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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best
@shutupmatt.bsky.social
140 followers 230 following 140 posts
writer | burnin’ bridges since ‘92 | chaotic neutral | professional complainer | future corpse (he/him) https://saltlakefilmreview.com/author/mattbullions/
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 3h
‘The film comes awfully close to being truly important and of the moment, but too often it veers off into another direction and loses focus.’

Here’s my review of #AHouseOfDynamite, now playing in limited release, and on Netflix 10/24.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/10/18/a...
‘A House of Dynamite’ Isn’t Exactly Explosive
Netflix Director Kathryn Bigelow has more than a few well regarded political thrillers in her resume, and sometimes they work for me, sometimes they don’t. Zero Dark Thirty, for instance, felt exci…
saltlakefilmreview.com
Reposted by Matt is trying his best
rincewind.run
Micah @rincewind.run · 21h
just go to the protests

take whatever precautions you personally feel comfortable with but these are massive, joyful events, go and have fun
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 21h
‘It’s a dazzling, brutal and moving adaptation that doesn’t add much to the classic tale, but offers compelling reasons why we keep telling these stories’

Here’s my review of Guillermo Del Toro’s #Frankenstein, in limited release now, on Netflix November 7th.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/10/17/g...
Guillermo Del Toro’s ‘Frankenstein’ is Visually Stunning and Surprisingly Moving
Netflix Writer/director Guillermo Del Toro has spoken for years about how he’s wanted to make a Frankenstein movie. It’s the kind of passion project that he’s earned the clout and financial backing…
saltlakefilmreview.com
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 7d
‘The film is a powerful love letter to not only the movie musical, and/or old Hollywood, but the necessity of escapism in general.’

Here’s my review of #KissOfTheSpiderWoman, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/10/10/k...
‘Kiss of the Spider Woman’ is Dazzling and Devastating
Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions I’m admittedly an easy target for the movie musical. Since I was very young, I have been drawn to the spectacle of the classic musical. And I think the element of esc…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 8d
‘Derek Cianfrance’s script takes what appears to be a true crime screwball comedy and turns it into a surprisingly earnest and moving character study.’

Here’s my review of #Roofman, in theaters Friday.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/10/09/r...
‘Roofman’ is Surprisingly Heartfelt
Paramount Pictures Director Derek Cianfrance is responsible for one of my favorite romance films of all time, 2010’s Blue Valentine. Unfortunately, nothing he’s made since then has been on the same…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 12d
‘The sense of excitement or tension of Safdie’s previous work is entirely gone. The performances underwhelm, the pacing drags, and there’s no emotional hook to keep you invested.’

Here’s my review of #TheSmashingMachine, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/10/06/t...
‘The Smashing Machine’ is a Biopic That Bores
A24 While I may not care about sports, I have always enjoyed a sports movie. Stories about ambition, determination and resilience hit relatively often for me, because there’s something we can all r…
saltlakefilmreview.com
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 13d
‘It’s more of an interesting experiment than a great horror film, but it’s always a good thing when filmmakers are still risky enough to take bold, audacious swings like this in the horror genre.’

Here’s my review of #GoodBoy, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/10/05/g...
‘Good Boy’ is a Bold and Inventive Genre Experiment
IFC Films A good gimmick can make or break a horror film. If we explore that gimmick well, it can elevate the entire experience. Ben Loenberg’s Good Boy premiered earlier this year at the SXSW Film…
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 21d
‘The film, unfortunately, is more of an endurance test than a sweeping romance. It starts off strong and then it just keeps going downhill, so much so that I left more annoyed than moved.’

Here’s my review of #TheHistoryOfSound, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/27/t...
‘The History of Sound’ Doesn’t Make Any Noise
MUBI I’d been hearing about The History of Sound before cameras even rolled on the project. A queer romance based on a short story by Ben Shattuck, starring Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor, directed …
saltlakefilmreview.com
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 21d
‘It sounds like this experience would be a who-needs-that-right-now bummer, but Anderson finds a way to let this shockingly intense action thriller live alongside very timely and provocative themes.’

Here’s my review of #OneBattleAfterAnother in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/26/o...
‘One Battle After Another’ is a Thrilling and Provocative Stunner
Warner Bros. Pictures Writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson’s films always feel like events, and that can be a good or bad thing. The vast majority of his films were well received and are remembered…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 23d
‘This seems like a poignant film about grief, loneliness, aging and loss. And it comes so close to saying something true about any of those subjects, that when it never does, it left me unsatisfied.’

Here’s my review of #EleanorTheGreat, in theaters Friday.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/25/e...
‘Eleanor the Great’ Left Me Cold
Sony Pictures Classics The legendary June Squibb had a banner year in 2024, with Josh Margolin’s Thelma, a film that gave the 94-year-old actress her first leading role in a feature film. Thelma wa…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 27d
‘It’s either going to strike you as meaningful, or you’ll be annoyed by the heart-on-its-sleeve earnestness of the whole thing. But in my opinion, that cheesiness is more a feature than a bug.’

