Jay Kelly (2025)

Clooney plays a successful actor (wink wink) going through an existential crisis, who takes an impromptu trip to Europe, while his entourage follows him wherever he goes. It's a very "inside baseball" look at the entertainment industry, occasionally meandering and self-indulgent, but performances are strong and it's easy to get caught up in the glitz. It didn't quite work its magic on me, but it's a solid effort and an examination of a life lived good enough.

3 slices of cheesecake out of 5

It Comes at Night (2017)

So do I...

Paranoia runs rampant in the titter-inducing It Comes at Night. After the world has been ravaged by a deadly infectious disease, a family lives isolated deep in the woods until one day when another survivor ends up on their doorstep. The stark, bare-bones setup effectively builds up an air of tension and dread where the true horror exists. This one won't make you feel good, ironically.

3 wet dreams out of 5

Under the Silver Lake (2018)

A slacker with a fleeting sense of purpose stumbles upon the makings of a conspiracy while investigating the sudden disappearance of his mysterious neighbor. This movie is a fucking trip. A surreal neo-noir black comedy with deep Lynchian vibes reminiscent of Mulholland Drive. There's so much going on here, it almost shouldn't work, but it all comes together with a semblance of dream logic that reminded me of After Hours. This is the type of film that contains hidden layers of meaning that can linger on in the back of your mind for days at a time. Be careful not to look too deep or you might lose yourself.

4½ hobo codes out of 5

Sasquatch Sunset (2024)

What can I say about this movie? It's fantastically original and strange. Basically a nature documentary about four Sasquatch out in the wild, doing what Bigfeet do. There is no dialogue or subtitles, so the story is essentially told in grunts and a light musical score, as we follow their adventures into the wilderness and great unknown. It's hard to recommend this unless you really know what you're getting into, but it's delightfully memorable if you're strange in the head, like me. From the director of Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter, so you know you're in capable hands.

If you want more tall, hairy creatures walking around wailing at each other (although accomplished to lesser effect), check out the The Star Wars Holiday Special. If you enjoy the scenery and adventurous element of this film, I highly recommend Swiss Army Man.

3½ furious lactations out of 5