#TheFallGuy #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
#SpyXFamilyCodeWhite #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
#TheMummy #25ThAnniversary #Fandango #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
Two days later & we’re still held in thought, talking about @challengersmovie 💭💬🎾 (& the score has become the soundtrack in our dreams 💤) A piece of our latest Sweet&Condensed newsletter with the scorecard of Challengers. Read our full thoughts on what to expect from this movie with the link in our bio 🔗✨🎬 “Both the story and the storytelling techniques from Luca Guadagnino held us in thought during the movie and gave us plenty to think about after the movie ended.” #challengers #cinema #threemilksmedia #movietheater #amcstubsalist #savemovietheaters # w
#BoyKillsWorld #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
We all pretty much agreed on this one. Abigail is entertaining, but it could’ve popped a bit more. Friends Average: 3 Popcorns Jesús’ Hot Take: “Radio Silence delivers the gory explosions once again.” Teresa’s Hot Take: “Fun plot with a 100-year-old vampire traipsing around as a child ballerina and killing people, but otherwise not very suspenseful nor creative. It could’ve utilized more moments in the film for scares and building plotline.” Déja’s Hot Take: “This movie reminded me of those parking lot carnivals. A lot of potential that got used up on cheap thrills.” Erin’s Hot Take: “Melissa Barrera any day of the week.” @AMCtheatres #Abigail #AbigailMovie #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NowThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
#TheMinistryOfUngentlemanlyWarfare #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
#Sting #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
🍿: Monkey Man (2024) 🎬: Dev Patel ⭐️: A 📺: Theaters If Dev Patel wasn’t already on your hottest men in Hollywood list, he certainly will be after this action-packed directorial debut. Monkey Man was created in the style of John Wick but adds cultural specificity to the genre. It’s elevated by scrappy filmmaking and a committed central performance that seems only to be achieved when both director and actor are hungry to prove themselves—in this case, those two are one and the same. Dev has been passed up for the “eye-candy” leading man role for most of his career and decided to do something about it. Here, he doesn’t only show off his impressive physique but also proves that he’s a daring, new filmmaker with the added ability to pull off a host of difficult stunts. Monkey Man does not play it safe for an actor-directorial debut and it’s successful because of it. From the first fight sequence, you can tell this man was throwing all his might into making a splash. The camera was placed at unexpected angles that put you directly into the action and shots allowed you to see the characters from unique points of view. The script, also written by Patel, included many societal messages specific to India, but universally relatable. I thought his inclusion of the hijra warriors was a considered and invigorating choice. As for the action, this is a movie that GOES and STAYS there. There were sequences of such visceral violence that I was sure the camera would cut away…but it never did. I don’t know how much red dye and corn syrup they went through in this production, but I’m almost certain it caused a global shortage as Barbie did with pink paint. Where the movie faltered is that it tried to bite off a little more than necessary and it got heavy-handed in some parts. I also wish I could have seen more fighting in that cool-ass mask! Other than that, it’s wild to see a film and leave excited about one person’s path in three separate areas. Dev Patel will be a force as a leading actor, a director, and a writer—thank God Jordon Peele saved this from Netflix so be sure to go see it in theaters!
As you all know (or might assume) getting to the movies with your entourage can sometimes be a challenge and so we here @friendswith_A_List are proponents of spending some quality #MeTimeAtTheMovies. Déja took a solo trip to see Civil War last night, and while Kirsten Dunce was the star, there was no web-slinging Spider-Man to be found in this one. Friend Rating: 4.5 Popcorns Déja’s Hot Take: “What January 6th could’ve been if the incels and self-proclaimed alphas weren’t huffing the gasses of a poorly tanned ass.” @amctheatres #CivilWarMovie #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NowThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
#CivilWar #A24 #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
#TheFirstOmen #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
Gonna watch Dev Patel wreck some fools 😀 Also, I got free popcorn and Coke Zero for my birthday. Dang I love AMC Stubs A-List ☺️ #MonkeyMan #AMCStubsAList
Civil War hits theaters this week in #imax📽️ 🇺🇸🎇 It was our watchlist worthy pick for the March 22nd newsletter and we’re stoked to bring you the scorecard for Civil War week. @letterboxd description reads: “WELCOME TO THE FRONTLINE. In the near future, a group of war journalists attempt to survive while reporting the truth as the United States stands on the brink of civil war.” Subscribe for free & find out first thing Friday morning (spoiler-free) if it’ll be worth the price of admission for you 📽️✨📺 #CivilWar #A24 #cinemas #threemilksmedia #movietheater #amcstubsalist #savemovietheaters #saveamc
