The first half of this dark comedic horror is audacious and engrossing. The comedy, as pitch black as it is, works. Going into the film blind will make the film feel wildly unpredictable. Once the film hits its halfway point though, the plot progresses in more typical way as it takes its foot off the gas. It dramatically slows and the pacing becomes exhausting. The Coffee Table may be 91 minutes, but the second half makes it feel twenty minutes…

I’ve been struggling with this film because as much as I enjoyed it, I can’t ignore that it operates on its own underdeveloped logic. The audience isn’t given any possible explanation for older and younger Elliott being able to communicate. They’re given a ”I have no idea” and a shrug. I find that to be lazy from a writing standpoint. I don’t think a story falling under the fantasy genre allows a screenwriter to just wave possible explanations away. Funny…

March Around the World 2020
1/30
France

On paper this seemed to be right up my alley, but it missed the mark for me. I think it’s intriguing that it draws attention to itself through the existence of Raconteur (Anton Walbrook) and the carousel. I think Anton Walbrook makes La Ronde more entertaining, but his character’s appearance can be off-putting at times. I think Raconteur works best when he’s interacting with the characters in the stories. When the film cuts…

What would happen if the guys from American Pie and EuroTrip never grew up?

I think the most surprising thing about She's In Portland is that it didn't come out between 2000 and 2010. With a screenplay packed with a good dose of misogyny, I was shocked that Marc Carlini was comfortable shooting and releasing this in 2020. It attempts to be a more adult version of films like EuroTrip and Sex Drive. She's In Portland lacks the maturity, self-reflection,…