shendrian Reviews

Daddio (2023)

Painfully Over-Scripted Human Connection

[1/10 · 28 June 2024]

It could be argued that most moments of human connection in our lives follow some sort of script. The initial pleasantries ("How's your day going so far?") followed by the gradual icebreakers ("You look like you've had a long day") that may or may not lead into vulnerable, unscripted territory. It can really be a beautiful thing.

Sadly, this film is SO scripted, so carefully acted and directed beat by beat in order for us to feel the prescribed feelings we're supposed to feel, that it crafts an experience of human connection beyond artificial. The whole thing seemed like it took the formula of the "Before" movies (let's make two people talking to each other for 1.5 hours interesting somehow) and filled it with 90 pages of cliches and college acting reel-worthy soundbites. I will not be revisiting this movie; I will, however, be on the lookout for more spontaneous moments of human connection that aren't contrived and manipulative.

Snack Shack (2024)

Hackneyed and Lacking Real Human Warmth

[2/10 · 21 March 2024]

Snack Shack is the kind of movie you're supposed to like, the kind where the title flies onto the screen after the first ten minutes in big neon letters that scream, "Look at me, I'm the next American Graffiti or Dazed and Confused!" And this is exactly why it doesn't work, why every character feels entirely scripted and not like someone you would actually know in real life.

I do not doubt that there are moments of autobiographical truth in the storytelling, particularly in the Midwest setting and moments of insecurity/heartbreak that every adolescent has at some (or several) points in their life. But from the too-cooky-to-be-real parents to the six-year-olds shouting profanity to the stereotypical pretty girl who comes onto the main character in innocent I'm-teasing-you-because-I-like-you dominatrix fashion, there is just something mechanical in the whole affair.

Will you enjoy it? If you don't look for art that holds up a mirror to real life, then yes, it's fun enough. But if you want something a little more believable, a little more fresh and rooted in genuine human warmth and pathos, you're better off finding the closest revival theater and rewatching American Graffiti.

Maestro (I) (2023)

Best Movie of 2023

[10/10 · 25 November 2023]

I cannot even begin to describe how deeply this movie affected me; I have seen it three times in theaters already and am considering a fourth viewing. The elegance of the cinematography and the haunting power of Bernstein's compositions are without question, but what really took my breath away was the raw honesty and realism with which the central marriage between Lenny and Felicia is portrayed. Carey Mulligan gives one of the most immersive and empathetic performances of the century, and Bradley Cooper matches her beat-for-beat with an uneven combination of mature compassion and an almost childlike misunderstanding of her needs. This is no hagiography or even a biography really; it is a poetic exploration of what it truly means to love another human being in sickness and in health, 'til death do you part. Be prepared to cry and perhaps reexamine the relationships in your own life.

The Road Dog (2023)

Intimate Human Story with Refreshingly Realistic Ending

[7/10 · 24 November 2023]

Greg Glienna's "The Road Dog" initially seems to have all the makings of a Hallmark movie: a likable curmudgeon in need of redemption, an ex-love interest with an angelic heart, an estranged son who just wants to get to know his daddy, and of course, alcoholism. However, Glienna must be applauded for the way he avoids going down familiar routes and instead lets realism reign supreme, leading towards an ending that is heartbreaking in its honesty about our fragile human condition. Some of the actors are better than others-- there's definitely an "I've worked so hard to memorize my lines" vibe from some of the background characters -- but overall there is real sincerity and nuance in the central performances, particularly Doug Stanhope in the lead role. Does it reinvent the wheel? Absolutely not. But movies are not required to do that; they must simply tell believable human stories that we can connect with even if we don't have the protagonist's unique set of quirks and experiences, and I think this movie fulfills that. Looking forward to Greg Glienna's next project!

Big Shark (2023)

Delusional Mind or Not, This Movie is Cinematic Gold

[10/10 · 18 June 2023]

"SOPHIA SOPHIA I LOVE YOU SOPHIA!" Damn, Tommy has done it again, crafting another masterpiece of mediocre acting and even more mediocre writing that somehow still has so many unforgettable lines. Not only is this a thriller, it's also a fricking MUSICAL with spontaneous bursts of a cappella singing that will make Vincente Minnelli rise from his grave and clap with approval. "COWBOYS DON'T CRY/HEROES DON'T DIE/THEY JUST SPARKLE IN THE SKY/SO I WON'T CRY." I can't get it out of my head! Seriously, go see this movie the first chance you get. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cringe, you'll wonder what the hell is going on; to quote another iconic musical, "Who could ask for anything more?"