#TBT is back and we’re keeping the religious movie reviews coming! Ever heard of the 13th Apostle? We recommend checking out The Book of Clarence – a whole different take on the Passion story. Friends Average: 4 Popcorns Jesús’ Hot Take: “A satire that hits deeper as it develops.” Déja’s Hot Take: “The Passion, but with seasoning.” Erin’s Hot Take: “Unexpected, powerful and beautiful.” @amctheatres #TheBookofClarence #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NowThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Sydney pulled a Hilary, but wished it was Paolo chasing after her. Our Immaculate review is in! Friends average: 3 Popcorns Deja’s Hot Take: “The penguins were cute until they started bullying the new penguin. I was surprised with how dirty the cat combs were!” Teresa’s Hot Take: “For anyone looking to explore their pent-up religious angst. Enjoyable enough, but some of the plot points felt incomplete and rushed.” @AMCtheatres #ImmaculateMovie #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NowThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Monkey Man hits theaters this week 🙈 It was our watchlist worthy pick for the march 15th newsletter and we’re stoked to be score carding it for this week’s edition. Watching the trailer on the big screen has us believing it’s worth the price of admission. Subscribe for free & find out first thing Friday morning if it’ll be worth it for you 📽️✨📺 #monkeyman #cinemas #threemilksmedia #movietheater #amcstubsalist #savemovietheaters #saveamc
We’ve been trying out different IMAX theater seats and this past week for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire we found out getting up to row Q is a strength & endurance workout 😮💨😅 Last row is still a solid experience with good sound and a good view 📽️✨ #imax #cinema #threemilksmedia #movietheater #amcstubsalist #savemovietheaters #saveamc
#LateNightWithTheDevil #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters #Shudder
#Immaculate #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
#GodzillaXKong #TheNewEmpire #Fandango #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters #WB
Luca!!! #amctheaters #luca #5dollarmovies #amcstubsalist
Love Lies Bleeding is not for the faint of heart. This A24 film is one fine piece of cinema. Friends Average: 4 popcorns Déja’s Hot Take: “They spend years warning you about drugs, but the one that gets everyone is love.” Erin’s Hot Take: “It’s like a modern-day Thelma & Louise, but darker, gayer, and featuring she-hulk.” @AMCtheatres #LoveLiesBleeding #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Based on a true story, Arthur the King gives you a glimpse into the world of adventure racing and, if you’re a dog lover, tugs at the heartstrings. Friends Average: 3 popcorns Déja’s Hot Take: “If you’re not riding and dying like Arthur, don’t even waste my time.” Erin’s Hot Take: “They cast the dog perfectly.” @AMCtheatres #arthurtheking #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Look, we know you’ve been beating your fist into the sand waiting for this review so here it is! Friends Average: 3 popcorns Jesús’ Hot Take: “An improvement in the story line. I sense a game of thrones finale coming.” Erin’s Hot Take: “Captivating in IMAX. Hans Zimmer does it again, and certainly a best sound Oscar nominee.” Déja’s Hot Take: “For sure one to experience at the highest caliber of cinema available to you. I fell asleep, but mostly due to deep breathing.” @amctheatres #DuneMovie #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
If Toy Story 3 taught us anything, it’s that not all teddy bears are good teddy bears. Friends Average: 2 popcorns Déja’s Hot Take: “Because they are nothing but liabilities (outside of Laurie Strode in Halloween 2024), children and elderly should just be the last ones on the lifeboat.” Jesús’ Hot Take: “dull.” And a note to our Friends: Erin doesn’t do horror/slasher/thriller, so you can expect most of these reviews to come from Déja and Jesús. @AMCtheatres #Imaginary #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Have you ever wanted to ‘poof’ out of an awkward snafu? Well in The American Society of Magical N****** they do just that to maintain peace in the world. We had our whole entourage together for this one! Friends Average: 3.5 Déja’s Hot Take: “A nice spin on the token Black narrative. Careful to check your privilege before saying the title, though.” Erin’s Hot Take: “A fresh and funny satire that holds up a mirror to some of the realities of racism and white fragility in our society, while delivering a cute love story in the process. Definitely worth checking out.” Teresa’s Hot Take: “A satirical view of racism and racist narratives seen in media and real life. The magical elements and society itself felt confusing at times to the overall point of the film, but the film’s messaging was clear and poignant.” Jesús’ Hot Take: “Trying to feed off a trope, but I did laugh a couple times.” @AMCtheatres #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Skadoosh! The Kung Fu Panda saga closes out with one final adventure, and we were joined, once again, by our lovely #guestfriend Teresa! Friends Average: 3 Popcorns Teresa’s Hot Take: “An entertaining story with a goofy yet authentic new character. Exactly what you’d expect from a fourth installment and sometimes that’s what you want.” Déja’s Hot Take: “The proper way for a studio to wrap a story. Looking at you Pixar, with your money grabbing hands.” Erin’s Hot Take: “Fun, cute, the music hits, but the story felt stretched as one would expect from a 3rd sequel.” @AMCtheatres #KungFuPanda #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #ThatsMagic #NowThatsMagic #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Migration was a bust. Pretty pictures and pretty music could not save the predictable and elementary storyline. Erin’s Hot Take: “Though closely resembling the How to Train Your Dragon score, the music was my favorite part.” Déja’s Hot Take: “I'm sure outer children enjoyed it, but my inner child was not amused.” Jesús’ Hot Take: “Migration made me want to go home. Not enough Awkwafina.” @AMCtheatres #MigrationMovie #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
