thereelauthority
Joined Nov 2018
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"Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" wasn't the only movie I was excited for this Memorial Day weekend, and it wasn't the okay other half of "Stitchpossible." I may have walked out of "Homestead" underwhelmed, but I felt I had a better chance of enjoying "The Last Rodeo," Neal McDonough's next collaboration with Angel Studios. I'm not into bull riding, but something about this film piqued my interest. That interest turned into me having a fantastic time with this emotionally moving experience.
Namely, Neal McDonough's performance as retired bull rider Joe Wainwright was incredible. McDonough sells every bit of Wainwright's pain, who finds a return to the sport he had left behind his only option once his grandson needs to undergo expensive surgery for a brain tumor. He'll absolutely be what I remember and take away from this movie.
Next, McDonough's screenplay with Derek Presley and Jon Avnet was inspirational. The script moved me with its sheer realism while also providing a sense of hope in the heartbreaking circumstances. The emotions don't stop there, as every time Wainwright rode, while undeniably exciting, it's simultaneously sad because it very well might be his last. The screenplay does a great job at bringing that point home, further enhanced by Avnet's stellar direction.
I appreciate the pacing. The movie is more character and dialogue-focused than on the sport of bull riding, but that allows for some truly exceptional work in every department to shine. Furthermore, it allowed each emotional moment to breathe, which I'm glad it did.
For the rest of the positives, aside from McDonough, Sarah Jones, Graham Harvey, Christopher McDonald, Mykelti Williamson, and the rest of the talented cast deliver solid performances. Additionally, Denis Lenoir's cinematography and Tom Constantino's editing made each scene more impactful as well.
"The Last Rodeo" is one of the best films 2025 has offered yet. It's poignant, well-executed, and something I'd recommend without hesitation.
Technically, a few moments of noticeable greenscreen aside, the acting, directing, screenplay, cinematography, and editing make for a 9/10 technical score.
For the enjoyment score, "The Last Rodeo" made me feel happy for being a movie fan, and that low-budget and under-the-radar releases like this don't pass me by. Without question, the enjoyment score is a 10/10. It's a must-watch that'll connect with you in more ways than one!
Namely, Neal McDonough's performance as retired bull rider Joe Wainwright was incredible. McDonough sells every bit of Wainwright's pain, who finds a return to the sport he had left behind his only option once his grandson needs to undergo expensive surgery for a brain tumor. He'll absolutely be what I remember and take away from this movie.
Next, McDonough's screenplay with Derek Presley and Jon Avnet was inspirational. The script moved me with its sheer realism while also providing a sense of hope in the heartbreaking circumstances. The emotions don't stop there, as every time Wainwright rode, while undeniably exciting, it's simultaneously sad because it very well might be his last. The screenplay does a great job at bringing that point home, further enhanced by Avnet's stellar direction.
I appreciate the pacing. The movie is more character and dialogue-focused than on the sport of bull riding, but that allows for some truly exceptional work in every department to shine. Furthermore, it allowed each emotional moment to breathe, which I'm glad it did.
For the rest of the positives, aside from McDonough, Sarah Jones, Graham Harvey, Christopher McDonald, Mykelti Williamson, and the rest of the talented cast deliver solid performances. Additionally, Denis Lenoir's cinematography and Tom Constantino's editing made each scene more impactful as well.
"The Last Rodeo" is one of the best films 2025 has offered yet. It's poignant, well-executed, and something I'd recommend without hesitation.
Technically, a few moments of noticeable greenscreen aside, the acting, directing, screenplay, cinematography, and editing make for a 9/10 technical score.
For the enjoyment score, "The Last Rodeo" made me feel happy for being a movie fan, and that low-budget and under-the-radar releases like this don't pass me by. Without question, the enjoyment score is a 10/10. It's a must-watch that'll connect with you in more ways than one!
I haven't read the R. L. Stine books, but I have seen the preceding trilogy to "Fear Street: Prom Queen," specifically in preparation for it. I wasn't expecting a surprisingly strong trilogy that, while "1994" isn't perfect, improves significantly with "1978" and especially "1666." I was hoping for a fun time with "Prom Queen," and it was. I'll admit that it wasn't as strong as the others, but I don't mind.
