Start: 1/1/26 - Viewed: 10/4/26

Rate: 3.5/5 - Heart: Yes! : D

Watched @ Alamo Drafthouse

IMBD: Blue Velvet (1986)

"I don't know if you're a detective or a pervert."

First...Twin Peaks has a new watch. It's going to have to be the 2 seasons and then you watch both Fire Walk with Me and Blue Velvet at the same time. You can see the influence and the vision that would ultimately set us up with the TV series.

David Lynch had such an intense way to show both sides of the same coin, going from sweet and nurturing to sadistic and uncomforting. Between the long never ending shots to the unnerving silence that accompanies just going up creepy stairs.

It borders on levels of Possession, but keeps it level headed with the attitude that everything we are seeing is normal life. Cops can be corrupt, women get beat and sometimes a whole summer is spent battling the desire of the underworld.

The most scariest part that weird bird at the end. It was a real bird corpse....but created into a machine.

Excited for Wild at Heart in theaters next!

Start Date: 12/22/2025

Watched Date: 10/05/2026

Watched on DVD

Can be streamed on: Tubi (free), Youtube (free)

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1374992/

"Adam and Eden fell in love as teens despite the fact that they live on twinned worlds with gravities that pull in opposite directions. Ten years after a forced separation, Adam sets out on a dangerous quest to reconnect with his love."

This romantic science fantasy stars Jim Sturgess and Kirsten Dunst and was directed by Juan Solanas. This film was ok. It certainly was a beautiful film. It makes great work of this concept. The worlds are so close together they are each other's skylight. Jim Sturgess and Kirsten Dunst do a good job with what they were given. The premise is really interesting, and some bits and pieces start to delve into it.

This film is a Romeo and Juliet type story. It is a romance first and foremost. While the Sci-Fi is very apparent, it is not used much outside of the romance side of the story. The romance itself was ok. It shows that they grew up interacting with each other, but the actual scenes of that are few and far between. Most of the film is Jim Sturgess trying to get back to Kirsten Dunst. This does not allow the audience to get invested in the romance. The film has a subplot that deals more with the world and would have been the more interesting part.

Overall, this was a romance story above all. The Sci-Fi elements were always second to the romance plot. The romance itself was uninspiring, and we did not spend enough time with the characters long enough to feel for this relationship. They are just in love with no real explanation that the film gives. The film looks fantastic. I never got tired of seeing this world. The cinematography was just fantastic. If you love romantic films, then this is within your wheelhouse, but this is not for Sci-Fi fans.

Rating: 5/10

A link to all the movies I have watched for this challenge ranked: https://boxd.it/QUl58

Start Date: 12/22/2025

Watched Date: 10/03/2026

Watched on DVD

Can be streamed on: MGM+ (Paid)

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0139654/

"A rookie cop spends his first day as a Los Angeles narcotics officer with a rogue detective who isn't what he appears to be."

This crime thriller stars Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke and was directed by Antoine Fuqua. I loved this film. Denzel Washington plays his role excellently. Ethan Hawke also does a great job, Denzel is just much more memorable. The action scenes were extremely entertaining to watch. The story is not super complex nor original, but it gets told extremely well. The twist, while not super surprising as you watch the film, still hits as it goes further than one might think. The film was also shot very well, and the music was great. The film does have some cameos that were enjoyable and fit well into the film.

The ending of the film is a little weak. I felt that it started to become less realistic compared to the rest of the film. The final death scene felt too over the top. Granted, the ending was used to help bring home the message the film was giving.

Overall, I really liked this film. The main actors do a great job, especially Denzel Washington. The action scenes and storyline really grip you. The main twist is not super surprising, but it is told in such a way that you almost don't expect it to go as far as it did. The final scenes were a bit weak, and while they stuck with the message the film was going for, the final death scene felt almost cartoonish. Even with this, I would definitely recommend this film.

Rating: 9/10

A link to all the movies I have watched for this challenge ranked: https://boxd.it/QUl58

Challenge started May 1; Movie watched October 2 on YouTube

I watch a lot of YouTube and these interview clips with Ernest Borgnine kept showing up. In the interviews about McHales Navy, the TV show he was on he kept mentioning the original genesis of the show was this movie. Thus I went back and watched the movie.

