elizabethlailny's Podcast

I had great expectations for this movie. The trailer was fantastic, and it captivated me, raising my expectations significantly. But wow, they have surpassed my already elevated hopes. No film has ever achieved this before. This film isn't what you might assume it is about. However, by the conclusion, you should understand. It is beautifully crafted, and I can see why it has already received award...

The Housemaid presents a cleverly crafted and intricate mystery that will keep you captivated as you attempt to unveil its secrets. The narrative centers around Millie, who is employed by Nina and her husband Andrew as their new live-in housemaid. Throughout the two-hour runtime, we discover that each character harbors their own enigmas, which gradually come to light as their lives intertwine. The...

As stated in the title, "everybody" will enjoy this thriller, which is at last a nice treat at the movies. If it weren't for Sydney, the film would have been a box office failure.  The film had a decent beginning, but the flashback scenes take up far too much of the film, so we were aware of the surprise before it actually occurred. The performance is excellent, but the whole thing might have been...

We Bury the Dead delves into themes of love and grief. It’s primarily a slow-paced drama infused with elements of zombie horror. The post-apocalyptic setting of Tasmania provides a captivating backdrop for the narrative, and the visuals embrace a stark, realistic aesthetic that complements the themes effectively. To be honest, the visuals were the highlight of this film for me. In summary, it’s a...

Avatar: Fire and Ash is the third film in James Cameron's Avatar series, presenting a darker and more emotionally intricate chapter in the tale of Pandora. Picking up after The Way of Water, the movie centers on Jake Sully and his family as they confront new internal and external struggles that test their beliefs, loyalty, and comprehension of the Na'vi world. In contrast to the earlier films, Fir...

Ron Howard's adaptation of How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a colorful and ambitious take that turns Dr. Seuss's short classic into a feature-length holiday event. Although the expansion can be inconsistent at times, the film remains unforgettable, primarily due to Jim Carrey's incredibly dedicated portrayal of the Grinch. Carrey immerses himself in the character with his flexible physicality, pr...

Wake Up Dead Man Flixtor is being recognized as the finest film in the trilogy, and this time, the acclaim seems completely warranted. This isn't merely a good mystery - it represents a flawless return to the core of the classic whodunit. What sets this film apart is its unwavering commitment to the genre's foundations. A small, isolated village. A limited pool of suspects. A close-knit community...

The movie's most notable character is Sean Penn. He gave an incredible performance that is undoubtedly one of my favorite acts I have ever seen. Leonardo DiCaprio is right there with him, portraying a neurotic and inebriated father who is searching for his daughter with such fervor and desperation that it is difficult to think he won't be mentioned when discussing Oscars. Benicio Del Toro skillful...

A Christmas movie that at last highlights the hidden heroes of the season—mothers. Oh. What? Fun is a behind-the-scenes look at all the underappreciated things moms do to make the "perfect" Christmas. Is this film flawless? Not, of course. Everything is overdone, just like in a lot of "Christmas" films. It's true what another reviewer said about how the film removed "Christ" from "Christmas." Howe...

Paul Thomas Anderson is back with another intensely stylized, darkly humorous, and subtly haunting journey in One Battle After Another, a black-comedy action thriller loosely based on Thomas Pynchon's surreal 1990 novel Vineland. As the film delves into themes of violence, corruption, ideology, and obsession, it ultimately tells a story about legacy, what we inherit, what we escape from, and what...

The film delves into how achieving career success can often come at the cost of one's personal life, with each individual handling that challenge in their own way. Additionally, it serves as a commentary on the filmmaking process itself, featuring Clooney as an actor - a theme I genuinely appreciate. The ensemble cast is exceptional overall, but with the narrative focusing on Clooney and Sandler,...

I just finished watching Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Hurawatch, and to be honest, it surpassed the first movie by a long shot. Everything seemed enhanced - the script was more refined, the pacing improved, and the animatronics appeared incredibly lifelike. It genuinely felt like they invested real effort into faithfully representing the original FNAF lore this time around. The narrative felt comfort...

Frankenstein is a beautiful and haunting retelling of a classic that emphasizes sadness above fright. Guillermo del Toro transforms the well-known tale into something both emotionally and visually stunning. The Creature itself—fragile, bewildered, and yearning for connection in a world that rejects him as anything more than an accident—is the source of the film's power rather than the horror eleme...