I'll begin with the positives, such as the acting. The entire cast gave impressive performances, and I didn't know Ella Rubin and Chris Klein were in it until their characters appeared on screen. India Fowler manages to be a compelling protagonist as Lori Granger, the prom queen candidate who finds herself the victim of a serial killer. However, while her character isn't perfect, Fina Strazza's Tiffany Falconer was the highlight. Her character's one big SOB, intentionally so, but Strazza is having so much fun with the role that it's somewhat incredible to see her on screen. I'm interested to see what Strazza does next if "Prom Queen" indicates her talents.
Next, Márk Gyõri's cinematography was spectacular, making the movie look like one made in the 1980s, where this film takes place. I was genuinely amazed at how the film didn't look like one from today. Aside from the movie looking gorgeous, Gyõri's work helped enhance the horror elements.
Speaking of which, the kills - while not all-timers - were fun. In a slasher film, you want the death scenes to be creative, gory, and, in general, great, and they were.
The rest of the positives are that Matt Palmer's directing was solid, and his screenplay with Donald McLeary was equally remarkable.
Sadly, it has flaws, like most 80s slasher films do. I'll only focus on two while avoiding spoilers, but they're sizeable issues regardless.
First, the unmasking of the killer was weak. I called it on the spot when I saw the character introduced, and I couldn't help but feel that they could've taken a different direction. During the climax, there was potential for them to do something different, and they didn't. They hinted that they would do that, but no.
Speaking of which, the third act was as generic of a slasher conclusion as it gets. It may be homage, but I found it a standard finale compared to slasher offerings from back then.
"Fear Street: Prom Queen" is the weakest of the four films, but weirdly, it's the one that, outside of a few moments, is the most standalone of the bunch. I enjoyed my time with it, and if you're a horror movie fan, you likely will as well.
Technically, the acting, directing, screenplay, and cinematography make the technical score a 9/10.
For the enjoyment score, the issues keep it from reaching the heights of its predecessors. Nevertheless, a 7/10 time ain't bad. It may not scream "Fear Street," but it's worth the stream!
I'll begin with the positives, such as the acting. The entire cast gave impressive performances, and I didn't know Ella Rubin and Chris Klein were in it until their characters appeared on screen. India Fowler manages to be a compelling protagonist as Lori Granger, the prom queen candidate who finds herself the victim of a serial killer. However, while her character isn't perfect, Fina Strazza's Tiffany Falconer was the highlight. Her character's one big SOB, intentionally so, but Strazza is having so much fun with the role that it's somewhat incredible to see her on screen. I'm interested to see what Strazza does next if "Prom Queen" indicates her talents.
Next, Márk Gyõri's cinematography was spectacular, making the movie look like one made in the 1980s, where this film takes place. I was genuinely amazed at how the film didn't look like one from today. Aside from the movie looking gorgeous, Gyõri's work helped enhance the horror elements.
Speaking of which, the kills - while not all-timers - were fun. In a slasher film, you want the death scenes to be creative, gory, and, in general, great, and they were.
The rest of the positives are that Matt Palmer's directing was solid, and his screenplay with Donald McLeary was equally remarkable.
Sadly, it has flaws, like most 80s slasher films do. I'll only focus on two while avoiding spoilers, but they're sizeable issues regardless.
First, the unmasking of the killer was weak. I called it on the spot when I saw the character introduced, and I couldn't help but feel that they could've taken a different direction. During the climax, there was potential for them to do something different, and they didn't. They hinted that they would do that, but no.
Speaking of which, the third act was as generic of a slasher conclusion as it gets. It may be homage, but I found it a standard finale compared to slasher offerings from back then.
"Fear Street: Prom Queen" is the weakest of the four films, but weirdly, it's the one that, outside of a few moments, is the most standalone of the bunch. I enjoyed my time with it, and if you're a horror movie fan, you likely will as well.
Technically, the acting, directing, screenplay, and cinematography make the technical score a 9/10.
