Morning Reel

"Good Will Hunting" is a 1998 Oscar Award-winning drama film written by Ben Affleck & Matt Damon and directed by visionary Gus Van Sant. It stars Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Minnie Driver, and many more in this film about a guy who is a genius in academics but has little direction in life due to the trauma he went through when he was a foster kid growing up. He meets someone who matches not his intellect but his energy. Will Hunting is the guy and Skylar is the woman. He also meets with Robin William's character named "Sean" who is a psychologist and they work together to sort of figure out his life or else he goes to prison for years after assaulting a police officer. The film is filled with lessons about life, adolescence, love, and growing up. A lot of quotables and iconic scenes that we still talk about to this day. I love the film for Van Sant's vision of displaying relationships of not only men and but men and women. This story is simple but layered due to how all these people communicate and their perspectives of life. Everyone seems to own but not Will. Will has a gift and is afraid to do something with it. We see the story line explain that concept of failure or not amounting to anything. We all have people in our lives that help shape us but it's really up to ourselves to prevail even if we know will fail. I dig the film for the dialog written by both Affleck and Damon, these characters pop with life and their own type of wisdom. It's not so much of a rom-com that story line does work with the growth of Will Hunting. He is loved by his peers, but to be loved and cared about from a stranger is as strange and we see what it does to us when we have been through it, when we have been denied that by the very people who were suppose to do that off general principle. Van Sant is a master of handling stories that have to do with growing up and not only does he show us the characters that embrace the screen but he also uses the shots of the environment as well as a character.Four out of four tokes

"Scream 7" is a film where it takes Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z to kill the overpowered killers that are out to get them. A fun film to watch overall. You get to see OG cast members of the original franchise reprise themselves in creative ways. Seeing Neve Campbell and Courtney Cox play their iconic roles are still spot on. The screenplay is wack and some of the dialog is just so silly to take serious. I don't mind some one-liners, but man! The film takes you to the similar formula that we've seen in the first couple of "Scream" films, except our OG characters are now older and much wiser. But that knowledge doesn't do their kin any good as we can already imagine and it's a bit of fun to see how these teen characters get themselves into trouble & danger whether it was intentional or not. It's a very interesting take of how different groups of generations can take on evil ESPECIALLY when you have AI technology being implemented in the overall story line. I wish that could have been better but it did a good enough job to sort of keep you guessing as to who are the killers in THIS film. The AI take on it does leave you confused but at that point, you just stop caring and enjoy the violence and tension. And man, how surprised we get during the third act.Two and a half out of four tokes

"When Harry Met Sally..." is one of the best rom-coms ever made written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner. This type of film did set the standard for other filmmakers to take note and make their versions of two people falling for each other such as the works of Éric Rohmer and Richard Linklater just to name a few. It's a very quotable film from beginning to end that highlights the crazy and the dull of the people's ways of handling friendships. Can men and women be JUST friends? Especially when sex is there on the table, figuratively. The film tackles that with Billy Crystal playing Harry and Meg Ryan playing Sally, who are ambitious, filled with goals but they're stuck. They also have needs, a void to be filled by human contact and who would have know that these two would court each other for years to come. "When Harry Met Sally..." is filled with great dialog that I don't mind hearing 'till the end of time, people just talking about the anxieties of dating and self-love. Reiner's cinematographer captured these two and various scenes that doesn't make the film look boring, there's always something nice to look at. We see them, we see New York in it's '80S glories, and we see how Reiner makes us fall in love with all that. Can two people love each other let alone be friends? These two characters demonstrate the human experience. Sometimes we gotta bash our brains to realize who we want in our little lives but it seems it's never too late. I dig the film for the way it ends. It's powerful, corny, BUT powerful. The film gives us the encouragement to break boundaries on the human connection and falling in love again, and again, and again.Four out of four tokes

Paul Thomas Anderson's "One Battle After Another" is a wild and wacky film. PTA wrote and directed the film and much like his other films, it's a smash hit that mixes action, neo-noir and even black comedy. It's about life or death, saving the future by saving the daughter of a famous revolutionary leader of the French 75. It's literally the military vs the main behind the underground revolutionary force but you don't even know who would it be. I love how Leo DiCaprio embodied Pat, especially as a stoner but a bad ass bomber and is very active in the French 75. What's crazy about this film is how it relates to events that happening in modern-day society. A lot of Anderson's films play on the historic side of things. Events where he develops a story towards that highlights reality. I love how realistic this film is in everything it tosses. As funny as it may sound, but there are underground elite societies that grouped based off certain doctrines that we normal people may find ridiculous. But as ridiculous as it may seem, it's very real and very scary because these certain groups really disregard human lives. And this film does play on the disregard of people's existences. I love the film for the use of its cinematography and space. The way Anderson will use a wide shot to play out a comedic scene. The driving shots are incredible, especially how it utilizes the physical environment it's in like the POV of a car driving, we are the vehicle and we are literally driving up and down trails, chasing people and expecting we are gonna get a confrontation we want but Anderson being Anderson, we get something even better. The third act is very nerve-wracking. Especially how the lack of certain technologies would put us at a deep disadvantage but it's people that leads to where we need to go. We are the best technology. I love how the actors really use space to show off the strengths of their characters. There is almost no time to stop the action in this film. It's literally one battle after another and it's all happening just to save one human being. How heartbreaking it is to go to lengths to just save ONE PERSON. The trials and tribulations that each of us face no matter what kind of lives we live in. There is a right and there is a wrong and we gotta fight for what's right and dismantle the wrongs. it's difficult but this film shows how strong unification can be. It shows that everyday person is more dangerous than an army when united. There are underground elite forces out there but best believe there are underground revolutionary groups out fighting the good fight, one battle after another.Four out of four tokes

I am joined by E-Zone, XG, and Chiclets on this review of "Casino" directed by Martin Scorsese. This film is great and will stand the test of time. I like that the film sheds light on how casinos operate and get its' fill. We put man there and see what can come of it. I describe that Las Vegas itself is a character and it's inherently evil, I'd say. The major characters, besides the mobsters, CAN be decent people. It's just the environment that they get molded into. Sam Rothstein and Nicky Santoro ended up being different people as to how they first appeared from the beginning of the film. It's carefully strategic to write a film where a stand up business man is given the keys to a Las Vegas casino and decides to gamble his life's journey with a woman named Ginger. Sam Rothstein is that man and also gambled his life with allowing a well-known & erratic gangster named Nicky Santoro have freedom and pull to do whatever he wants and he gets away with it. It's a recipe for disaster. Like any other famous civilization, good things come to an end and it can end sooner than you know it with a toxic combination. This film about handling what you can possibly handle, knowing very well who you're dealing with, to play the game strategically but also playing it safe, especially when you're dealing corruption, vices, and your own identity. It's harder than it's said, right? To make it, is to sort of gamble yourself. Some bets are good and some bets you know are not worth taking. But sometimes, what seems to be impossible, isn't so. We talk about all kinds of scenes and breaking them down to where we find what we learn from this film. I dig the film personally for its cinematography, the acting from the major characters Lester played by James Woods, the energy of the editing as well as the sound design that goes along with it. Scorsese made sure we are constantly pulling the lever to see if we score and we won at every pull. He won at every pull. It's almost that same effect when one is gambling. This film isn't perfect but it's really up there. Most of the aspects of the film push the notion of the perfect film and it relates to the common man. It's very hard to do that and Scorsese did a great job doing that. He gave us a different perspective of the same stuff he's been visually preaching since "Mean Streets" (which I have yet to review at the date of this description).Four out of four tokes.E-Zonehttp://flavorsbyezone.comXGhttp://instagram.com/xgmarksthespotChicletshttps://www.instagram.com/chiclets_los.angeles/

