The Esteemed Critic Reviews Sinners; Friendship; Death by Lightning; Predator Badlands

 

Sinners: The best film the Critic has seen all year. A vampire tail deftly woven, Sinners is really about outsiders and how they cope with a culture that rejects them. Micheal B. Jordon plays his dual role with excellence, and the cinematography is stunning. No reason not to see this, though the Critic must comment on some weird sexual fetishes that occur (spitting in someone's mouth? That's a fetish?). 

Friendship: Did Tom Green walk so that Tim Robinson could run? Imagine I Love You, Man written by neurodivergent sickos, and you'll have a taste of what Friendship is like. Robinson likes to take the awkwardness of a scene and stretch it way, way past the breaking point. Honestly, the Critic is not sure if he liked this film, or if it could actually be enjoyed. Five stars! Finally, Freddie Got Fingered has some competition!

Death By Lightning: A four part min-drama telling the tale of James Garfield's rise and demise, Death By Lightning features a stellar cast, particularly Matthew MacFadyen, who plays Charles Guiteau, a delusional loser who assassinates Garfield for fame and glory. Is it possible for a good man to become President of the United States? It wasn't in 1881, and it sure as hell ain't in 2025. A good historical drama that's lightly humorous.

 

Predator Badlands: The Predator franchise is full of mixed entries, but upon closer inspection, you might be surprised to find that most of the films in the series are pretty good. Badlands is no exception. It's a tale of an unlikely duo and corporate exploitation, and Alien baddies the Weyland-Yutani corp show up to serve as the foil to the Predator and Thia, a precocious android played by Elle Fanning. Is Badlands kind of dumb? Yes, but in a good way. It knows its part of a ridiculous sci-fi series, and it respects its influences and delivers the kind of corny action fans expect. The 7th film in the Predator franchise (9th really, if you include the two Alien Versus Predator films), Badlands knows the Yautja aren't scary anymore, and are more or less nasty Klingons. Don't expect a horror movie, is what I'm saying.