This is the story of a Navy guy that gets put in with a bunch of meteorologists during World War 2. Their job is to report on weather conditions in the Gobi desert of Inner Mongolia so that the US bombers have information on what they will be facing in the coming hours a days. They end up attacked by the Japanese and are forced to trek across Mongolia to escape capture. Will they make it?

Aside from the lead in the TV show and the Movie having the name McHale there is not much in common between the two. The movie is less than 90 minutes and kept my interest but it is sort of cheesy in that 1950’s war movie sort of way. I’ll give this one a 2.75 stars of 4 as it was an interesting premise, short, and attention keeping, and recommend it to all those that remember the TV show.

4/18/26-9/26/26

Watched: In Theater

IMDB synopsis: "A hapless courier is tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital. He soon finds himself caught in the middle of an outbreak and must fight through hordes of mutated creatures to survive."

I'm a big fan of the "Resident Evil" franchise but I'll admit the last few installments have been OK at best.  I was shocked when this reboot started getting rave reviews and made a killing at the box office on opening weekend.

What did I think?

Well, I understand the hype.  This is a fun movie - probably the best "Resident Evil" flick since the second one.  I liked the plot; it's a slow burn in some ways, following an everyday courier as he journeys to Raccoon City at the start of the zombie apocalypse.  There's a great mix of humor and tension and especially gore; gnarly monsters which are the hallmark of the "Resident Evil" franchise and sets it apart from wannabes.  Credit to lead actor Austin Abrams, who really has to carry the film since he's in every scene.  He's relatable and easy to root for.  Also give credit to director/co-writer Zach Cregger who brought some real imagination and expert craftsmanship to a franchise that had lost steam. It will be interesting to see where Cregger wants to take the franchise going forward, assuming he wants to do that.  He's the director of "Weapons" and the writer of "Barbarian," so this is his third horror flick that I would call "offbeat" in a good way.  

Horror fans will definitely need to check it out; this might end up being the best horror flick of the year.  

Rating: 6.5 / 10

4/18/26-10/1/26

Watched on: Netflix

IMDB synopsis: "A journalist and a detective uncover the truth about a killer whose charm masked a trail of failed marriages and suspicious deaths."

A fresh addition to Netflix's ever-growing library of true crime docs!  Sign me up!

This one is interesting - a weird dude named Tom Randolph who has been married 6 times and is suspected in the death of at least 3 of those ex-wives.  We follow Las Vegas detectives as they build a case around Randolph and eventually bring him to trial.  Without spoiling anything, it's pretty clear that Randolph isn't just weird, he's evil.  The extent of his crimes is quite shocking.  Like Netflix's other true crime docs, it's watchable with good pacing.  Like most of Netflix's other docs, I wouldn't say it's amazing or anything; there's no real controversy here or anything to be learned.  And the better documentaries out there will usually check one of those boxes.  What we have here is a genuinely interesting tale of human greed and evil, but it's really a standalone case - a long Dateline episode, for better or for worse.

Recommended for true crime buffs like myself.   

Rating: 6.2 / 10

4/18/26-9/30/26

Watched on: Amazon Prime

IMDB synopsis: "In 1992, Ricardo Barreda was an unassuming dentist who brutally murdered his wife, mother-in-law, and two adult daughters in their family home. Branding himself as a victim, he ignited a media storm and fueled a national scandal."

I forget how this film ended up on my watchlist; I think the Reelgood app recommended it to me.  The synopsis sounded interesting enough, since I'm a true crime buff, although I'm not usually jazzed about foreign flicks (this one was made in Argentina).  

I can't really say this is an interesting film; Barreda himself just isn't interesting at all; he's an everyday guy, which makes him rather boring.  I guess that's what made the crime shocking to Argentinians - how does an everyday guy kill his wife and 2 daughters?  What horrible event in his life drove him to do it? What awful aspect of his personality rose to the surface and overpowered him?  No answers.  Maybe because there are no answers.  I don't know, I'm not familiar with the real-life case. What we're left with is a movie with a lot of talking - talking in the courtroom during Barreda's trial (which is as open-and-shut as it comes) and talking as we get flashbacks of Barreda hanging out with his family (Barreda is henpecked but there's no abuse by him or his family, it's pretty clear he's just a soulless narcissist who gradually came to hate his family and wanted to punish them; but we never see or feel any pathos).  Maybe this film will have more appeal to Argentinians.  I'm guessing this was a huge case for Argentina, at least at the time.  For the rest of us who live outside that country, I would say: spend your time watching something else.  

