“Heart of the Beast” Review

Year: 2026, Director: David Ayer

OP-ROB RATING: ALL-STAR

A tale of wilderness survival involving a retired Green Beret and his combat assault dog. What's not to like? "Heart of the Beast" is extremely efficient, and never oversteps its taut survival story. The suspense is always front and center (along with beautiful landscape shots). There are deeper themes of PTSD and survivor's guilt, which work to both make us care about the characters and set up a nice message before ending credits. This is a peak performance "dad movie". If you fancy yourself a dog lover, veteran supporter, or outdoor enthusiast, then you'll enjoy "Heart of the Beast".

“If I Had Legs I'd Kick You” Review

Year: 2025, Director: Mary Bronstein

OP-ROB RATING: STARTER, RODMAN

Truly the embodiment of a “Rodman” movie. Rose Byrne convincingly portrays the psychological descent of a stressed mother experiencing a series of unfortunate events. The film has many experimental elements, most of which lend towards creating a feeling of general uneasiness. For example, most shots are uncomfortably close to the characters’ faces. The movie excels in its unconventionality. Another highlight is a lights-out minor role from Conan O’Brien as a bizzaro shrink that works in the same clinic as Byrne’s character. Though not a movie I’ll be rewatching, “If I Had Legs” is both topical (Lindsay Clancy), and effective.

“Bob Trevino Likes It” Review

Year: 2024, Director: Tracie Laymon

OP-ROB RATING: STARTER

If you’re going for sappy sentimentality, then really go for it. Such is the case with “Bob Trevino Likes It”. The plot is simple: Lily Trevino (Barbara Ferreira) is an insecure young woman with a deadbeat dad and a lot of childhood trauma. On a whim, she reaches out to a middle-aged man via social media who shares her real father’s name. This other Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo) shows her true fatherly kindness. Though the supporting characters lack depth, and no single aspect of the film is extraordinary; “BTLI” provides a heart-warming story that plays to its tropes unapologetically.

“Dragged Across Concrete” Review

Year: 2018, Director: S. Craig Zahler

OP-ROB RATING: BUST

HOFer Akira Kurosawa once said, “with a bad script even a good director can’t possibly make a good film.” “Dragged Across Concrete” has strong performances from Mel Gibson, Vince Vaughn, and Tory Kittles; it also has a pretty dang compelling plot. But boy oh boy, does the script stink. S. Craig Zahler is the epitome of a “niche” director, and I can’t imagine he didn’t write the screenplay with intent. Perhaps it’s supposed to be cringey and unrealistic for whatever reason. However, for this viewer, the campy dialogue spoiled what could have been an exciting, and unusually thoughtful heist movie.

“Shattered Glass” Review

Year: 2003, Director: Billy Ray

OP-ROB RATING: ALL-NBA

“Shattered Glass” is a tremendous journalism movie. The cinematic qualities that make newsrooms so compelling are executed with great precision (“Spotlight” level quality). But above all, it’s an excellent character study. Hayden Christensen is magnetic and likeable, but has this subtle arrogance and sliminess that really draws us into the psychology of the real-life Stephen Glass. Specific highlights are the credible portrayal of D.C. and the decision not to make some eye-roll-inducing melodramatic point about the heroics of journalistic integrity or some lofty political statement that the baseline source material wouldn’t support.