Movies I Watched in 2022

6/10 - this film, which had a lot of potential and worked for plenty of people, explores really interesting territory (kind of a reverse Soul), but really dragged for the 2 hour runtime

7/10 - all the time jumps did not benefit the film and some sharper editing of the scenes would have elevated the film, but I did cry three separate times during it so it definitely will get you in your feels

7/10 - with classic Guillermo del Toro style and Oscar-worthy production design, there is a lot to be enchanted by in this remake that runs about 30 minutes too long and could benefit from a slightly clearer vision

6/10 - Simon Rex proves that he is certainly an actor capable of drama films and someone to take seriously, but as the credits abruptly began to roll, I could not help but ponder what the meaning of the film was and why I spent over 2 hours investing in it

7/10 - fans of HAIM will be delighted to see another of Alana Haim’s talents highlighted in this unconventional love story that may be a bit (okay, very) overhyped and falls into the same trap I’m noticing a lot this awards season of acclaimed writers/directors crafting an underwhelming and overall, dare I say unfulfilling story revolving solely around a setting and time period that fascinates them (also, I’m sorry but Bradley Cooper deserves ZERO awards buzz for this particular performance)

6/10 - while I have never been the biggest fan of West Side Story/Romeo and Juliet's story, I felt as though character development fell to the wayside and that the product was not the cinematic masterpiece it was hyped up to be (although Ariana DeBose gives ample evidence for why she is the future of Hollywood)

8/10 - if you’re like me, it may take more than the initial viewing to really appreciate how revolutionary this horror classic is and how it walks the fine line between satirizing and also revamping the horror genre with a satisfying third act twist

6/10 - one of my favorite things about the Scream movies is the shocking killer reveals and while this one continues in its predecessor’s fashion, the killer reveal and film as a whole felt a a little less satisfying

7/10 - while I do not think Sing 2 does anything to reinvent any wheels nor may it be the most memorable release, I had a lot of fun watching this music-filled, visually-stunning, and all-around fun flick that ranks as my favorite animated film of the year

5/10 - as someone who usually really enjoys the Hotel Transylvania films, I was disappointed in the lack of jokes that landed and the missing spark of fun that I expect from this series

4/10 - while I love movies about filmmaking and Hollywood as much (probably even more) than the next guy, but if you didn’t grow up having seen this movie when it came out and are instead watching it for the first time now, I’m afraid you will be disappointed by the drastic fall in quality that this original trilogy end delivers

5/10 - I was not as enthralled in this extension to the original trilogy which came off far too corny in my opinion and felt like it didn’t really elevate the series despite all the incredible new talent they added

8/10 - this talented new cast really bring it (even more than the legacy cast in my opinion) in this gripping "requel" (and if I'm honest, hopefully the final chapter in the series) that crosses the line of being too meta at times and borders on the line of greatness

10/10 - while not perfect, this big screen movie musical extravaganza brings it on all fronts: dazzles the senses (visually stunning and boasts one of the best soundtracks in recent memory) and warms the heart

9/10 - fans of the musical will rejoice at this faithful adaptation (a few songs excluded) of the Broadway smash that brings up important mental health topics and will get you to cry a time or two.

6/10 - the cringe is real (some really bad dialogue and like 3 extended weird sexual “metaphor” screens) in this Hulu original film, but between that hilarious classroom scene (quadratic formula and all) and a surprisingly nuanced conclusion, this one managed to win me over

6/10 - rather than exclusively focusing on being the rarity of a female-led spy thriller and forgetting to build up a story, this film is mostly fun, has impressive action sequences, and is just as original as any other recent entry to the genre (side note: IMDb really needs to do a better job of vetting reviews for movies like these that attract a lot of trolls)

7/10 - this 90s classic has mostly withstood the test of time and Alicia Silverstone’s Cher remains an icon even in the 21st century, but for me, it is Stacey Dash’s Dionne who really steals the show

10/10 - beautiful colors and cinematography along with an entrancing thrill ride of a script makes this one worth several rewatches

7/10 - the ending left a lot to be desired, but the buildup to that point was a slick and captivating British noir that mostly makes the most of its brief runtime

8/10 - as someone who strongly and simultaneously related to both the protagonist and his RA, I felt like this film focused on the college experience with such nuance and truly packed a punch

8/10 - despite some clunky dialogue/story elements and me knowing next to nothing about college football, this fascinating dramatization of the ongoing NCAA debate is truly gripping and is empowered by the fantastic acting performances of Stephan James, J.K. Simmons, and most of all, Uzo Aduba (who in another universe would be Oscar-nominated for this emotionally riveting performance)

8/10 - strong acting performances from Jenna Ortega, Will Ropp, Shailene Woodley (in her two brief but impactful scenes), and the rest of the cast bring to life this gripping, infuriating, and moving story of those affected by school shootings

10/10 - second time this year (see #19 for full review)

7/10 - hard to watch and packed with the powerful performances (particularly Ann Dowd’s), this debut film for writer/director Fran Kranz plays very much like something you would expect to see on the stage but I felt it was a little overlong at times