Mark McPherson's Blog, page 15

“Transformers One” Review

The Transformers franchise was built for animation. Well, okay, they were built to be versatile toys, but in the audio/visual medium, cartoons best suit the battles of transforming robots. Transformers One confirms this theory by being one of the most expressive, cohesive, and well-acted Transformers films of the 21st century. That might not seem like the highest praise given the past few films gracing the theater, but it is good news for fans grading on a curve and parents who want a good old-...

“Martha” (2024) Review

Homemaking diva is perhaps the best way to describe Martha Stewart. While some women grew powerful and controlling with their modeling, singing, or acting, Martha wielded her influence over the kitchen and garden. Her presence on television was so gentle that her more vicious nature with perception whiplash as hard as Bob Saget’s comedy. As this documentary reveals, her life was far more than the good things she composed, cooked, and baked for TV.

Appearing in this documentary amid her maint...

No, We Are Not Still Cool

In response to the 2024 election, Chris Pratt responded with unity. He wanted people to check in with their neighbors who voted for the other candidate to make sure they’re okay. He wanted Trump’s voters to be graceful winners and comfort those afraid of the world that will follow. In theory, it’s a good idea to show compassion and empathy.

But, also, what fucking comfort?

What comfort will a Trump supporter give to a Harris voter right now? The people most terrified are those who are goi...

“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” Review

Even after the tsunami of superhero films that have swarmed the cinema of the 21st century, my favorite of the sub-genre still remains 1978’s Superman. Beyond its retro wholesomeness and delivering on its promise of believing a man can fly, there’s an invigorating sensation of mankind’s greatest qualities in the comic book icon. Part of its appeal was skillful direction and John Williams’s mesmerizing score, but Christopher Reeve was the star. It wasn’t just that he looked like...

“Armand” Review

The world of parents and teachers is painted with thick claustrophobia in Armand. The inciting incident is in regards to the titular six-year-old boy having been accused of raping his classmate. We never see the incident or the kids until the very end of the film. The majority of the picture is locked within the dull halls of a Norweigan grade school, looking and feeling like a dismal relic of the past. It’s a chamber drama so drowned in its own dreariness that it often tries to claw itself out...

“MadS” Review

While the surface of MadS seems like another horror film trying to match the one-shot wonder of One Cut of the Dead, that would reduce such gritty brilliance. The film is perhaps more notable for being a zombie film that keeps the perspective close and introspective. So many zombie pictures tend to speed towards that point of infection and the violent transformation of humans becoming mindless munching machines. Here’s a movie that sticks with its unfortunate characters as they endure all manne...

“Memoir of a Snail” Review

Stop-motion animation has the remarkable quality of feeling real with its practical puppets while remaining whimsical in a world built one frame at a time. From the adapted conversations of Creature Comforts to the rustic reflections of Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, a tactile nature makes these movies relatable. Director Adam Elliot found a great balance between cartoonish and real in his landmark stop-motion film, Mary and Max. But Memoir of a Snail may be his magnum opus for how beautifully...

“Heretic” (2024) Review

Heretic is as much a religious horror-thriller as it is a philosophical mind game. It challenges faith, sure, but it also questions trust and control. This isn’t a simple debate of the calculative atheist versus the deceived Mormons, nor is it a simplistic trap of a locked house of horrors. It’s as compelling to linger on every word as it is figuring out what lurks behind the next dark corner or creepy basement hatch.

is at his best as the charmingly deceptive Mr. Reed. With thick...

“Brothers” (2024) Review

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Brothers is a dumb comedy that’s just dumb enough to work. Not to be so dumb, it’s brilliant, as was the declaration in the Glass Onion, which Detective Blanc shot down with, “No, it’s just dumb.”...

“Lonely Planet” Review

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Lonely Planet is a romance flick so timid that it feels like a waste of Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth. Both are excellent choices for a romance, and they seem like a unique pair to put on screen. But they need th...