We gave a f*ckton of popcorns because best picture nominee American Fiction delivered. Friends Average: 4.5 Popcorns Jesús’ Hot Take: “The power that that has, the intelligence that that has, the clearance that that has, the impact that that has, the access that that has, the influence that that has, the profile that that has, the international implications that that has.” *See Link in Bio* Déja’s Hot Take: “The portrayal of grief in its many forms sold me. The discourse on black literature was same old same old.” Erin’s Hot Take: “Entertaining, moving, funny. The relationships hit deep in this brilliant satire.” @amctheatres #AmericanFiction #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
#DunePart2 #DunePartTwo #AMCTheaters #AMCStubsAList
We give Bob Marley: One Love some love, but not much. Friends Average: 2 Popcorns Jesús’ Hot Take: “I fell asleep, went to the bathroom twice and to the concessions once. Sexy Marely though.” Déja’s Hot Take: “Can the rhythms of a message sent through music drown out the message drenched in violence? One definitely did a better job at keeping me awake through this one.” @AMCtheatres #BobMarleyMovie #OneLoveMovie #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
#LisaFrankenstein #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
#LisaFrankenstein #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
🍿: Dune: Part Two (2024) 🎬: Denis Villeneuve ⭐️: A+ 📺: Theaters I’ve always wondered what it would have been like to be alive for the original Star Wars trilogy and I was still too young to truly understand the magnitude of Lord of The Rings; I am so happy to be cognizant of what’s happening with Denis Villeneuve’s Dune franchise. In these two combined parts, he’s delivered a generationally great Sci-Fi epic. The first laid the groundwork for an expansive world told through immersive filmmaking and the second built upon that foundation with an intimate story filled with religious allegories around blind faith and interpersonal betrayal. There isn’t a director operating at a level like Villeneuve and I believe his greatest skill is the ability to get the absolute best from his entire team. What’s magical about Dune: Part 2 is that not one single element lagged or surpassed the rest— the performances, the screenwriting, the score, the cinematography all was in service of a singular vision. A harmonious collaboration to create a multi-sensory experience where my heart skipped, dropped, and damn near stopped. He has a keen understanding for scale and utilized the large theatrical format to ensure we feel the magnitude of the action that’s occurring on screen. This star-studded cast felt egoless and every performer not only did their job but worked also to elevate their screen partners. Austin Butler’s serpentine portrayal of Feyd-Rautha was as captivating as it was terrifying while Zendaya’s expanded role proved instrumental in connecting us to the Fremen. I liked Timothée’s performance in this film more than the first because he was no longer asked to be the hero. His choices here played well into our eventual conflicted feelings about this character’s intentions. There will be a future generation that says they wish they could’ve seen these films while they were still in theaters. If you’re reading this, you’re one of the lucky individuals born at the right time with the ability to do just that and I strongly encourage you to take advantage of that opportunity.
Saw the land of the bad. I loved it. #landofthebad #amcsuperfan #amctheatres #landofthebad #movielover #moviegenres #amcstubsalist #popcorn🍿 #soda #
🍿: Madame Web (2024) 🎬: S.J. Clarkson ⭐️: F 📺: Theaters I don’t care how low your expectations are of Madame Web, I’m here to warn you to go ahead and get them thangs lower. I really don’t know how to begin describing what I just watched besides first giving a formal apology to all of the other superhero movies I’ve trashed over the last couple of years. I did not know how good I had it and now I can say that I’ve officially witnessed the worst. Madame Web is the origin story (?) of 1…3…4…5 superheroes (?) that remarkably does almost nothing right. It has to be a talent to spend 80 million dollars on a film and have no redeeming output other than it’s sort of entertaining to laugh at (not with). This film probably would have been much better if it leaned into the fact that it was horrible and there were several opportunities for them to knowingly wink at what they were doing. Instead, it just felt sad to watch because you could tell everyone was phoning it in. One of the worst signs of this apathy was the fact that the main villain’s audio track never matched with his lips. I seriously had to look up if they needed an English dub for a foreign language performer and nope it just seems like terrible ADR work. I mean no one on that production or team would say this movie is anything but a pile of useless dialogue, horrible effects, stiff performances, and nauseating editing. Dakota Johnson and Sydney Sweeney are cut from the same cloth, and I’m now convinced that they’ve both brainwashed the industry into thinking they’re good actresses. They just do not have the charisma or tonal modulation to be convincing in a leading role like this. The rest of the main cast are flat, stereotypes that may have worked together if they were given ANYTHING of substance to do. I already know that in a few months or years, someone is going to make the push that this is a cult classic and that it all was “camp”. Let’s get ahead of that reclamation and say it now—this was not camp. This was not intentional. This was good ol fashion terrible filmmaking, terrible screenwriting, and terrible directing being thrown together. Boo this film. Boo!
