Navy Seals (1990) - 3/5

This is a solid ‘90s action movie that portrays the combat much more realistically than many of its contemporaries, though still very much a popcorn action flick. It’s focused on its ‘life of a seal team’ narrative and allows the winding events to play out in support of its story. There’s not much more to this movie beyond what you would expect, which is both its charm and its downfall.

Closest comparison: It’s like Act of Valor (2012) by way of Point Break (1991).

Setting: Stealth Mission
Plot: Geopolitical Thriller
Tone: ‘90s Action

Marriage Story (Netflix, 2019) - 2/5

This is a well-crafted film that would have been better named Divorce Story. It’s slow and sad, focusing on realism in the portrayal of the characters than it does on having an interesting or meaningful story. It often seems to actively avoid portraying anything meaningful, and instead portrays nihilistic existentialism as the inescapable norm. It’s solidly produced in all other respects.

Closest comparison: It’s like While We’re Young (2014) with more futile shouting.

Setting: Modern Drama
Plot: Family Drama
Tone: Nihilistic Drama

The Searchers (1956) - 2/5

This movie is one of the all-time classic westerns, but unfortunately it does not live up to the hype. It’s aggressively tone-deaf, transitioning back and forth between scenes of gut-wrenching tragedy and lighthearted western antics like whiplash. There’s no emotional payoff for the injustices perpetrated in the first act, and multiple times main characters will suddenly do things they’ve said they wouldn’t with no warning or explanation given. Except for the score, cinematography, and acting, which are all excellent, this movie is an absolute mess.

Closest comparison: It’s like Man on Fire (2004) by way of Once Upon A Time in the West.

Setting: Western
Plot: Road Trip
Tone: Rescue Thriller

The Cat and the Canary (1927) - 3/5

This silent film is a pretty straightforward eccentric inheritance mystery whose main point of interest in the modern era is as a historical piece. The plot is straightforward and the ending is banal, but it uses some advanced film techniques for the time to accomplish a few visual special effects that work surprisingly well. Fans of the silent era will get much more mileage out of this one than general audiences.

Closest comparison: It’s like One Body Too Many (1944) by way of Frankenstein (1910).

Setting: Mystery
Plot: Inheritance
Tone: Suspense

What We Do in the Shadows (2014) - 4/5

This is one of those breakout indie films that puts a director on the map. Taika Waititi’s humor shines through very strongly in this film, and it will absolutely hit audiences differently based on personal sense of humor. It’s dark and quirky, its runtime mostly comprised of jokes about vampires killing people; this is both its primary vice and its primary virtue. The narrative certainly rambles, as most mockumentaries do, but the charm of this movie is in its quirky characters and top-tier special effects despite its low budget. There’s a lot to like here, but its mileage will vary wildly from person to person; it’s a cult classic for a reason.

Closest comparison: It’s like Interview With A Vampire by way of Drop Dead Gorgeous.

Setting: Horror
Plot: Mockumentary
Tone: Dark Comedy

The Prestige - 5/5

What Shayamalan did for plot twists in cinema Nolan did for mind-bending narratives, and here he brings that treatment to the late 19th century illusionist genre. Christian Bale and Hugh Jackman bring a profound subtlety to their characters that make repeat viewings of this film very rewarding. The intricately compelling of the plot is riveting to the point that it eclipses outstanding performances from Andy Serkis and the late great David Bowie.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Illusionist (2006) by way of Memento.

Setting: Mystery
Plot: Rivalry Tragedy
Tone: Thriller

Color Out of Space (2019) - 4/5

This movie is terrifying. The cinematography is gorgeous and while the entire cast really sells their decent into madness, Nicolas Cage is magnificent in his slowly increasing insanity. The plot follows the broad strokes of the original short story by H.P. Lovecraft, bringing it into the 21st century while still remaining true to its cosmic horror roots. It’s beautifully done and a real testament to the indie film scene that a movie of this caliber can come out of it.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Shining by way of Event Horizon.

