As an avid fan of Agatha Christie novels, namely, And Then There Were None as my ultimate favorite, this film channels the classic nature of a murder mystery. In the world of Clue the board game, the movie, various novels that let you, the reader, choose the ending, Knives Out is a celebration of Sherlock Holmes fiction, Poe narratives and all that is appealing in figuring out who the killer might be.

While it may not be flawless, it has a wonderful cast of actors that bring a flavor of greatness and distinction to their purpose. Satirical sarcasm makes this movie a caricature of itself and all the others that follow in its footsteps of this genre. Precisely the reason it is not intended to be iron tight and that is what I love it about it.

Every character is given the platform to express who they are, why they matter and how they affect everyone around them, and then it evolves. It has been quite some time, since I have seen a writer design the tactful amount of time to draw in the viewer to care about all the individuals in the story as if they were their own family or friends.

Twists and turns keep you guessing and anxious to know the true final answer and reveal the secret of who killed Harlan Thrombey. Execution of digging up each skeleton in all their closets is what makes it so exciting to create your own conclusions and most likely, follow the red herring, miss a pertinent nuance, or perhaps have it all figured out.

Not too much can be said without spoiling the gems of subtlety, tongue-in-cheek humor and true adventure of genuine amusement that Knives Out delivers. All I can say is, I absolutely adore it and I want to see it again.

Rating: 8.8

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Within a film that is so colorfully and artfully designed to rekindle the nostalgia of the iconic film of The Shining, it is, quite literally, an arduous task to outdo the initial installment.

Doctor Sleep was absolutely an enjoyable and mystical journey through the world of Danny Torrance’s eyes and mind that still shines and the newcomers that have harnessed this ability. In my heart of hearts, I wanted to see Danny as Doctor Sleep carry out his very endearing and compassionate gift of helping those in their last days close their eyes peacefully for the last time. His delicate craft and skill was introduced and soon forgotten.

Unfortunately this happens again subsequently once a fascinating character Snakebite Andi is introduced. As a young woman, she is unsuspecting by most and therefore, all the more powerful in her ability to mesmerize and lure the men into her traps. At the inception of her inclusion into the group that follows Rose the Hat, her presence becomes only visual and vestigial. Pity.

Rose and her crew were fiendishly feasting on the energy of their victims and haunted all the natural beings on the fringes of society. Yet, the indomitable force they once had been, seems to become suddenly weak, and only by poor choices. Rebecca Ferguson is masterful in her craft, yet, it is not enough.

Well now, the understated skills of Abra Stone as a character and the wonderful actress behind her creation, is refreshing. Without ruining the surprise of her otherworldly capabilities, she is a supernatural source of mind-bending metaphysical magic.

Camera angles and overall cinematography were beautiful, especially sliding the viewpoint into different directions (reminiscent of Inception or Doctor Strange). However, this communicated the message that correlated to these scenes, and nothing more.

All the chess pieces were set, and it seemed as though someone was a sore loser and would rather flip the board than fix the quirks within this weighted plot.

Quite honestly, my mind and my passion for this story wanted to run through the halls of The Overlook Hotel, race through it sweating in fear from all the ghosts in their relentless torment, more than explore new characters and plot points that seem like unfinished ideas in a sketchbook.

Rating: 6.5

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Illustrating the story of a culture that, on the surface, is polished with sophistication of ethnic pride in its: cuisine, music, community through family, religious practices, luxury of shiny jewels and fancy cars, the world of the Italian mafia is convoluted in its foundation of corruption.

Masterful manipulation of loyalty and what is owed to those in power, is the engine of control and overall drive of the plot in The Irishman. Once each character is pulled into the microcosm of money, women, doing “favors”, and appeal that these elements yield, it is usually too late to back out or see the dooming future to be.

Sure, most films about this underground culture of crime have been done before (some better than others), however, this is an exemplar of the genre that feels believable. As a viewer, given the length of its run time, its bleeding heart of a storyline is with you like the dedication it takes turning each page of a book. Many characters feel like someone you know and understand, pity in their missteps, and when it concludes, you’re left dreaming of the world it created in your mind.

Perfection is an illusion, though, The Irishman has graced the ground that is closest to it.

8.1

Every great film should seem new every time you see it.

— Roger Ebert.

There already was an air of mystique within the trailer of this film, and Midsommar did not disappoint. Although it presents itself as a teen drama with a plot set to sort out the details of romantic discord, it takes on a whole different air of cult culture that hearkens Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” in a feature length film.

I will say this, it had all of these wonderfully bizarre plot points that could have easily been springboards for a fantastic exploration of this Swedish society that believes so many strange things. Personally, I wanted to know more, and was hoping the director would have slowed down to develop the wonder of how this community lives and interacts with one another. Unfortunately, the payoff in the ending was lackluster and anticlimactic.

Having watched this film twice to fully absorb the secluded world of the unearthly orthodox inhabitants, I was hoping to delve deeper into the psyche of everyone involved and find out the “why” behind what they do. From the holy book that is forbidden to be photographed, to the love spell being cast through the sharing of hair from the nether regions with the prospective lover, there was so much more that could have been explained.

Although I enjoyed the planted seeds of mysterious subtlety, it was an invitation into the mind of otherworldly people who think this way of living is the way to be. Violence toward the outsiders and apostates was so grotesque and not outwardly justified, that it left me feeling lost and unfulfilled.

Midsommar is a whirlwind on the mind, and I felt that if it had just stopped spinning, from one fascinating element to the next, I could have lived in its world through a clearer lens.

Rating: 7/10.

Welcome, my name is Katie and I live for all of the art that is within film-making in my blog: Through the Looking Glass.

In this blog, I will review movies as I come across those that are noteworthy for good or bad reasons.

In each blog I will explain why:

• It fully captured my attention, OR
• I’m saving you the torture of enduring the endless minutes until the credits roll (or you fall asleep).

Having enjoyed the repertoire of the late Roger Ebert and sharing in the appreciation of the film industry alongside other cinephiles, I hope to use what I know to spread the word of when to: go see it now! or stay away!

Through my research I have discovered many things:

• If one person says a movie is great, you do not have to agree
• Finding why a viewer loved or a hated a film is worth considering when deciding how you truly feel about it
• If you’re looking at your phone, you’re not watching a great film
• When the movie has you cogitating about it long after the closing scene, it is a worthwhile (and memorable) experience.

Pioneering my first blog, especially on a form of entertainment that is close to my heart, it may take shape and change over time in different ways. Truthfully, I love all forms of art, because they are an escape from reality (and don’t we all need that?). While I may not be cut out to be an actor on screen, I certainly dive into the world that the directors create to explore corners of my mind that need the fire stoked.

I love all kinds of films and all genres, however it takes a special gem of cinematic creation to make my heart beat for the characters, believe the landscapes behind them exist, and miss them when they’re gone. Knowing when a film is an example of masterful excellence is when I can watch it so many times that I recite the lines and enjoy every reference made by passionate fans.