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Rintelman
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The Empty Man (2020)
Ages like fine wine
This movie is really something else. In a horror world filled with overly-bland jump-scare copypasta, or artsy flicks that are not even scary in the least, this particular one finds that sweet spot. David Prior is very much a Fincher-tutee, and the cinematography is great throughout. I think the prologue is by far the most brilliant one ever in a horror movie. I think that is one of the reasons this movie isn't rated higher as it peaks in the beginning. But after a bit of a cliché middle part, in which seems to develop into another teen horror-game-gone-wrong trope, this movie takes a radically different direction. If you don't trust me, look at Chris Stuckmann's piece on this. The execution isn't perfect with some loose ends, but man, was this made with ambition, style and respect for its audience. Some scenery and dialog is burned in the mind and the concepts it grappled with are truly deep and disturbing. A slow burner that gets better upon a second watch. 9/10 because its currently way undervalued. A damn shame this movie was abandoned by its studio upon Disney acquiring Fox and being released during a pandemic.
The 15:17 to Paris (2018)
Movie that should have been a documentary
As a big Clint Eastwood as director fan, this is the first time I am thoroughly disappointed. The main event is gripping, but that does not warrant the poorly-acted, boys-go-to-Europe, road-trip movie that is the first hour or so. The insights into the character's youths does not add to the story at all. These men, heroic as their actions were in real life, are not professional actors. It makes as much sense as having the Sistine Chapel renovated by a bunch of hockey players. I was at the point of breaking off watching this movie at many points, and the end left me totally unsatisfied and with the question of why somebody would waste an hour and a half of their life with this. Now I'm wasting another 5 minutes writing this review, so you don't have to. You're welcome!