Spring Film Roundup

Slowly but surely making our way through the year

Ever since Dune Part 2, it has felt eerily quiet throughout Hollywood.

Most of the blame for that goes to the strike last year. When production on almost every film was halted for several months, it was inevitably going to lead to some slower months once the dust settled.

I just never imagined that they would feel this slow.

How slow has it been?

Well, several weekends have had more re-releases of old movies in theaters than new films. So, that slow.

Movies like Alien, The Mummy, and The Phantom Menance are just of a few of the older films taking advantage of the gap in the release calendar.

While all of this will likely only be a temporary problem, it has me worried for the long term impacts on the consumer. Sure, I am going to the movies way more than the average American, but what about the average movie goer? Does only one important release every month make people just eagerly await that weekend each month? Or does it make the public just realize that going to the movies isn’t an important part of their life?

Unfortunately, I think it is the latter.

I am fearful this temporary lull in the release schedule will just re-enforce people’s habits of not going to the movies.

Summer movie season is upon us though, so maybe that will save us and prove my fears to be overblown!

Before the summer picks up, I did want to take the time to shoutout some of the best films from the past few months. While it has been a slow first third of the year, there has still been lots of quality films sprinkled throughout that are worth seeing both in theaters and on streaming.

The Fall Guy (Directed by David Leitch)

Fun action packed romance movies are back!!! Silly laughs, fun needle drops, over the top action sequences, romantic chemistry, and even references to some of the great films from cinema history.

It always knows exactly what it is, doesn’t even ponder taking itself seriously (in the best way possible), and stays in its lane for 2 hours. In fact, the film feels more like a Rom-com wrapped in an action movie than a true action movie (which is probably why I liked it so much).

It's the kind of movie that in the moment won’t be seen as one of the best of the year, but through time will easily be one of the most rewatched movies from 2024. If you want to turn your brain off for two hours and have a good time, this is your movie.

Rating - 3.5/5

The Idea of You (Directed by Michael Showalter)

Most people already know that I am a sucker for a good romance movie, but even if I love the genre, I don’t care to admit that most streaming services have made some pretty crappy ones (looking at you, Netflix).

After watching “The Idea of You” of Amazon Prime Video, I can confidently say that it is in the running for best romance movie made by a streaming service. Sure, not necessarily re-inventing the wheel, but there is a sincerity here that you can’t look away from. And my goodness does Anne Hathaway look cool doing it all. 

My one complaint is that the last five minutes are frustrating. The inability of Hollywood to accept anything but a happy ending is a pet peeve of mine. Some of the best movies of all time have a sad ending - that is life! Don’t shy away from showing that on screen.

Anyways, it is still a really enjoyable film. Which is a rarity for a romance movie made by a streamer. Check it out if you are a fan of the genre!

Rating - 3.5/5

As a bonus recommendation, the director of this film also directed one of my favorite rom coms of all time - The Big Sick. If you haven’t seen that one, I would HIGHLY recommend it.

Challengers (Directed by Luca Guadagnino)

Love triangle. Zendaya. Reznor and Ross score. Erotic take on tennis. Guadagnino behind the camera.

Need I say more?

Put simply, Challengers is so much fun it hurts. Days after watching the film, one finds themselves still trembling from the on edge feeling you get spending two plus hours rooted in this world with the pulsating score in the background. The tension that is created both in the back and forth nature of the performances and the tennis is jolting to the senses. There are some genuinely jaw dropping sequences both in what Luca does with the camera and what the leads give us on screen. Everyone is at the top of their game here. 

It’s a certified banger that I already can’t wait to watch again! Many will remember that Challengers was #2 on my Most Anticipated Films of 2024 list and I am happy to say that it did not disappoint!

Rating - 4.5/5

Snack Shack (Directed by Adam Rehmeier)

One of the best hidden gems of 2024. A true throwback to a time when these sort of movies were actually made. An irreverent coming of age movie about teenage boys being teenage boys. Think Dazed and Confused or Adventureland vibes. 