Gregory Nava's "Selena" is a good biography-genre film about the life of Tejana musician/songwriter Selena Quintanilla-Pérez famously played by Jennifer Lopez. This film showcases the chase of the American Dream that we all strive for. Selena's life was practically a movie in itself - there highs and lows of her personal life and the life of a singer touring across America, trying to make it with her family. There are moments of melodrama, thriller, comedy, and romance of course. I dig the film for the way Nava directed it. He brought out Selena to life and chose the direction of the film to be a portrait of an American family - the very one that put their lives on the line for success and happiness. It came true but a price was paid. I dig the cinematography of the film. You look at the film and it doesn't look like a Hollywood film, it looks natural and appeasing to the eye. A lot of attention to detail in all kinds of aspects of the film from wardrobe to set design. I want to give a great highlighted mention to Edward James Olmos who stars as Selena' father, Abraham. Give the Oscar to Olmos. The man portrayed an American father with values that go beyond American and Olmos gave a great performance of that. I would see the film again just to see the way Olmos embodied Abraham.Three and a half out of four tokes.

B-Real TV alumni, has photographed bands such as Korn and Slipknot, and loves pro wrestling -  Shaun Vizzy and I discuss his favorite film "Friday" directed by F Gary Gray who stars Ice Cube and Chris Tucker. It's a slice-of-life style of a film that's set in south central Los Angeles where two homies hang out and smoke weed but they get into a sort of laid back but messy situation with the neighborhood drug dealer. It's beyond an LA film or a hood film of sorts, but a film that represents community in a raw form. You do get to see life from a perspective that we can relate. You see real people. We talk about how Shaun saw this film but in a bootlegged VHS form BUT features a cut that's different from the actual theatrical version. We also talk about my disagreement of Roger Ebert's review of the film, especially the third act. Shaun and I talk about the legendary cast and we also discuss the character of "Big Worm" and how central it is to the film overall. This is a film where I did say that some of the scenes don't push the story forward but I fail to realize that LIFE itself goes in the pace we set it to be. Thanks to Shaun for wanting to do a podcast with me especially on this film that I personally feel should be in the United States Library of Congress if it's not there already.Shaun Vizzyhttps://linktr.ee/shaunvizzy

XG and I review "Fat Girl" (À ma sœur!) written and directed by Catherine Breillat that was released in 2001. It's a coming-of-age film from France. The French do coming-of-age films very differently from the USA. This is a film that's meant to break the human spirit and eliminates hope. It's a film about two sisters who sort of compete and talk about "girl stuff" to keep it PG. Their family are in vacation and the older sister secretly wreaks havoc in which shatters the innocence of the little sister. It's a film that's aimed for a mature audience and it barely holds back. Just barely. XG Guerrero joins me again on this episode as we discuss what the film centers at consent, which is keeping your children on check regardless of who and cultural background. It is a slice of life of the human experience and it doesn't spoon-feed you at all. Breillat and the cast all together made a brave film about discovering yourself, the trials and tribulations that females at a young age go through. We discuss the tension that the film develops throughout the course of its story time and it's done differently than from a traditional American film. We also talk about if the film is even worth-watching to begin with and what the director was trying to say concerning the subject at hand which is something I feel is important to take notice. No rating on the review but three & a half out of four tokes.

"Opening Night" is a film about acting and a film about aging. Trying to make sense of a role is hard when you are drowning yourself in alcohol. It's hard to cope with loss when your career is on the line. Gena Rowlands, who plays the lead character, Myrtle, is pure tour de force acting. This film is a masterclass of not only acting but cinema overall. John Cassavetes directed this film and he broke the rules of cinema with this film. It shows that you can do whatever you want however you want as long as you make it sense to yourself. To make something of your own, you gotta make sure it even makes sense. I love that Cassavetes made a film where Rowland's characters went through hard trials and tribulations. In this podcast, I talk about the amazing acting played by Rowlands and the cast included. I talk about how Cassavetes uses the space of not only the stage but the venue itself to create a feel of the audience being there witnessing Rowlands act and as well Cassavetes himself. I also talk about how all this acting and meaning derives from what I feel is a strong screenplay written by Cassavetes. You witness the layers and personalities of the characters and how they work with one another. This is a film where there are sharp turns you gotta be ready for it.Four out of four tokes.

"Flow" is an Academy Award-winning animated film directed by Gints Zilbalodis. He earned it, plain and simple. Shout out to him and the country of Latvia. It's Latvia's first Academy Award, respectfully. This is a film created with the application called Blender. Imagine that? A film created by Blender, beat Disney AND DreamWorks at their own game. Millions upon millions of dollars, and "Flow" took the cake. Bravo. This is a film about a cat who joins other exotic animals as they journey to find a better place for their lives as it was disrupted by a crazy environmental event. There is no dialog, only sound. IMAGINE THAT? Only sound effects of the animals and the environments they go through and music definitely plays along with it, definitely adds to feel of the film. You care for these animals, you want to know what happens next. That's their dialog and how the journey flows from one place to another, and as we learn about these animals who are the characters themselves, dissecting different personalities and how they with one another. It's crazy how universal it is to be that self-aware about yourself when you look at the mirror. When you do that type of action, you gain a great level of consciousness and these animals did that. Not an easy thing to pull off but Zilbalodis did that. I talk about how animal actions drive the plot forward. I talk about the characters of the film, how they act on a very animal-like level but all that is so relatable as how we humans interact with each other. Its as if we are all one, but in bits and pieces. At some point, they become the humans and we wish we can be there to witness half of it. Finally, a film where all audiences that enjoy but it also challenges the viewers - to look ourselves and at each other and be aware of what we have and how we can make it slightly better.Four out of four tokes.

