Mike's Movie Tips

2.5/4 Starring: Emily Blunt, Ashton Holmes Rated R for Some Violence and Disturbing Images "Wind Chill" is a decent, if not particularly ambitious, thriller that would be worth a peek if it didn't completely fall apart at the end.  The characters are sympathetic, it moves fast enough, and most importantly, it has a decent amount of atmosphere.  Unfortunately the ending doesn't work, and even then, it would be a half-hearted endorsement. Two college students (Blunt and Holmes) are driving home for the holidays.  Things get off to a rocky start because she is, by her own admission, difficult, and he isn't honest about who he is or his motives for giving her a ride home.  Things get worse when they take a "shortcut" and crash in the freezing snow.  Now they're stuck and there are some mysterious people lurking about... It helps immeasurably that Emily Blunt and Aston Holmes aren't phoning it in.  On paper, neither one is likable, but they ...

About six months ago, I wrote a Mike's Musings about why being gay sucks .  I've made a few posts about my frustrations with dating and the gay community as a whole, but nevertheless, I still don't think I've gotten all of my thoughts out on the page.  So if I repeat myself, or if you know me personally and have heard me say this stuff ad nauseum, bear with me.  And for the record, these are not personal complaints.  I've had the same coversation with the few gay men I care to know. Problem #1: Anything goes in the LGBT community. In theory, it's a good thing where everyone is accepted regardless of who they are.  But the problem with that is that anything goes.  Everyone can and is dressing and acting as quirky as possible, whether it's some sort of rebellion or newfound freedom, dressing in loud, kitschy outfits is considered "festive" and "unique."  But it's gotten to the point where there's no way to tell the difference ...

1.5/4 Starring: Alex Roe, Jessica Rothe, John Benjamin Hickey, Abby Ryder Fortson, Tyler Riggs, Peter Cambor Rated PG for Thematic Elements including Drinking, and for Language "Forever My Girl" is a conservative, small-town country romance in the vein of Nicholas Sparks.  It's also uproariously funny, but not intentionally.  Why?  Maybe it's because the melodrama is pumped up to an 11.  Maybe it's because the stars have looks and presence, but not much talent.  Or maybe it's because the screenplay contains more howlers than most comedies.  When the lead character spends a significant portion of the movie in a state of internalized angst, you're in trouble. Liam Page (Roe) is a country music superstar.  Of course, he left his girlfriend Josie (Rothe) at the altar to get there.  Eight years later, Liam has become the celebrity cliche: spoiled, strung-out and on the verge of collapse.  He only realizes this when he hears on the news tha...

1.5/4 Starring: Steve Austin, Vinnie Jones, Robert Mammone, Tory Mussett, Rick Hoffman, Madeline West Rated R for Pervasive Strong Brutal Violence, and for Langauge Expecting anything beyond a guilty pleasure from a "Battle Royale" knock-off produced by the WWE is a fool's errand.  Expecting something with at least half as many brain cells as testosterone is just as pointless.  But could it at least have been entertaining?  And could it not have made me feel like a sociopath for laughing at some of the film's more ridiculous moments? A psychopathic reality TV producer by the name of Breckel (Mammone) has an idea: get ten death row inmates from around the world, put them on a camera-rigged island and have them fight to the death.  The last man standing gets to go free.  In true Hollywood fashion, he's taking a tried and true formula and passing it off as his own, although no one in this movie is smart enough to realize it.  One is an ex-British SAS f...

2.5/4 Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Vicky Krieps, Lesley Manville Rated R for Language "Phantom Thread" has been getting a lot of buzz for one reason: it is (allegedly) the final film of Daniel Day-Lewis before his retirement.  I say "allegedly" because, like Hayao Miyazaki, he has claimed retirement before only to return to the screen.  As one of cinema's most distinguished and legendary actors (he was the first person to win three Best Actor Oscars), the news that "Phantom Thread" would be his final film shocked the world. In a way, "Phantom Thread" is like " Eyes Wide Shut ;" it's an art film that because of its background drama is getting more press and attention than it otherwise would.  This is definitely not multiplex fare; those without patience or appreciation for movies that don't include special effects or overt manipulation needn't bother. Reynolds Woodcock (Day-Lewis) is a genius dressmaker whose pe...

3.5/4 Starring: Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Allison Janney, Julianne Nicholson, Paul Walter Hauser, Bobby Cannevale Rated R for Pervasive Language, Violence, and Some Sexual Content/Nudity I find figure skating fascinating.  It's visually pleasing and thrilling to watch, yes, but I'm always wondering not only how they accomplish those graceful movements and daring jumps.  I'm also wondering what each jump is.  "Triple sow cow," "Triple axel," "Triple toe loop..."  They all look the same to me.  "I, Tonya" actually answers one of those questions, although I'm not sure I got the specifics of it.  Doesn't matter.  This movie isn't about the mechanics of figure skating but rather one of its most (in)famous personalities, Tonya Harding. There's little doubt regarding the talent of Tonya Harding.  Born with an almost innate ability to skate beautifully, she started winning competitions by the time she was in kinde...

1.5/4 Starring (voices): John Cena, Kate McKinnon, Bobby Cannevale, Anthony Anderson, Peyton Manning, David Tennant, Lily Day Rated PG for Rude Humor, Action and Some Thematic Elements Adapting the charming "Ferdinand the Bull" short from 1938 was a bad idea.  A very bad idea.  The subject of a bull who would rather smell flowers instead of fight is interesting but limiting.  To make up for this, the filmmakers add in odd characters and subplots that range from one-dimensional and boring to unbearable and annoying.  Occasionally, the movie is downright sick.  I don't know about you, but that's not my cup of tea. Most bulls are apparently eager for the challenge of going up against a matador and bathing in the glory of the fans.  Not so for Ferdinand (Colin H. Murphy).  He'd rather smell the flours and cares nothing for violence.  After his father (Jeremy Sisto) is selected for the bullfight and doesn't return, he escapes and ends up living...