Film reviews

Dune Review

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Dune is a mesmerizing visual masterpiece. And the visuals, along with Director Denis Villeneuve use of top-notch scoring and sound effects, adds up to sheer brilliance.


Dune is based on the sci-fi novel by Frank Herbert. I remember reading a condensed versions of the book in school, but experiencing Villeneuve’s film version in IMAX is a whole different world.

In Dune, set far in the future, we meet Paul Atreides, played by Timothee Chalamet. He is the son of a prominent and accomplished family around the galaxy. His parents are Lady Jessica Atreides, and Duke Leto Atreides, played by Rebecca Ferguson and Oscar Isaac. Paul is given the power to protect his people, and mankind, from the dangers of their universe. But with little experience and not being able to handle his powers properly, the journey for Paul and the people he loves becomes quite treacherous. With help and inspiration from Gurney Halleck and Duncan Idaho, played by Josh Brolin and Jason Momoa, Paul may have a chance, but there is more to the task than anticipated.


Dune is not your typical sci-fi flick. It is an in-depth experience offering realism and continuity that is spellbinding. In fact, Dune may be one of the best immersive sci-fi experiences of 2021. Watching it in IMAX certainly added to the experience, and is definitely worth the additional cost. We always think of the visuals with IMAX, but the sound in that format is just incredibly crisp and clear as well. There is no better way to get into the mind of director Villeneuve. Seeing it in normal large cinema format would be the next best thing, but watching it at home on HBO Max just wouldn’t do it justice.

I truly enjoyed this film. Three and a half stars for Dune.

Film reviews

Antlers Review

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Just in time for Halloween, Director Guillermo del Toro delivers Antlers, a horror film for true horror fans.

Whether it’s a horror film or other genre, del Toro always weaves hidden gems into his films. He did so with Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Crimson Peak (2015), and The Shape of Water (2017) which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2018, and he does so with Antlers.

Antlers takes place in in a small town in Oregon. The main character is schoolteacher Julia Meadows, played by Keri Russell. Julia becomes concerned about one of her students, Lucas Weaver, played by Jeremy T. Thomas, after he becomes overly quiet and Julia discovers disturbing materials in his desk depicting monsters and someone being held captive.

To learn more about Lucas, Julia enlists help from the town sheriff, her brother Paul Meadows, played by Jesse Plemons. Julia believes Lucas has been abused, but it is actually much worse than abuse. Lucas’s father has an infection that is turning him into a ravenous supernatural monster and Lucas has his father locked away in a room. Julia and her brother must put the pieces together to get Lucas out of his dangerous situation before time runs out on not just Lucas, but potentially the whole town.

I went in to Antlers with mixed expectations, but it didn’t disappoint. Antlers is well worth a watch, if only for the climatic scenes. No one does these better than del Toro, and the climatic scenes in Antlers leave you breathless. Antlers also felt different from most horror films—somehow more realistic and original. With Halloween right around the corner, Antlers should not be missed. Three and a half stars for Antlers. 

Film reviews

Drive My Car Review

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Drive My Car, from director Ryusuke Hamaguchi, is a Japanese language film with universal contemporary values that are displayed with empathy and artistry. The film, winner of the Best Screen Play award at the Cannes Film Festival, can be harrowing and sad, but it is a compelling story and a visual experience that will take your breath away.

The main character in Drive My Car is Yusuke Kafuku, played by Hidetoshi Nishijima. Yusuke is an actor and stage director, and he lives in Japan with his wife Oto, played by Reika Kirishima. Oto is a playwright, and she and Yusuke live a life of creativity, love, and commitment to each other. But Yusuke’s life takes a tragic turn when, just as he is about to start a stage production, he finds out he has glaucoma and then his beloved wife Oto dies. Yusuke is a stoic man and he continues with the stage production. He hires a chauffeur, Misaki Watari, played by Toko Miura. Yusuke makes directing his top priority, but it is obvious that he is struggling with his wife’s death.

Yusuke soon finds himself at odds with his production cast, and he unsure of their confidence in him. He begins to question himself as a person, and that affects his production even more. But as he becomes more at odds with those in his production, he finds a growing connection with Misaki, his chauffeur.

Losing someone we love is a tragedy that remains with us forever but, as Drive My Car reminds us, that is just how life goes sometimes. And there is always a path forward.

I loved Drive My Car. Despite its almost three hour length, I was hooked on it from the beginning to the end. The dialogue was inviting, the issues were inviting if difficult, and the outcomes were inviting as well. Four stars for Drive My Car.

Treating cinema in many forms of art!