I'm joined here with fabb_999 on this episode reviewing "American Me" directed and produced by Edward James Olmos who shows us a life of a man who's spent half his life in the prison system, trying to reclaim himnself in society after he gets out. It's a very masculine but truly humbling film. Olmos did a great job showing us that he can not only act, but direct as well. I was impressed with the shots he used in the film, some that I pondered as to why he would use it and I understood why. He's a creative indivisual and gave us something DIFFERENT to look at. Faby and I talk about about film, it's explosive cast of characters, the iconic one-liners, it's controversies, the elements of theater displayed into the film, the way lighting is used to make things look realistic, how a film like this still resonates to this day spreading its message beyond East Los Angeles, beyond Folsom State, beyond California period. It's a powerful film by Olmos and a story of this kind needed to be told. It's important that even in filmmaking, we need to be a melting pot of sorts of sharing stories that created a culture that is still powerful to today's societal means.Four out of four tokes.#americanme #edwardjamesolmos

"Cameraperson" is a documentary directed by Kirsten Johnson that treats the film as a memoir of her life. In this day and age with ties to social media, almost no moment is lost. We share everything and not all of it is worth sharing. Let's just be for real. This film shows us who Kirsten Johnson is through not only her work but her personal life. She shares us crime, loss, and murder. We also see new life, love, and the freedom of where she lives which is the USA. She goes to places where she she purposefully puts herself and company in danger but all of this, to understand life. To Understand people, to make a sense as to what we can provide for life. I like this documentary a lot. We see it through lengthy shots of all kinds situations and they all tie in together, good editing. I liked learning how to interview people. Johnson is very particular about how she films. She definitely puts thought into how she wants the shot to look like and it definitely doesn't want it to be plain and simple. I like the consideration of the shots she chose because I'm sure she has hard drives upon hard drives of footage. She shares us her own vulnerability with footage of different points of her aging mom and you can see how impactful it to her. What's crazy overall about this film, is the fact that there's no voice-over talking points. Just footage. RAW footage. When pieced together the way she did it, she wins in life. Forever.#cameraperson #kirstenjohnson

Tim Burton directed "Batman Returns", the sequel to the first Batman film of the iconic franchise that came out of a comic book created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger. This sequel had an all-star cast that included Danny DeVito, Michael Keaton and Michelle Pfeiffer who played a great Catwoman. I think "Batman Returns" is an okay film by critical point of view but I sure enjoyed the hell of the it. It is fun to watch due to its entertainment value. It has action, some type of drama when it comes to local politics of a city, romance stemming between Bruce Wayne/Batman and Selina Kyle/Catwoman, and the villain. You gotta have a villain that stands out and Tim Burton's version of Penguin. The design of the Penguin is forever iconic, but how DeVito brings this type of character out. You almost want to root for him and we do actually! We are amused and intrigued as what his goal in this film beside being a mayor. It's a film that's easy to enjoy and part of the reason is not Tim Burton's vision, but the one-liners that almost every character possesses. I'd say, half the time, it works! You really have to see the film to be embraced by the corny-ness of it all. Apart from that, I do like Burton's version of a gothic, dirty Gotham City, where you never seen the sun, lights blind the viewer, and technology seems to be lost in time. I do like cinematography, Burton made great decisions of what kind of shots we should see. A lot of them feel as if they did come from a comic book page. Every shot is different, proposing its purpose. I like the use of blue in the film, especially to mimic moonlight. What's great of the film is how these actors play these characters and play them respectfully toward the screenplay. The way Burton displays the interaction of Batman and Catwoman in the action and dramatic scenes are almost a masterclass of it's own. We honestly forget that we are watching two people dressed in costume. We forget their masks and false identities and realize underneath that are hungry human beings trying fill personal voids and Burton did a great job creating that.three out of four tokes.#batmanreturns #timburton

Martin Scorsese directed a brilliant film that will stand the test of time. It's film that we all love and enjoy and we don't care that the characters are bad guys, like, really BAD guys. Scorsese has that visual power where we get to see, envy, the glorification of "GoodFellas" featuring my good friends of the We Don't Smoke the Same podcast - E-Zone and XG. We dissect the film by pointing out favorite scenes, discuss the power of being a gangster and the culture it influences, and how drugs come into play in the mob business. I dig the film for it's realism on these characters and how they handle situations. Scorsese does a great job providing different senes that highlight the highs and lows of the various characters that play off each other. Every time I see the film, I learn something new about it and the director and how it all works.Four out of four tokes.E-Zonehttp://flavorsbyezone.comXGhttp://fullytoxic.com#goodfellas #film

"My Dinner With Andre" is beautiful simple film directed by Louis Malle. A legendary filmmaker decided to film two theater guys talk about life while they eat in what looks like to be a fancy restaurant in New York. This film is unqiue due to the fact that it's simply two people who meet up and dine. And they talk for 111 minutes. For us nowadays, one will say "oh, well that's just a typical podcast". True, but it's the FIRST. And honestly the only of it's kind. There's really not a film like "My Dinner With Andre". These two men talk about life, throw in their perspectives. There is a point to the film. There is a beginning, middle and end and it's great. It all works very well. I love how these characters make life seem real by talking about things that are real to some of us. A scripted as it can be, they were able to create something that we can all relate no matter who we are, where we're from. I like the they it shot as well. There's an intensity with Andre Gregory that Malle was able to get down. When you see that close up, you feel the words that Andre is saying. You see that vulnerability and contrast it with Wallace Shawn's realistic approach of life. They are great together. You can tell Shawn is skeptical but he loves his friend. He has a respect for him that you can see and Malle, again, shoots it so dignifying, I can't help but just stare and figure if there's more to it and turns out in this film, there's not, haha. I'm actually going to watch it again. There's layers in the topics they discuss and it's fun to see something so real to be just fiction but it's that darn believable.Four out of four tokes.#mydinnerwithandre #louismalle

Danny Boyle directed a good film that was written by Aaron Sorkin called "Steve Jobs". It's a biographical film depicting Apple Computers Co-Founder and Visionary Tech Giant, Steve Jobs. The film centers around three key moments in Jobs' life and in each of the periods shows us who this guy Steve Jobs is and we should care about him and the people who surround him. The scenes really give out a clear but complex picture of Steve Jobs. To be a visionary such as himself, you must some type of complication, something that stand out in your life. I dig the film for its intense dialog concerning the task at hand, which is basically making the unveiling of the future is as perfect as it can try to be. I dig the cinematography, where the space of a setting is used. Boyle gave us the feeling of a play of sorts because characters spent their time in closed doors in a public venue. Interesting to see how actors can use their space and setting for their effective skills. the use of editing where characters appear and disappear in the film and how we get the reaction shots from the characters which relates as how WE would react to a certain exchange of dialog and/or action. The flaw I would give for this film is partially on the type of character this version of Steve jobs is. Almost an egomaniac. It has a bit hard to swallow that pill.Three and a half out of four tokes.

"Mona Lisa Smile" is a universal film that aimed towards people who thnk they have their futures written in stone. A film directed by Mike Newell, stars Julia Roberts as this free-spirited teacher who travels over to the east coast to teach at an institution where women are guided to be submissive wives/partners. This was set in the mid-'50s. I never really focused on Roberts in films but this one really swept me to a point. I love her character as Katherine Ann Watson. She doesn't let anyone really dictate her life and style. The film is not about style but about how to hold on to your own and that you're not confined anywhere especially if you have personal goals set. I did like that they did a good job balancing the principle characters' dilemmas which is difficult to do in screenwriting, period. The plot is all right but I didn't like how they tackled it where it was an examination of the women in the film rather than playing high stakes. I didn't mind how it played out for Roberts' character but in connection to the other characters that support her morals & goals as a film, was weak and needed more work to established.Three out of four tokes.

