Michael Thomas

Landline Review

Yes, it is I, a man, here to explain the female dominated Landline. In all seriousness though, this film is fucking brilliant. My perspective is obviously skewed by being a man so make sure you check out female perspectives on the film as well! Landline Poster

Warning: Here be spoilers

2017
Director: Gillian Robespierre
Starring: Jenny Slate, Abby Quinn, Edie Falco, John Turturro, Jay Duplass, Finn Wittrock, Marquis Rodriguez, India Menuez, Ali Ahn

“I’m not even sure if I’m allowed to ask these questions.” Continue reading Landline Review

4 Reasons Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Artistically Failed

Luc Besson’s streak of not making boring movies continued with Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets. The film had many fun individual elements and scenes, and there were a fair amount of positives to take from it overall. With that in mind though, this film overall was a mess that contained some serious structural issues that undermined the whole deal. Continue reading 4 Reasons Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets Artistically Failed

2017 First Watch: Total Recall (2012)

Total Recall: Mémoires programmées Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

In an era where remakes, sequels, spinoffs, etc. are getting made all the time for less than artistic reasons, it was understandable that the overall mediorce and unnecessary remake of Total Recall was roundly dismissed and/or ignored by critics and audiences.

The odd thing is though that a large portion of the film is actually fun and worth watching. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: Total Recall (2012)

2017 First Watch: The Client

Le client Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

Despite exploring some interesting ideas in regards to class and the law (and approaching said ideas with an appropriately cynical attitude), this John Grisham adaptation largely falls flat despite game performances from all involved. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: The Client

2017 First Watch: The Hangover Part III

Very Bad Trip 3 Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

When The Hangover came out in 2009, it felt like a genuinely fresh comedy helped in large part due to the breakout performance of Zach Galifianakis. Unfortunately, it was so financially successful that it spawned not one but two unnecessary sequels. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: The Hangover Part III

2017 First Watch: The Pelican Brief

L'affaire Pélican Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

The Pelican Brief both ebodies a lot of what made nineties star-driven vehicles unique and compelling while also serving as an example for how movies heavilly driven by assassins and whatnot can stand to feel a bit more ordinary and less choreographed. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: The Pelican Brief

2017 First Watch: Jack the Giant Slayer

Jack le chasseur de géants Poster

2017 will see me watching some films that I have never seen before and then writing about them. It will be a series of columns cleverly called, “2017 First Watch.”

Bryan Singer’s career this century has been so defined by his involvement (or sometimes his lack of involvement) with the X-Men film franchise that it can sometimes be hard to remember that he directed two non-superhero films in the past seventeen years. Continue reading 2017 First Watch: Jack the Giant Slayer