Haywire (2011) - 3/5

This is big budget proof of concept that feels like an indie project. It’s fairly uneven from its acting to its pacing, but the parts that hit are really well done. The fight scenes feel like choreography, but that of a very high caliber, well executed and a thrill to watch. The framing for the “in medias res” plot structure is pretty contrived and while it’s used in many stories it unfortunately doesn’t work here. If you like good action and don’t mind an overused plot, this movie is definitely worth a watch.

Closest comparison: It’s like Mission: Impossible by way of The Bourne Identity.

Setting: Espionage
Plot: Thriller
Tone: Action

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn (2020) - 3/5

The first 2/3 of this movie are quite good, but it doesn’t stick the landing. The psychotic hilarity of the premise works well, the narrative and story structure themselves being subject to Harley Quinn’s delusions, but the final culminating fight scene is inexplicably abysmal, both in conception and execution. This film lacks the heart throughline of Deadpool, the adept writing of the Marvel franchise, or the intelligent depth of the Nolan Batman trilogy. It keeps telling the audience it’s having fun, with the shaky tinge of uncertainty in its voice.

Content warnings: language, brutal violence

Closest comparison: It’s like Deadpool by way of Suicide Squad.

Setting: Superhero
Plot: On the Run
Tone: Psychotic Comedy

Trailer

Doctor Sleep - 4/5

It’s hard to compare this movie to The Shining, because they have different directors and a different core story. If you haven’t seen The Shining (1980) you may still enjoy this movie, but you’ll be taking a lot of the explanations at face value. It branches out a bit more into the greater Stephen King mythos and ties it in very well to his other stories even beyond The Shining. This one was as scary for me as its predecessor, and although that will definitely vary from person to person there is a long, drawn-out scene of a child being tortured that makes this movie the more uncomfortable of the two. The acting, sound design, and special effects are all top notch, and if you like psychological horror you should give this movie a watch.

Content warning: child torture

Closest comparison: It’s like Logan (2017) by way of the darker parts of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, in the trappings of The Shining.

Setting: Teen Supernatural/Other World
Plot: Cat-and-Mouse Thriller
Tone: Psychological Horror

Christopher Robin (2018) - 3/5

This movie is a quite well executed nostalgia piece, but I don’t really have the touchpoints for it. If you are very much endeared to Winnie the Pooh then I’m sure you’ll like it much more than I did. The plot is all the standard ‘work bad, family good’ window dressing for the heart of the story, which is Christopher Robin reuniting with his friends from the 100 Acre Wood after he’s grown up. The glittering diamond in the rough here is the impeccable dialogue from Christopher Robin’s pint-sized compatriots, that had me actually laughing out loud at least half a dozen times.

Closest Comparison: The Finding Neverland director shifts his sights from Peter Pan to Winnie the Pooh, but with less to say on the matter.

Setting: Post-War (Civilian side)
Plot: Drama
Tone: Family