Reel Interpretations
Interpreting film and television differently, together
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To Leslie (2022)
Andrea Riseborough gives a career defining performance as the titular Leslie
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Women Talking (2022)
Powerful in its themes and a perfect execution by Sarah Polley, Women Talking is one of the best films of the year with the strongest ensemble
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Aftersun (2022)
Aftersun: A remarkable achievement of the human condition and the power of memory by Charlotte Wells in her directorial debut
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Toy Story 3 (2010)
Toy Story 3: An emotional journey from the start to the final moments that conclude one of the greatest trilogies of all time
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Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)
Solo: A Star Wars Story: Alden Ehrenreich has massive shoes to fill and does so for the most part. Its Donald Glover that eclipses Solo in his own story
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Spartacus (1960)
Spartacus: A generational epic from a director who has full control of this spectacle tale
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Better Call Saul (Season 5) 2020
Better Call Saul Season 5: The penultimate season is the best yet, pulling the ensemble cast in closer to its center of gravity – Saul Goodman
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She Said (2022)
She Said: Standing on the shoulders of similar genre films, She said triumphs in its storytelling approach, showcasing the brilliance of investigative journalism
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The Pale Blue Eye (2023)
The Pale Blue Eye: Harry Melling commands the screen even with names like Christian Bale, Timothy Spall and Toby Jones sharing the screen. The perfect film pairing for the cold winter months
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White Noise (2022)
White Noise: Noah Crippled by its own ambition, Noah Baumbach delivers a technically masterful film
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M3GAN (2023)
M3GAN: Full of satire, thrilling exhilaration and social commentaries, Blumhouse and Atomic Monsters has another low budget hit on their hands.
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Fall (2022)
Fall: A word to the wise, though Fall may have you on the edge of your seat, donโt sit toward the edge, you will fall off it
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Decision to Leave (2022)
Decision to Leave: Park Chan-wook fully engrosses us in a captivating and intoxicating romance
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Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story: Like the music industry, Weird Al takes his talents to parody the biopic genre in a perfectly suitable and absurd manner
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Babylon (2022)
Babylon: Chazelle’s 3 hour historical Hollywood epic is too ambitious and forgettable for its own good
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Better Call Saul (Season 4) 2018
Better Call Saul Season 4: The birth of Saul Goodman, for better or for worse in an exceptional season of the series so far
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The Whale (2022)
The Whale: A frustrating and disastrous look at loss and grief led by the best male performance of the year from Brendan Fraser
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Up (2009)
Up: An exceptionally written, animated, acted and scored film that constantly reminds us to live life to the fullest and the next adventure is right around the corner
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Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Avatar: The Way of Water: Despite its recycled narrative shortcomings, James Cameron delivers one of the most breathtaking visual spectacles of all time
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Emancipation (2022)
Emancipation: The harrowing tale of Whipped Peter feels more like a snake than a whole meal
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Guillermo del Toroโs Pinocchio (2022)
Pinocchio: The third times the charm this year with adaptations of Carlo Collodi’s original story.
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Better Call Saul (Season 3) 2017
Better Call Saul Season 3: Vince Gillian and Peter Gould has struck gold with Saul for the 3rd time with Bob Odenkirk leading the way
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Devotion (2022)
Devotion: Led by two impactful performances by Majors and Powell, the legacy and inspiration of Jesse Brown will live on
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Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Star Wars: Episode 3 – Revenge of the Sith: Lucas corrects the ships path, ending the prequels on a satisfying note
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The Fabelmans (2022)
The Fabelmans: Steven Spielbergs 2 and a half hour epic semi-autobiography reminds us all to never grow up too fast
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The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special: James Gunn and the Guardians made it home in time for Christmas to spread cheer and warm up some cold hearts
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Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery: Another breath of fresh air added to the resurgent whodunnit genre, led once again by Daniel Craig and an outstanding ensemble
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Andor (Season 1) 2022
Andor: One of if not the most important addition to the Star Wars universe since a New Hope
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Spirited (2022)
Spirited: A delightful reimagining of A Christmas Carol that overstays its welcome well after dessert is served.