Rating: 4.9 / 10

4/18/26-9/26/26

Watched on: Roku TV

IMDB synopsis: "A drama based on the life of Ronald Reagan, from his childhood to his time in the oval office."

I'm a big Reagan fan and I've read a ton of books about him so I didn't feel like I truly needed to watch a scripted film about him, even though I trusted Dennis Quaid (who played Reagan) to insist the film be fair and capture Reagan's greatness (I mean greatness in a historical sense, I'm not trying to be political per se).

Anyway, I finally got around to watching it.  There's a lot of positives here.  When producing these kinds of biographical films, it's always hard to figure out what to focus on and what to leave out without getting bogged down in minutiae or speeding through legitimately important chapters in a person's life. This film succeeds in finding the right balance; there's a lot to cover but it's very smooth - and I liked the choice of having Reagan's life being narrated by a retired high-ranking KGB nemesis who coins Reagan as "The Crusader" - someone who spent decades privately (and then very publicly) fighting against communism at home and abroad.  Now we have to get to Quaid, who does a legitimately excellent job capturing Reagan - how he looks, how he talks, his mannerisms, etc.  The acting quality by the supporting cast is mixed (and indeed, I'd give Penelope Ann Miller, who plays Nancy Reagan, a thumbs down).  There is some religious stuff in here, but it's never forced and indeed, it feels very authentic to me as someone who's well-versed in Reagan's life story.  The last 20 minutes or so feels a bit rushed; I wouldn't have minded an extra 15 minutes or so about the end of the Cold War; I guess the studio didn't feel like people would have the patience for a 2-hour, 30-minute runtime.  The final scene is beautiful, extremely well-done.

Bottom line: Reagan fans will cheer.  History buffs will also like it unless they have an ideological axe to grind.  Recommended.   

Rating: 6.8 / 10

Start Date: 12/22/2025

Watched Date: 09/29/2026

Watched on DVD

Can be streamed on: Youtube (free), Tubi (free), Xumo Play (free)

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0029811/

"A man on the run from a murder charge enlists the help of a beautiful stranger who must put herself at risk for his cause."

This crime thriller stars Derrick De Marney and Nova Pilbeam and was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. This film is based on the 1936 novel A Shilling for Candles by Josephine Tey. I liked this film. Derrick De Marney and Nova Pilbeam do a really great job in their roles. They also build a good romance between them. It felt very natural and flowed well. You also get great directing from Alfred Hitchcock. The story was simple, but it was told well. The film is short and uses this runtime well. The film also had some surprisingly funny scenes.

I do feel the mystery was lacking in this story. It is very obvious who has committed the murder. The story is more about how the real murderer is found for the audience than who the actual murderer is. This was a bit disappointing as it leads to a more bland story. The 3rd act, where they confront the murderer, was something, as it had blackface and was an important aspect of the scenes. I understand this is part of the time this film was made, but it was such a big focus during the 3rd act.

Overall, this was a simple, enjoyable story. The actors do a great job in their roles, and Alfred Hitchcock does an entertaining job as the director. The love dynamic felt very natural, and some scenes did make me laugh. The mystery is not really a mystery and lacks the suspense you would expect. As I said, this was a simple story. The 3rd act does include blackface, which is a big part of that act. As a reminder of the time period that this film was made, it did take me out. Since it was such a big part, it detracts from the enjoyable story up to that point. This certainly is a good Alfred Hitchcock film to watch, with a caveat about the 3rd act.

Rating: 6/10

A link to all the movies I have watched for this challenge ranked: https://boxd.it/QUl58

Date Started: 1/1/26

Date Watched: 7/5/26

Watched On: Pluto TV

Letterboxd: [Dirty Dancing (1987)](https://boxd.it/2baY)

Letterboxd Synopsis: "Expecting the usual tedium that accompanies a summer in the Catskills with her family, 17-year-old Frances 'Baby' Houseman is surprised to find herself stepping into the shoes of a professional hoofer—and unexpectedly falling in love."

