Movie Reviews

By Tom Pacak America had a rough week. With President dumbass choosing Russia over America, Trumpers defending him, and Mark Duplass getting crap for liking a conservative commentator. This week needs to end! On top of that, yesterday, director James Gunn was fired from Disney for stupid tweets that he posted ten years ago. The tweets were jokes about pedophilia and rape. I think any sane person will admit that it’s weird for a 40-year-old man to make these unfunny jokes. But what Disney and a bunch of altright trolls did was wrong. Look, I am actually a huge fan of what James Gunn has done in the film industry. I think the “Guardians of the Galaxy” films are hilarious. He truly has a unique style that’s hard to dismiss. He’s also is willing to call out the current bullshit that’s going on in our administration. He uses quick wit and facts to get his point across. Gunn clearly loves his country and film. He's also a weirdo. All you need to do is watc...

By Tom Pacak A Scout is: trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent. As an Eagle Scout, I remember citing this law after every Scout meeting. It's an oath that we treat all of those with love and respect. Nobody was ever an exception to this law. I thought of The Scout Law while watching Debra Granik’s “Leave No Trace,” a compassionate tale of a veteran, Will (Ben Foster) and his daughter, Tom (Thomasin McKenzie) living off the grid in Portland, Oregon. The law is shown in every frame of the film, whether it’s the caring people at social services, a cautious truck driver who drives them to Washington, or a group of folks living in the woods of Washington. All of the people here know where Will and Tom are coming from. In a cynical world where these two would easily be brushed off, instead, they’re taken in with open arms. The outlook on human connection is very positive here.  In the beginning, Will ...

By Tom Pacak I love Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. I think he may be the coolest guy on the planet next to Sam Rockwell. I think what he does on social media is fantastic. I’ve never seen an actor show so much love for his fans. In fact, even his videos at the gym have encouraged me to work my butt off! What can’t he do? Unfortunately, he’s not the best at picking original scripts. He’s done the “Fast & Furious,” Jumanji sequel, and “Skyscraper.” But let's be real, nobody watches a Rock movie for the originality. I don’t remember walking out of a Rock movie and going, “Hey, that was a really original and thought-provoking flick!” We watch them for the over-the-top action that fits best with pepperoni pizza and a couple of cold ones. He’s truly great at what he does so I can’t criticize there.  “Skyscraper” opens up with Will Sawyer, a US war veteran, and FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader. He wears a prosthetic leg after a tragic suicide bombing blew up his leg. He w...