"Paddington 2" is the most positive reviewed film in the history of cinema and it came out in 2017, beating "Citizen Kane" directed by Orson Welles. Imagine that? Anyways, I love this film. I didn't mention it in the review but this a "perfect" family film. It has everything - comedy, action, moments of wonder & curiosity, drama, but most of all, this film has heart and that heart is the character himself - Paddington. The cast in the film great, even to the villains. Hugh Grant was great in this film, you can tell he was having a blast playing a villain and made it so self-centered, it's great. He's a character you can fall behind because he goes all the way as who he is and what he wants. I was impressed to take in the fact that it's a live action film with a CGI bear and honestly, I didn't even notice. I mean, you can tell it's fake but they way they animated Paddington and what they have them do, took a lot of consideration. I was too convinced and hooked on the bear, the sweet and courageous bear named Padddington that can turn a criminal into a friend. Imagine having a buddy like that in your life? E-Zone, fuck Baby Yoda. Paddington is the guy you want on your side. He's the "voice of reason" and all that's thanks to his Aunt Lucy, which is the basis of the whole plot itself. It's hard for sequels to out-do the first film, but this surpasses it (respectfully) at a level that pulls the heartstrings. The film only goes higher as the stakes get tough for the bear to clear his name. When times get tough, stay strong and follow through with the faith you got but also take matters your hands.Four out of four tokes.

"As Tears Go By" is the debut of filmmaker Wong Kar-wai. It's his love letter to the film "Mean Streets". He shares a tragedy where love is lost, both of the romantic and of the brotherly. I was amazed to see a style of filmmaking and it came out in 1988. It's very stylistic and isn't afraid to push narrative boundaries. My favorite scene of the film is honestly, the ending. I wont say why but it's an effective ending that you don't really get to see in cinema nowadays. It's a film that drama, romance, crime, some comedy, and even existentialism. It's a film about a gangster who tries throughout the whole film, to look out for his best friend, and honestly, his only friend, especially in the world they're in. His friend is always messing up and he has to figure out a way to chamge, or else...It's great film in it's style of filmmaking and a story that's engaging and doesn't spoon feed you#astearsgoby

Terrence Malick gives us "The New World", a visual epic of the story of America, but in a romance between John Smith and Pocahontas. It's a really good film depicting the settlement of Jamestown in what is know as Virgina at the time. We see how it goes down, how love can be new and destructive to someone and how it navigates they way order and growth goes. I enjoy this film for its simple but poetic plot. We just don't see Native Americans fighting for theirs against the Jamestown people, we see how actions and decision are laid about. We see how emotions unheard of are formed and how it really shapes people into how we know them by. Malick, you can see that he really put himself in this film by the shots we see. We see how things came to be and it goes across to what I'm typing at this moment. And this film came out over 20 years ago. It's still fresh and very consistent to his work.Four out of four tokes.

Hayao Miyazaki's "Ponyo" is a colorful sight of a film to see with a beautiful way to tell a story of how the test of friendship can LITERALLY disbalance the earth. What a way to tell a film without having a bad guy, it's all about something for the good of all kinds, not just man. Miyazaki likes to put the awareness and importance of maintaining the sustainability of our earth, our environment. I like the slight agresssive attack towads that thematic and how it overall ties to the film. it's a character of it's own, if you ask me. What's there to say, the film is enjoyable. It's a story you can definitely invest your energy in because it does take you for a ride. To see the sequence of Ponyo catching up to the BAD ASS tiny car, is really a testament to the art of anime filmmaking. Thank you, Hayao Miyazaki for giving us "Ponyo".Four out of Four tokes.#ponyo #hayaomiyazaki

Lars von Trier is a controversial filmmaker with his work and as a person himself. Due to his depression that, he creates films with dark characters with, sometimes, dark storylines. But his films are great. Some are beautifully shot with referneces to classical art. This film "Melancholia" is one of those. It's about the last days of the world due to a planet that is literally going to crash into Earth and the main character welcomes with open arms. It's more dramatic than how it sounds but it's there and it's in full effect. The film is great for its cinematography, how Earth plays a role as a planet that is dying by the frame and we get to see characters go through it. We see characters that represent illnesses such as depression and anxiety. The film highlights and sometimes makes it very visually poetic.I love the fact that Trier made a film like this and it's not overdramatic. Overall, it's a dark and straight-in-your-face type of filmmaking that anybody can appreciate.Four out of four tokes.

Éric Rohmer ends his famous "Tales of the Four Seasons" with "Autumn Tale". It's a French romance comedy about a woman who operates a vineyard, thinks about the idea of dating again and it focuses on the middle age folks, which is a bit different from the other season films. Magali's friends decide to take matters into their own hands and get matches for her. At this wedding party, it all goes down and it's an iconic scene itself. I love the film for it's rich and engaging screenplay and the actors who make these characters very real, especially when they conversate which is a huge strength that Rohmer. This film gives us insight to people who are older and wiser. We see a perspective that's almost too foreign for us especially if we dont match the same age. I can wacth this film all day and so should you.I give it four out of four tokes.#ericrohmer #filmreview #autumntale

David Lynch's "Inland EMpire" is a crazy psychological thriller that I had the pleasure of watching. I three hour film shot on a sony digital camcorder and it makes perfect sense as to why he choose to shoot a film like this. A film that barely has a script but as holoow as it many seem, it film goes into alternate realities where we question our own reality. It's a film about a "woman in toruble" that takes on a film set. Laura Dern's character is an actress who's gonna star in a film that's known to have a death that occurs which stopped it in the place. But not for this crew. They decide to do it anyway and stuff happens. It's like a huge portal that leads to all portals and it makes sense in some way. I admire the work Lynch put especially Laura Dern. She deserved an Academy Award for this film.Three and a half out of four tokes.#davidlynch #inlandempire #filmreview

The Coen Brothers are incredible filmmakers. They are known for their screenwriting and direction. From wacky comedies to serious dramas, they always go for the heart and it gets us to wonder about life and the meaning of it. "A Serious Man" is a 2009 comedy drama that's dark about Larry who is about to get divorced and doesn't know why but we see why. But not only that, he has other struggles that really break this man down but not completely because of his faith in Judasim. The only thing that he ponders about is the meaning of life and bad things happen to him. It spirals to an existential journey in a small Minnesota town. I dig this film in how the cinematography amps up the struggles that these characters go through and as well as the screenwriting. The dialog is superb and pushes the story forward. We are meant to see this man and yell at him on the screen because the answers to his problems are sort of in front of him and he eventually figures it out. Not a film for a peson for action but if you're in some type of crisis, this one is for you. The characters are great and written very well and they bounce off each other and they sure deserve it.Four out of four tokes#coenbrothers #aseriousman

"Todo Sobre Mi Madre" is one of Pedro Almovodvar's great films especially of the 90s. It's a complex drama surrounding a mother dealing with her only son's death and actually doing something about it. She goes into a spiral of events that eventually answers deeper questions of her past lives. It's almost that thing where you can't lead into the future unless you can let go of the past. A great film because it's full of laughs and legitimate drama. Thw riting is excellent because gets sucked in and the cast that highlights it makes you wonder why they haven't been on the big screen. You can see greatness even from the small, local stage.Four out of four tokes.#allaboutmymother #pedroalmodovar #filmreview

