FiftyTwo52

Craig Gillespie has crafted something truly special with "Dumb Money" - a film that transforms recent financial history into an exhilarating underdog thriller that resonates far beyond Wall Street. This isn't just another "finance bro" movie; it's a populist anthem that captures the absurd reality of our social media age colliding with centuries-old financial power structures.

Paul Dano anchors the film with a performance that's both intellectually sharp and emotionally grounded. He makes Keith Gill feel like someone you'd actually want to grab a beer with, not some Hollywood version of a finance guru. The supporting ensemble, particularly Sebastian Stan and America Ferrera, creates a believable ecosystem of real people caught in extraordinary circumstances.

Gillespie's direction brilliantly balances tone... this could have easily devolved into either smug Wall Street satire or Reddit-pandering cheerleading. Instead, he finds the human story within the financial chaos, making complex market mechanics accessible while never talking down to the audience. The film's social media-savvy visual language feels authentic rather than try-hard, capturing how modern movements actually spread.

What elevates "Dumb Money" above typical based-on-true-events fare is its refusal to oversimplify. The hedge fund managers aren't cartoonish villains, and the retail investors aren't naive saints. Everyone has skin in the game, everyone has something to lose, and the film respects that complexity while still delivering crowd-pleasing moments of financial justice.

This is essential viewing for anyone trying to understand how power, technology, and human nature intersect in our current moment. Funny, tense, and ultimately inspiring - exactly what great underdog cinema should be.

Joseph Kahn's Ick is a wild, messy, and occasionally brilliant ride... a horror-comedy that's as ambitious as it is uneven.

Set in a world where a parasitic, plant-like "Ick" has spread unchecked, the film follows Brandon Routh's Hank, a washed-up science teacher, and Malina Weissman's sharp-witted student Grace as they uncover the Ick's true, terrifying potential.

The movie's strengths lie in its visual flair and Routh's charismatic performance. The Ick itself is a standout monster: grotesque, dynamic, and genuinely unsettling. The humor lands more often than not, and the nostalgia-baiting soundtrack and aesthetic will delight fans of early 2000s pop-punk.

But Ick stumbles in its execution. Kahn's breakneck pacing leaves little room for character development or coherent world-building. The sociopolitical commentary feels tacked on, and the supporting cast is often reduced to caricatures. It's a film that prioritizes style over substance, and while that style is undeniably fun, it's not enough to mask the lack of depth.

Verdict: Ick is a 7/10 watchable, entertaining, and packed with energy, but ultimately more derivative than innovative. If you're a fan of chaotic, nostalgia-drenched horror-comedies, you'll find plenty to enjoy. Just don't expect anything groundbreaking.

Stree is an 8.5/10 horror-comedy gem that spooks and tickles in equal measure, proving Bollywood can nail genre blends with wit and heart.

Amar Kaushik's debut direction weaves Chanderi's eerie vibe with sharp feminist jabs, poking at patriarchy through a ghostly lens-Stree's tragic tale flips the script on male entitlement brilliantly. Sachin-Jigar's "Kamariya" and "Milegi Milegi" pump the vibe, and Amalendu Chaudhary's visuals nail the spooky-small-town aesthetic.

Rajkummar Rao is a riot as Vicky, channeling small-town innocence with pitch-perfect timing - his wide-eyed terror and heroic bluster make him utterly relatable and rootable. Pankaj Tripathi's Rudra Bhaiya is a masterclass in eccentricity, blending scholarly babble with hilarious one-liners that had me cackling. Aparshakti Khurana's Bittu nails the skeptical sidekick vibe, his deadpan reactions amplifying the chaos, while Abhishek Banerjee's Jana delivers slapstick gold, turning fear into farce. Shraddha Kapoor's enigmatic woman adds seductive mystery, her subtle shifts keeping you guessing, and Vijay Raaz's wild-eyed Shastri amps the exorcism absurdity.

Stree works so well because it subverts horror tropes with genuine laughs, smart commentary, and a tight 128-minute pace that never sags, delivering chills without gore and empowerment without preaching.

A rare treat (scary, funny, and smart) making you root for its underdog heroes while jumping at shadows. A must-watch for fans of fresh Bollywood flair.