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The Menu (2022)
The Menu: Deliciously thrilling and unpredictable around every corner, Ralph Fiennes turns in another outstanding performance
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Enola Holmes 2 (2022)
Enola Holmes 2: Building off the success of its predecessor, Millie Bobby Brown returns with a fiery gusto
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Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Honoring Chadwick Boseman’s legacy through a poignant and emotionally satisfying follow up
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The Banshees of Inisherin (2022)
The Banshees of Inisherin: The Trio of McDonagh, Farrell and Gleeson prove to be a winning formula once again
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Causeway (2022)
Causeway: Jennifer Lawrence and Bryan Tyree Henry shine in their muted, honest performances
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Till (2022)
Till: A Heartbreaking reminder of the horrors of the Civil Rights Movement led by an unforgettable lead performance in Danielle Deadwyler
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Tรกr (2022)
Tรกr: A career defining performance from Cate Blanchett as the titular Lydia Tรกr
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The Good Nurse (2022)
The Good Nurse: Led by two engaging performances, the monotonous motions of the film hold it back
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All Quiet on the Western Front (2022)
All Quiet on the Western Front: Timeless, horrifying and a polarizing adaptation of the 1929 novel of the same name
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House of the Dragon (Season 1) 2022
House of the Dragon Season 1: The return to Westeros picks up where the best of its predecessor left off
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Black Adam (2022)
Black Adam: Dwayne Johnson’s promise of a new hierarchy in the DC universe falls short despite a fun and enjoyable time at the theater
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Wall-E (2008)
Wall-E: Breathtakingly animated, this trash compactor and vegetation probe will steal your heart
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The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (Season 1) 2022
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Both astounding and frustrating, the return to Middle Earth has a lot of expectation to live up to
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Welcome to Wrexham (Season 1) 2022
Welcome to Wrexham: A-Listers Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buy a Welsh football club, for better or for worse
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She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)
She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: Tatiana Maslany commands the role, providing a steady anchor for another mediocre mcu entry in phase 4
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Werewolf by Night (2022)
Werewolf by Night: A welcomed departure, Michael Giacchino injects a breath of fresh air horror into the growing stale MCU
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Amsterdam (2022)
Amsterdam: O. Russell’s first effort in 7 years ends up at the mercy of its own self inflicted wounds.
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The Killing (1956)
The Killing: A early career triumph in storytelling, directing and execution by Stanley Kubrick
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Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
Star Wars: The Clone Wars: The worst the galaxy far far away has to offer
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Blonde (2022)
Blonde: Relentless and brutal, giving any sort of time and attention to this film takes a strong stomach
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Barbarian (2022)
Barbarian: Zach Cregger creates an unforgettable and unpredictable horror experience – one of the best horror films of the year
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Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
Don’t Worry Darling: Call it a sophomore sump as Wilde’s film limps across the finish line
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Better Call Saul (Season 2) 2016
Better Call Saul Season 2: Proving Season 1 wasn’t a fluke, Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould once again strike gold in season 2
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The Woman King (2022)
The Woman King: Viola Davis leads the charge with an animalistic war cry
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See How They Run (2022)
See How They Run: The formulaic murder mystery cant stop this energetic Agatha Christie stylized ensemble piece
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Star Wars: Episode 2 – Attack of the Clones (2002)
Attack of the Clones: An improvement on its predecessor but not by much. The same downfalls of the first film are carried over
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Fear and Desire (1952) / Killers Kiss (1956)
Stanley Kubrick’s first two films that would shape how the director becomes a legend
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Pinocchio (2022)
Pinocchio: Devoid of any charm, magic and zero inspiration behind this version of a classic Disney story
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What We Do in the Shadows (Season 4) 2022
What We Do in the Shadows Season 4: in its 4th season, the mockumentary shows no signs of its fangs dulling or losing its schtick
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Cars (2006)
Cars: Not a guaranteed first place finish but still dazzling to look at and admire in its homage to racing and the backbone of America
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Three Thousand Years of Longing (2022)
Three Thousand Years of Longing: Visually breathtaking, Idris Elba takes Tilda Swinton’s breath away
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Me Time (2022)
Me Time: A fun distraction but an empty calorie meal – another Netflix film that will fall into the abyss of content on the streamer