Nine long years have passed since we were enthralled by Zootopia, and this wait has paid off with a great sequel that, while not quite surpassing the first film, keeps all the positive aspects of the original. Nevertheless, it's a fun movie to see and laugh with the cherished animals of Zootopia once more.     Judy and Nick pursue the twisting trail of an enigmatic reptile that arrives in Zootopia...

 A stunning, poignant, and unvarnished story about loss, passion, relationships, family, and the Shakespearean family's surroundings. I'm thrilled that Chloe Zhao is returning to her roots because she has such amazing control over the tone, characters, environment, and writing. Within the stunning production designs, exquisite camerawork, sound designs, and strong, forceful direction on the themes...

Prepare yourself for an exuberant, stylized, over-the-top action epic from the Finnish master of chaos, Jalmari Helander. Sisu: Road to Revenge is the definitive revenge spectacle, featuring intense and thrilling action sequences that challenge logic and stretch credibility, yet remain undeniably entertaining. This largely dialogue-free story is packed with emotions and expressions, conveyed throu...

The film "Keeper" then transitions to November 2023. Medical doctor Malcolm Westbridge, portrayed by Rossif Sutherland, is taking his artist girlfriend, Liz, played by Tatiana Maslany, to a secluded wooded area where his family has owned a cabin and guest house for many years. Liz, a city resident, feels uneasy in rural settings. Nevertheless, she has joined Malcolm on this journey in an effort to...

This film is surprisingly heartwarming and has some truly touching moments. It tells the classic tale of a young Yautja embarking on his first significant hunt to earn his place within the tribe. He chooses to venture to a planet known for its notoriously vicious creature, a place from which no other Predator has ever returned. What he discovers is a landscape reminiscent of Ghibli's enchanting wo...

Deliver Me From Nowhere is not an easy film to watch. It is heavy, emotional, and at times, gut-wrenching. Yet, it is also beautiful. It tells a story of pain, love, resilience, and the healing power of connection. For anyone who has ever battled the burden of expectations or the specters of the past, this film will resonate profoundly. It is a challenging but necessary viewing experience.https://...

Excellent storytelling throughout, along with captivating characters. You'll witness Emma Thompson and Judy Greer in ways you've never experienced them before, as both seamlessly portrayed their demanding roles. The narrative progressed smoothly at a brisk pace. There was a lot of intrigue, yet we never felt disoriented in the storyline. There was ample subtle character growth, and if you truly en...

Our 10,000 hours of learning help us stabilize our neurons, leading to a functional output that is perceived by ourselves and others as consistently moral, empathetic, ethical, and lawful. This logical deductive condition is true as an antecedent; education shapes our right hemisphere's broad processing, which produces the interoceptive bowtie output that serves as our 'guiding sense' and the labe...

Bumping into this 2025 film by sheer luck, and noticing it has a shark theme, I simply had to give it a watch. There's something undeniably captivating about shark films, even if many of them are rather dubious at best. Having never heard of "Beast of War" before, I was uncertain about what to expect. The writer and director Kiah Roache-Turner crafted a fairly simple script and narrative. Yet, it...

Will be more appreciated as time goes on. Jennifer Lopez and Tonatiuh deliver performances that are worthy of awards. Essentially, it feels like two films in one, which is why many reviews are divided. Some viewers favor the prison scenes, while others enjoyed the fantasy segments featuring JLo more. I thought they complemented each other wonderfully. While the music wasn't always exceptional, it...

The Woman In Cabin 10 is precisely the type of mystery thriller I enjoy watching. It keeps you guessing for some time. However, it could have been more suspenseful, but overall, it was an enjoyable film. Keira Knightley portrays a journalist who is invited onto a luxury yacht, where she uncovers something amiss, yet no one seems to take her seriously. The entire cast delivers strong performances....

The accolades Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson has received for fitting the role are deserved, yet they remain a superficial compliment. His greatest achievement lies in the wide array of emotions he portrays in a narrative that avoids the whitewash effect. 'The Smashing Machine' was a personal project he embraced years back, and I was pleased to witness it come to fruition. While it may not delve deeply...