Mark McPherson's Blog, page 33

“Violent Night” Review

Deep into this subversive Christmas movie, there’s a moment where the aggressive Santa Claus sticks an active grenade down the pants of an attacking kill squad. Santa flees a few feet but then stops and says to himself “I gotta watch this.” He turns around and watches as the assassin explodes into a bloody and fiery mess on the Christmas Eve snow. He chuckles a “holy shit” as he marches off to kill some more.

Violent Night is the type of film that has a clear path for the type of dark and ab...

“The Fabelmans” Review

It’s very fitting that Spielberg’s most personal film also happens to be more semi-biographical than a strict biopic. It feels very much like Fellini’s Amarcord, portraying a certain nostalgia that goes beyond just recounting the old days but placing an almost whimsical recollection of what we remember. While Spielberg’s coming-of-age tale does embrace a certain loving memory of the period 50s and 60s, he also doesn’t shy away from the pains of a troubled family and the awkwardness felt by a bo...

“Strange World” Review

Disney’s Strange World feels like a familiar brew with a modern glaze to its tale of fantasy and adventure. It has the old-fashioned allure of lost worlds and alternative tech inspired by the likes of Jules Verne with modernized depictions of family units and generational connections. While this particular film may not become as notable as Disney’s past CGI films, it’s still a groundbreaking and refreshing film where there’s a more stable family at the helm of this Disney feature.

This isn’t...

“The Menu” Review

Brutal and biting, The Menu is one of the most searing films about the class divide I’ve seen in quite some time. Rather than serve up the same old dish of haves and have-nots, here is a film in which the rich eat the rich, showcasing an emptiness with progress and a desire to burn it all down. And it’s such a wickedly delightful experience, perfectly punctuated with sharp tongues and even sharper violence.

At the center of this masterful five-course meal is celebrity chef Julian Slowik (

“Aftersun” Review

Time is a finite thing we have on this planet. During our brief part in history, we tend to want to remember the good moments and treasure the most meaningful feelings. Aftersun is a film all about trying to preserve those moments of parenthood that are formative yet sad. Watching children grow up is not easy, even with the best relationships. It’s a bittersweet feeling that permeates nearly every moment of this freewheeling connection between father and daughter.

The father is Calum (Paul M...

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Review

After the unfortunate death of , making a Black Panther sequel presents a towering challenge. What do you do with the Afrofuturism superhero T’Challa now that the actor is gone? Do you recast or do you have a new character take on the mantle? Do you write the character out or acknowledge his death? The short answer is that Coogler not only finds a way to move on from Boseman while still making him a crucial part of this sci-fi/fantasy epic.

Wakanda Forever does not shy away f...

“The Banshees of Inisherin” Review

The characters of The Banshees of Inisherin are so fascinating for being so bothered by boredom. They exist on a remote Irish island of the 1920s that is open, isolated, and loaded with mundanity. After many years, this simple life takes its toll on the aging community longing for more. Their inability to handle dullness is what makes them messy people struggling to find some meaning in life when everything seems so boring.

Seeking more out of life is Colm (Brendon Gleason), a folk musician ...

“Armageddon Time” Review

There’s something so sublime about hearing talking about how racists can’t be appeased, punctuated with a “Fuck ’em.” Though Hopkins is not the central character of Armageddon Time, he embodies the joys and sorrows present in this retro coming-of-age drama. He’s the grandpa that everybody wishes they had growing up and, perhaps, maybe the elder for the next generation.

Paul is a preteen living in 1980 New York. His family is Jewish and has high expectations for him, placated ...

“Tár” Review

There’s one exchange in Tár that perfectly encapsulates what the movie is all about and it’s an early one. The famed composer Lydia Tár has just finished lecturing a student on separating art from the artist. Not pleased with the response, the student leaves, calling Lydia a fucking bitch. Lydia’s calm retort is to calm him a robot, unable to feel and be human. Yes, it’s about cancel culture but more to that nuance than just the outrage and the fall from grace.

The film gives us a vicious po...

“Black Adam” Review

It’s hard to divorce myself from being a DC Comics fan and watching these DCEU movies. On one level, I dig the direction that Black Adam is going. It tries to tap into an anti-imperialism story blended with a legacy of revenge while tossing in chunks of the Justice Society to make the most chaotic movie possible. It’s kinda neat watching Doctor Fate and Hawkman trying to reason with a rage-fueled Black Adam in a volatile city. On the other hand, I just know there’s somebody next to me who is go...