Fun review of Sinners by FilmCritHulk.
https://www.patreon.com/posts/127035352?utm_campaign=postshare_fan&utm_content=android_share
Eagerly awaiting the Filmcast review next week.
Idk when I’ll see it so I’m just enjoying discussion even if there’s spoilers.
Glad to see it’s doing solid box-office numbers. Saw that it’s doing the second-biggest opening weekend numbers for an original horror film this decade.
Ryan Coogler needs to be given the money necessary to make his original stories. He’s earned it. But obviously it only happens if people turn up for it, so hopefully the early symptoms are true.
Man, I even used “wildly”? Maybe there is hope for Fury Road. (There probably isn’t.)
I gave Jurassic Park another watch back in February and felt that it was much better than I’ve been giving it credit for. It was enough to convince me to buy the 4K of it. After listening to the Blank Check discussion of it released this past weekend, I got motivated to fire it up again already, and: yep. I’m locked in. I’ll pretty much fully walk back every skeptical thing I’ve said about the movie. There are still things about it that I would pick at, but it’s excellent overall.
Thought it was an interesting point they raised on Blank Check - that the Williams score, while beautiful, is kind of a tonal misfit with the movie it’s supporting. As I heard them say it, it sounded reasonable even though I didn’t really like hearing it. That’s one of the only things I’ve always been over the moon about with this movie. After watching it back, I disagree with the point made. The main anthem is mostly just used for the majestic reveals early in the movie, and then the extended danger sequence is scored appropriately. Really the only weird thing is to pipe the anthem back in for the T-Rex appearance late; I do think that’s a little off. But whatever.
I’m a fan now. I recommend giving second chances to movies you think are widely overrated by a credible audience. It doesn’t always work out, but making the second attempt is +EV.
If you want to watch a movie that doesn’t hold up, try I, Robot. Imdb lists it as an “Action Mystery Sci-Fi Thriller”, and it’s pretty underwhelming on all of those fronts.
Yet another case of the books being much, much better.
Is it even based on the books (aside from the laws), or did it just try to cash in on the association with Asimov?
It was very loosely based on one of the short stories in one of the books, IIRC. It has been a long time since I’ve seen it and a longer time since I read the books.
Edit: According to google AI it was inspired by the books, but not based on them. Looks like they took a few more things than just the laws (character names, plot elements) from his stories, but the overall story is basically an original one.
Jurassic Park slander 
WB projected a $40 million opening. It’s easily going to beat that despite a bunch of pre-release marketing botching.
Thoughts I’ve never jumped to after thinking “what am I in the mood for?”
I enjoyed I, Robot and Gemini Man. Anything Sci-fi jumps it up a couple notches.
Cool thing about Sinners is Coogler was able to negotiate a deal where he gets full ownership of the film after 25 years. First of its kind deal I think.
You’re slow ponied. Tarantino has that for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.
I always want I, Robot to be better than it is, but it has not held up for me on rewatch.
Never saw Gemini Man.
Tried watching Bright and ughhhhhh.
90s was peak Will Smith.
I-Robot was ok but not something I’m going to rewatch anytime soon. I couldn’t finish Gemini Man.
Drop (2025)
This is a totally fun 90 min thriller with some good tension and a great cast. Nothin ground breaking here but a totally fun ride. Kept me guessing.
Grade: B+
God, I, Robot was just terrible, and I enjoy camp/sci-fi.
I watched A Real Pain during Spring Break. It’s a nice enough movie, and while I think Culkin turned in a good performance, it didn’t strike me as the type of thing that wins an Oscar. Was last year’s slate of supporting actors just weak, or am I missing some subtleties of his performance? It might have helped that he made it into the “supporting” category even though he’s more of a co-lead.