"Lamb" or natively "Dýrið", is a crazy folk horror film and there is a twist and a couple of turns. The director did a pretty good job showing us the effectiveness without spoon feeding like American horror films. it's a about a couple who discover a lamb that has features of a human. You have to see it to not only believe it, but to see how it plays out. The ending is unexpected. The way the characters play out the story seems plain but there's a lot of dark pain in it and it slowly unfolds. It's a not a simple and the cinematography backs that up. It may be beautiful in Iceland, but what surrounds it is the scary part. Fogs, mountains and unpaved roads represents the film. It's vast and you can easily get lost with little hope. I dug the screenplay of this film. It's precise as to how the characters operate and slowly develop. We care about them, trying to live a simple farm life but circumstances were not in their favor. Please watch this film, it's available on Prime Video FOR FREE, you will not be disappointed.Three and a half out of four tokes.#lamb #lambfilm #noomirapace

Xavier Guerrero is my guest for this episode reviewing the film "A Summer's Tale" of "A Tale of Smmer"--however you want to pronounce it--is a comedy film by Éric Rohmer. He is a beast in comedy, witty and impactful philosophical writing and direction that seems breathless to the eyes. In this film in particular, it's about a dude who comes with no dilemmas ending into evading a huge one that dealt with three women. Man, what a film. XG and I talk about suspenseful it gets with the different dynamics of each of the women and the intersection of them with the main character, Gaspard. We also talk about how easy and simple the film is in its cinematography and how the characters speak to each other- very natural with constant wit. It's a sparring battle and it's crazy how it carries the film's overall plot. It's just sets up only to get knocked down to the next part of story. It's a good film, great laugh and it's simple. Maybe too simple. it's films like these where you can really take and enjoy for what it is. We both agreed how it does take a while for the film to really get to the excitemenr of the second act. I was amazed as to how XG can get actually frustrated having captions in front of women, especially women in a French coast setting. Oh, X. But that right there tells you what a good job this film did with the casting and these actors owned their characters.Four out of Four TokesXGhttp://fullytoxic.com

"Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire", a fun film with a lame plot where somehow we had to revolve it around an existential crisis from a teenager that I feel doesn't work. I don't mind the film getting to the roots of demons and how it ties into ghosts. That part still barely makes sense but it's better than Phoebe trying to figure herself out. I felt cheated, like it forced us to try to be "woke". I don't mind an existential crisis but it has to tie well with the overall plot and I feel we two different plots going on at the same time and the only people to save it was the OGs that included Bill Murray. The acting is pretty all right in this film especially the dialog but again, the overall film wanes with trying to tie that in, like it doesn't know what it wants to be or rather, it doesn't know where to stick to. It is a family film of sorts that I'm sure can be relatable but when you have a teenage girl talking about death half the time in the film and preferring a state of death/ghost, it disconnects right off the bat. That I can't get behind at all. Shit like that is influential and can cause of wave of people being that open to put themselves in that state of mind. That's a red flag.

"Lost In Translation" is an iconic film written & directed by Sofia Coppola. It's one of the first films in her career that is very visual with a simple but profound plot where two travelers from America are missing something. One just graduated from college, married and with no clue with what to with life. The other was a famous actor and now does commercials, married but unhappy. He has little clue as to how to move forward with life. They meet and the rest is history. The film touches the idea of social/cultural displacement and the question of what to do with life and how to find meaning of it. There's no crazy action, there are no twists, it's two main characters journeying life and they make it fun. It's a film where Tokyo is a main character in itself, that teaches us to make adpations and find new ways to jumpstart ambition. I review this film with E-Zone. We touch on how personal issues define us, the cinematography showing beautiful Japan, and the writing. The writing is great and these actors nailed the characters highs and lows. The film ultimately shows me that you can make a simple setup and have millions gather around you because you made it very relatable.E-Zonehttp://flavorsbyezone.com#lostintranslation #sofiacoppola #film

We all know Zack Snyder and what he's known for. He's definitelty a celebrated filmmaker. Has made numerous superhero films in the DC Comics universe and the iconic "300". But before all that, he re-made "Dawn of the Dead". Now, I didn't compare the two. You really can't, thery're their own films. It's fun to see Tom Savini be a part of the 2004 version. Now, I'm not a big fan of Snyder and "Dawn of the Dead" but it's not a bad film. It's not a great film either. I talk about the casting, how the characters develop as they interact with each other and the situations they go through to trying to escape a mall without being harmed an attracting zombie attention. I do like the moral dilemma that the film faces when it comes to death. It also makes it entertaining because at the most part, it is a action zombie flick. The zombies are pretty legit. I do hate some of the characters. I wish there was a bit more do to with the plot overall instead of the typical "how do we survive the zombie apocalypse"?Overall,two and a half out of four tokes#dawnofthedead #zacksnyder

Janeen Damian once again directs Lindsey Lohan in the film "Irish Wish", a rom com about an editor who is in love with her boss who is the author of books that get published. Guess what, a fairy godmother of sorts grants Lohan's character's wish to get married with this guy. Then, it's a journey of love dispelling the notion of true love especially when she starts hanging out with this photographer who, guess what, gets her! Who would have thought, right? This is not a good film but it tries really hard. I talk about the strengths of Lohan's acting. I also discuss the screenplay of this film in which I think needs a lot of work and would have made Lohan's character be stronger for the film's overall message. But it wouldn't have mattered because the film gives itself away. It's waay too predictable but like I said in the podcast, this is a major watch due to Lindsey Lohan herself - she looks great, can still deliver a good acting performance, and is likable overall. And of course, I do like the film because it's set in Ireland and they did a good job giving us authentic Irish vibes.Two and a half out of four tokes.#irishwish #netflix

Jonathan Glazer is a trailblazer of a filmmaker. "The Zone of Interest" is another win for him and filmmaking in general. He was able to use sound to highlight the horrors of the holocaust. He chose to not show any kind of violance whatsoever and the sound makes up for. It's a simple story of a family of Nazis who live in a beautiful home RIGHT NEXT TO the Auschwitz concentration camp ran by Rudolf Höss. It focuses mainly on Rudolf Höss and his wife Hedwig, seeing life in their evil lives, living peacfully, almost gracefully with the help of their staff which happen to be Jews. There are no happy endings, only the dissection of how cruel we can be as a people to one another and we don't have to see any deaths. It's through what some of the characters comment and how they are use to the fact that what goes on the next is completely normal to them. It's mind-boggling. It's hard pill to swallow throughout because these folks are living happily with no acknowledgement of the evil they are a part of and sadly, proud of. This film is sort of a meditation piece of cinema. We see dramatized facts unfold of evil and we also see how men can evolve by throwing the very last of human morales. I recommend everyone to see this film. Glazer did a good job getting us up and close to this film by having invasive camera work, attention to detail in almost every shot, and the cast is great. They play their roles convincing. However, the plot is is almost minimalistic.Three and a half out of four tokes.#thezoneofinterest #filmreview #morningreel