The reviews from Earth 199999 are in. Madame Web may see the future, but she didn’t swing away with our hearts. Friends Average: 2.5 Popcorns Déja’s Hot Take: “If you or a loved one have ever felt personally victimized by a teenager uprooting your life because they refuse to believe you know best, imagine dealing with three liabilities at the same time.” Jesús’ Hot Take: “Tahar Rahim any day of the week.” Erin’s Hot Take: “2003 nostalgia and nods to the spider-verse made this a fun Marvel flick, but the pacing and plot lacked the gusto I had hoped for.” @AMCtheatres #MadameWeb #Spiderverse #Marvel #MCU #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Our verdict is in for Poor Things, which received 11 Oscar nominations this year. And today we introduce our very first special guest friend, Teresa! Friends Average: 3.5 Popcorns Déja’s Hot Take: “In a world feverishly bucking against itself, this film locks you into place to bore at the existence of our own making.” Erin’s Hot Take: “Like something I’ve never seen before. The strange cinematography complements an uncomfortable, sometimes disturbing, and whimsical story of self-determination.” Teresa’s Hot Take: “Deeply unsettling, but an imaginative world with an empowered, badass lead.” @AMCtheatres #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter #PoorThings #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
Before this Instagram, there was only @friendswith_a_list IRL. Today marks our 2 year anniversary of going to the movies together for the very first time! On the fateful day of February 10, 2022, the three of us saw Moonfall, and the rest is history. Since that day, we have collectively watched a whopping 90* movies in theaters. We are excited to share more with y'all this year, and be on the lookout for #tbt as we rate and review some of these 90 titles from @friendswith_a_list past. *90 includes solo movie trips since our trio united, because while #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter, we also support #MeTimeAtTheMovies @AMCtheatres #Moonfall #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
🍿: Mean Girls (2024) 🎬: Samantha Jayne, Arturo Perez Jr. ⭐️: B+ 📺: Theaters Mean Girls (2004) is one of my favorite films, and I believe it to be one of the most important comedies of my lifetime. It featured Lindsey Lohan at possibly the peak of her career, launched Rachel McAdams & Amanda Seyfried into stardom, and solidified Tina Fey as one of the greatest comedy writers. I freakin’ love it. 20 years later, as with most intellectual properties in Hollywood, we’re being treated to a reimagining of this classic, and unsurprisingly, I freakin’ loved it. This is a filmed version of a Broadway musical based on the original film. We get the same familiar story and characters, just with the addition of lots of singing and the general staged musical element of acting to the back of the room. It’s over the top, vibrant, and simply retains its fun. As a fair warning, do not walk into this expecting to see the 2004 film in a 2024 setting. The best parts of this remake are when it attempts to lean away from the source material and deliver something new. Several of the fresh jokes made me laugh the hardest and proved that we need more movies written by Tina Fey. Of course, some of the classic lines had to sneak into the script, but ultimately, the moments that lagged the most were when momentum stopped to wink at the audience. As a fan of musicals, I thought “Sexy” and “Revenge Party” were bangers and featured some of the more creative filmmaking choices. Reneé Rapp overall stole the show with both her voice and choices in this portrayal of Regina. She’s less of a believable high school bully and more of a goddess of the school who passes the time by playing with the puppets beneath her. It was mean-spirited in a whole new way and made for an interesting rendition of the character. I sort of knew that I would like this movie, just based on my affinity for the property, but I was still surprised at how well it held together. It’s filled with hilarious performances and witty jokes that ultimately made for a fantastic time!
“The greater the spy, the bigger the lie.” No lie here, we were split with this one, but we had fun! Because #FriendsMakeMoviesBetter Friends Average: 3 Popcorns Jesús’ Hot Take: “Unnecessarily long with overuse of green screen and CGI. This movie should’ve premiered on Apple TV+” Erin’s Hot Take: “A wild goose chase of an adventure. If you like nachos, they lay the cheese on thick in this one.” Déja’s Hot Take: “A reminder that there's a spy in all of us.” @AMCtheatres #ArgylleMovie #Entourage #Millennials #Cinephile #Cinema #MovieReviews #MovieReactions #MovieRatings #AMCstubsAList #AMCAList #AMCTheatres #amcstubs #HeartbreakFeelsGoodInAPlaceLikeThis #NicoleKidman #AtTheMovies #f4f
I was so giddy to see this #lastnight at @amctheatres for #amcscreenunseen #omg did I love this, from the story to the soundtrack, it's a perfect film. As soon as it ended, I got a ticket for Friday after work. I love my #amcstubsalist pass. I will see this one a bunch! Also the next Screen Unseen is Feb 19. Got my ticket
🍿: Scrambled 🎬: Leah McKendrick ⭐️: B 📺: Theaters After watching Oscar-related movies for the last few months, I wanted an old-school theater experience—to choose a film without seeing a single trailer, logline, or even cast list. So, on Saturday night, I fired up the AMC app and on a whim chose Scrambled, a dramedy that ended up being an enjoyable watch! It’s directed by and starring Leah McKendrick as Nellie, a 34-year-old woman beginning to feel the pressures society puts on single women of a certain age. After enduring grueling questions from friends and families at countless weddings and baby showers, she decides to take her fertility into her own hands and freeze her eggs. This is a familiar story of the crisis a lot of people have during their 30s but takes a feminist twist by not being afraid to show that women have expectations placed upon their bodies and choices that aren’t experienced by this genre’s typical male leads. It doesn’t shy away from showing that even though Nellie is attempting to take control of her life, behind the façade of happiness, the process is physically grueling and lonely. Leah McKendrick, as a writer and director, did some fantastic work at making this comedy more than just gags by peppering clever commentary on the harder topics around fertility, throughout. McKendrick as the leading actress was so much fun to watch and I found myself wondering why hadn’t I seen her in many more comedic projects. Though Nellie was fleshed out and well-written, I think Scrambled’s weak points were all connected to the lack of depth of literally everyone else in the film. Anyone Nellie interacted with—friends, family, exes—were all paper-thin, caricatures of humans. The lack of subtlety or nuance in any of the side characters made what could have been an emotionally resonant ending of the movie feel unearned. This was a decent debut by McKendrick, and I feel like she will be a big name to look out for in the future. Scrambled is nothing to rush out to the theater to watch, but I think this would make an excellent streaming watch at home.