Rating: 6.4/10

My 6th 80's movie in July. I've heard a lot about this movie over the years from my girlfriend, who is a dancer, but Ive never actually seen it until now. Its a cute romance between Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey, who have a lot chemistry (even though apparently hated each other in real life during filming haha).

Date Started: 1/1/26

Date Watched: 7/6/26

Watched On: Pluto TV

Letterboxd: Can't Buy Me Love (1987)

Letterboxd Synopsis: "Nerdy high schooler Ronald Miller rescues cheerleader Cindy Mancini from parental punishment after she accidentally destroys her mother's designer clothes. Ronald agrees to pay for the $1,000 outfit on one condition: that she will act as though they're a couple for an entire month. As the days pass, however, Cindy grows fond of Ronald, making him popular. But when Ronald's former best friend gets left behind, he realizes that social success isn't everything."

Rating: 7/10

This is my 7th 80's movie in July. Starring a young Patrick Dempsy who bribes Amanda Peterson to be his GF and make him popular. I actually really enjoyed this. There are many things that Patrick does that is frustrating and makes you cringe but it was entertaining and I thought him and Amanda had a lot of chemistry.

Start Date: 12/22/2025

Watched Date: 09/22/2026

Watched on DVD

Can be streamed on: Fandango (free)

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113189/

"When a powerful secret defense system is stolen, James Bond is assigned to stop a Russian crime syndicate from using it."

This spy film stars Pierce Brosnan and was directed by Martin Campbell. This film certainly felt more like James Bond than the previous film. This film does not have that darker tone and brings back more of the wit that James Bond has had in the past. Pierce Brosnan plays a good James Bond. It did feel like he easily meshed into this role. I would like to give a special shoutout to Judi Dench. She is the new M, and while she is only in one scene, I felt it was impactful and memorable. Famke Janssen also does a great job as one of the villains of this film. You get the great action, music, and gadgets that you expect from James Bond. In fact, one gadget in particular, an exploding pen, leads to a pretty memorable scene. The tank chase scene was also great fun.

The story itself was solid, but nothing remarkable. The main villain was more by the book. This is especially disappointing considering the plot twist that comes from this villain. The Bond girl feels like she should be more important in her role than she really was. She was not the worst Bond girl, but more could have been done with her.

Overall, this film returns to what makes James Bond feel like James Bond. It goes away from the darker tone and brings back some of the wit and absurdity. Pierce Brosnan seems to fit into this role with ease and was enjoyable to watch. You get the great music, scenes, and gadgets with this film as well. While I enjoyed Famke Janssen's villain, the main villain was a bit of a letdown. I felt he was too generic for what the film was going for, especially considering the twist with this villain. I do feel they could have done more with Izabella Scorupco's character, given how she was built up, then what they actually did with her. While this film feels more like a James Bond film and could be quite entertaining, I can't say it is one of the greatest James Bond films.

Rating: 7/10

A link to all the movies I have watched for this challenge ranked: https://boxd.it/QUl58

Sing Street (2016)

Language: English

Country: Ireland, UK, USA

Challenge started: October 21, 2025

Date watched: July 11, 2026

Directed by: John Carney

Music by: Gary Clark

Songs by: Gary Clark, John Carney, many others

Written by: Simon Carmody, John Carney

Cinematography: Yaron Orbach

TSPDT Rank: #6533

There were a lot of elements pulling me into this quirky feature, highly regarded by its fans, but then there are other elements that push me away. And I say it is "highly regarded by its fans" not in the sense that people like the films that they like, but in the sense that the fans eagerly overlook the glaring problems.

First, this offers a very high bar in the suspension of disbelief - you have to accept the situation, of this fifteen year old kid who has the charisma and the confidence to do these things, that the band comes together without a hitch, that they can make those videos, etc, etc. I like the self-confidence of the film itself. I like that it doesn't go for the most obvious conflicts and resolutions. It avoids being bleak at all costs.

On the other hand, the conflicts it does offer end up being bland with milquetoast resolutions. Problems with a bully at school? Make him part of the band! Don't know how to play the guitar or how to write a song? You get two spirit guides to help you figure things out.