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Better Call Saul (Season 1) 2015
Better Call Saul Season 1: A worthy successor to Breaking Bad, Bob Odenkirk shines in the leading role as Jimmy McGill
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Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace (1999)
Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace: Burdened with a poor script, and too much exposition, among others, the Phantom Menace fails to recapture the magic of the original trilogy despite truly breathtaking visual effects
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Only Murders in the Building (Season 2) 2022
Only Murders in the Building: The sophomore effort raises the stakes, charm, comedy and mystery but still stays true to the series core
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On the Count of Three (2022)
On the Count of Three: The heavy subject matter leaves a poignancy that comes across as genuine from Carmichael and his ensemble
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Day Shift (2022)
Day Shift: A solid performance from Foxx, a typical one from Franco and the definition of a turn your brain off popcorn flick that will soon be forgotten in the sea of content on Netflix
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The Incredibles (2004)
The Incredibles: A delightful, gorgeous animation and possibly the best example of how a superhero film should be made
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Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Bodies Bodies Bodies: A satirical whodunnit for Gen Z full of fun and commitment to the nature of the story
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For all Mankind (Season 3) 2022
For All Mankind Season 3: A triumph of a season surpassing real life and our wildest imagination while being the best season so far
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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: An epic conclusion to the greatest trilogy of all time
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Thirteen Lives (2022)
Thirteen Lives: Based on the real life disaster, Ron Howard is in total control over his film of survival and the human spirit
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Prey (2022)
Prey: Given the option, Prey should be seen in its original Comanche dub to fully embrace the tense, survival experience by Dan Trachtenberg. Amber Midthunder gives an exceptionally visceral performance
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Bullet Train (2022)
Bullet Train: Ultimately, itโs a wild, chaotic ride from start to finish. Disjointed with a messy first half, David Leitch course corrects in the second half with a part homage to Japanese cinema and part Guy Ritchie Snatch era filmmaking.
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Finding Nemo (2003)
Finding Nemo: Another home run from Pixar that reminds us to just keep swimming
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For All Mankind (Season 2) 2021
For All Mankind Season 2: Improving upon its first season, the race to colonize and militarize the moon is heightened by the performances of the ensemble cast
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Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (2022)
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On: 90 minutes of pure joy, happiness and sincerity brought to life by a 1-inch shell with shoes on
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The Gray Man (2022)
The Gray Man: A serviceable and derivative action thrill ride from the Russo brothers that costs way too much to make
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Nope (2022)
NOPE: Jordan Peele further cements himself as a talent behind the camera with his supernatural spectacle
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Get Out (2017)
Get Out: Jordan Peele’s directorial debut highlights the actors hidden talent that blends horror, comedy and social commentary
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The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
The Two Towers: A worthy successor to its predecessor that captures the spectacle and elevates the genre into the mainstream
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For All Mankind (Season 1) 2019
For All Mankind Season 1: Purely fascinating and adrenaline fueled, season 1 puts a new spin on actual events surrounding the space race
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Ms. Marvel (2022)
Ms. Marvel: A breath of fresh air with a standout performance from newcomer Iman Vellani. Transcending cultures, Ms. Marvel provides comfort and a familiarity embedded in its DNA
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Monsters, Inc. (2001)
Monsters, Inc: Another win for Pixar that in their short history showcases the true power of their distinctive storytelling and approach to animation
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Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)
Thor: Love and Thunder: Overtly silly but balanced with heart, emotion and depth, Waititi cements his stylistic, colorful approach in the MCU. All give wonderful performances but its Natalie Portman that steals the show.
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The Boys (Season 3) 2022
The Boys Season 3: Consistent from season to season and improving on the series, The Boys is easily one of the best superhero genre series created
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Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022)
Minions: The Rise of Gru: A silly hour and a half that can distract from events in the real world and a fine addition to the Despicable Me franchise
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The Umbrella Academy (Season 3) 2022
Umbrella Academy Season 3: The best season thus far, creator Steve Blackman is still finding ways to innovate the genre and keep his show fresh and engrossing
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Swiss Army Man (2016)
Swiss Army Man: Delightfully odd and absurd, the directorial debut from Daniels is strangely magnetic drawn in by the full commitment of Radcliffe and Dano.
