“Project Hail Mary” Review

Year: 2026, Director: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller

OP-ROB RATING: ALL-STAR

With elements of “Interstellar” and “Gravity”, as well as “The Martian” (another Andy Weir adaptation), “Project Hail Mary” is capital E Entertaining. There are a lot of technical aspects to the film that make it impressive, in addition to the efficient triage of a supergiant of source material. On that latter point, Ryan Gosling (whose “goof” persona is a plus here) works rather magically portraying molecular biologist Dr. Ryland Grace in the lead role. His relationship with the extraterrestrial Rocky takes center stage. This decision is what makes “Project Hail Mary” a mission success.

“Mickey 17” Review

Year: 2025, Director: Bong Joon Ho

OP-ROB RATING: BUST

One can kind of appreciate the risks that Bong Joon Ho takes in this conceptually interesting sci-fi satire. Robert Pattinson portrays a cloneable human serf named Mickey known as an "Expendable". He does the dirty work onboard a spacecraft led by a demagogue politician bent on establishing a colony on a faraway ice planet inhabited by harmless (and high IQ) slugs. Interesting, right?!? Well, the movie takes a goofy comedic tack in lieu of a serious sci-fi storyline. The results are mixed, at best. Pattinson's distracting and bizzaro accent as Mickey is enough to reason to steer clear.

“Metropolitan” Review

Year: 1990, Director: Whit Stillman

OP-ROB RATING: ALL-NBA

A tightly scripted joyride that focuses on an eclectic group of young NYC aristocrats during debutante ball season. Our hero is a sharp, likeable ginger named Tom Townsend (Edward Celements), whose broken family situation has docked him down a few financial tiers from the folks he socializes with during the film. He’s got a bit of Holden Caulfield in him: an often admirable, if somewhat warped worldview. We also get our Jane Gallagher and Ward Stradlater archetypes. Like a great NYC slice, “Metropolitan” is crisp and light, but also has an elegant richness that makes it a true cinematic treat.

“I Saw the TV Glow” Review

Year: 2024, Director: Jane Schoenbrun

OP-ROB RATING: STARTER, RODMAN

“I Saw the TV Glow” is a trans allegory and quasi-horror centering on a character named Owen (Justice Smith) who obsesses over a fictional young-adult TV show called “The Pink Opaque”. Over several decades, the show has profound and supernatural effects on Owen’s life. As uncomfortable and strange as it may be, is actually quite successful at accomplishing its mission. Trans identity might as well be the moon to me (and most filmgoers I imagine), but no matter your moral or political stance, “I Saw the TV Glow” brings the subject to life in a creative and compelling manner.

“Eephus” Review

Year: 2024, Director: Carson Lund

OP-ROB RATING: ALL-STAR

A tragedy masquerading as a comedy. The stakes are low: an amateur baseball game in rural Massachusetts on a soon-to-be repurposed field. The Riverdogs versus Adler’s Paint. Both lineups are largely filled by 50-year-old ish guys that are one missed step away from a serious orthopaedic emergency. Yet here they are drinking beers and playing ball. There’s a Jim Jarmusch quality to “Eephus”, in that we feel wholly transported to a non-destination type of place with a rich cast of characters. Though the film struggles to sustain momentum in parts, it ultimately stays on the mound for the quality start.