"Priscilla" shows a very mature and talented Sofia Coppola exploring the exodus of Elvis and Priscilla Presley's life as romantic partners. The caasting is pretty good. We definitely see how Priscilla grows up on screen played by the same actress. It's a dramatized version of their romance with a straightforward story and plot. It's pretty intimate, gets up close at one point where we see eyeballs, a lot of attention to detail. We get to know how in all apsects of hers and their lives as a whole. We do see relationship that is obviously built on lust in the most general sense (this was in the '50s) eventually enfolding to an adult and complicated marriage where Elvis is definitely KING and Priscilla not getting the respect she deserves as a woman especially of her age, she has no natural outlook of thr concept of love and the notion of "my one and ony" but the tabloid crushes her everything. Whatever news she gets is not being able to independently explore the outside world which is ironic beceause Elvis never toured outside the United States. Elvis wanted a certan kind of woman which eventually to Priscilla's self-respect, begins to break glass door down. It's a feisty film but it's like a slow climb where when you turn around, you see nothing but the beautiful landscape. But it's quite a climb which is hard for the viewer to want to keep up.Three and a half out of four tokes.#priscillafilm #filmreview #sofiacoppola

Kevin Smith wrote, directed, and edited "Zack Miri Make a Porno" which is an ambitious film about people who get together and make something especially when you gotta make quick money. But life is about more than money and that's where this film stands out and it especially stands out from Kevin Smith's filmography. The man proves he is more than just a "sequel" director. The characters in this film prove themselves even as simple as making an adult film. I dig the film the film for it's premise. It's plot is plain for the most part because we can already tell what's gonna happen at the end but it's fun to see HOW that works out. It's a fun watch but it does have serious moments when it comes to love & romance even between the main characters we have. This film is sweet overall because it tells us that it's never too late to change your life for the better. If you believe in yourself & your ideas and have a strong supporting cast to back you up, you can conquer. Yes, this film as raunchy as it seems, does that. Watch it.Three out of four tokes.#zackandmirimakeaporno #kevinsmith #filmreview

Jonathan Demme is a master filmmaker and he shows us his storytelling prowess with "The Silence of the Lambs". The film is not only great because of its premise and engaging plot but the power of the close up. That close up is a very powerful use of cinematography and by keeping us at that close up for the majority of the film, you cant help but continue to watch. I can understand why people would pay to see this film on the big screen. Those details are scary. Jodie Foster played a great Clarice Starling, showing a character that is compassionate about people and justice itself. The film is pretty straightforward for the most part with minor twists but all the juice is simply from how the writer was clever to put plot motives at the right places. This is a film where you don't anticipate an ending like we see and it's a great payoff.Four out of four tokes#thesilenceofthelambs #jonathandemme #filmreview

"A Ghost Story" is a film all about time as it states in its poster. And it is. It's a strong film written & directed by David Lowery who casted Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara about two people who love each other and they eventually lose each other. It's more really more about the journey than it is about the couple itself and how the film works, it's meditational piece of art. Now there are cons as I talk about them in the film just in the aspect of how the story can push forward and with a film like this I can see it's a bit tough to make an action legit. Lowery did what he could in the logic of the film to strike heavy in the second act. It's a good film to watch not just 'cause of its cinematography of seeing a human being completely draped by a cloth, but how lives are introduced and shown. The different aspects of life who don't know each other still share the same Earth, the same time that's being offered. And the major connection is how humans can bring us together but they can also separate us. Really strong approach that Lowery brought into this film. I enjoyed it a lot. I feel this film is meant to be seen in the big screen and the sound design needs its flowers. It adds to the minimalism of the film. I would see it again as it teaches you about handling humans, handling your safe space and overall how we can make a film with putting a sheet over our heads and being the best ghost we can be. For that, we are in debt to celebrate this film.Three and a half out of four tokes#aghoststory #a24 #love

XG joins me on this episode for the film "Leave the World Behind". He requested it so we did it. Funny because I was gonna review this film down the road. The film isn't bad, it's just a bit too long and there's not much of a plot to work with which is crazy because you can do so many things with this type of story. It's weird that I had a hard time connecting with these characters. Almost as if they're robots in a sense except for Ethan Hawke who played Clay. He relly shines in this film. I really thought Julia Roberts playing Amanda was great. I don't think she's a bitch to be a bitch. We can all relate when we're just not fuckin' with nobody because everybody sucks, in general. Her character's behavior and mindset really does mold and move the story throughout. XG and I talked conspiracy theories concerning the things that happened in the film such as scamming, the 5G singals that suppresses life & alike, and Obama somehow was involved in this? And if he was, what's the conspiracy, haha. It's an enjoyable film but there's so much realism in the aspect of post-apocalyptic scenarios, we can't be ignorant about it. Kevin Bacon's was GREAT in his character and really encapsulates human behavor. Not the best film in the world but ti doesn't move the pendulum.Three out of Four tokes.Thank you XG for being a part of the podcast episode. Y'all can chek him out on:http://fullytoxic.com#leavetheworldbehind #filmreviews #morningreel

Ava DuVernay directed "Selma" that deals with the marches of Selma in 1965 led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This actually happened that led to an official to pass signed by President Lyndon B Johnson. A dramatized film of course but it's straightforward, it's gets to the point and the performances from the talent really give this film the attention it deserves. We get to see a MLK Jr. very human, almost too human, seeing him deal with all kinds of aspects in life epsecially with things that have nothing to do with him. People look up to this man because he is a leader and for the greatest cause any man can put themselves in because it'll literally set course to what's to come in America. The scenes of the bridge crossings are brutal and DuVernay does not relent, she shoves it to us because that is what happened. Injustice all the way to the physical level and thankfully during that time, people all over the world were able to see it and it's messed up. I'm sure in reality, it was far more brutal, you have to give it to DuVernary for showing us just a fraction of those events played out. It's hard to watch innocent woman just get beat for walking. FOR WALKING. Then again, it was George Wallace's Alabama and he didn't give a f. Tim Roth knocked the Wallace role right out of the park as he usually does. Although I feel that the film itself was a bit too scripted, like I feel the other cast were kind of robotic in a sense. The main characters, you can tell they had a lot of range to play around with and used it to their advantage. Overall, "Selma" is solid, effective and entertaining. It does get real and it makes you mad as how politics work. You ask yourself, does the president really care? Does the government really care? Regardless, when you want something you real bad, you're gonna do what you can to achieve it. MLK Jr. is the greatest example of that and he led millions.Three and a half out of four tokes.#selma #avaduvernay #injustice

"Anatomy of a Fall" is a gripping courtroom dramam directed by Justine Triet. The film is literal in it's title. We are looking at a fall that resulted death to the husband/father of a family that secretly failing. We don't know if the fall was ruled out to be suicide or murder. The mother/wife is the only prime suspect and the family is thrown to the ringer. It's crazy how a courtroom is a place where the skeletons come out of the closet. One of my favorite characters is the dog in this film. The actor is named Messi and Messi acts his ass off and you'll know it when you see it. I talk about the film's screenplay, it's written very well because we out of those pages we see how creative the director was to give out this information for us to see. When we think we'll see full scenes of the married couple having a really aggressive argument, think again. All characters play their roles right and effectively. I talk about how flashbacks are used in this film Triet made it that work very well. We don't know much about the characters until we are witnessed through multimedia and not the characters themselves. Normally, this would be a problem in storytelling but the characters later shed their own layers to these surprises of sorts. The full fledged character is the son, as blind as he is, he wins people's hearts. Smart, understanding, and isn't afraid to show himself. The film won at the Cannes film festival and earned a Golden Globe for Best Foreign Language Film and it shows. We see a film where the elements of filmmaking are present but the characters drive the story. Even the dead man himself has light to shed. Leave stones unturned because eventually they will turn and it'll blow your mind. I wasn't feeling this film at first, with exception of the first act (which is a great first act), but when we the first courtroom scene, it brought me back and made me sit along with all the other people who were watching trial.Three and a half out of four tokes.#anatomyofafall #morningreel