🍿: Self Reliance 🎬: Jake Johnson ⭐️: C+ 📺: Hulu Self-Reliance is the directorial debut of Jake Johnson in which he stars, alongside Anna Kendrick, as a lonely person who is sucked into being a participant in a dark web game show. One where he must constantly be next to someone or is at risk of being hunted & killed. This breezy, Hulu comedy would probably work better as an SNL skit, but it still managed to entertain at a high level. Jake, as Tommy, was an unreliable narrator and during this whole movie, my one question was if any of it was real. From the moment he met Andy Samberg in a limo to the concluding scene, I still couldn’t sort out my feelings on what was reality and what wasn’t. I think this ambiguity is what elevated this movie from being something destined to be lost in the streaming shuffle to something slightly above average. Jake relied heavily on our connection to the Nick Miller character from New Girl for us to feel instantly comfortable with this character and I think that’s where he operates best as an actor. I do wish that Anna Kendrick was given more to do in this film, but the little that she does adds effortless charm to the story. This was clearly a debut and admittedly had issues all over the place. The writing was simple, there wasn’t much happening visually, and there were numerous gaps of logic in the story, but it did show a lot of promise. Jake wasn’t trying to create a masterpiece right out of the gate, and it served as an opportunity for someone new to the profession to expand on an interesting concept in a low stakes manner. It was funny enough to keep me engaged throughout and smart enough to make me ask some questions afterward. In a recent interview, Jake was clear that he has no interest in immediately continuing as a director. I have a feeling though that this won’t be the last time we see something from him and that this will be the springboard for some hilarious comedies in the future.
#TheBookOfClarence #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
#TheBeekeeper #AMCTheaters #AMCStubsAList
Even my car knows I'd rather be at @amctheatres ❣️❣️ . #tadsworld #amcstubsalist #amcpremieremember #amc #movielover #movies #moviegeek
🍿: How to Blow Up a Pipeline 🎬: Daniel Goldhaber ⭐️: A+ 📺: Hulu How to Blow Up a Pipeline is one of the most gripping, tense, and visceral experiences I had watching a movie in 2023. It’s a film about young rage, specifically Gen Z’s rage, against the world they’ve been left to inhabit. Many of us can relate to this anger against previous generations, but this gang of youth are tired of just waiting for conventional climate change activism to work. They decide to go for more immediate results by attempting to blow up a local oil pipeline. Though nothing is stolen, this film feels on par with some of the greatest heist movies as you are sometimes literally holding your breath anticipating when an accidental explosion will occur. This is for sure domestic terrorism, and you may believe things should be handled in a different way, but you are certainly in it with these young adults and hoping that they make it out alive and free. The cast of actors are all still very early in their career and though I believe Sasha Lane was the clear standout, I’m pretty excited to see what each of them do next. I can’t convey just how much this movie had me glued to the screen; it was certainly one of the best things I had seen in a while and I’m well overdue for a rewatch! It’s currently streaming and a recommended watch for anyone with the heart health to withstand the stress.
#NightSwim #AMCStubsAList #AMCTheaters
🍿: Maestro 🎬: Bradley Cooper ⭐️: B- 📺: Netflix I appreciate effort and never quite understood why folks are deemed cringe for being “try hards”. Anne Hathaway has gotten this unfair title in the past and this Oscar season it’s being thrown around about Bradley Cooper. Bradley has been CAMPAIGNING and making it so known that he put his all into his new film Maestro, both as a director and a performer. He is exhausting in a refreshing way as I love it when actors are clear about their desires to win an award. It makes it all the harder to say that though I could tell that he really, really wanted Maestro to be something special…it just never captured me in any meaningful way. Let me give him his credit, there are several moments in this film that wowed me. This biopic about Leonard Bernstein, features an outstanding performance by Carey Mulligan, an acrobat recreation of Bernstein’s conducting Mahler in 1976, and an incredibly well staged marital fight in front of floating Snoopy. The issue that I have is that the directing of what this film should be was all over the place and never picked a lane. It had too much emphasis on his relationship with his wife to be a standard biopic but featured not enough of her on her own to not be overly consumed with Bernstein. I would have loved one or the other, but this half in/half out approach created a tonal mess and a less engaging story. Though Mulligan was fantastic, I couldn’t help but feel like she was still an accessory in this story as she is rarely given any attention outside of their relationship. The final 30 minutes of this movie actually angered me, primarily because the emotional climax we had been building to was ignored and instead replaced with something else that felt cheap and manipulative. Like most of the film, it was wonderfully acted, but I just didn’t think the directing was strong enough to make it not feel misplaced. I want more filmmakers and actors to LOVE their work the way Bradley loves his. Even though this just doesn’t connect with me, and I don’t want to see it crowd out other worthy films/performances, I do respect the effort.
