LnD were fortunate to get out of the house a few times this year, and are we bring you our Best Of list amongst the universe of movies we saw (mostly together). Here’s the faves out of that group:
Splitsville: This is the second phenomenol effort from Michael Angelo Covino and company, following up on the brilliant The Climb. If you are looking for hilarious adult dramas, I recommend you put these two and one on your watch list. It is #1 on my list and there is not a close second.
Bugonia: Another provocative and wildly entertaining piece from our main man, Yorgos Lanthimos. Jesse Plemons is a great actor and turns in another intense performance in his role as a would-be lunatic. L&D readers certainly know we are huge fans of Emma Stone, and she also delivers in a challenging role. It is #2 on my list and there is not a close third.
One Battle After Another: I am a bigger fan of the Paul Thomas Anderson canon than my partner, but I didn’t think this was his best effort. This is a great action movie, for sure. If the subject matter was right-wing terrorists, my guess is that the critics would be less sympathetic towards this one. Leonardo DiCaprio as the Lebowski terrorist is a solid running gag, and Benicio del Toro is blessed with another great role for him to dominate. That’s heavy metal, man.
F1: The Movie: As a movie-length advertisement for F1, this works like a champ. Highly enjoyable. Very loud. Brad Pitt. A legitimately great summer movie.
Materialists: It’s possible that I liked After the Hunt more than I liked this one, but I did like this enough to recommend it to people. Who would you pick as your life partner — Pedro Pascale or a Chris Evans? Decisions, decisions.
Honorable Mention:
Sacramento: A very solid comedy from the land of fruits and nuts.
Eddington: I really liked this movie before I realized what the movie was actually about. Yeebus. We didn’t realize it was Ari Aster. Of course it was Ari Aster!
After the Hunt: Kind of a ridiculous set-up from the perspective of an academic insider, but some good characters and a lot to talk about. Julia Roberts is superior.
Dishonorable Mention:
The Amateur: Rami Malek dropped at least two spaces in my book from this one. Enough said.
Bride Hard: I was ready to get up and leave before the opening credits even wrapped up, but I figured it couldn’t get any worse. I was wrong.
See you Tuesday!
L&D Report 