"Juice" is a good film. It could have been greater if Tupac's character "Bishop" wasn't written to be so James Cagney and it's funny that the film ended in the fashion of "White Heat" but it's because of that film Tupac decided to go deep into the psyche of a man with practically nothing to lose at a young age growing up in early '90s New York. Harlem to be more exact. The film is about senior high schoolers trying to figure themselves out and it's root is basically the time and location they're living in. It's tough in the streets and if you want to make it, you might have to consider extreme measures. The film is not all violence, we are shown a window of Hip Hop which plays a deep role in the film. It's a character, it highlights a side of New York. You not only hear it, you see it in the fashion that is shown (great production design) & the music where society decides to vibe, and you also feel it as to how Bishop, Raheem, and Steel try to feign it as much as they can. But we all know, it shows us how music can be not only a way out, but it also has the power to fufill artistic purpose. I didn't mentioned this in the review, but Ernest Dickerson knows how to make a film and an effective one with his choice of shots that he knows it adds the right amount of tension and aloofness. Overall, what I saw is still ingredients for an iconic film such as "Juice".Three out of four tokes.#juicemovie #tupac #hiphop

This is a film Roger Ebert would have loved. He loved Martin Scorsese and this film, "Killers of the Flower Moon" is just another notch on the belt. This is a western epic that deals with history in the United States. What I loved about the film is the screenplay itself. It was written so well. You have all kinds of situations that are happening at the same time and it intensifies throughout the whole film and not only does it affect the main characters, it affects society around them which would ultimately have a dominio effect all the way to the White House. I'm not kidding. My wife Fabi joins me on this epsiode because she has always wanted to see the film ever since the trailer we saw at the "Oppenheimer" screening. She's a history buff and the trailer got her hooked. This film at three hours and 26 minutes, it keeps us very engaged with a dramatic screenplay where it's really hard to stay behind these characters especially with the motives that they have which is primarily greed and it can turn your world upside down. It shows us a world where two are pretending to be nice. There's so much hate and animosity, it's great how normal the film is portraying it. We all know it's not right and goes deep as to how messed up this film gets. The cinematography is great, Scorsese once again knows choose his shots well especially going to into western territory and Thelma Schoonmaker is an editing queen who knows how to keep a scene on its toes. We didn't really stay in one shot obviously but she cuts from one certain angle to another that really navigates the story to graciously move forward. This film is a force to be reckon with, definitely awards are awaiting for Scorsese and crew. Everyone plays their roles so good, it's like a satisfying jigsaw puzzle once it's completed. It's easy for me to say that not one role is wasted, not one actor underplayed their role. To see DeNiro and DiCaprio act alongside and against each other is honestly something of a "once in a lifetime" sight and you'll exactly what I mean when youd see it. Even when it goes over the top, it's still a sight to see. I think this is one of the few three hour plus films of recent that can really be consistently entertaining and it's just how the story is told and how the stakes and schemes get higher. It can only go so high until in comes crashing down and man, it crashes down very hard and unforgiving.Four out of four.#killersoftheflowermoon #martinscorsese #killersoftheflowermoonreview

"Jingle All the Way" is a fun and sometimes wacky film about consumerism and how to keep up with your word. My faovrite Christmas film because it shows toys, toys, and more toys. Especially the Turbo Man doll that's the "It Doll" of the year. Imagine having to buy a toy on Christmas Eve? THE toy that every kid wants. Good luck, buddy. And good luck with this film because it is cheesy for the most part especially trying to manipulate us feeling so bad that Arnold's character has to succumb to the guilt of of not being able to show up at his kid gaining a puple belt. How can we make it up? By buying the hottest toy of the season and will be forgiven. I wish there was more about not caring too much about what to receive. Then again, you're dealing with kids. Sinbad, a force to be wreckon with still to this day. I wish they did more justice to his character but he did as much as he could to dispell ffrom a typical "disgruntled employee". Arnold needed Sinbad, they need opposing forces going for the same thing, they both teach other things and did their best to teach us.Three out of four tokes.#jinglealltheway #christmas #arnoldschwarzenegger

"Black Christmas" is one the earliest slasher films of the horror game and who would have thought it would come straight from Toronto, Canada? Well it did and it is iconic in its style and the dabbling of the plot where we don't know who the killer is. Who is causing all this harm? it's crazy beacuse even law enforcement can't even figure it out, obvious plot defect but the screenwriter makes up for it in the scenes where the man from the phone company is trying to ind the tapped line to figure out the killer. And we do and it's way to give us that suspenseful revelation is great. WHAT DO WE DO NOW? Great way to begin the third act and wonder if he's gonna get caught and if Jess is going to be the last murder? or is the chief of police going to the next victim. We don't know and we have this subplot where Jess' boyfriend who is obviously beyond disgruntled about not having a child and being chosen for a higher rank in the conservatory, anything can happen. The ending is great and is worth watching the whole film to just witness that part. This film is not crappy even for its genre, there are holes but it is fun to watch and very memorable.Two and a half out of four tokes.#blackchristmas #slasherfilm

Judd Apatow's "Knocked Up" is a national treasure of a romantic comedy film that is still as relevant as ever due to the fact of Apatow's knack of wiriting witty dialogue and had a dream team of a cast that knew their roles to the tee and weren't afraid to improvise in the process. I'm grateful for E-Zone and XG who are co-hosts of the We Don't Smoke the Same Podcast, joined me to go a on a deep dive of this film, discussing relationships and how relatable it is to us and both men & women in general. As raunchy as this film is, it's sweet and has a message where being honest with yourself goes a long way especially the decisions we make. Sometimes coasting through life isn't the way to go. In this case, hooking up with a random person and deciding to not only keep the child but to raise as a couple is a win. It's very traditional and as Apatow challeneged himself with the subtext of time, he was able to write scenes that explored relationship and family dynamics and wasn't afraid to push through. The film has countless one-liners embedded in memorable scenes that fills into many pockets of the plot. Good story with a easily digestable plot. Sometimes, it's not what it's about, but HOW it's about. Although it's primarily a male point of view, it goes hand-in-hand with what women go through when it comes to pregnancies and being a woman period. Not a serious comedy film but it's sweet, almost wholesome, and it does it's best to be honest with the audience and that's something I can always get behind on.Three and a half out of four tokes.We Don't Smoke the Same PodcastWebsiteE-ZoneWebsiteXGWebsite#knockedup #juddapatow