Biggest takeaway though is that Gabriel LaBelle has the stuff. If Spielberg casting him as his younger self wasn’t enough, this is confirmation that we are going to be watching him for years to come. Excited to see him play Lorne Michaels in the upcoming SNL movie.

Rating - 3.5/5

Civil War (Directed by Alex Garland)

It took a rewatch for me to have fully formed thoughts on it, but I really enjoyed what Garland was going for here. Unlike most, I actually really liked the lack of over explaining or background on what politically was going on in the film because it allowed you to absorb what was happening on screen at a much deeper level. There is no moment in this movie that would have been richer with a silly monologue about why Texas & California are on the same side or explaining what the deal is with the Florida Alliance or describing what events led to that point. Instead, Garland opts for quieter, more subtle moments to give us glimpses of our world reflected in the America portrayed on screen. For example, there is a simple moment during a sniper shootout. Wagner Moura’s character asks, “Who are you shooting at” to which the reply is “I don’t know, I just know they are trying to kill us”. Or consider another small moment where Kirsten Dunst and Cailee Spaeny recount that their families are living on a farm somewhere pretending like none of this is happening. One more for good measure - there is an important gas station sequence. When Spaeny and Dunst are looking at two men suffering, the guy with the AR comments - “I used to go to high school with that guy”.

Garland is pleading throughout for us to not forget the humanity of everyone around us. He’s done that in past films when he warns us of something that could happen if we aren’t careful. Just look at Ex Machina. It’s not about the ins and outs of AI technology, but it is a warning about a path that even though it seems crazy, we were headed down. 10 years later it doesn’t seem so crazy. Similarly, Civil War isn’t about ins and outs of politics, it’s about the humans at the center. It’s about how really everyone isn’t that different. Yet, the extreme ends of the spectrum act as though the other side is the devil. It’s a warning that even though it seems crazy, we are heading down this path. It’s a plea to remember the humanity of those around you. To have a conversation with them. Those who are upset that the film didn’t really show its hand politically are just so obsessed with seeing their political opposition condemned by a film that they can’t accept their humanity. Which does nothing but further the point of the film.

Rating - 4/5

Love Lies Bleeding (Directed by Rose Glass)

Probably the most surprising film of the year for me. Wasn’t even really on my radar coming into the year and then knocked me off my feet when a saw it.

Love Lies Bleeding perfectly blends violence and romance to give us a wonderful addition to the great neo-noir films of the past decade. The atmosphere and world that Rose Glass creates throughout the film combined with some genuinely jaw dropping sequences make this one worth the watch. Doesn’t hurt that Kristen Stewart and Katy O’Brian give some stellar performances opposite a demented, tortured performance by Ed Harris.

Rating - 4/5

Films to avoid from the past few months:

Really going to embrace the concept this year of not trashing movies I don’t think work on here. No use in talking smack about a project that someone has poured years of their life into. I just want people to love movies and going to the movies. The best way to do that is by watching great films that are actually worth your time. So if that is your goal as well, I would avoid the following films that came out over the past few months:

• Unfrosted (Directed by Jerry Seinfeld)

• Drive-Away Dolls (Directed by Ethan Coen)

• Miller’s Girl (Directed by Jade Bartlett)

• Ricky Stanicky (Directed by Peter Farrelly)

• Players (Directed by Trish Sie)

• Arthur the King (Directed by Simon Cellan Jones)

• Road House 2024 (Directed by Doug Liman)

• The Beautiful Game (Directed by Thea Sharrock)

• Musica (Directed by Rudy Mancuso)

• The Greatest Hits (Directed by Ned Benson)

• Which Brings Me to You (Directed by Peter Hutchings)

In addition to the above, I would also avoid these films, which I highlighted during my dumpuary roundup back in February.

That is all for now! Here is to hoping that the rest of the year is as good as it promises to be. We still have 7 of my Most Anticipated Films of 2024 to look forward to in the back half of the year!

As always, enjoy some great films until next time!
Aaron Nolan