Release: Friday, July 10, 2020 (Hulu) →Hulu Written by: Andy Siara Directed by: Max Barbakow Palm Springs, a buzzy new Hulu original starring Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti and J.K. Simmons, for me has an unusual distinction. This romantic comedy about two strangers stuck in a time loop at a wedding boasts one of the best post-credits scenes I've … Continue reading Palm Springs
#darkcomedy
Harpoon
Release: Friday, October 4, 2019 (limited) →Showtime Written by: Rob Grant; Mike Kovac Directed by: Rob Grant Harpoon is a horror-comedy set at sea that is bizarrely compelling considering what actually happens in 80 short minutes. It's a vicious little social experiment concocted by writer/director Rob Grant, who quite brilliantly uses little more than the bare essentials … Continue reading Harpoon
Top That! My Ten Favorite Films of 2019
It's Oscar weekend, so I figured now is as good a time as any to announce my ten favorite movies of 2019. There's not a whole lot of science that goes into my process; it's mostly gut feeling that determines what goes into this list and how I'm arranging it. The emotional response is the … Continue reading Top That! My Ten Favorite Films of 2019
Uncut Gems
Release: Christmas Day 2019 →Theater Written by: Ronald Bronstein; Josh and Benny Safdie Directed by: Josh and Benny Safdie If they have proven anything in their last two movies it's that few filmmakers stress you out quite like the New York born-and-bred Safdie brothers. Uncut Gems is, in a word, intense. This is a very aggressive mood piece that … Continue reading Uncut Gems
Paddleton
Release: Friday, February 22, 2019 (Netflix) →Netflix Written by: Mark Duplass; Alex Lehmann Directed by: Alex Lehmann It's not often that the Duplass brothers make a heavy movie. Darting in and out of the so-called mumblecore scene and playing with time in pleasantly nostalgic trips down memory lane (Blue Jay) or lurching ahead into the future with spirited … Continue reading Paddleton
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Release: Friday, November 9, 2018 (limited) →Netflix Written by: Joel Coen; Ethan Coen Directed by: Ethan Coen; Joel Coen For a fleeting moment The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, the new Coen brothers film -- a big shiny red apple waiting to be plucked from the ever-growing Netflix tree -- was also available for more traditional consumption in theaters. But who … Continue reading The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Anomalisa
Release: Wednesday, December 30, 2015 (limited) [Redbox] Written by: Charlie Kaufman Directed by: Charlie Kaufman; Duke Johnson Someone please give Michael Stone a hug. I'm starting an online petition to see if we can get Michael Stone just one good hug, because he really, really, really, really, really needs one. Either him or writer-director Charlie Kaufman, I'm not sure … Continue reading Anomalisa
The Fundamentals of Caring
Release: Friday, June 24, 2016 (Netflix) [Netflix] Written by: Rob Burnett Directed by: Rob Burnett A long time ago I made some comment to the effect of being frustrated by how easily I'm tricked into watching movies starring Paul Rudd. This knee-jerk reaction was inspired by a viewing of the terrible 2012 comedy Wanderlust which paired him with Jennifer Aniston. … Continue reading The Fundamentals of Caring
The Lobster
Release: Friday, May 13, 2016 (limited) [Theater] Written by: Yorgos Lanthimos; Efthymis Filippou Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos Outré black comedy The Lobster might be likened to a religious experience for those looking for their fix of anti-Valentine's Day sentiments. If you look hard enough you could even find enough evidence to validate its romance label as well, but it's so weird and so … Continue reading The Lobster
Demolition
Release: Friday, April 8, 2016 [Theater] Written by: Bryan Sipe Directed by: Jean-Marc Vallée Jake Gyllenhaal has played a variety of oddballs in his time. He's navigated his way carefully through a maze of mental illness -- including, but certainly not limited to, sociopathy, obsession and depression -- and often bravely inhabited characters who we're almost dared to embrace at … Continue reading Demolition
