin' up part. We'll just have to wait and see, won't we?

Vibe: a signing E(a)rnest Borgine fest, except nix the "Borgnine" part

Out  Friday
Watch  Theaters Only
The Trailer | 2 hrs 17 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 39%

(called out from top, left to right)

Denzel Washington doing Macbeth directed by a Coen brother? Uh yeah dude.

Tom Hanks basically remaking George Clooney's Midnight Sky with a lighter Spielberg tone even though they were probably in production at the same time so it's not really a remake of course? I mean, sure.

Steven Yeun, fresh off his awesome role in Minari partnering with a bunch of other good actors? You had me at Steven Yeun.

The next, "jesus, just look at the production value" movie from Guillermo Del Toro starring Bradley Cooper, Cate Blanchett. Tix. bought.

A movie version of the Kurt Warner story with a faith bent? Ummm, I guess it does show the Packers for a frame or two. But I ain't rooting for the Rams.

Rebecca Hall's black and white directorial debut that tell's a story about black women who choose different paths on "passing" in white in society. Pass me the keys cuz I'm... oh, it's playing on Netflix? Good to see you again couch it's been, not very long.

What's In Theaters +

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