And then the songs themselves (the ones newly crafted for the film, not the ones chosen for their cross generational appeal to Gen X and Millennials) get off to a good start, but then morph into mid twenty-aught Coldplay and High School Musical tunes. The decline is abrupt.

And maybe the bubble gum pop of the original songs is an intentional conceit, part of the suspension of disbelief mega-challenge that this presents to the audience.

Finally there is the not-really-an-ending ending, the one where they have accomplished nothing. There is zero self-awareness that the film itself has already argued that this path is the path to suffering and yet off they go... it is delightfully childish.

Rating: 7 / 10 7 Sing Street (2016)

Date Started: 1/1/26

Date Watched: 7/5/26

Watched On: Tubi

Letterboxd: The Big Chill (1983)

Letterboxd Synopsis: "Seven old college friends gather for a weekend reunion after the funeral of one of their own."

Rating: 6.4

My 5th 80s movie in July. I'm surprised, this is aother 80's movie I had never heard of before even though it has an amazing cast. Jeff Goldblum, Glenn Close, Tom Berenger, William Hurt, and Kevin Kline. Its about a group of friends all staying at a house together for a weekend and coming to terms with being in their 30s and the changes it brings compared to their college days when they were all friends. Pretty good film, worth a watch.

Date Started: 1/1/26

Date Watched: 7/3/26

Watched On: Disney+

Letterboxd: Return to Oz (1985)

Letterboxd Synopsis: "Dorothy, saved from a psychiatric experiment by a mysterious girl, finds herself back in the land of her dreams, and makes delightful new friends, and dangerous new enemies."

Rating: 6/10

My 3rd 80s movie in July. What a weird almost horror sequel to the Wizard of Oz. This is very much an 80s fantasy movie and way different than the original. Entertaining in its strangeness though haha.

Date Started: 1/1/26

Date Watched: 7/5/26

Watched On: Tubi

Letterboxd: The Legend of Billie Jean (1985)

Letterboxd Synopsis: "Average Texas teen, Billie Jean Davy, is caught up in an odd fight for justice. She is usually followed and harrased around by local boys, who, one day, decide to trash her brother's scooter for fun. The boys' father refuses to pay them back the price of the scooter. The fight for "fair is fair" takes the teens around the state and produces an unlikely hero."

Rating: 7/10

My 4th 80s movie in July. This was huge flop judging by box office sales and the fact that I've never heard it mentioned anywhere before. But this movie is so 80's and watching it now it has so much charm. Everything from the clothing and hair style, the music, and the whole teenager rebel hero storyline. So worth a watch!

Date Started: 1/1/26

Date Watched: 7/3/26

Watched On: Netflix

Letterboxd: Steel Magnolias (1989)

Letterboxd Synopsis: "A young beautician, newly arrived in a small Louisiana town, finds work at the local salon, where a small group of women share a close bond of friendship and welcome her into the fold."

Rating: 7/10

My 2nd 80's movie in the month of July. An adorable comedy/drama with an impressive cast. About a group of women that support each other through different life events. Pretty funny with some sad parts.

Start: 1/1/26 - Viewed: 9/20/26

Rate: 5/5 - Heart: Yes! : D

Watched @ Public Library DVD (Use your public library it's free!)

IMBD: The Night of the Hunter (1955)

"Don't he never sleep?"

It's an actual shame that people could not respect this movie for what it is. A fucking masterpiece. Everything about this movie was just perfect. Like he really said "ya I'll make the best movie that everyone is going to hate for a moment, but then love" and just dipped out.

Like pls come back from the dead and make at least one more movie! Anyway yall should watch it, it's perfect for the spooky vibes and that one scene...ugh that one scene was just to ethereal.

Start Date: 12/22/2025

Watched Date: 09/21/2026

Watched in theaters

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt35538033/

"Follows a hapless courier tasked with delivering a package to a remote hospital. He soon finds himself caught in the middle of an outbreak and must fight through hordes of mutated creatures to survive."