Setting: Family Drama
Plot: Cosmic Horror
Tone: Body Horror

Burnt by the Sun (1994) - 4/5

This movie is a grounded look at the joys of rural family life and the sobering wickedness that lies just below the surface of socialism. The story rambles in an endearing, true-to-life sort of way, and allows the audience to get acquainted with the family to drive home the impact of the ending. It’s indie-level production values actually add to the quaint setting, embodying the feel of provincial Russia in the 1930’s. This is a moving film and does a good job depicting an important piece of history that has unfortunately become relevant again.

Closest comparison: It’s like It’s A Wonderful Life by way of Schindler’s List.

Setting: Rural Drama
Plot: Family Tragedy
Tone: Heartwarming Comedy

Pan's Labyrinth - 5/5

This movie is Guillermo Del Torro’s masterpiece. It’s thoughtful and creepy, fantastical and dark in a sum total that manages to be exhilarating, terrifying, and deeply moving. It’s a fairy tale for adults, executed in a beautiful orchestra of set design, music, and a tour-de-force of performances from everyone involved. The story is complex and intricate, leaving the audience with plenty to discuss afterward.

Content warnings: Several brief sudden outbursts of brutal violence

Closest comparison: It’s like Burnt By The Sun (1994) by way of Legend (1985), but far surpassing them both.

Setting: War
Plot: Fantasy
Tone: Horror

The Space Between Us (2017) - 3/5

This movie has a much better premise than it’s ultimately able to deliver on. There are several odd idiosyncrasies with the plot that that amount to a general murmur of “fine, I guess” from the audience. Asa Butterfield is the best part of the movie, as his indomitable cheerfulness outshines even the legendary Gary Oldman. It’s a fun ‘80s style teen movie, but without the cult following.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Martian by way of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Setting: Astronaut
Plot: Sci-Fi Romance
Tone: Adventure Drama

Close (Netflix, 2019) - 3/5

This movie is a solid bodyguard movie with a modern feel. Noomi Rapace is excellent as the hardboiled lead, and her no-nonsense portrayal adds weight to the grounded, personal story. The action is quite good, despite a few places that require a moderate suspension of disbelief, and the on-the-run story is nicely thought out. If you’re looking for a good action movie you could do a whole lot worse, but it also offers nothing more than that.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Bourne Identity by way of Body of Lies.

Setting: Modern Warfare
Plot: On the Run
Tone: Bodyguard

Children of Men - 4/5

The main draw from this movie is certainly the cintematography, with breathtakingly long takes and jawdropping visual trickery that doesn’t distract from the story but supports and enhances it. The premise is pretty novel and the story plods along interestingly enough, building tension on the brink of despair then shining enough of a light to keep the audience watching and hoping. The violence has a passive realism that focuses on the human impact more than the uncomforatable psychology of it, but both are present to a degree. Sill, if you like dystopian sci-fi and difficult film-making, it’s a must-watch.

Closest comparison: It’s like 1984 by way of Birdman.

Setting: Dystopian Sci-Fi
Plot: On-The-Run
Tone: Bleak Survival

Bone Tomahawk - 4/5

This movie is a moving tale of heroism in the face of extreme, brutal, gory, disturbing violence. It’s flawlessly executed and suitable viewing for almost no one. The pacing and dialogue ground the film in sober realism, which transitions from endearing quaintness to honest perseverance to grim determination throughout its course. Kurt Russell is outstanding and the entire case follows close behind, chewing the scenery the whole way. The resolution is more of a relief than a celebration, but if you can stomach the brutality it’s a very impressive film.

Content warnings: brief male and female nudity, extreme, brutal, gory, disturbing violence.

Closest comparison: It’s like The Searchers that turns into The Green Inferno.

Setting: Western
Plot: Rescue
Tone: Drama / Gorefest

Chariots of Fire - 4/5

This film contains some of my favorite lines of all time, but it has a few issues. The double flashback in the beginning doesn’t do the movie any favors, but once it settles into its slow, comfortable, British rhythm it quickly begins to show its qualities. The slow pacing allows for the depth of introspection required by the philosophical underpinnings of the plot, and the dialogue is so rich that it’s easy to miss meaningful character moments. This makes it harder for new viewers to fully understand, but it also makes repeat viewings more rewarding for fans. And the well-stated, beautifully-demonstrated life philosophy on display makes this one of my perennial favorites, despite the few flaws it has.