Greta Gerwig is a woman who stars and directs film where the characters are dealing with an existential crisis, or rather, dealing with their identities and questioning life and our pupose in it. "Barbie" is the film that was meant for her to direct and what a way to put that life concept on a doll that has influenced modern culture and it continues to. This is one best films of the year that can probably win multiple awards including "Best Picture". I strongly believe it will definitely win "Best Screenplay" but comparing it to "Oppenheimer", I think "Oppenheimer" has a better chance winning "Best Picture". Overall, I dig "Barbie" for many reasons such as Gerwig's stage direction, the cinematography, and the production design that automatically hooks you in and displays an obvous fake world that slowly unwinds and further warps as the characters literally touch reality. It's unavoidable, the subject of thinking about death and how we certain mediums to communicate with not only our ownselves but the physical people we're trying to reach. Its great that Gerwig was able co-write a screenplay such as this BUT i really don't like the use of the crossing over different universes where one doesn't affect the other. It's a bit hard for me to grasp how Barbie can actually become a real person because afterall how the first act plays out, we are subliminally watching a grown woman playing with Barbie but it's more visually cinematic. I dig the cast in the film especially Will Ferrell's character, the president of Barbie, and Ryan Gosling playing Ken who he has a crisis of identity that plays to the notion that EVERYONE goes through s**t and for all the people who are condemning the ffilm to be sexist towards men, y'all are f***ing trippin'. What film did you see? What makes the film is the dialogue, where the ideas and concepts are deeply shared such as our pupose in life and who were should be, and it does stay with the audience even after the film, it's very relatable but it doesn't really tame the plot. I kind of wish it could have been more about the mom and her connection to her daughter rather than catering it to primarily to Barbie even though she is the title character. Sometimes it's more powerful to have that support the reason why she even exists in the first place.Three and a half out of four tokes.#barbiereview #barbiefilm

Steven Spielberg's "A.I. Artificial Intelligence" is a modern day masterpiece that will always stand the test of time due to it's subject of humans vs A.I. and can we play God amongst them. The film couldn't paint a better picture and it's told in two hours plus. I was pleased and thankful to have Rock Samson on this episode because he shares the same love I have for this film. But whether we love it or not, it's a great film. Shot and told very well by Spielberg's team including his actors. It's a challenge to pretend to play a "mecha" petending to be human, or at least, mimicking humanity. This film was released in mid-2001 and it pretty much told us what the future will for sure be like to the point where it shifts society where A.I. and humans co-exist and it's not great. Honestly, it can't be. We are a dominant spieces and we're not gonna let OUR creations run amock and try to take over us but ironically it's us humans who are going to take each other out. Just look back on our history. Rock and I go deep in this film in it's story structure, the use cinematography and VFX, the VFX alone is really good EVEN FOR IT'S TIME (2001) that still wipes out half the over-budgeted Marvel films which we discuss; we further share thoughts of the themes and philosophical concepts that go even beyond the film and it's important for us to really absorb and hold on to. Now, as much I dig this film, I do have some things that don't ring very well such as how certain event JUST happen with little narration. Ben Kingsley goes a long way with his narration but some parts I feel shouldn't take the film where it goes. Then again, it's sci-fi, I just have to believe what I'm seeing. What we see in this film, we shouldn't take for granted and Spielberg sure didn't. This film really is a work of art and I challenge other films to take it like he did. A film about searching for our own piece piece, our heavy dose of humanity to be loved. Love can definitely put you in a certain gear to act.Four out of four tokes.Rock SamsonOfficial InstagramSpotify

"Princess Mononoke" is Hayao Miyazaki's masterpiece. It's an adventure film that's filled with vibrant colors and deep morals and they're all tied to how we humans treat our environment and it doesn't look good. It's tough to make a feel look beautiful even in it's darkest pastures and still have an effective story about our roles in this Earth. I dig the film for it's cinematography, the use of CGI and hand-drawn animation. It's kind of hard to think that it is hand-drawn. There are some scenes that make you wonder how they did the scene period without much a fuss but I'm sure there were. The characters are great and can easily like, even the antagonist characters. You can actually get behind these character's motivations, no matter how bright or dark. There is a sense to it, either you go with the light or the dark. We can understand why we would hate our own spieces because it seems we do more destroying than giving and growing. Yes, we grow as a society, but at what cost? That's the whole thing about the film. It's fun to look at, you see more than just drama but there is slight romance that Studio Ghibli don't choose to overdue but overall we do see compassion out of this film. Miyazaki Loves humans enough to draw about and point out our crap. Genius.Four out of four tokes.#princessmononoke #hayaomiyazaki #studioghibli

What? A double featured review? Yes. I ended watching two "Orphan" films. I didn't there was a prequel in this very limited film series. I saw the first one. Then I found out about the second one. And by watching it, I might as well double them up. These two films are very similar to each other. The plots are different but they are alike. One is not better than the other although I actually enjoyed the prequel - "Orphan: First Kill" due to the cheesiness of it. "Orphan" has good cinematography, the sound design does play tricks on people as horror films like to do. Vera Farmiga is good in this film, I only wish the plot was a bit better especially how it deals with Esther's character having daddy issues. Why daddy issues? No mommy issues? I don't like how they had to sexualize her character, I feel it they could have gone to different direction about it. I'm sure they could have made her third dimensional without having to do that. I didn't like how Esther is a complete bad ass. As if nothing can touch her. I do like the payoff in the third act where she is actually untouchable. I do hate the twist, though. I won't say what it is but I did stick for the ride. "Orphan: First Kill" has no twists. Well, it kind of does and I love how they wrote Julia Stiles' character. She's merciless, smart and has a motive that matches Esther. For the first time, Esther wasn't getting her way that easy. I didn't like plot too much, I felt like it's flat. We all know about Esther, certain characters know about her, what can we do? I do like how the story plays out where the tables turn and Esther has to take some type of emotional torture in which gives her the direction to completely break the rules.These two films overall have blood, there's brutal kills and somehow there is a heart in the film. More in the first than the second, the second was more of a filler film. They tried to find a way to seek more of Esther's story. There could have been a bit more. I wish there wasn't of that "daddy issue" trope for her in the second film. I can see why they would do it. But I still question it overall. I wish both parental characters can be pushed for Esther's issues of family.Overall, both films are two and a half tokes.

"Hereditary" is a great horror film that I tried my best to stay away from but a lot of people wanted me to talk about it. I'm glad that my mind was changed about seeing this film that deals with loss and the disfunction of family. It's not your typical horror film, all these characters have motives and brains that push the story forward and there's a lot of mystery as how these characters themselves operate. Everyone in this film is dealing with a lot and it's great to see a story where all this ache plays out and it's quite a thing to witness. I love Toni Collette and she makes this film her bitch. I love how the filmmaker impliments cannabis into the psyche of Peter, the character that did the most damage in the family that pretty much sets the whole mood of the film and we don't let go of him. They're all here to stay and Charlie makes sure her presence is known. I dig the film's cinematography, it's something that M. Night Shyamalan could have made but he couldn't pull it off. There are no twists, things just happen and it all makes sense even down to the last shot of the film. The third act alone is a masterclass in filmmaking. Human sacrifices are different in this film and you can feel the evil step by step which makes us, the viewer, to be on our toes and to also never let our guard down when it comes to coven-like spirituality.Four out of four tokes.