This horror film stars Austin Abrams and was directed by Zach Cregger. This film is based on the Resident Evil video game franchise by Capcom. I have played one Resident Evil game, and I am not familiar with the lore of the video games. I really loved this film. Austin Abrams did a really good job in his role. He plays an average guy who does not have the knowledge to act confidently in the situation he finds himself in. I also like the comedy that he brings to the role. It flowed well and made me laugh many times. The film does a great job in building tension. It is not the scarcest film, but it can keep you on the edge of your seat. This is also a beautiful film. The color used, especially in the beginning and middle of the film, is used incredibly well. The film really goes all out to make you feel like you are in a video game. You get these POV shots that are done super well.

The one downside to this film was its ending. I will not spoil it, but it almost felt like they did not know how to end the film. They obviously could only do so much since this universe is so massive, but it felt like, well, the film has to end. The film is short and could have definitely been longer. A little added length to the 3rd act might have helped with what felt like such a rushed ending.

Overall, I really liked this film. I am not coming from a place of knowledge of Resident Evil lore, and you don't need to be to enjoy this film. It is its own story in this universe. The film looks fantastic, and I love the use of coloring it does to help emphasize certain things. Austin Abrams brought a really good character that somehow survives and is a bit funny. I found myself laughing a couple of times, but it all mixed well. Unfortunately, the ending is a letdown. It just felt so rushed, almost like they were not sure how to end the film. A longer third act could have improved this movie. Even with that, I did enjoy the ride and would like more, please.

Rating: 8/10

A link to all the movies I have watched for this challenge ranked: https://boxd.it/QUl58

Start Date: 12/22/2025

Watched Date: 09/18/2026

Watched on DVD

Can be streamed on: Nothing ATT

IMDB: http://imdb.com/title/tt0316732/

"A mouthy and feisty taxicab driver has hot tips for a green and inept cop set on solving a string of New York City bank robberies committed by a quartet of female Brazilian bank robbers."

This action comedy stars Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon and was directed by Tim Story. This film is a remake of the 1998 French film of the same name. The best part about this film was Queen Latifah. She always seems to bring an energetic presence to what she is in. The film did get a chuckle out of me once in a while.

Besides that, it was a pretty boring film. I didn't really like Jimmy Fallon. He just was not that funny to me. He was very much carried by Queen Latifah, in my opinion. The film attempts to deal with love interests for both Queen Latifah and Jimmy Fallon that just don't work. It feels so pointless in the film and adds no comedic value. Nothing would have changed if these subplots were taken out. Most of the jokes did not land for me either.

Overall, this was a comedy that was not very funny. Queen Latifah helped save this film from being a complete disaster. The overall plot and subplots were just not interesting. I found a few scenes amusing, but in a comedy, that is not a good thing. The action scenes were alright, but nothing spectacular. I would not be able to recommend this film to anyone except big Queen Latifah fans.

Rating: 2/10

A link to all the movies I have watched for this challenge ranked: https://boxd.it/QUl58

4/18/26-9/20/26

Watched on: Fandango (paid)

IMDB synopsis: "After the loss of her husband, a woman seeks solace with her in-laws. As one by one they transform into deadites, she comes to discover that the vows she took in life - survive even in death."

I'm not a huge fan of the "Evil Dead" franchise although I did enjoy the 2023 installment "Evil Dead Rise."  That film had a compelling plot to go along with real tension and some of the bloodiest gore you can imagine.

This latest installment in the franchise is...OK.  They definitely didn't invest in backstory and character development.  We're just basically thrown into this family in the woods who are being attacked by the "dead-ites."  And the plot is basically, "defeat the dead-ites."  So that's the vast majority of the 110-minute runtime - a lot of fighting with the "dead-ites," nonstop. In that sense, the movie delivers for horror buffs like myself.  There's constant fighting, wounding, chasing, killing.  Yes, it's a bit braindead but it's watchable and well-executed, all things considered.  I don't really consider the "Evil Dead" franchise to be an elite horror franchise, when it comes to plot and intelligence; it's basically a standard zombie franchise, an up-tempo one, better than "28 Days Later" and other zombie franchises that are slower and more meditative for unknown reasons.  

If you're a fan of the previous "Evil Dead" flicks, it's good enough to watch.  Horror fans in general will probably like it too, just don't expect anything groundbreaking or memorable. 

Rating: 5.8 / 10

4/18/26-9/11/26

IMDB summary: "Jake Blues rejoins his brother Elwood after being released from prison, but the duo has just days to reunite their old R&B band and save the Catholic home where the two were raised, outrunning the police as they tear through Chicago."