Third night @amctheatres this week! Being an #amcpremieremember is the 💣 I suffered through #meangirls for the wife, BUT tonight is the #beekeeper 🐝 . . #tadsworld #movie #movienight #movielover #amcstubsalist #escapeandjourney @amctheatres
Happy International @hannahstufflebean Day‼️🥳 Forever grateful to have you as my GF DF GF (gluten-free dairy-free girlfriend!) You are the most loving, caring, and kind person know. Your back-scratches are unmatched, I love you Hannah Janine 🤟🏼😘 #igotagoodone❤️ #shesmine #amcstubsalist #disneyadult
. 🍿: Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret 🎬: Kelly Fremon Craig ⭐️: A 📺: Rental I’ve never read Judy Blume’s beloved 1970 book or been a pre-teen girl, but Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret is so damn relatable that I instantly had a nostalgic connection to the story. Abby Ryder Fortson has one of the best child performances I’ve seen in a coming-of-age film and like 2018’s Eighth Grade it uses its main character’s natural acting style to place us in the familiar awkwardness and adventures of those in-between years. The time when we’re not quite done with the innocent silliness of being a child but starting to develop the awareness of the world and self-consciousness of being an adult. Maybe it’s due to my age, but where I thought this movie truly excelled was in the fact that though this story is about Margaret, it’s almost equally about the experiences of her mom. Barbara, played excellently by Rachel McAdams, brings an empathetic viewpoint to the story that almost all teen movies ignore. While the child is learning valuable lessons about themselves and searching for their independence, the parent is sometimes struggling to understand their new role in the changing relationship. McAdams does a remarkable job demonstrating that there is no manual for this point in parenthood and in a way, it’s a coming-of-age tale for her as well. I know this is a long shot, but some sort of Supporting Actress recognition would be so satisfying because what she’s doing isn’t easy. I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would and a little embarrassed it took me so long to get to it. An easy and enjoyable watch that I know will connect with everyone but can imagine it hitting even harder for the daughter and mothers out there.
Less than a month ago, a dear friend invited me to a holiday party where I met lots of @baftaus members. One, if not two people, raved about @originmovie. Since I don’t get screener copies of films… and since it was playing in very limited release, I didn’t think I would ever see it. Well, I took a chance of one of AMC’s Screen Unseen surprise movies, in which they don’t tell you what you are going to see… but they do tell you the run time and rating… and it turned out to be #Origin! It’s based on a New York Times #1 bestseller and does an incredible job bringing to light the oppression caused by the caste system. The film may sound heavy… and it is… but it’s worth catching in a theatre without distractions. The performances are so memorable. I think one scene in particular had lots of us in the audience doing what Oprah has described as the ugly cry. #Origin apparently opens in wider release later this month. #amcstubsalist
🎞️ I’ve missed sharing my recap of movies for the past few years, so I’m starting up again! Here’s everything I saw in theaters in 2023: 💃🏻 M3GAN 😶 Skinamarink 🐈 A Man Called Otto 🌲 Knock at the Cabin 👩🏻💻 Missing 🐜 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania 🦖 65 🔪 Scream VI 🎲 Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves 🎮 The Super Mario Bros. Movie 🧛♂️ Renfield 👧🏻 Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. 🦝 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 💔 Love Again 📱Blackberry 🎭 Theater Camp 🎀 Barbie ☄️ Asteroid City 🏳️🌈 Bottoms 🤑 Dumb Money 💣 Saw X 👻 A Haunting in Venice 🐻 Five Nights at Freddy’s 🪦 Saltburn ⚽️ Next Goal Wins ✨ The Marvels 🐍 The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes 🛌 Dream Scenario 🏎️ Ferrari 🗺️ Poor Things 👍🏼 Favorite: Theater Camp 👎🏼 Least Favorite: Skinamarink Onto a new year of films! Who’s joining me in 2024? 🍿 #2023 #2023films #2023movies #moviefan #filmfan #filmfanatic #moviefanatic #filmgoals #moviegoals #drivein #amcstubs #amc #amcstubsalist #somehowheartbreakfeelsgoodinaplacelikethis
