jkathrens

The coincidences keep adding up to construct a glass-house of a plot that doesn't make any sense in retrospect and very little as it unfolds. The cartoonishly-evil is well-represented and the ending shows everyone involved was well-aware what a throwaway production this was.

81 _78%

Middletown (2025) - Rated 15 Sep 2026

Pretty inspiring to see a teacher create something from the ground up that inspired so many of his students to do great things in their own right. The fact they genuinely played a part in uncovering such a huge story is almost icing on the cake. I loved the idea presented that the camera gave these teens a power they never would have had with just their voices. Investigative journalism is more important than ever.

78 _68%

Philadelphia (1993) - Rated 23 Aug 2026

Fantastic central performances by Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington, and great use of music (both diegetic and non-diegetic). The courtroom scenes aren't nearly as compelling as they should be -- it's like they're getting in the way of the stuff that's really interesting. Some beats feel pretty heavy-handed, but it's probably appropriate for the time as you really didn't want the early-90s to miss the lesson: humanity is for everyone.

85 _87%

Boogie Nights (1997) - Rated 12 Aug 2026

It's a rare feat for a film to have so many well-developed characters -- and each of them get their big moments in this film. Well-acted with a great story and some fabulously tense scenes, this film has style to spare. The story could have hit a little harder to leave more of a lasting impression, but that's a minor quibble.

63 _32%

Rock 'n' Roll High School Forever (1990) - Rated 27 Jul 2026

The production feels inept at times, with shots poorly framed or out of focus, and editing choices I haven't seen since early in film school. The whole thing still has a charm that makes it enjoyable to watch and some of those songs stayed in my head. I'd genuinely listen to the soundtrack.

76 _62%

Backrooms (2026) - Rated 27 Jul 2026

It's a fun one to think about, but I either haven't figured it all out or there aren't as many layers as I'd like. Some creepy imagery. Worth revisiting.

65 _35%

Cars (2006) - Rated 18 Jul 2026

Weak entry in the Pixar canon. I liked it better when it was called Doc Hollywood. Not MUCH better, but a little...

79 _72%

Wreck-It Ralph (2012) - Rated 18 Jul 2026

Pretty sweet story with a lot of heart. The nostalgic video game references work far better here than they did in the recent Super Mario adaptation.

73 _54%

Obsession (2026) - Rated 18 Jul 2026

The reason this works comes down to two things: strong acting by the two leads, and the fact that the "obsession" in the title is more about the examination of what makes Bear's character particularly dangerous and loathsome. He's a "nice guy" but he's truly callous, weak-willed, and selfish. I'm glad more films are pointing this out, but I've seen better examples recently, making this feel late to the party. Quite an accomplishment on its budget, however!