EVERY MOVIE HAS A LESSON

THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the worst movie ever and why?

Not too many critics are taking too kindly to Disney re-imagined Aladdin. I see the appeal, but it’s far from a great remake. That said, it’s far from the worst too. By golly, have there been some stinkers. This week’s IndieWire critics survey from David Ehrlich polled for the ugliest of the ugly and got ten selections. For the second survey in a row, I went to the 1990s, this time for Gus Van Sant’’s reviled Psycho remake. Misguided isn’t even the beginning of it. Any other choice here was going to be a distant second for me.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best Keanu Reeves performance and how does it speak to his unique persona?

With the third John Wick film dropping this week, the question was an easy softball matching the film’s star. Keanu Reeves has had one interesting and steady career. The peaks are far spaced between his breakout with Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, Speed, The Matrix, and John Wick, but he’s as steady as they come. I went with the dark and seedy stuff that made him break his deadpan persona for my survey pick. Second place would have been the little-seen The Watcher where Reeves plays an enigmatic serial killer.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What major filmmaker should try their hand at television?

Full admission, I don’t little to zero current TV. I’m a long-time cord-cutter and I’ll occasionally binge a show with my wife on Hulu or Netflix. Still, the list of buzz-worthy shows I haven’t seen during this 21st century evolution of the medium that keep water coolers thriving is ridiculously long. However, my eye for the movies can pick out a good creative mind. A little research on Google revealed many prime director names who’ve had their moonlighting projects on television, much to my surprise. After a few nominees, I found my stylish pick.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: How do you think the legacy of the Marvel Cinematic Universe will impact the movie world?

Boy, this was a rough survey collection. The majority of participants this week have more negative responses and rationales than positive ones when it comes to talking about the lasting impact of the MCU. I’m unashamed and proud to try and be one of the more positive replies. Is it part of a big corporate greed monster? Maybe, but I cannot deny how it’s become a huge and influential success.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What’s the most beautifully animated film ever made?

Much to my surprise, I was the only participating critic in this week’s survey to cite a Disney movie, and a classic one at that. As you’ll read in my contribution, I can’t get over the depth from the backdrops in Sleeping Beauty. I do love that Loving Vincent inclusion. That very much in the running for this vote.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What film has most defied your expectations, either for better or for worse?

I harp often about unreasonable expectations. Between giving up trailers and really trying to bring a little more objective grading into subjective criticism, I’ve come to hate the term “expectations.” I really stretch to stay neutral at all times. That said, having zero expectations is impossible, which means, like this week’s question, plenty of movies will surprise me from what they were billed to be. For my answer this week, I dug back to 1999 and picked out a silly movie that really won my over, cheese and all.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Is “elevated horror” a real thing"?

I’m not a horror film regular or connoisseur, but I know and appreciate a good horror film when I see one. I know “elevated horror” has become a buzz term, as evidenced by David Ehrlich’s survey this week, but I think the unlabeled idea of it has been around since the beginning of the genre. I consider it’s a compliment, which puts me in the slim minority this week on the dais.

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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best documentary about the American political system?

Documentaries are not my strong suit. I’m a big An Inconvenient Truth mark, but I wouldn’t call that a documentary about the American political system just because of the presence and olive branch policies of former Vice President Al Gore. Ava DuVernay’s 13th also has scope beyond the business and posturing of D.C., but the political threads run farther and deeper, making it my worthy pick this week.

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