2020 JUNE MOVIE RANKINGS:

Another month in quarantine, another month reviewing movies. Let’s see how it all adds up.

#8- “Rush Hour 3”
59%= Burnt Popcorn
Pros: Has some comedic moments, the lead chemistry still holds up, and France is a nice change of atmosphere.
Cons: The plot is all over the place, with loose ends being left unresolved by the end (quickened away by a punch to a police chief and dance), and an investigation that is not nearly as engaging as the prior films. Everything is off the cuff and hardly given time to.

#8- “Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker”
59%= Burnt Popcorn
Pros: Great cinematography, some cool scenes, J.J. brought back the fun in characters, and the performances aren’t too shabby.
Cons: The whole film is basically damage control, trying to dash away what was done in the previous movie and resolve their own dilemmas. Conflicts feel rushed, Palpatine came out of nowhere, and the story leans heavily on tropes to get them out of noman’s land. Really, it’s just an unremarkable feature.

#7- “Bad Words”
71%= Burnt Popcorn
Pros: Fresh concept, solid performances, has a cool montage, and is entertaining.
Cons: The sappy ending (while somewhat expected) was not built up enough to make it natural, and there were certain plot elements that did not amount to anything/make sense (such as the reasoning for Kathryn Hahn sticking with Bateman for as long as she did).

#6- “Tree of Life” (2011)
73%= Juicy Popcorn
Pros: Beautiful cinematography, poetic storytelling, ties into some spiritualism, the conflict with the 1950s family is interesting, and the acting is well-done.
Cons: While the shots of planets/creation is cool, I was more invested in the physical conflict (with the family) than the abstract. There were times I found myself questioning where the film was going and what time was on the clock. Mainly because some of this stuff went over my head.

#5- “Rush Hour 2”
77%= Juicy Popcorn
Pros: Hilarious, awesome action scenes, fun chemistry between Tucker and Chan, and the new angle of cultural shock (with Tucker in China) is a nice touch.
Cons: The plot isn’t as weighty as the first installment, this one opting for jokes more than substance.

#4- “Rush Hour”
83%= Juicy Popcorn
Pros: Classic pairing of actors that works really well, solid action scenes and well-written comedy. All-around fun movie experience.
Cons: While Carter and Lee had some hurdles to jump through, there was certainly not enough stopping them to raise the stakes. The villains ended up being mediocre and our two leads seem to traverse their journey on a series of coincidences.

#3- “45 Years”
88%= Juicy Popcorn
Pros: Interesting concept/story, terrific lead performances, and a soul-crushing finale.
Cons: Can meander from time to time.

#2- “Garden State”
90%= Juicy Popcorn
Pros: Funny, great style (with some memorable visual moments), solid acting, choice music, and a story that’ll make you smile.
Cons: It felt like the film was missing a few story elements. I could’ve used some more insight on Largeman’s acting career, as well as a stronger arc for his friend Mark. Some things are just touched on that I wish were delved into more.

#1- “A Ghost Story”
91%= Juicy Popcorn
Pros: Visually striking, fresh approach to a simple idea (someone not wanting to move from their house), good acting, intriguing to watch unfold, and has a nice pay-off.
Cons: My mind could wander at some parts that hold for a long time. However, some moments that last a while are well done.

“A Ghost Story” takes away 2020’s June, and will go up against “1917,” “Jojo Rabbit,” “Parasite,” “Uncut Gems,” “Silence,” “The Man Who Wasn’t There,” and the rest of the month winners to see who is the next Movie of the Year.