Apparently I never posted this! Here are the short movie reviews I wrote in 2020…..These are not in any order that makes sense, btw.
Movies I think You Will Like
Soul
streaming on disney+
Great movie. I know, it’s animated. I know, it’s got a not subtle message. It’s still great.
HAMILTON
Remarkably, lives up to the hype.
Bonus review
The extras on Hamilton
Also worth watching
They Shall Not Grow Old
Very good. Everyone that thinks war is cool should watch this.
Old Guard
I struggle with undefeatable super heroes. It’s why I loved The Old Guard so much. It finally had a great take on the concept. Just reposting this in case anyone missed my short movie review.
You should watch The Old Guard
Spencer Confidential
Entertaining. Predictable redemption movie, but I enjoyed it.
Jo Jo Rabbit
Great movie.
The Handmaiden
Very good. Don’t watch if you don’t like sex. Or subtitles. Anything else would be a spoiler….
Farewell My Lovely
Holy cow. I forgot that in the seventies they didn’t clean up inappropriate language. The words and disdain for non white non straight characters! Pretty good movie, but you have to get thru leaving the language appropriate for the forties. (note to add: we’ve come a long way in representation, but this movie is not for people that find homophobia and sexism unwatchable).
Terminator Dark Fate
I really liked this movie a lot.
Step Brothers
As Julianne Sixel said, if you just embrace the stupid, it’s pretty funny. Probably the stupidest movie we will watch all year, but we did laugh.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
A black and white thinker. Never watch a thinker when tired and you have been drinking. It was fine.
Greyson Family Christmas
Rom. Com. So you know what to expect. But the acting is much better than some.
The Killing
1956…. I enjoyed this heist movie. Not sure Julianne did…..(note to add: I really liked this one)
Clone Wars
The movie, not show. On Disney. Much better than I was led to believe, but still not great. I mean, if you are going to watch the tv series, you should watch this…..
AI Artificial Intelligence
I love movies that surprise me. And this definitely surprised me over and over. There were slow moments to be sure, but good movie.
What We Do in the Shadows
That was weird. And funny.
The Aeronauts
Very good movie. I could not have survived. Better work out if I plan a similar trip.
The Incredible Jessica James
I was ready to turn it off after five minutes. That would have been a real mistake. Good movie.
Joker
I really enjoyed it. Of course, it was totally unrealistic that oppressed people would a: realize they are oppressed; b: do anything about it, like riot.
6 Underground
Like the TV show leverage, if they used violence, lots of violence, with blood everywhere. I’m shocked my TV screen isn’t permanently red at this point. On Netflix. I was entertained, I suppose I should mention that part….
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Not sure how many times I’ve seen this, but it really holds up!
Always be my maybe
A romantic comedy… With two people who have nothing in common. Stupid they end up together. But lots of great lines and writing. (edit to add: not sure where this falls in the recommend or not list)
Noel
streaming on Disney+
Part of the liberal war on Christmas for sure……. Also, surprisingly good. For a sappy Christmas movie.
Christmas Together
A rom com. The writing is pretty good, and the father daughter interactions are pretty realistic. Shockingly, it’s a rom com, so you know what will happen…..
Adjustment Bureau
I like this movie. Julianne says we already saw it. Was I meant to watch it again for some reason?
Avanti
From the early seventies, I think. If you can get past the lead actress supposedly being over weight, and it being mentioned several times,, it’s a typical modern rom com. Not a farce like many at that time. It was fine, not a must see by any means. If you watch with kids and this is an issue for you, there are several topless scenes. (edit to add: I mean, seriously, she’s probably too skinny! again, not sure where it falls on the line)
Ali’s Wedding
Rom com. Decent for the genre. Had a few interesting twists for a romantic comedy. Like the film we watched last year about Orthodox Jews, this is about marriage, among other things, only this time with a Muslim story. Not so different in some ways….
Pan’s labyrinth
Very good! Only partly what I expected
Afternoon Delight
Despite what you may read in the description, this is not a comedy. We liked it, but it is a drama. Some cringiness at one point. Also, I think it is in Seattle, and it never shows rain, which is a nice change. On Amazon Prime.
Shazam
Surprisingly good. (edit to add: really good, actually)
Zach and Miri Make a Porno
Very amusing. I highly recommend this movie. Though we did wrack our brains trying to think of a movie where the dude is the much better looking one…..
Enola Holmes
Streams on Netflix. It was fine. I think pre-teen girls would love this. Others should watch it for lite fare, if they don’t have other options. It had some good moments, and I mostly enjoyed it, but it needed more something for me to really recommend it.
Hearts Beat Loud
Really liked this. And the young woman can sing. (edit to add: really, it is good)
Uncorked
Good movie. Surprisingly realistic. Great performances and writing.
The Hummingbird Project
Good movie, that made drilling in the ground exciting-ish. Streaming on netflix
The women on the sixth floor
In french. Definitely enjoyable. Not predictable, which I like. Pretty sure I got the name right….
