Hallelujah289

Entitled is one of those shows where the elements are all interesting but it just doesn't coalesce. Something like a box of mystery trinkets that tell an almost story.

It has very good actors, creepy art directions, plays a balance between scary and humorous like a nightmare LSD trip that's part real, part fantasy.

I think it does go on too long though. I skipped through the scenes because there was something fascinating (I would watch all these actors in other projects again). But also a lack of momentum and focus. I hoped it would resolve to something, and it does and it doesn't.

Entitled is a curious art piece that continuously pulls more out of its hat, but also left me wondering what did I just watch.

Currently in a depression funk, and Happy Gilmore 2 pulled me right out of it. I was cynical of this film going in, but it totally played into all my doubts and made a hilarious, entertaining, heartfelt, cathartic film, just what I loved best of Happy Madison productions of the past.

We all know Adam Sandler dresses homeless, looks depressed, hasn't been in the best films. But Happy Gilmore 2 gave a character to that Adam Sandler of the public eye. Wove him in. He even dresses the same. But he has a character arc that rings true, and makes me root for him and every down and out person, including myself.

Happy Gilmore 2 is a film that pessimists like me don't deserve. But I'm grateful for anyway. It has many running jokes that made me laugh all the way through. Here for it!! My favorite is how Happy Gilmore drinks alcohol out of everything, even in his dreams.

Sure there's probably too many cameos. But it's nice for everyone to join in the party of a wildin out, good vibes film. Like Hollywood needs just as much as the everyday person. As Happy Gilmore says to his kids, they may not be the smartest or brightest, but they mean something to him. And that's an energy that actors far from their glory years can enjoy too.

First off, Tom Cruise is in great form. He's running as fast as ever. And doing major stunt work. Yes he's older, age happens to us all. But he's also ripped and I like that he looks like a normal older person and not made of plastic.

Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning is very much a love letter to all the Mission Impossible films, with many flashback collages of Tom Cruise in his younger years. As well as all his love interests, his antagonists (including RIP Phillip Seymour). There is an emotional energy to the film, like a montage of Ethan Hunt the actor as well as Tom Cruise the person, who has lived many of his years before our eyes to the age he his today. I like the tribute, as I feel as though Tom Cruise's star has faded somewhat unfairly. He is showing us through this film his discipline to show up as an actor despite the general feeling that he's not worth showing up for.

The film itself is a mix of the best of film: incredible action scenes, high stakes. And a decent message of standing together in a world of increasing isolation despite increasing connection.

But also, the film is also a bit of an over complicated mess. I haven't seen the most recent Mission Impossible films (perhaps two of them) and I was pretty lost. I really didn't know what was happening half the time.

Or what was going with the flashbacks as they were intercut between past and present and I just couldn't follow what was happening now vs then. It was a style choice that could have worked if there was a point to the complexity. I kept waiting for a hammer to drop. Like am I supposed to be wary of what I'm seeing is a simulation? Or not? I think it was half intentional, and half not.

But despite my confusion, I did enjoy the film. I thought the actors were well cast. And all acted seriously and with purpose. I liked seeing new (to me) and familiar faces.

I think Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning has very good potential to be an amazing film. But something with the plot coherence failed. I think the intercut editing style is to blame. And also paying to tribute to too many moments from the past films at once.

Even still, as a film that is as much tribute to Tom Cruise as it is to Mission Impossible, I think there is a sincere, emotional core here that did have me tearing up at the end. It's one I wouldn't mind watching again.