For the enjoyment score, the issues keep it from reaching the heights of its predecessors. Nevertheless, a 7/10 time ain't bad. It may not scream "Fear Street," but it's worth the stream!
"Mission: Impossible" is perhaps one of the most consistent action movie franchises, in all honesty, ever. We all know its weakest installment, the first sequel, and even then, it's entertaining. However, since "Ghost Protocol," Mission: Impossible has reached excellence, achieving its peak with "Fallout" and continuing strongly with "Dead Reckoning." Of course, I was excited, and by a wide margin, "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" was my most anticipated film of 2025. No other movie this year had or will have me as excited and confident as I was for this. I didn't watch it to write a review but to have a fantastic time at the movies! That said, I walked away somewhat disappointed. Let me explain.
I'll start strong with the positives. The acting is always magnificent in these movies, and it's no different here. Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt is one of the main reasons this franchise has been around this long. He's one of the last great action heroes of a bygone era, and it's truly magical to see him do the death-defying stunts he does. If it isn't the stunts, it's the charisma and ingenuity he brings to the screen while playing Hunt. Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Tramell Tillman, Henry Czerny, and Greg Tarzan Davis round out a stellar cast.
Next, Christopher McQuarrie continues to prove why he became the go-to director for the series. Since his work on "Rogue Nation," McQuarrie seems to understand how to make these movies work and excel in most departments. Upon my most recent binge, I find it clear that he had a plan, which continues with "The Final Reckoning." His screenplay with Erik Jendresen - who also wrote "Dead Reckoning" alongside McQuarrie - is (mostly) flawless.
Who am I kidding? We all know why we wanted to see this, most likely in IMAX: the stunts. As mentioned, Cruise's habit of doing daredevil stunts is hard to look away from. If nothing else, the plane stunt that has been all over the marketing would be outstanding. No questions, "I need you to trust me" on this one (for some reason, I kept counting on how many times he says that in the entire series; if you're curious, the answer is four). Complemented by intense cinematography from Fraser Taggart and a complex yet investing narrative, the mind-blowing stunt work on display here is worth watching the movie alone - in IMAX, especially.
Unfortunately, even depressingly, the near-perfect momentum of the series starting with "Ghost Protocol" breaks with this final entry. It has flaws that don't ruin the experience but sadly weaken it.
First, the pacing in the first half - not the second; that was awesome - is bizarrely inconsistent. This period of the movie is weirdly slow, but not in a way that never ceases to engage like the first one. I found myself losing interest in this portion, and while it does pick up often, I shouldn't admit to doing this for a Mission: Impossible movie of all films. "Mission: Impossible II" shares this issue, but I expected that upon my most recent binge. Nevertheless, when the standard is this high, it's regrettably noticeable.
Unhappily, I felt the choppiness in storytelling in many moments. Like an RKO, things happen from nowhere, and I don't get why. It feels like pieces are missing, which is a complaint I would never give to any of the other installments.
Additionally, throughout the longer-than-it-needed-to-be 2-hour and 49-minute runtime, which is strange because I never felt the length of "Dead Reckoning," there were many direct callbacks and references to the other installments. Some worked, while others felt forced. The first half included clips from the other entries, but I couldn't help but ask why. I binged the other seven movies before "The Final Reckoning," and many others have. I remember "Dead Reckoning" having a similar moment, but most of that footage was from that particular movie. They did the same things for this eighth installment's trailers, but that's the marketing, not the movie.
Overall, I hoped I could call "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" the best film of 2025 thus far and perhaps one of my favorites of all time. I have to be honest, though, when I say, in reality, it's one of the weakest offerings in the series. I still think it's an entertaining and emotionally satisfying conclusion to the franchise, but try keeping expectations in check. That may be Mission: Impossible since my excitement quickly ended my doubts. Either way, if you expect excellence, you won't get it, but if you want a fun time at the theater, preferably in IMAX, you came for the right reasons!
Technically, the acting, directing, cinematography, screenplay, and phenomenal stunt work make for an easy 10/10 technical score.
