Inside Man (2006) - 4/5

This is a smart, well-executed heist movie. It’s constantly letting the audience know that it’s going to pull a fast one at the end, but keeps them guessing who and when and how. The top tier actor list does not disappoint, bringing the rich characters to life with a smooth aggressiveness that makes full use of their considerable talents. The pacing would normally be considered slow-burn, but there’s enough to think about at all times that the pauses instead become room to think and let the plot breathe a little. Ultimately it thinks it’s a bit more clever than it actually is and it takes too long to wrap up in the third act, but those are small criticisms for such a unique and well thought out story.

Closest comparison: It’s like Heist (2001) mixed with Silence of the Lambs, but with drama and intrigue in place of psychological horror.

Setting: Detective
Plot: Heist
Tone: Drama

Taxi Driver (1976) - 2/5

This movie is all over the place and extremely reluctant to explain anything, including character motivations. The audience is left to infer a lot, leaving much of the movie open to a lot of inconclusive speculation. It is a sleazy, hectic movie whose soundtrack uses city sound byte sampling at seemingly random times when it’s not layering on the easy-listening jazz at uncomfortable times. The main character is so unpredictable and unemotive that it’s impossible to tell what makes him happy, sad, or angry, even past the end of the film, which makes interpreting his motives nearly impossible. The nicest thing I can say about this relic of the 70’s is that it has good acting.

Content warning: violence, prostitution

Closest comparison: It’s like Joker (2019) by way of Apocalypse Now.

Setting: Noir Drama
Plot: Slice of Life
Tone: Gritty Tragedy

Hotel Artemis - 3/5

The look and feel of this movie are fantasic. It's a master class in old meets new with a realistic, grungy world that has high-tech elements woven seamlessly into it. The acting is also great and the actors all did some of their better work. The whole thing just needed to be 20 minutes longer. Most of the story lines don't get adequately resovled, and the audience has to infer the fate of several characters. I would really like to give this one a 4/5, and if they release an extended director's cut on DVD it may get there. But as it is, the last half is disappointingly short for all the cool things they set up and didn't pay off.