🍿: Leave The World Behind 🎬: Sam Esmail ⭐️: B 📺: Netflix Leave the World Behind is a movie that works best as a companion to the original 2020 novel. Though I thoroughly enjoyed this film, I felt like a lot of that came from the fact that I was able to merge the best of both adaptions into one cohesive experience. This movie excelled in adding more excitement to the story while faltering whenever it tried to give us a concrete answer to what was happening to our characters. Mahershala Ali, Julia Roberts, Ethan Hawke, Myha’la Herrold, and Kevin Bacon make up the all-star cast for this end-of-the-world drama. Sam and Julia are a pair that is totally in sync, and I love how he used her “America’s Sweetheart” persona against us by casting her as the largely unlikable, Amanda. Mahershala Ali is someone who always delivers whenever he’s on the screen and he as a distinguished, but timid G.H. was fantastic casting. This story was always meant to be a little disorienting and the movie tried to recreate that feeling of dread throughout. The book drops small hints about what’s happening around the country and shows us a glimpse of others’ experiences, but the movie smartly keeps us locked in on the central cast. Sam did add a few set pieces to add more action to the film and those choices rocked. The oil tanker, plane, and Tesla scenes are all new additions and were the best part of watching this movie. That and the dance scene to Too Close by Next. Classic. Leave the World Behind is the beginning of movies that feel informed by our Covid experience, but not explicitly about a pandemic. It highlighted the isolation we all felt while getting into the fact that even when the world felt over, we doubled down in the petty shit that caused us to mistrust others in the same situation. This wasn’t an easy story to adapt to a movie and I respect Sam’s attempt! The dialogue could feel forced at times, but still was engaging enough to help me connect with the characters. I recommend watching this, but doing so with intentions to also check out the book!
🍿: The Color Purple 🎬: Blitz Bazawule ⭐️: B 📺: Theaters The Color Purple is a property that connects and resonates across generations. The book by Alice Walker has already been adapted into a successful movie and Broadway musical and returns to us with a version that includes a powerhouse of vocal and acting talent. As much as this feels faithful to the emotions of the source material, I think it somewhat lacked as a cinematic experience. The first half of this film felt dang near perfect because we had the opportunity to sit with the characters, their relationships, and their motivations. The only thing I wish could have been changed was allowing us to spend more time in the fantastical, musical set pieces. I’m a fan of musicals and enjoy seeing the background dancers and environment adapt to the song’s lyrics. As we reach the part of the story where we need more nuance and depth, things begin to waiver, and we’re left with older versions of our characters that don’t feel lived in or complicated. I had the same emotional highs and lows as I did with the original adaptation. However, because I felt somewhat detached from the story, the ending was anti-climactic and rushed. I’ve never read the book by Alice Walker, but the more I hear about what these adaptions lack, the more I desire to dive into that story. This movie is still beautiful, and I believe it’s worth the watch simply because of the performances by Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Taraji P. Henson, and Fantasia Barrino. These actors all clearly love this story and treat it with care—making it one of the year’s best even if I don’t fully believe it works well in this medium.
Cause what else would I do with a day off… #amctheaters #amcstubsalist #boyandtheheron #americanfictionmovie #saltburn
Decided to put my @amctheatres stubs *A* list to good use this week ! Loved all four movies ! #wonka #migration #thecolorpurple #theironclaw #amcstubsalist #amcstubs #movies #films
🍿: Eileen 🎬: William Oldroyd ⭐️: C 📺: Theaters Eileen and Oliver Quick (from Saltburn) really would make for a freaky little couple, wouldn’t they? I wanted to like this movie; it had all the ingredients of an underrated instant recommendation: tight runtime, limited release/promotion, psychological thriller, and Anne Hathaway looking stunning in a period piece. Instead, it was a mostly forgettable film that never established any characters and ended with a half-baked conclusion. The performances by Anne Hathaway and Thomasin McKenzie were the highlight of the film. I was engaged in every weird choice they made and was looking forward to seeing where their tangled paths would lead. Unfortunately, the story did them no justice and it seemed to muddle along until the final 20 minutes rushed to conclude a central plot point that I had no clue was even happening. This movie did succeed in making me want to read the source material. I have a feeling the book does a much better job of setting up the thriller aspect and establishing a character study that is both satisfying and unsettling. This is all based on the fact that I felt like this movie had so much potential, but did not give itself the time to reach it. It’s a big ol skip for me and even if you do watch it, I feel like you’ll forget it almost instantly and instead have the urge to head to pick it up from your local library.
