"I'm a reasonable guy, but I've just experienced
some very unreasonable things."
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.
We've been here before. And plenty of times. Someone in the film word, usually a director or actor, but sometimes a writer or producer (e.g. Aaron Sorkin, Jerry Bruckheimer), becomes so well known for what they do and the way they do it, we invent a whole new genre for them - basically a shorthand for what a movie will be like. Think Steven Spielberg in the 80's, with his penchant for adventure"y" nostalgia, or Michael Bay with his obsession for action movies soaked in helicopters at sunset and fireworks laden explosions. Hell, just last week all I had to do was call The French Dispatch "a Wes Anderson movie," and you probably got a sense of what it was going to be. And that's the point, you just need to attach name of said person, add "movie" and people by and large get it.
These people with their own defined genre tend to hone in on what they're very good at, which makes sense, because it made them very successful. Also, and this is key, people like what they do (see: they're very successful). So why not keep doing it?
But the here here, the now here, I'm referring to is the era of "a Rock movie." And to be clear, I'm not coining anything new, not by any means, we're well into it, but I do believe it's at a point where I feel like when I say "a Rock movie," more people than not will understand what that means. It's kind of the genre inflection point, or the pinnacle - it's like being perched atop a tall building's pointy spire. It's extremely hard to climb up to, but when you get there, the view is amazing and everybody is looking up at you with admiration and marveling at how you were able to achieve such a feat. But watch out, you have to be careful, because if you lose your balance... *splat*
This is where I feel like The Rock currently stands. His movies are by and large successful, if not always reviewed amazingly. And his most recent movie, Red Notice, featured below, is reportedly Netflix's most expensive ever. In part because he pulled in two other stars near their zenith - Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot - but also because the movie is "globe spanning" and "action heavy." Which is totally ok! Nothing wrong with spending money to entertain.
But so what. The Rock is a genre now. And? I guess, I'm partly observing the fact that when I go to describe Red Notice, the first thing that comes to mind is simply "it looks like a Rock movie," /shrug. But it lead me to also consider, when a person becomes a genre, what happens when audiences stop liking the genre? Sure, you can try and make different types of movies, but you're a fricken genre. Will people be able to adjust? Maybe! Adam Sandler has done a fantastic job of making hard acting turns when people were excoriating "Adam Sandler movies." (see: Uncut Gems, Punch Drunk Love). But not sure that's changed how people view Sandler at large and "an Adam Sandler movie."
Now, this isn't some "warning" for The Rock. He can tell me to fuck off in 200 different languages based on his level of success. This is more of an observation / musing. And I'm genuinely curious to see how it all plays out. Does The Rock keep doing these types of action + quips + supreme confidence + sexy location movies for another decade? Does he start to mix in serious dramas to try and stretch his career? Who knows. Maybe not even Johnson himself.
But what I am quite sure of is that lots of people are gonna watch Red Notice this weekend. Because at the moment, pretty sure Mr. The Rock still has his balance.
Extra Credit Movie(s): Turns out Spencer, the well-reviewed Princess Dianna movie had a wider release than reported. So if you're curious, give it a google. I might give it a feature next week!
RED NOTICE
If you didn't read the intro, uh, you might want to! It pertains to this quite heavily.
But suffice it to say, this is a Rock movie. Now, clearly you see two other quite famous people in the above photo - Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot. Why can't this be a Ryan Reynolds movie? Perhaps a Gal Gadot joint? They're big stars! And yet... I mean, just watch the trailer. The Rock narrates it, he's clearly the focus and it just feels Rockian. Reynolds gets his quips in, sure, and Gadot plays her part as the suave maybe kinda sorta villain, but they feel like adornments to The Rock Rollercoaster. While the plot matters - FBI ensnares thief to help catch thief, twists and backstabbing are sure to abound - the sense of identity is far more important. And this has one, however standard looking. Reviews say it's exactly the movie it looks like it is, and that often ends up being a bad thing - in their view! Because come on, these are critics, they see everything, so they of course want something new, something interesting.
But is that what you want? Or do you just want what The Rock is cookin'?
Vibe: do I say it again? Ok, fine. A Rock movie.
Out Friday
Watch Netflix
The Trailer | 1 hr 57 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 42%
BELFAST
Think of this as the movie equivalent of someone telling you their childhood story, except that someone happens to be a skilled and accomplished storyteller (Kenneth Branagh), have millions of dollars to relay their upbringing and has the creative license to make his parents appear extremely good looking by casting beautiful actors (Jamie Dornan from Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar, oh, and Fifty Shades & Caitriona Balfe from Outlander). Though, to be clear, I have no idea what Branagh's parents look(ed) like; maybe this was a downgrade?
