Game Night

Game Night (2018)

Starring Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Billy Magnussen, Sharon Horgan, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Danny Huston, Michael C. Hall, and Kyle Chandler

Directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein

Written by Mark Perez

Click here for my Letterboxd review

The RyMickey Rating: B+

Movie Review - Christine

Christine (2016)

Starring Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts, Maria Dizzia, J. Smith-Cameron, and John Cullum

Directed by Antonio Campos

***This film is currently streaming on Netflix***

Based on a true story, director Antonio Campos' film Christine is an intense character study of its titular female, television news reporter Christine Chubbuck who worked for a small-town Sarasota, Florida, news station in the early 1970s.  Although initially lacking in personality and seemingly way too serious to be considered even remotely engaging, we soon discover that the headstrong and desperate-for-success Christine (Rebecca Hall) has more than a few emotional problems with which she's failed to come to grips.  These issues eventually rear their ugly head in a way that will likely be a huge surprise for those unfamiliar with this film's conclusion prior to watching it.

Rebecca Hall is impressive as Christine, carrying the entire film on her shoulders.  Christine isn't a warm person in the slightest and that admittedly puts up a barrier between the audience and Hall's portrayal, but it's still an admirable turn that captivates.  The film slogs a bit to its conclusion -- especially if you know the way it's going to end -- but it still is successful enough to warrant a watch.

The RyMickey Rating:  B-

Movie Review - Cold in July

Cold in July (2014)

Starring Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw, Wyatt Russell, and Don Johnson

Directed by Jim Mickle

East Texas 1989.  Richard Dane (Michael C. Hall) kills a home invader only to have the criminal's father Russel (Sam Shepard) begin to stalk Dane and his family.  Although Cold in July begins with this premise, the flick shifts about a third of the way through and despite some plot holes which probably should've bothered me, I found the gritty film noir a rather enjoyable mystery.

This is again one of those flicks that I almost gave up on.  The opening act does tend to plod along -- how many scenes of Russel skulking around the Dane house can we witness before we start to go a little crazy?  However, things definitely kick into a little higher gear -- or at the very least a different direction -- and the unexpected change of events gives the film a bit of a refreshing angle.  Jim Mickle brings a grittiness to the flick that is certainly befitting of the plot and Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, and a humorous (though not overly so) Don Johnson all feel natural in their surroundings without feeling hokey which sometimes happens in film noirs.

I'd like to talk more about Cold in July, but to do so would be a moderate spoiler, so I'll leave this review as simplistic as it is.  While not mind-blowing and certainly containing a few flaws, Cold in July proved to be better than I expected given its rather lukewarm beginning.

The RyMickey Rating: B-