So... I swapped grading systems in September 2017!  I've always hated that there are star-grading-systems out of 5 stars, and some out of 4, such that I always need to specify!  And I've found that conversationally I use letter grades more often, as there are more grade options, allowing for greater specificity.  So I figured that with my new approach of posting video-reviews on Instagram, now's a good time to swap grading systems.  Heeeere we go: letter grades it is!

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Also, if you think I'm too nice given that most of my reviews are rather positive, remember:  I'm not a critic who's paid to see all movies including the bad.  I only go to see movies that I think I will like, and I'm pretty good at gauging that :) 

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AFTERSUN (C+)  I see why people were won over by this tender father/daughter tale, but I was massively bored.  I felt it was all surface and tone, with little underneath to draw me in.

ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (A-)  [Instagram review]

AMSTERDAM (C)  [Instagram review]

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ARGENTINA, 1985 (A-)  [Instagram review]

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ARMAGEDDON TIME (B)  [Instagram review]

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AVATAR: THE WAY OF WATER (B)  [Instagram review]

 

BABYLON (A)  [Instagram review]

THE BANSHEES OF INISHERIN (A-)  [Instagram review]

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BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A FISTFUL OF TRUTHS (B+, for now?!)  [Instagram review]

 

THE BATMAN (B)  [Instagram review]

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BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER (A-)  [Instagram review]

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BLONDE (B-)  [Instagram review]

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BODIES BODIES BODIES (C+)  [Instagram review]

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BONES AND ALL (A-)  [Instagram review]

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BROS (A)  [Instagram review]

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BULLET TRAIN (A-)  [Instagram review]

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DEATH ON THE NILE (C+)  [Instagram review]

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ELVIS (B-)  [Instagram review]

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EMPIRE OF LIGHT (B+)  [Instagram review]

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EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (A)  [First Instagram review, B+] [Re-review, A]

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THE FABELMANS (B)  [Instagram review]

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GLASS ONION: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (B+)  [Instagram review]

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THE GOOD NURSE (B+)  [Instagram review]

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GUILLERMO DEL TORO'S PINOCCHIO (B-)  [Instagram review]

 

HIT THE ROAD (C)  Despite being deemed "the Iranian Little Miss Sunshine" and a having a promising start, I found this to be a profoundly boring and underdeveloped movie.

HUSTLE (B+)  [Instagram review]

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THE INSPECTION (A-)  [Instagram review]

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LIGHTYEAR (B)  [Instagram review]

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LIVING (B+)  [Instagram review]

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A MAN CALLED OTTO (A-)  [Instagram review]

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MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON (A)  [Instagram review]

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MEN (B+)  [Instagram review]

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THE MENU (A-)  [Instagram review]

 

MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS (B)  Cute, charming... Lesly Manville is a treat... Though I found it a bit uncompelling and fell asleep for a lot of it as I watched it on a plane...
 

MY POLICEMAN (B)  [Instagram review]
 

NOPE (B)  [Instagram review]

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THE NORTHMAN (C-)  [Instagram review]

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THE OUTFIT (B)  A perfectly entertaining and serviceable thriller with the inimitable Mark Rylance who finds himself, & his tailor shop, wound up in a mafia conflict, and works to keep himself safe from it all.  It's nothing to write home about, but it's taut and solid enough.

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PEARL (B)  [Instagram review]

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PUSS IN BOOTS: THE LAST WISH (C+)  The problem with the Pussiverse is that I'm wildly unfamiliar with it (no Shreks for me since Shrek 2 in 2004), and I find Puss to be an obnoxious character.  Throw in a sleep-deprivation-induced nap through most of the first half, and a growing apathy for the carbon copy energy that most animated movies seem to have, and you have yourself a TD C+.  BUT: I do see why most people are loving this movie (it is indeed moderately inventive), and I suppose I find it recommendable to most people who would consider seeing it.  I just should have known better that this wasn't for me.

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ROALD DAHL'S MATILDA THE MUSICAL (A-)  [Instagram review]

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RRR (A)  [Instagram review]

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SEE HOW THEY RUN (B+)  [Instagram review]

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SHE SAID (A-)  [Instagram review]

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SPIRITED (B)  [Instagram review]

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SPOILER ALERT (A-)  [Instagram review]

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TAR (B+)  [Instagram review]

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TILL (A-)  [Instagram review]

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THREE THOUSAND YEARS OF LONGING (D+)  [Instagram review]

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TOP GUN: MAVERICK (B)  [Instagram review]

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TRIANGLE OF SADNESS (A)  [Instagram review]

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THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT (B-)  [Instagram review]

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VENGEANCE (B+)  [Instagram review]

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WEIRD: THE AL YANKOVIC STORY (A-)  [Instagram review]

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THE WHALE (D+)  [Instagram review]

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WHITE NOISE (B+)  [Instagram review]

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THE WOMAN KING (B+)  [Instagram review]

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WOMEN TALKING (A)  [Instagram review]