Annette (2021)

I feel like anything I say about this movie won't do it justice, so I'll let it speak for itself. Leos Carax (Holy Motors) directs this rock opera (featuring the music of Ron and Russell Mael from Sparks) about a rocky romance between a stand-up comedian (Adam Driver) and an opera singer (Marion Cotillard) who have a baby. Their baby happens to be a wooden marionette puppet named Annette.

It's weird. It's sad. It's dark. It's tragic. The music is great. Most importantly, it's memorable. My rating is irrelevant. You'll know whether this is for you.

4 stormy nights out of 5

BIG FISH [2003]

Tim Burton's most mature work to date, an adaptation of Daniel Wallace's novel Big Fish is a fantasy flavored Southern Gothic tear-jerker that is sure to please fans of the director's work.
Like most of Burton's personal films, he ditches the idea of a standard narrative and tells it like a fairy tale vingette layered over a bigger picture as the heart of the picture, almost like a zanier version of Forrest Gump.  It's themes of father & sons, the curious mysteries of a bigger world and determination for what you believe all join each other seamlessly and will form a lump in your throat as you realize this.  It relishes itself in fantasy and larger than life storytelling but never loses touch with reality enough to insult your intelligence or lose your belief in it all.

4 soles in Spectre out of 5

INCEPTION [2010]

Director Christopher Nolan's Inception is a bold broken-hearted sci-fi that's like a blend of a heist thriller, a James Bond film and a chess game on psychedelic drugs.
In a rare and brave move, Nolan turns the modern summer blockbuster into something unusually complicated, intellectual and innovative with eye-popping visuals and a very well-dressed cast to appease the average moviegoer.  Like Nolan's largest influence, Ridley Scott, he lacks much in the way of interesting characters and pretty much lets the cast play broodier versions of themselves.   It's a well-thought out, mind-bending juggling act that seems to be a tough act for Nolan to follow up on.

4 Dreams Of A Lifetime out of 5

Nine (2009)

Some films are more than the sum of their parts; Nine has the misfortune of being the opposite. It has a great female cast, some interesting set pieces, some clever lighting that reminds of Gregg Toland’s work, and occasional smart editing, but they never gel into a satisfactory whole. Like the main protagonist’s mind it’s directionless and empty when it should be focused and impassioned. If that was a conscious decision, designed to reflect his crippling lack of imagination, it was a bad one. It's a yawn-fest with some bad music.

1½ cabaret music videos out of 5

THE DARK KNIGHT RISES [2012]

The final installment of director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises is a fitting grand finale to arguably one of the best superhero film series ever made.

It mucks around a bit at the beginning but comes all together pretty quickly and wastes no time charging forward into the darkness.  As gloomy as the film may be, it explores themes of hope for humanity, the will to  keep fighting and some questionable political views.  While it might not have the same impact, well choreographed fight scenes or the smarts of the previous film, The Dark Knight Rises is a huge messy spectacle that is sure to please the fans of the series and leave them wanting more.

3 Moroccoan chants out of 5

Contagion (2011)

A new strain of flu virus breaks out (similar to H1N1) killing victims within days causing global pandemic. The movie mostly involves A-list actors walking around with really serious faces trying to figure out the cause and a way to stop it. Focuses primarily on the bureaucratic end of the spectrum and doesn't get too wrapped up in emotions. The frightening thing about this plot is that it's entirely plausible and we are all susceptible, pretty much helpless against the elements. The moral of the movie: Wash your hands!

3 germophobes out of 5

Midnight in Paris (2011)

A simply delightful fantasy. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it. The less you know going into it, the better. I didn't think Owen Wilson could pull off the Woody Allen role, but he manages to slip into it rather effortlessly. Reminded me a lot of the fancifulness of Stardust Memories and Purple Rose of Cairo. About as good a recommendation as you're going to get from me.

4.5 whimsical strolls along the Seine out of 5

Taxi 3 (2003)

More of the same from the usual gang. There's an attempt to show that they've grown up a little and that their relationships have moved on, but the basic premise of the plot hasn't.
If you liked Taxi 1 and Taxi 2, you'll probably like Taxi 3. It's another fun feature that never takes itself too serious.

2½ guns for Santa out of 5

Taxi 2 (2000)

aka Taxi Taxi

Daniel still drives fast. People still love him.
His girlfriend Lilly still needs a good hard shafting.
The cops are still unable to find their own ass-pipe.
The Germans are out. The Japanese are in.
The Police Chief gets the most laughs.

3 parkour ninjas out of 5

Taxi (1998)

Daniel drives his taxi at 130 mph.
People love him, except the police, but that's okay because they can’t find their own ass-pipe without a map.
His girlfriend wants sex but he just can’t find the time.
It’s a French, fun, fast paced package from the quill of Luc Besson and the laughs are universal.

3½ turbo boosts out of 5