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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AIR (A-)  [Instagram review]

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ALL OF US STRANGERS (B+)  [Instagram review]

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AMERICAN FICTION (B+)  [Instagram review]

 

ANATOMY OF A FALL (B+)  [Instagram review]

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET. (A-)  [Instagram review]

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ASTEROID CITY (A)  [Instagram review]

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BARBIE (A-)  [Instagram review, at first a B+] & [A- re-review]

 

BEAU IS AFRAID (A-)  [Instagram review]

 

BOTTOMS (B+)  [Instagram review]
 

COCAINE BEAR (B)  [Instagram review]

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THE COLOR PURPLE (A-)  [Instagram review]

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THE CREATOR (B+)  [Instagram review]

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DICKS: THE MUSICAL (B+)  [Instagram review]

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DREAM SCENARIO (B+)  [Instagram review]

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DUMB MONEY (B+)  [Instagram review]

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EL CONDE (A-) Super cool Chilean vampire film - truly, check it out!

 

THE ETERNAL DAUGHTER (B+) An intriguing, slow, lightly haunting drama starring Tilda Swinton as a woman and her mother - an effective study on grief and art and lands somewhere rather impactful.

FERRARI (C+) [Instagram review]

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GODZILLA MINUS ONE (B+)  [Instagram review]

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THE HOLDOVERS (A)  [Instagram review]

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HOW TO BLOW UP A PIPELINE (A-) Cool flick, check it out - that's all I feel like saying right now, lol...

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INDIANA JONES AND THE DIAL OF DESTINY (C+)  [Instagram review]

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THE IRON CLAW (A)  [Instagram review]

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THE KILLER (A-)  [Instagram review]

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KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON (B+)  [Instagram review]

 

THE LITTLE MERMAID (C+)  [Instagram review]

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MAESTRO (A-)  [Instagram review]

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MAY DECEMBER (B+)  [Instagram review]

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MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - DEAD RECKONING PART 1 (B)  [Instagram review]

NAPOLEON (C+)  [Instagram review]

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NEXT GOAL WINS (B)  [Instagram review]

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NYAD (C+)  [Instagram review]

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OPPENHEIMER (B+)  [Instagram review] - LATER UPGRADED TO A-: I still find it a bit of an effort to get through, but I now more fully see & feel its genius.

ORIGIN (A)  [Instagram review]

 

PAST LIVES (B)  [Instagram review]

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POOR THINGS (B+)  [Instagram review]

 

PRISCILLA (C+)  [Instagram review]

 

RADICAL (A)  [Instagram review]

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RUSTIN (B-) A very meh biopic, with some moving moments and a terrific central performance by Colman Domingo.

 

SALTBURN (A)  [Instagram review]

SANCTUARY (A-)  [Instagram review]

SISU (B). [Instagram review]

 

SOCIETY OF THE SNOW (A-)  [Instagram review]

SPIDER-MAN: ACROSS THE SPIDER-VERSE (A-)  [Instagram review]

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TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: MUTANT MAYHEM (A)  [Instagram review]

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THEATER CAMP (A)  [Instagram review]

WONKA (C+)  [Instagram review]

 

THE YEAR BETWEEN (C)  A dramedy about a girl who stays home between high school and college and tries to "find herself", this film would be a lot better if the lead character, and lead actress, were not so grating.  Steve Buscemi and J. Smith Cameron brighten the product as her parents, but are mostly floundering in bad writing.

YOU HURT MY FEELINGS (B+)  [Instagram review]

 

YOU PEOPLE (B+) This modern day revisit of the Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? setup is a super fun satire on current state of race relations.

THE ZONE OF INTEREST (No grade)  [Instagram review]