Pop Culture

    Zootopia, 2016 - ★★★★★

    I really enjoyed this movie. It's an excellent way for parents to introduce children to the concept of minorities and the challenges they face. The jokes, especially with the sloth, were great. The animation was impressive, and while the scene where animals turn into predators might be a bit scary for children, it was executed very well.

    I'm looking forward to Zootopia 2, which comes out this November.

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    Michael Clayton, 2007 - ★★★★

    The movie serves as a masterclass in moral ambiguity. Every scene is slow-paced yet high-stakes. The lines between heroes and villains are constantly blurred. Characters seek redemption before it's too late, like Tom Wilkinson's character, or grapple with their own morality. Even though Tilda Swinton’s character is evil, she likely suffers from bellyaches and nightmares due to her actions.

    I remembered why this film was on my watchlist: Tony Gilroy, the director, is also the creator of Andor, one of my favorite recent shows. I appreciate that both stories feature similar characters in vastly different universes. Both Michael Clayton and Cassian Andor struggle to determine their lines of acceptable behavior.

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    Cars, 2006 - ★★★★

    I know this movie by heart as it was a household staple during the COVID pandemic when my kids were very young.

    They recently wanted to rewatch it for the first time in years, and I still enjoy this movie a lot. I’m not sure why it ranks so poorly among Pixar films on sites that evaluate them, like The Ringer. Owen Wilson and Paul Newman—yes, the legendary Paul Newman!—deliver great performances. The film is fun and charming.

    And it has a great after-credit scene.

    For French speakers, it’s amusing that the synopsis is quite similar to Camping, which was released the same year. A “winner“ finds himself stuck with “losers” against his will and realizes that these roles are more blurred than they seem.

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    Collection de trucs qui m’ont fait rire récemment :

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    The Bad Guys 2, 2025 - ★★★½

    A fun sequel! It’s a bit over the top, which makes me look forward to its hopefully upcoming "Everything Wrong With..." episode. This was my first movie theater experience in a while, and I really miss it. I should go more often.

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    Asterix vs. Caesar, 1985 - ★★★

    Ni le plus mauvais, ni le meilleur dessin animé d’Astérix. Il lui manque le charme des anciens (Astérix et Cléopâtre, Les 12 Travaux) ainsi que la qualité d’adaptation et d’animation des plus récents (Le Domaine des Dieux, Le Secret de la Potion Magique ou Le Combat des Chefs).

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    Finished watching Stick S1. It takes a little while to get going, but it really picks up.

    The sound design of the golf swings is a great motivator to play the sport again. The show explores themes of grief, parenting and mentoring, as well as the communication and frustration between Gen X/Y and Gen Z.

    Fun fact: the show was created by Jason Keller, who is married to Andrea Anders, the sister of Sean Anders. Sean Anders is one of my heroes for his work on the Daddy’s Home 1 and 2 films, as well as Spirited.

    There will be a Season 2.

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    Asterix & Obelix: The Middle Kingdom, 2023 - ★★★

    Ce n'est pas le meilleur Astérix, mais ce n'est pas le pire non plus. Il y a quelques bons gags, mais le meilleur moment pour moi a été la toute fin. Entendre Obélix parler de "quand on sera grands" m'a vraiment touché. Ce court instant de poésie, larmichettes à l'appui, m'a incité à revoir mon évaluation à la hausse.

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    The Wild Robot, 2024 - ★★★★

    This is a lovely movie featuring standout animation. It is beautiful and truly has a big heart.

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    Wish, 2023 - ★★½

    The animations and story are both lovely. However, the film gives a sense of déjà vu that prevents it from standing out. This seems intentional, as the movie was released to celebrate the 100th birthday of The Walt Disney Company, paying homage to its history. The end credits feature a fun quiz highlighting previous Disney movies and characters.

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    The Lost Daughter, 2021 - ★★½

    It is true that parenthood, especially motherhood, can be challenging, and there are very few films that explore this subject. It can be comforting to see a mother on screen struggling with mixed feelings about her children. However, despite the strong performances from the cast, the thriller atmosphere did not resonate with me. I also found the main character unlikable, and I am growing weary of stories centered around petty bourgeois adultery (I'm looking at you, Nicolas Matthieu and Maria Pourchet).

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    I watch The Daily Show pretty much every day. It’s a good way to cope with what is going on with Trump. The latest edition with Jon Stewart was particularly good. The Epstein files piece, the bit about the cancellation of Colbert’s late show, and the gospel song finale were all awesome.

    🏛️ × 🍿

    Icarus, 2017 - ★★★ (contains spoilers)

    This review may contain spoilers.

    Icarus begins as an exploration of doping in amateur cycling but quickly transforms into a high-stakes exposé of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program, focusing on whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov.

    Personally, I was more intrigued by the outcome of the first section of the movie. I was astonished that the effects of doping did not yield any results. Does this mean that other amateur cyclists are also doping?

    However, the high stakes in the second part are more significant. Rodchenkov is both likable and, at times, untrustworthy and somewhat sketchy.

    The footage of Lance Armstrong aggressively lying to people’s faces serves as a poignant reminder that fraud is disheartening. This echoes the sentiments expressed by Steve Carell’s character in The Big Short.

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    Icarus, 2017 - ★★★

    Icarus starts with an exploration of doping in amateur cycling but evolves into a critical investigation of Russia’s state-sponsored doping program through the lens of whistleblower Dr. Grigory Rodchenkov.

    And Their Children After Them, 2024 - ★★★

    J'avais énormément aimé le livre. C'était la première fois que je lisais un auteur qui rentrait sans doute en 3e quand moi-même attaquais la 6e. Et forcément, son ton me parlait.

    Si le film reste fidèle au livre, il y a forcément eu des coupes, et le ton me parle globalement beaucoup moins. Bref, si vous avez le temps ou l'envie, préférez le livre.

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    And Their Children After Them, 2024 - ★★★

    J'avais énormément aimé le livre. C'était la première fois que je lisais un auteur qui rentrait sans doute en 3e quand moi-même attaquais la 6e. Et forcément, son ton me parlait.

    Si le film reste fidèle au livre, il y a forcément eu des coupes, et le ton me parle globalement beaucoup moins. Bref, si vous avez le temps ou l'envie, préférez le livre.

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    The Adam Project, 2022 - ★★★

    The Adam Project is a hybrid child of Terminator, Back to the Future, Deadpool, and a lost scene from Good Will Hunting. It shouldn’t work – but somehow, it mostly does.

    It’s a fun, family-ish adventure with just enough heart to make the time-travel chaos land. I’d probably wait until my kids are 10+ to show it – there’s quite a bit of violence and some heavy themes – but I’d happily watch it again.

    Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo bring such warmth to their roles that you can’t help but be pulled in. Also, that house? I want it.

    Of course you’ll cry at the end – the movie knows exactly where to hit you.

    Not the greatest, but undeniably likable. Comfort sci-fi with a soft center.

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    The Adam Project, 2022 - ★★★

    The Adam Project is a hybrid child of Terminator, Back to the Future, Deadpool, and a lost scene from Good Will Hunting. It shouldn’t work – but somehow, it mostly does.

    It’s a fun, family-ish adventure with just enough heart to make the time-travel chaos land. I’d probably wait until my kids are 10+ to show it – there’s quite a bit of violence and some heavy themes – but I’d happily watch it again.

    Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo bring such warmth to their roles that you can’t help but be pulled in. Also, that house? I want it.

    Of course you’ll cry at the end – the movie knows exactly where to hit you.

    Not the greatest, but undeniably likable. Comfort sci-fi with a soft center.

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