Photo credit: Universal Knock at the Cabin doesn't waste time getting to the punchline. Its home invasion plot immediately kicks into gear, and from there, we experience 90 minutes that are as tense as they are bleak. It's a thriller that's all killer and no filler; I truly appreciate how taut and simple it is. … Continue reading “Knock at the Cabin” Review
Top 10 Movies of 2022
After a barren 2020 release calendar and disappointing 2021, I'm happy to report that 2022 was an incredible year for movies. Although I saw fewer movies than I usually do, I had a difficult time compiling this list, as some truly great movies didn't make the cut. Feel free to yell at me for these … Continue reading Top 10 Movies of 2022
“Candyman” Review
Photo credit: Universal Both as a horror movie and as a continuation of its predecessor, Candyman is an absolute mess. Sure, the movie looks pretty; there's no denying Nia DeCosta has a visual eye as a director. Yet the emptiness behind upside-down shots quickly wears off, leaving bare a horror movie devoid of any true … Continue reading “Candyman” Review
“Nomadland” Review
Photo credit: FOX Searchlight When Nomadland wins Best Picture next month, a bunch of people are going to watch it the following weekend and complain that nothing happens in its two-hour runtime. In a way, they're right; you watch characters poop in buckets, look at the sky, eat in their vans, and gather together around … Continue reading “Nomadland” Review
“Tenet” Review
This review is completely spoiler-free and vague. Photo credit: Warner Bros. Tenet should be a movie that works. After all, this is one of the best directors in the world operating on territory that he has perfected before, essentially combining the time-bending trickery of Memento with the espionage action sequences of Inception. Unfortunately, Tenet is … Continue reading “Tenet” Review
Top 50 Movies of the 2010s
The title says it all.
Why You Should Watch “Atlanta” – Ben Watches TV
Photo credit: FX [Surprise: I’m doing TV reviews! These will take the form of spoiler-free elevator pitches, where I basically just recommend and give an overview of some of my favorite shows. Hope you enjoy. And don't worry, movies aren't going anywhere.] An IMDb page or Hulu description of Atlanta will promise something far different … Continue reading Why You Should Watch “Atlanta” – Ben Watches TV
“Pig” Review
Photo credit: NEON Bolstered by a terrific Nic Cage performance, Pig is one of the year's most pleasant surprises. This isn't the John Wick knock-off that its premise would have you believe; it's a patient, moving examination of what we really care about in our short time here on earth. Death is a tsunami simply … Continue reading “Pig” Review
“F9” Review
Photo credit: Universal If you thought the Fast and Furious franchise couldn't get any crazier, buckle up: F9 is here to obliterate your senses. This is a movie so unhinged that it transcends 'good' or 'bad', ultimately becoming a joke you're either in on or you're not. I mean the last part quite literally. Characters … Continue reading “F9” Review
“In the Heights” Review
Photo credit: Warner Bros. Everybody you see on-screen during In the Heights deserved better. For all the faults the movie has, absolutely none can be attributed to the work of its actors and dancers, who manage to invigorate each scene with joy whenever possible. The movie's leading man, Anthony Ramos, carries such screen presence that … Continue reading “In the Heights” Review
“A Quiet Place Part II” Review
Photo credit: Paramount As a thriller, this is vastly superior to A Quiet Place in nearly every way. There is a palpable tension in every single minute of the movie's runtime, with director John Krasinski milking the dread of uncomfortable silence and the chaos of startling noise for all their worth, even if it does … Continue reading “A Quiet Place Part II” Review
“Mortal Kombat” Review
Photo credit: Warner Bros. This is far from a good movie, but you probably aren't expecting (or even demanding) one from an adaptation of a video game known for violent fatalities. The movie is aware of this, too, as its characters serve largely as action figures for a 'plot' that exists purely to reach the … Continue reading “Mortal Kombat” Review
“WandaVision”: Complete Series Review
Photo credit: Disney WandaVision ultimately has me pretty torn. I was this show's biggest proponent for most of its season, holding it up as proof that Marvel was unafraid to branch out and tell character-driven stories in a creative way. This partly holds true; WandaVision certainly does a great job of fleshing out Wanda and … Continue reading “WandaVision”: Complete Series Review
Ben Watches Things 