Closest comparison: It’s like the philosophical underpinnings of Gladiator in the vestiments of Jeeves and Wooster, wrapped together in a sports movie.

Setting: University Drama
Plot: Sports Inspirational
Tone: Philosophical Drama

Mr. Right (2016) - 3/5

This movie is an adorable twist on the rom-com genre by mixing it with the assassin action genre. It adds in a healthy dose of macabre humor but never strays into darker territory than your average ‘90s action flick. Its biggest flaw is ignoring real-world consequences in favor of the main romantic plot, so mileage may vary. But Anna Kendrick and Sam Rockwell have great chemistry as the leads and completely carry an otherwise lackluster film.

Closest comparison: It’s like Hitch by way of Grosse Pointe Blank.

Setting: Hitman Action
Plot: Rom Com
Tone: Action Comedy

Wild Strawberries (1957) - 3/5

This film is foreign to modern America on both counts; it is neither modern nor American. It has an old-timey pacing and distinctly Swedish cultural sensibilities, which here gives it an old-world charm that’s more endearing than otherwise. There’s a surprising amount of surrealism given the premise and similar movies of the genre, but it doesn’t feel out of place here and delivers interesting character introspection. It’s the movie version of a melancholy Sunday afternoon drive. Lovers of silver screen cinema and moviegoers who enjoy talking about symbolism in film will likely enjoy this movie more than I did.

Closest comparison: It’s like Driving Miss Daisy by way of The Seventh Seal.

Setting: Family Drama
Plot: Life in Review
Tone: Hardships of Life Drama

Stagecoach (1939) - 4/5

This film is so classic that seemingly all other movies featuring stagecoaches pulled from it, even modern films like The Hateful Eight and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. It’s one of the great John Ford westerns, and even after all this time still holds up to modern viewing. There are plenty of great character moments slathered on top of the rich western setting and the solid underlying story, and it’s the characters that carry the film and make it so memorable even today.

Closest comparison: It’s like the final vignette in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs by way of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Setting: Western
Plot: Confined Strangers
Tone: Adventure

So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) - 4/5

This overlooked gem is a delightful ‘90s cross between a romantic comedy and an extended SNL sketch. Mike Myers is in peak form; he only plays two characters, shying away from the up to four from some of his other films, and the comedy stays in the cute realm instead of wandering off into raunchier territory. Some may guess the end from early on, but it’s fun to sit back and enjoy the ride.

Closest comparison: It’s like Clue! by way of Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Setting: Rom Com
Plot: Thriller
Tone: Comedy

Over The Top (1987) - 3/5

Despite its name this is not a Sylvester Stalone action movie. It is apparently an arm-wrestling term, as this movie is about a truck-driving, arm-wrestling father trying to reconnect with his estranged son. It’s sincere and heartfelt, which may put off modern cynics, but the arm wrestling championship mostly comes out of left field and breaks up the flow a bit. It would fit comfortably alongside the bevy of ‘90s disney family kids live action movies.

Closest comparison: It’s like Real Steel (2011) by way of Fly Away Home (1996).

Setting: Road Trip
Plot: Coming of Age
Tone: Family

Heathers (1988) - 3/5

This movie goes from high school drama to murder-thriller in the blink of an eye. It’s been influential for everything from Mean Girls to Jojo Rabbit, though its successors have generally improved on the formula. It’s campy by modern standards, but even at its time it was a black sheep in the genre because of the bait-and-switch plot and tone. The main disconnect between the tone and the events of the film is handled a bit clumsily, and despite all its clever plotting it leaves the audience with almost nothing to take away from the film above the level of ‘don’t murder’.

Content warnings: language

Closest comparison: It goes from Sixteen Candles to a tamer version of Scream.

Setting: High School Drama
Plot: Teen Angst / Thriller
Tone: Teen Comedy / Dark Comedy