A Nightmare Before Christmas
Great music. Great art. It’s not my favorite story. (edit to add: I’ve seen this a few times, and I can never decide how I really feel about it, yet, I do go back….)
An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn
Quirky and ridiculous don’t begin to describe this. We laughed. Definitely worth your time.
Streaming on netflix (edit to add: highly recommended)
Love, guaranteed
Most predictable rom com ever? But it erased the previous horrible movie from brains.
X-Men Dark Phoenix
Not nearly as bad as I was told. Meh. Fine. I might be super hero’d out……(edit to add: I am not super heroed out, but still …..)
Hunt for the Wilderpeople
Good. Don’t read about it first, just watch it (edit to add: you will like this)
Clouds of Sils Mari
While watching it, I thought I was enjoying it. Then it ended, and I don’t know how I feel about it. Lots of talking, not much plot.
Detective Dee The Four Heavenly Kings
These movies are entertaining! They do have subtitles, which makes them better. The first one is also good. If you like wuxia and stuff….
20th century women
Hmmm. Not my favorite. Not my least favorite. I did mostly enjoy it. So, sure, good.
The Duchess
On Netflix. I enjoyed this partly true story. Not a great movie, but good.
Project Power
Steaming on Netflix. Guest review from Julianne Sixel….I was entertained.
A Quiet Place
Up there with alien. Very good movie
The Talented Mr Ripley
Dark. So dark. Lots of stars in early roles. So dark.
Horns
A good story, kind of ruined by being too dark. I’m not sure you should watch it, but maybe?
The Lovebirds
One ridiculous moment after another. Somehow I was entertained. But man, that was stupid. On Netflix
Last Samurai
Good movie. Not too much white guy saves the world. I mean, the world saved him, eventually….
First Man
Yawn. I mean, there were good parts, and the honest story was a nice change from the propaganda that most astronaut movies are…. But it was kind of boring somehow. (edit to add: Not sure I can recommend it…..)
(SURE, THIS IS TV, Whatever)
The haunting of hill house
The first seven or eight episodes vary from good to great. The last two are a real letdown from the high, but are well done. It’s a little spooky, never gross. I really liked it, and the overall theme was good, just be ready for a letdown at the end.
Movies I cannot Recommend
Marry Me at Christmas
A pastor breaks up the couple he’s supposed to marry, at their wedding, because he loves her……awful premise.
The Master
In fairness, we turned it off twenty minutes in….. So I can’t say with certainty it was bad……
Beaus of Holly
Holy crap these writers are terrible. They repeat parts, the power was on, but the linemen had to turn on the power? I mean, I’m writing this with thirty minutes to go, so maybe it gets better….. the mountain highway freezes when the temperature drops under thirty? So many little things are just badly done.
All around bad writing. She just rode a horse down a mountain in the snow, after never having ridden before this weekend.
Hercules in New York
A “comedy” from way back…..I loved that the tires squealed during a car chase, on dirt…..and that the mobsters drove a station wagon. It was not all that funny. Don’t bother.
Bahu Bali
Um…. Across four plus hours…. Two movies. Look, it’s a good story. But, um, even if you like movies with great warriors, and principles, don’t do it. They spent a ton of money, but the two antagonists were too over the top for me. And the music wasn’t great. It could have been an hour shorter for sure. I wanted to like it, but just couldn’t bring myself to.
Stay Tuned
Early 90s movie with Pam Dauber and John Ritter. Not great. A few good moments. They get sucked into tv shows, by devils, and have to escape each show to avoid being damned. Much not good, some good. But you don’t need to watch this. Whomever recommended it…..I don’t need your recommendations anymore….
Jupiter ascending
Wow. Awful. So bad it could only be seen in 2020…….(note to add: and here I thought 2020 was going to be an awful year, sigh)
Moonlight
Depressing. There were a couple scenes I liked. And I know not all movies need to be happy…..but I never felt like I was enjoying myself.
A Christmas Village
holiday rom com randomly come across number one for the year…..not the best, frankly. C.
The Lobster
What. The. Fuck? (edit to add: this movie is NOT GOOD)
Uncut Gems
Guest review from Julianne Sixel.
Fom the beginning, you knew only bad stuff would happen. And you didn’t care because none of the characters were anyone you cared about. I agree. I’m not sure what I was supposed to get out of that.
Ad Astra
Boring.
Ronin
Meh.
Marriage Story
Pretty meh. You don’t need to watch this.
Godzilla King of Monsters
So. Much. Stupid. So. Much.
Due date.
Awful. The only good part was Ben’s reactions.
American Honey
Boring. Depressing. Not recommended. Like, I just did not enjoy this. Needed an editor!
Links to other years:
https://mikesixel.com/movie-reviews-movies-i-saw-in-2021/
https://mikesixel.com/short-movie-reviews-i-watched-these-movies-in-2019/