The circumstances for his early youth certainly are unique though, as Branagh was a youngin in Belfast Northern Ireland for "the troubles" (best worst name ever for a near civil war), but the story is in context of that situation, not focused on it.
Reviews say it's far more of an intimate and fond examination of the director's formative years, well glossed by nostalgia. Which stands in stark contrast to you or me (or maybe just me) telling of our early years, which might end up coming across as a story for children and not about them. Whereas Branagh's recounting just might notch him an Oscar nomination for best picture.
And speaking of children's books...
Vibe: a warm drink of familial nostalgia
Out Friday
Watch Theaters
The Trailer | 1 hr 37 mins | PG-13 | 🍅: 87%
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG
With a title so simply literal and descriptive, it's either a children's movie or a Marvel movie.
Both?
But you know which it is, because you know how to read - or at least I hope you do, otherwise this is super awkward for one of us (but which one?). In fact, you may have even learned how to read with the books this movie is based on; likely after snagging a copy at the in-school Scholastic book fairs (man did those things rule). You might notice some differences from the picture books you're familiar with though - namely, how Clifford looks. Which is... different. Now, did the filmmakers just pour a bucket of paint over a dog and digitally upsize them? Or perhaps the director's child got a hold of Photoshop during a coloring lesson and the studio thought they could save some money? Maybe. Does it matter in a movie where the main point is to entertain children via some goofy shenanigans and convey some basic if important social lessons? Not really.
The biggest point to get across is that Clifford is, well, big. Huge, actually. Which they seem to have accomplished. Even if how the hell he fits into NYC apartments is a massive question mark - bigger question mark, where does he go to the bathroom? Biggest question mark! How do they clean it up?!?!
Reviews saw the transition from basic children's books to a story that can cover and keep attention over an hour and a half is not perfect, or even close, but enough critics enjoyed its heart and gusto to recommend it. But to be clear, the bar is fairly low in the the "entertain the kiddies" category, and nearly just as many critics say it's far too generic. Plus, no matter how high the bar was, Clifford would be sure to knock it over (cuz he's massive, remember?).
Vibe: as if it was based on a children's book, cuz it was
Out TODAY
Watch Theaters & Paramount +
The Trailer | 1 hr 37 mins | PG | 🍅: 55%
THE HARDER THEY FALL
What we think we know as "history" is clearly not the whole story. One, because we just can't functionally know everything that happened before our time. But also because the information passed along is sometimes (often) just plain wrong. In making a movie set in the old west, director Jeymes Samuel talked in interviews about what he wanted to get across. The main point being, yes, there were indeed black cowboys. A fact many are unaware of, or even denied by others, but driven home by the fact each character in The Harder They Fall was based on a real person. But Samuel also notes that's where the truth ends, as from there he takes creative license to build the characters around a western revenge movie. And the characters are apparently where the movie is at its best.
The two central players are Nat (Jonathan Majors from Lovecraft Country and Loki) and Rufus (Idris Elba - the next James Bond?). They are also, respectively, "the good" and"the bad." Each has their crew of outlaws, Delroy Lindoy and Zazie Beets on team Nat while Regina King and LaKeith Stanfield are team Rufus (there are more as well). You can tell from the trailer, but the movie, while still definitely a western, throws in modern stylings, from music to wording. Which, makes sense. Because even the old westerns about the old west weren't spot on accurate. But you should get most of what you want out of this one if you're hoping for a fashionable and stylistic trip with lots of gun play.
And so what if it's over the top, that's the fun of it. Plus, it's more fun when everyone gets to play.
Vibe: a western, but not like you know them, and yet, still somewhat familiar
Out NOW
Watch Netflix
The Trailer | 2 hrs 17 mins | R | 🍅: 86%
(called out from top, left to right)
We get a better look at Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem as Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in Being the Ricardos' second trailer.
A second trailer for Mike Mills' C'mon C'mon which has gotten strong reviews since its first preview.
With its second trailer, The Power of the Dog might've become my most anticipated movie of the rest of this year.
In a mashup of Princess Bride and A Christmas Story, worldwide treasure Neil Patrick Harris recounts to his child his quest to acquire a Nintendo Entertainment System. I hope there's a sequel and it's about the N64 kid.
A solid looking documentary on Arthur Ashe which looks to humanize the tennis player / activist.
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