Movie reviews of Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen

I don’t think 28 Years Later is quite as good as the original film, but it has a big beating heart, a head full of ideas, and audiovisual artistry that, in total, makes for a really good time at the movies with plenty to chew on. Review

This is a definite recommendation from me, because of how much the film lights up when Courtney gets to perform. Review

Trachtenberg has, with Predator: Killer of Killers, used the medium to pull off some genuine wish-fulfillment Predator movie moments that are exactly as out there and as gory as you could possibly like. Review

Ballerina is chock-full of action to such an extent that, in the second half, it feels like they’re trying to make up for its deficiencies elsewhere, and, indeed, the good does ultimately outweigh the bad, as the wild action is worth the price of admission on its own. Review

The film opts for something that, though occasionally funny, ends up in a place that makes the entire film somewhat inconsequential. As such, though I liked it in moments, I can’t fully recommend Mountainhead. Review

Fountain of Youth is a sloppily written and derivative action-adventure film with central performances that miss the mark by quite a lot. Review

It’s a somewhat messy but undeniably entertaining entry in the film series that both sets new highs and new lows for the franchise. This, unfortunately, means that even though the film may feature two of the best sequences they’ve ever done, it doesn’t come close to being the best complete film they’ve done. Review

There’s very little of the inventiveness that makes slashers so popular to be found here. Review

It is an effective legacy sequel that emphasizes what works about these films and remembers to be tongue-in-cheek and playful about certain things. It works because this set of filmmakers understood the assignment. Review

Chalamet said he was reaching for greatness, and you can tell. It’s the kind of full-bodied movie star biopic work that you go to the movies for, but he’s also surrounded by excellence as Monica Barbaro, Edward Norton, and Boyd Holbrook are all also so good that you can’t take your eyes off them. Review

The film held me in the palm of its hand through its simple charms, including the emotional beats and, yes, the titular Nonnas, who are all very entertaining to watch in moments. Review

There are still great highs for fans of the first film, as the costumes are still spectacular, and the Lively-Kendrick dynamic is still quite fun. Review

Thunderbolts* deals with human themes in sincere and mature ways (this time with a focus on mental health and the importance of a support system), while still keeping a healthy dose of comedy that pairs well with it. Though it is a team-up film, it is also smartly built around an emotional movie star performance from Florence Pugh that elevates the film significantly. Review

It’s an, ultimately, relatively unremarkable horror film with too many generic elements (and some questionable internal narrative logic) that tend to overwhelm its otherwise playful concept. Review

It’s an instant classic barn-burner of a genre film — an ambitious and audacious original film that makes you want to both sink your teeth into it and shout its name from the rooftops. Review

On the whole, although there are things here that I genuinely liked quite a bit, it is merely a competent but, for long stretches, disappointingly dull and stale feature. Review

All four shorts feature heavy but quirky narration and the heavy stylization that we’ve come to know and love Wes Anderson for, though with slight tweaks from short to short. Review

Despite featuring strong visual effects, something this expensive should not be allowed to be this lifeless. The Electric State is a painfully generic and forgettable sci-fi adventure film with a muddled central message. Review

The film is elevated by the effective comedy it mines from the otherwise painful action sequences that its main character cannot feel and the Jack Quaid performance at the center of it all, which does a good job of nailing the genre-blend. Review

It is a stylish, deliberately paced, but efficient cerebral spy drama with a mystery that manages to always be at least one step ahead of you. Review

Tran’s performance was the main highlight for me, and her performance paired with occasional body horror highlights elevates this film a fair bit... Review

I found Mickey 17 to be a messy but fascinatingly timely and richly rewarding political satire and sci-fi flick that is, ultimately, strangely filling despite some hiccups along the way. Review

Here Perkins definitely shows that he is capable of dialling zany, dark humor up to 11 and blending it with the horror genre, and it’ll be interesting to see if he returns to this subgenre in the future, because he shows glimpses here that indicate he has what it takes to make something special with these ingredients. Review

This is an occasionally powerful historical drama that works as something of a meditation on the memories that make up identity and the experiences and injustices that must not be forgotten. Review