Robot & Frank was my choice for the Week 45 challenge. A nice little movie that touches on aging, brain deterioration and masterminding plans to steal valuables with a companion robot. Ya know, normal near-future stuff. (the half rating is for the ending credits song).

🤖🤖🤖.5

The Week 44 challenge was wide open for opportunities and I went with one of my longtime watchlist dwellers in "Totally Killer." Although inspired by countless themes, it didn't take its derivative self too seriously and I enjoyed their homage.

🔪🔪🔪

The Week 43 challenge was an easy decision for me as I finished a playthrough of the movie's namesake this month. I knew going in that Until Dawn had very little in common with its source material, but I was still on board. Unfortunately, this fell extremely flat for me.

⏳⏳.5

In the midst of my obligatory horror month, I worked in Hush for the Week 40 challenge. Nails the "cat and mouse" aspect -- just wish there was a little more depth, especially regarding the antagonist.

🏹🏹🏹.5

Watched "Rockaway" for the Week 38 challenge as the bulk of the film takes place during the summer of 1994. This felt like a made-for-TV movie, but vulgar. Flat performances all around diminished the impact of the heart-wrenching real life story upon which it was based.

🏀🏀🏀

Just one of these movies that I never ever got around to; Million Dollar Baby (2004). Based on a short story within the book Rope Burns: Stories from the Corner, it's another example of boxing possibly being the best sport to translate to the silver screen.

🥊🥊🥊🥊

Take Shelter has been on my watchlist for a while, and the Week 36 challenge brought me to this mind-bending experience. Interesting premise in a grounded; everyday life setting with superb acting.

⛈️⛈️⛈️⛈️

I was all-in on Molly's Game for the Week 31 challenge. The intriguing story held my attention and the excellent acting raised it above being just a passable piece of entertainment.

♣️♣️♣️♣️

Week 30 already...sheesh. For this challenge I made my way to the theater to check out Superman with my kid. My kid absolutely loved it and I was also thoroughly entertained. Excited to see where the DCU goes from here.

🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️🦸‍♂️

The Week 25 challenge brought me to a movie I've been wanting to see since its release: "Companion." This was a lot of fun and it packed enough thrills in a relatively short runtime; not overly bloated but still enough backstory.

🤖🤖🤖🤖

I was struggling to come up with something I wanted to watch for the Week 24 challenge, so I went with some light viewing: Street Gang - How We Got to Sesame Street. Light viewing, but the vision of this iconic show was rooted deep in equality and cultural positivity.

🍪🍪🍪.5

I'm a big DC guy, but with a few exceptions, I don't go out of my way to check out their movies. So for the Week 22 challenge, I finally got around to Blue Beetle and it definitely entertained. A relatively obscure character was brought to life and I hope for more.

🪲🪲🪲.5

𝑂𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑜𝑒𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑤 𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑎𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒. For the Week 21 challenge I opted for Nonnas (2025). It was relatable having grown up in a big Italian family. Biases aside, it accomplishes a straightforward comfort movie celebrating Grandmas, fam & food.

🍝🍝🍝.5

For the Week 20 challenge I went with Emily the Criminal (2022). Some relatable frustrations and tense moments, but the performance by Aubrey Plaza is the reason to watch.

💳💳💳.5

Having liked Knives Out, this seemed like a great opportunity to finally get around to Glass Onion (2022). Several different connections and perspectives in this damn near perfect mystery.

🧅🧅🧅🧅

Was able to whittle my watchlist down a bit more for the Week 18 challenge as I opted for Finch (2021). Admittedly, I wasn't really feeling it for the first half as it was a little too cutesy considering the post-apocalyptic setting, but it eventually got heavier.

🐶🐶🐶

The week 16 challenge allowed me to cross another movie off my watchlist as I went with King Richard (2021) and it was a pleasure to watch Will Smith's take on the eccentric, determined Richard Williams.

🎾🎾🎾🎾

Another mainstay on my watchlist got elevated. Nightcrawler (2014) was my choice for the Week 15 challenge as an ever-present video camera was a main focus of the film (damn good pun). It wasn't as dark as I had anticipated, but a fairly squeamish watch nonetheless.

⭐⭐⭐.5

#RIPValKilmer I somehow never saw Heat (1995) or at least have no recollection of it, but that's what I went with for the Week 14 challenge. Everyone is seemingly in this movie and it was a really good crime flick.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ear to ear grin throughout most of the Week 13 movie, The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019). A movie I just never got around to and I was glad to spend the time. Truly packed with charm from beginning to end.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

For the Week 12 challenge I went the route of time travel/theory. Synchronic (2020) bends our expectations of time and its perceived limits with the help of a legal, but questionable drug. Didn't think it was as deep as it could have been, but gets you thinking.

⭐⭐⭐

𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘮𝘢𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥.

Knocked out "Birds of Prey... (2020) for the Week 11 challenge. Directed by Cathy Yan. Twas a fun ride and, of course, Margot Robbie kills as Harley.

⭐⭐⭐.5

For the Week 10 #MovieChallenge I watched Blood Simple (1984) in Memoriam of both M. Emmet Walsh and Samm-Art Williams. The first film by the Cohen Brothers certainly gave an idea of what's to come in their careers. Solidly done thriller.

⭐⭐⭐.5

Watched Kicks (2016) for the Week 9 #MovieChallenge. Things go sideways after trying to retrieve a pair of stolen Jordan 1s. Well-made, gritty street tale with decent acting.

⭐⭐⭐.5

Pretty straightforward selection for the Week 8 #MovieChallenge. Last Night in Soho was a wild ride and it is still stuck in my brain. Very well done and twisty enough without overcomplicating things.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Week 7 #MovieChallenge brought me to A Real Pain. Excellent dialogue and performances which realistically portrayed the complex relationship between two polar opposite cousins.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm in the latter camp and I'm usually watching WVFRM.

Southland Tales

I decided on Alone (2020) for the Week 6 #MovieChallenge. Definitely wasn't a fun road trip -- It was a solo journey to hell. Well made, tense thriller. I was glad to elevate it from my watchlist.

⭐⭐⭐⭐