Reel Interpretations
Interpreting film and television differently, together
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Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023)
Idris Elba is comfortable with his gruff and tortured demeanor in his return to a well known character of his among a gloomy and sadistic world
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Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)
A step down from its predecessor, Fury of the Gods suffers from chaotic CGI heavy choices and a mismatch of tones that aren’t committed to. The Shazamily still shines the brightest
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65 (2023)
Missing the mark, 65 fails to commit to its Sci-Fi potential, ending up being a struggling, clunky, and distracted action piece with nothing to say
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The Last of Us (Season 1) 2023
Co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann take an already near flawless game and add a new layer of perfection in their adaptation
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Puss in Boots: The Last Wish (2022)
The Last Wish is a further reminder that some franchises will never run out of steam or ideas to remind us of their relevance
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Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre (2023)
The first of two Guy Ritchie Releases this year, What Operation Fortune lacks in story and character is made up by the ensemble cast and stylized violence mixed with dry humor
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Creed III (2023)
Michael B. Jordan fully commits to the world he helped resurrect with a stunning display of emotion mixed with furious and personal fights
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Cars 2 (2011)
Missing an exit, Cars 2 doesn’t hit the same stride with Pixar’s second attempt at turning a singular film into a franchise
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Cocaine Bear (2023)
Three things in life are guaranteed: Life, death and the pursuit to watch and enjoy a bear ingest a ton of cocaine
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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Tony Gilroy and Chris Weitz focus on grounded storytelling, adding more depth to the lore and mythology while still staying essential to the Star Wars DNA.
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Lolita (1962)
The unadaptable novel is made possible with a standout performance by Sue Lyon
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Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)
Jonathan Majors’ Kang overshadows and out performed his ant sized opponents
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The Sea Beast (2022)
A hidden gem among animated fare, The Sea Beast takes us on a worthy voyage of repairing a broken relationship between man and beast
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Triangle of Sadness (2022)
An attack on the senses, Ruben รstlund’s sharply written Triangle of Sadness doesn’t quite address the themes in a cohesive manner
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You People (2023)
With a lot of promise behind its concept and a talented cast, You People falls short of expectations, suffering from a tonal crisis
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Knock at the Cabin (2023)
Dave Bautista carries Knock at the Cabin on his massive back only to be complimented nicely by newcomer Kristen Cui
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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.
