The last few years have been bleak for cinema-to say the least. But one of the biggest stars in the history of film simply refuses to watch cinema suffer. In back-to-back summers, Tom Cruise delivers. #MissionImpossibleDeadReckoning (🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟) is an action masterpiece. This might be the best movie of 2023. This also might be the best #MissionImpossible movie ever. For Tom Cruise to give us this movie one summer after Top Gun: Maverick is almost beyond belief. One of Hollywood’s biggest stars just added another chapter to his legacy.
Skeptics & doubters be damned, #IndianaJonesAndTheDialOfDestiny (🌟��🌟🌟) sends off one of cinema’s most iconic characters in magnificent fashion. On its face, this film has no business working. But James Mangold, Harrison Ford & the entire production pull together the tastefully nostalgic finale that Kingdom of Crystal Skull could not unlock. Simply put, Harrison Ford is as good as ever as Indy & deserves a quality send off like this.
Halfway into the year, we're confident to say that #PastLives ( 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟) will rank among the best films of 2023 and perhaps the best of the last few years. It's a soulful, resonant, intimate story that's rarely captured on screen. This will move you regardless of who you are, and it undoubtedly will deserve all the Oscar nominations coming its way. Past Lives masterfully and briskly goes through the innocence of young love, the heartbreak of the right person/wrong time, and the strength of making peace with your own fate. Greta Lee and Teo Yoo's breakout performances are outstanding; we can't wait to see what comes next for the both of them. We cannot recommend this movie more than we already do.
Williem Dafoe is exceptionally charismatic and gifted in portraying unhinged men, but even he can't save Inside (🌟🌟) as a film. This story of survival in an upscale apartment had potential to be compelling; unfortunately, both plot and character development are lacking. We can ponder whether or not art is madness, we just hope the next attempt at this on screen is less boring.
As far as Fast & Furious films go, audiences are often split: you either appreciate the ridiculous, over-the-top action for what it is or you just can't enjoy the silliness. We're the former. #FastX (🌟��🌟) is as self aware as a movie can get; the film is in on the joke. The action & one-liners are outrageous, but we found it entertaining as hell. And above all, Jason Momoa is outstanding. In a star-studded film, Momoa shines brightest.
James Gunn's 2.5 hour finale as writer-director of #GuardiansOfTheGalaxyVol3 (🌟🌟) may resonate with some, but not with us. More than anything, this film reminds us how far the MCU has fallen. Do you remember how original the first Guardians felt? Nothing feels fresh or new about this. Rather, we're given a film that runs way too long, a forgettable villain, and way too much Marvel special effects. It's at the point where we're running out of reasons to see more MCU movies.
It's been nearly four decades, but somehow @russellcrowe still knows how to lead a box office hit. #ThePopeExorcist (🌟🌟🌟) is a straight heater. This movie works in large part because of its self-awareness. Julius Avery's horror-mystery never takes itself too seriously & gives Russell Crowe room to dance. Once again, Crowe reminds us that he has a power & charisma that few actors have ever matched.