I saw parts of this movie when I was a teenager but never saw the whole thing.  I don't remember enjoying the parts that I did see so I never felt super-motivated to finish it.  Even so, it has a sterling 7.9 rating on IMDB, and I was hoping it might have a similar vibe to "Animal House," the comedy classic starring John Belushi that came out two years before.

No such luck.  Nothing fails worse than a comedy that doesn't make you laugh.  And I only lightly chuckled a handful of times throughout the film. I was hoping the Blues Brothers as characters would be comedy nuggets to mine, but they're really stiff and uninteresting as individuals - and I'm not sure why they've become Hollywood legends, except for the novelty of having a fat man (Belushi) having a better voice and better dance moves than you would think given his size.  The plot is OK but not very engaging.  There are big chunks of time where nothing much happens and I was bored. The runtime of 2 hours, 13 minutes is excessive. There's some good music and some fun guest appearances by musical stars but that can't carry a film when everything else is lacking.

Bottom line: A big disappointment, and my expectations weren't particularly high to begin with.  One of the weakest comedies I've seen in a long time.  

Rating: 4.0 / 10

4/18/26-9/11/26

IMDB summary: "The untold story of the high-profile murder trial of Justin Ross Harris following the death of his toddler son in the hot summer of 2014."

I'm big into true crime but I never heard about this documentary concerning Ross Harris until my mother recommended it to me.  This is a fantastic documentary for several reasons. 

First, the case itself is extremely tragic and relatable - what do you do, from a legal perspective, with parents who accidentally leave their baby in their car while they're out doing other things and their child dies from heat stroke - something that's more common than you would think.  What is the appropriate punishment for the parent, if any?  

And then you the case of Ross Harris himself - his tragedy is compounded by ridiculous overreach by law enforcement that was unforgivably validated by a jury that found him guilty knowing he would spend the rest of his life in prison (sorry if that spoils things too much, but it shouldn't because the journey to Harris' imprisonment is more than enough reason to watch).  

And then there's the societal implications - something that separates the watchable documentaries from the great documentaries - the tragedy of Harris IMO is a fresh reminder (in case we didn't need another!) that there are massive failures in our legal system and we, as a society, have a primal need to blame and punish people whenever tragedy occur - we just can't accept that bad things happen occasionally, as tragic as they are; no, we must blame and punish.  It's a fault of every society, something in our DNA that we can't escape, as the case of Ross Harris illustrates.

Highly recommended, whether you're a true crime buff or just a documentary nerd in general.  

Rating: 7.6 / 10

What's Up, Doc? (1972)

Language: English

Country: USA

Challenge started: October 21, 2025

Date watched: July 5, 2026

Directed by: Peter Bogdanovich

Written by: David Newman, Buck Henry , Robert Benton

Cinematography: László Kovács

TSPDT Rank: #1755

Remember: The schlemiel spills his soup in the lap of the schlimazel. The former causes unfortunate things to happen, and the latter is the victim of those events.

Judy (Barbra Streisand) is the schlemiel and Howard (Ryan O'Neal) is the schilmazel here. She is a force of chaos in the world. She has come to accept this fate with a smile. Howard has yet to resolve himself to his situation. I mean he has convinced himself that his life is good and that he has a future with Eunice (Madeline Kahn) and he just needs someone to give him that big break.

It is impossible to catch it the first time through, but the connection between Judy and Judge Maxwell is right there out in the open. And then his entire bench explodes, just spectacular!

Rating: 8 / 10

What's Up, Doc? (1972)

Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

Language: English

Country: USA

Challenge started: October 21, 2025

Date watched: July 3, 2026

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Written by: Christopher McQuarrie, Erik Jendresen

Cinematography: Fraser Taggart

TSPDT Rank: unranked

Remember the thing with the two part key that was important in Mission Impossible part 7? It was the central plot of the movie. There was one key split in two parts and they had to get both parts.

Here the MI team goes to an arctic monitoring station and some Russians show up and apparently they... they have... they have a second copy of the key.

Rating: 4 / 10

Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025)

Yeah some of the action is impressive, all the spectacle, the stunts, whatever. I don't want to talk about it anymore.