Bad Times at the El Royale - 3/5

This movie is wonderfully acted conglomeration of characters, each of whom has a sordid past that is slowly revealed over the course of the film. But the draw is the vivid characters chewing the scenery more than anything, and while it starts off very strong the third act is one of the more boring climaxes the screenwriters could have chosen. Still, it’s fun watching the fireworks.

Content warning: brief background nudity

Closest comparison: It’s like if The Hateful Eight were directed by the Coen Brothers.

Setting: Mystery
Plot: Crime
Tone: Thriller

Starman (1984) - 3/5

This movie is yet another small scale first contact movie set in the heartland of America in the ‘70s and ‘80s. It’s very competently made, as are all films with John Carpenter at the helm, but it also has nothing to separate it from the crowd apart from a brief special effects shot early on that is up to Carpenter’s usual high standards. Jeff Bridges and Karen Allen have dynamic chemistry and Bridges does especially well with a strange role. While it’s certainly worth a watch for fans of quirky first encounter movies, most cinephiles can give it a miss.

Closest comparison: It’s like E.T. in the the era road trip trappings of Smokey and the Bandit.

Setting: First Contact
Plot: Road Trip
Tone: Fish out of Water

Hell or High Water (2016) - 3/5

This is a straightforward cops and robbers tale in rural modern Texas. It’s good at showing why the robbers are robbing, and how the cops are pursuing, but beyond that it’s a bit boring. It’s not as compelling and tense as No Country for Old Men, nor as gleefully anarchist as Thelma and Louise or Bonnie and Clyde. Mostly it plays out as expected, and while it’s not bad by any means it doesn’t present anything particularly special.

Closest comparison: It’s like What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? by way of The Highwaymen (Netflix, 2019).

Setting: Western Drama
Plot: Cops and Robbers
Tone: Family Drama

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot - 1/5

This is a meandering, low-brow adventure comedy that may appeal more to fraternity pledges than the average citizen. The heist isn’t particularly interesting and doesn’t go according to plan, to the surprise of no one. If the humor is up your alley it’s probably a fun watch, but there’s too little depth and too much juvenile nonsense to be worth it for me.

Content warnings: female nudity

Closest comparison: It’s like Pineapple Express with the aimlessness of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, but with much less action.

Setting: Adventure
Plot: Heist
Tone: Drug Movie

Iron Man (2008) - 4/5

Not only is this a solid character piece and action movie, but it also laid the foundation for the next 20 Marvel movies, even overcoming the problematic Incredible Hulk that was released a month later. It showcases great action and character moments with witty dialogue that has held up very well over time. The plot with the villain is slightly more convoluted than it needs to be, and the villain himself was only good, not great. That coupled with a lack of depth beyond the scope of the film itself are all that keeps this out of the 5/5 spot.

Closest comparison: For some odd reason it works out to feel like Behind Enemy Lines by way of Mission Impossible (1996).

Setting: War
Plot: Action
Tone: Super hero

The Big Lebowski - 3/5

Even though this quickly became a cult classic, it’s too weird and rambling to be truly great. Of course, there are some truly great moments and infinitely quotable dialogue, but then there are all the parts people forget about. It’s certainly worth a watch if you haven’t seen it, just for the cultural touchpoint, but it doesn’t even really have a point beyond ‘look at all the crazy stuff that’s happening’. This is what happens when ‘quirky’ goes too far and doesn’t have substance to back it up.

Closest Comparison: It’s like Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by way of Fargo.

Setting: Modern
Plot: Thriller
Tone: Comedy