#Migration #AMCTheaters #AMCStubsAList #FatherSonTime #Fandango
🍿: Anatomy of a Fall (France) 🎬: Justine Triet ⭐️: A 📺: Rent/Buy I beg y’all. Don’t let the fact that this is a foreign movie prevent you from watching one of the best crime thrillers/courtroom dramas you’ll see in a long time. Anatomy of a Fall is the 2023 Palme d’Or winner and starts with…well, a fall from the third story of a house, and from there, we’re off to the races to figure out if this was an accident, a suicide, or a cold murder of a husband by his wife. Sandra Hüller plays Sandra, a German author who is living in her husband’s small, French, hometown. He is also an author, but struggling and her success has caused some tension in their marriage. Together, they have a son who was blinded by an accident and witnessed the fall, but of course, could not see exactly what happened. Throughout this story we’re sort of in the child’s point of view, learning unexpected things about this marriage through the court proceedings and left wondering if she committed the crime or not. The director, Justine Triet, does not give us the satisfaction of being in on the answer and allows us to sit in the discomfort of not knowing. We, along with every other character in this film, get to be a jury member and prosecute her in the court of public opinion. I loved how this film was shot; there was a physical, textured quality to the image that made it feel a bit like a home documentary rather than a dramatic narrative. The performances were all captivating, and the plot was so riveting that I was glued to the television and on the edge of my seat to get something, ANYTHING, that would help me lean one way or the other. Is this woman a sympathetic widow or is she a sociopath that was desperate to get rid of her husband? You get to be the judge and I look forward to hearing the conclusions that you make!
#TheShift #AngelStudios #AMCTheaters #AMCStubsAList #Fandango
#GodzillaMinusOne #AMCTheaters #AMCStubsAList #Fandango
🍿: The Iron Claw 🎬: Sean Durkin ⭐️: A 📺: Theaters The Iron Claw is a dad movie about how dads can suck and damn it worked like hell on me! I had no clue that A24 had this gem waiting in their 2023 lineup and was left perplexed as to why it wasn’t released earlier with a much bigger awards push. If you’re like me and don’t know much about wrestling or the Von Erich family, you may also walk into this film thinking it’s a light, family drama centered around the sport. I’m here to tell you that this is no Fighting with My Family (2019) and was shocked when I was full-on crying by the time the credits started rolling. This story is a tragedy in so many ways and though wrestling is central to the family’s legacy, it’s secondary to the film’s primary interest—the Von Erich’s dynamic. Sean Durkin clearly has a reverence for this sport and he shoots the movie in a way that those of us who are unfamiliar can also understand the physicality necessary to succeed in wrestling and the hazards of committing your life to it. What was incredibly smart and made this movie so much more effective is that even though the wrestling scenes were electric, the focus on what was happening outside of the ring was far more interesting. During potentially action-packed fight sequences, he made several decisions to move the camera to someone previously offscreen. Those reactions and the moments in between the matches were what made me connect to these brothers and feel the psychological pain inflicted by their father. Though the entire ensemble does an impressive job (except for that terrible Rick Flair impression, oof), Zac Efron was the true star and biggest surprise. The role demanded him to grow physically while shrinking in his personality. He portrays a hulk of a man that is soft-spoken and emotionally stunted, but so endearing. That final scene was carried by his acting and was the cathartic release that we all needed. The Iron Claw blew me away from start to finish and I’m going to be recommending this to everyone that gives me the chance to speak in their presence. Warning you now to grab some tissues, but well worth the watch!
#AnyoneButYou #Fandango #AMCTheaters #AMCStubsAList
Movie Time 🍿📽️🍿🎞️🎥🍿🎞️🎬🎞️🍿🎞️🎥🍿🎞️📽️🍿 I have to say I wasn’t disappointed in the new Trolls movie. I actually really liked it. @trolls @nsync @justintimberlake @annakendrick47 @dreamworks @amctheatres #trolls #amcstubs #amcstubspremiere #amcstubsalist #amcstubsmember #trollsbandtogether #nsync #funko #funkotrolls #trollsfunko #funkophotography #funkophotoaday #funkofunatic #myfunkostory #funkolife #funkolove #movietheater #amc #movietime #movies #amctheaters #cinama #atthemovies
🍿: Wonka 🎬: Paul King ⭐️: B 📺: Theaters Quiet up and listen down! I’m here to declare that I was wrong for doubting Paul King because the movie that I was sure would be a total disaster ended up as an end-of-the-year delight. Wonka is a musical that succeeds because it isn’t trying to recreate or even be in conversation with the original film. We know Willy Wonka as a cynical and honestly, deranged, chocolatier but this film asks us to imagine the altruistic, humble, and hopeful beginnings of his genius. Timothée Chalamet, a known theater kid, gets to do some truly theater kid shit in this and is having the time of his life. He sings, he dances, he’s goofy, and seems unbothered if he’s giving a “good” performance or not. It’s exactly the energy needed to communicate that this film doesn’t want to be “serious” and more a dedicated time to let go of inhibitions. Paul King, the director of the Paddington movies brings exactly what is beautiful about those films to this one. It isn’t shy or ashamed of the fact that its story is just as sweet as the chocolate Willy makes. In a culture that currently rewards insincerity and bleakness, this movie dares to wear its heart on its sleeve by being wholly earnest. The two aspects that hold this back from being considered as great as the Paddington films are the fact that it had no reason to be over 90 minutes and the many absurdly outdated and out-of-place fat jokes. Cut those out and I would’ve been ready to declare this a must-watch! If you have kids at home, I think it’s only a matter of time before Wonka ends up on your screen. Don’t resist because you’re afraid of it messing up the spirit of the original. Instead, think of this as totally separate and let yourself have fun with this story again.