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Spiderhead (2022)
Spiderhead: A serviceable and fine entry in the science fiction genre featuring a trio that should have been the only characters in the film
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Good Luck to You, Leo Grande (2022)
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande: A hidden gem streaming service comedy that no one should overlook
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Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Obi-Wan Kenobi: Another over-hyped Star Wars series that fails to live up to its potential featuring a standout comeback from Ewan McGregor and performance by Vivien Lyra Blair
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Elvis (2022)
Elvis: Packed with energy, glitz and glamour with outstanding, award worthy performance’s by Butler and Hanks
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
The Fellowship of the Ring: Director Peter Jackson’s near perfect start to a trilogy. It’s ambitious, breathtaking and grandiose.
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Cha Cha Real Smooth (2022)
Cha Cha Real Smooth: A full spectrum of emotions will crashes into you like waves, writer/director/star Cooper Raiff proves he’s a talent to watch from a resounding follow up to his debut.
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Lightyear (2022)
Lightyear: Boasts breathtakingly georgous visuals and a stellar voice cast but the story keeps the film from achieving the same greatness that the Toy Story franchise achieved.
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The Black Phone (2022)
The Black Phone: For 102 minutes, Hawke, McGraw and Thames shine in the adapted short story. Derrickson and Blumhouse have another horror hit on their hands
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Hustle (2022)
Hustle: A rare Netflix gem featuring Adam Sandler at his full strength of talent
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Jessica Jones (Season 2) 2018
Jessica Jones Season 2: A slower pace than previous seasons, Ritter as Jessica still packs super powered punch to knock you unconscious
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Jurassic World: Dominion (2022)
Jurassic World: Dominion: Empty, devoid of charm, charisma, imagination and pure bait and switch. The franchise has run its course.
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The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: The final chapter, literally, in the Hobbit trilogy that feels overstuffed with character and battle but still ends on a high note.
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Toy Story 2 (1999)
Toy Story 2: Surpasses the original in every way that squeezes more heart and emotion out of 90 minutes
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Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom: A slog to get through, this chapter in the franchise is uninspired and plays it safe with recycled plot points
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Jurassic World (2015)
Jurassic World: Colin Trevorrow proves that an above average Jurassic Park movie can be made with the right team in place. A suitable follow up to the 1993 classic
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The Flight Attendant (Season 2) 2022
The Flight Attendant Season 2: Not as polarizing as season one but Kaley Cuoco lends another outstanding performance
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Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick: Full throttle from start to finish offering breathtaking action sequences, emotion and the true staying power of movie star Tom Cruise
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A Bug’s Life (1998)
A Bug’s Life: A solid second entry from Pixar proving lighting can be caught twice in a bottle by John Lasseter and co
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Winning Time: The Rise of the Laker Dynasty (Season 1) 2022
Winning Time: Featuring a dynamic ensemble cast led by John C. Reilly, Winning Time is equal parts style and substance for all fans not just Lakers
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Ozark (Season 4) Part 2 – 2022
Ozark Season 4: Part 2: Getting out clean isn’t pretty for the final 7 episodes but backed by outstanding performances, writing and directing, Ozark comes to a satisfying conclusion
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Tokyo Vice (Season 1) 2022
Tokyo Vice Season 1: Fully captivating from all aspects told with a verisimilitude and authenticity backed by outstanding performances from the ensemble
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Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness (2022)
Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness: Despite the outstanding performances from the greater ensemble, Multiverse of Madness suffers under the weight of its convoluted script thats contstanly pulling the story in different directions. A 2 hour film feels longer with many subplots and fan service moments that narratively doesnt matter to the final product.
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Moon Knight (Season 1) 2022
Moon Knight: Led by two brilliant performances by Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke, the 6 episode structure further hinders a complete story being told
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Toy Story (1995)
Toy Story: Revolutionary in how stories are told through animation while providing laughs, an absurd amount of charm and emotional beats throughout the 81 minute runtime
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Ex Machina (2015)
Ex Machina: Leaning more heavily on ideas and application, Garlandโs directorial debut is lifted by a strong screenplay and 3 outstanding performances.