As much as I want to overlook the flaws and comfortably tell you that the enjoyment score is a 10, I can't in good conscience. I would still call it a must-watch experience, only because of the second half. It made up for its underwhelming elements, meaning I may change my tune in a day or so. Nonetheless, I'll go with instinct and say the enjoyment score is a 9/10. This franchise set the bar way too high for "The Final Reckoning," so disappointment may be inevitable. Get past that, and you'll have a blast!
I'll start strong with the positives. The acting is always magnificent in these movies, and it's no different here. Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt is one of the main reasons this franchise has been around this long. He's one of the last great action heroes of a bygone era, and it's truly magical to see him do the death-defying stunts he does. If it isn't the stunts, it's the charisma and ingenuity he brings to the screen while playing Hunt. Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Esai Morales, Angela Bassett, Pom Klementieff, Tramell Tillman, Henry Czerny, and Greg Tarzan Davis round out a stellar cast.
Next, Christopher McQuarrie continues to prove why he became the go-to director for the series. Since his work on "Rogue Nation," McQuarrie seems to understand how to make these movies work and excel in most departments. Upon my most recent binge, I find it clear that he had a plan, which continues with "The Final Reckoning." His screenplay with Erik Jendresen - who also wrote "Dead Reckoning" alongside McQuarrie - is (mostly) flawless.
Who am I kidding? We all know why we wanted to see this, most likely in IMAX: the stunts. As mentioned, Cruise's habit of doing daredevil stunts is hard to look away from. If nothing else, the plane stunt that has been all over the marketing would be outstanding. No questions, "I need you to trust me" on this one (for some reason, I kept counting on how many times he says that in the entire series; if you're curious, the answer is four). Complemented by intense cinematography from Fraser Taggart and a complex yet investing narrative, the mind-blowing stunt work on display here is worth watching the movie alone - in IMAX, especially.
Unfortunately, even depressingly, the near-perfect momentum of the series starting with "Ghost Protocol" breaks with this final entry. It has flaws that don't ruin the experience but sadly weaken it.
First, the pacing in the first half - not the second; that was awesome - is bizarrely inconsistent. This period of the movie is weirdly slow, but not in a way that never ceases to engage like the first one. I found myself losing interest in this portion, and while it does pick up often, I shouldn't admit to doing this for a Mission: Impossible movie of all films. "Mission: Impossible II" shares this issue, but I expected that upon my most recent binge. Nevertheless, when the standard is this high, it's regrettably noticeable.
Unhappily, I felt the choppiness in storytelling in many moments. Like an RKO, things happen from nowhere, and I don't get why. It feels like pieces are missing, which is a complaint I would never give to any of the other installments.
Additionally, throughout the longer-than-it-needed-to-be 2-hour and 49-minute runtime, which is strange because I never felt the length of "Dead Reckoning," there were many direct callbacks and references to the other installments. Some worked, while others felt forced. The first half included clips from the other entries, but I couldn't help but ask why. I binged the other seven movies before "The Final Reckoning," and many others have. I remember "Dead Reckoning" having a similar moment, but most of that footage was from that particular movie. They did the same things for this eighth installment's trailers, but that's the marketing, not the movie.
Overall, I hoped I could call "Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning" the best film of 2025 thus far and perhaps one of my favorites of all time. I have to be honest, though, when I say, in reality, it's one of the weakest offerings in the series. I still think it's an entertaining and emotionally satisfying conclusion to the franchise, but try keeping expectations in check. That may be Mission: Impossible since my excitement quickly ended my doubts. Either way, if you expect excellence, you won't get it, but if you want a fun time at the theater, preferably in IMAX, you came for the right reasons!
Technically, the acting, directing, cinematography, screenplay, and phenomenal stunt work make for an easy 10/10 technical score.
As much as I want to overlook the flaws and comfortably tell you that the enjoyment score is a 10, I can't in good conscience. I would still call it a must-watch experience, only because of the second half. It made up for its underwhelming elements, meaning I may change my tune in a day or so. Nonetheless, I'll go with instinct and say the enjoyment score is a 9/10. This franchise set the bar way too high for "The Final Reckoning," so disappointment may be inevitable. Get past that, and you'll have a blast!
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