Here’s my review of #ABigBoldBeautifulJourney, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/21/a...
‘A Big Bold Beautiful Journey’ is Whimsical and Charming
Sony Pictures Sometimes the element of surprise can really take a movie over the finish line. I wasn’t looking forward to seeing A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, and there are a few central reasons wh…
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · 28d
‘It wants to be a cautionary tale about the cost of fame and football as a religion, and once these themes are introduced, it becomes clear that’s all this script has, and the film isn’t going to give you more.’

Here’s my review of #HimMovie in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/20/h...
‘Him’ is an Ambitious Failure
Universal Pictures Jordan Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions has given us some very cool projects outside of Peele’s own films. With Nia DaCosta’s Candyman remake and Dev Patel’s Monkey Man, a certain l…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Sep 12
‘This is incredibly bleak and upsetting viewing, and it’s not for the faint of heart, but I think it’s a film everyone should see right now. It’s a cautionary tale and a warning.’

Here’s my review of #TheLongWalk, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/12/t...
‘The Long Walk’ is Bleak, Brutal and Essential
Lionsgate Screen adaptations of Stephen King novels can be really hit or miss. Sometimes, the filmmaker and screenwriter(s) can really understand the foundation of the story being told or they can …
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Reposted by Matt is trying his best
rubenbolling.bsky.social
Tom the Dancing Bug, by Ruben Bolling @rubenbolling.bsky.social · Sep 7
They can replace the Boos with the bird chirps that are added to golf telecasts.
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Sep 7
‘The first half is structured to have one scary setpiece after another. Unfortunately those jump scares are pretty predictable at this point, and there isn’t a lot we haven’t already seen.’

Here’s my review of #TheConjuring #LastRites, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/07/t...
‘The Conjuring: Last Rites’ is a Mostly Disappointing Farewell
Warner Bros. Pictures James Wan’s 2013 film The Conjuring was a big deal for the horror genre. It didn’t reinvent the genre, but it repackaged familiar horror elements in a way that felt fresh. It …
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Sep 6
‘It feels like a magic trick for a movie to have so much festival buzz and for this movie that I finally get to see months later to still feel like a where-the-hell-did-that-come-from knockout.’

Here’s my review of James Sweeney’s #Twinless, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/06/t...
‘Twinless’ is Hilarious, Devastating and Unforgettable
Lionsgate/Roadside Attractions I’d heard a lot about writer/director/producer/star James Sweeney’s Twinless since it debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won one of the…
saltlakefilmreview.com
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Sep 3
‘A frothy, delightful champagne cocktail of a film for the majority, then the final emotional gut-punch comes out of nowhere and leaves you thinking about how much this has all meant’

Here’s my review of #DowntonAbbey #TheGrandFinale, in theaters September 12

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/09/03/d...
‘Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale’ Gives Fan Service a Good Name
Focus Features Julian Fellowes’ megahit series Downton Abbey set the world on fire between 2010 and 2015, giving popularity to the PBS Masterpiece Classic anthology series that it hadn’t ever seen …
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Aug 31
‘Expecting a remake of The War of the Roses sets up unrealistic expectations. This feels like its own thing and if you’re expecting that, it’s a better time than if you’re expecting a remake of a favorite film.’

Here’s my review of #TheRoses, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/08/31/t...
‘The Roses’ is a Mostly Effective Relationship Dramedy
Searchlight Pictures When you’re paying attention to them, movie release schedules can really make or break the hype for an upcoming release. For instance, I would’ve been very excited for The Rose…
saltlakefilmreview.com
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Aug 27
‘Considering we’re in the doldrums of late August, when the cinema is usually a deserted wasteland, something this fun and exciting coming along is pretty rare.’

Here’s my review of Darren Aronofsky’s #CaughtStealing, in theaters Friday.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/08/27/c...
‘Caught Stealing’ is Unhinged, Intense and Wildly Entertaining
Sony Pictures Darren Aronofsky’s films usually feel like events, for better and for worse. His films work for me some of the time. For instance, I found his 2017 film mother! to be a work…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Aug 24
'There is so much about #HoneyDont that I like so much, and it's kind of heartbreaking when the script doesn't live up to the film's best elements.'

Here's my review of Ethan Coen's HONEY, DON'T!, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/08/23/h...
‘Honey, Don’t!’ Waste Your Time
Focus Features Ethan Coen has spent most of his career making films with his brother Joel, and they have won several Oscars together. In recent years, Joel and Ethan Coen have been doing solo work.…
saltlakefilmreview.com
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Aug 10
‘Zach Cregger’s #Weapons is a breathless and terrifying, yet surprisingly funny horror film that sneaks up on you and will stick with you long after the house lights go up.’

Here’s my review of WEAPONS, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/08/10/w...
‘Weapons’ is Twisty and Intense
Warner Bros. Writer/director Zach Cregger’s debut film Barbarian was a moderate box office hit back in 2022, but effectively set the world of Film Twitter on fire and immediately made him a name to…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Aug 8
‘In an era where so many legacy sequels feel like crass, cynical cash grabs, #FreakierFriday feels like it was made for the right reasons.’

Here’s my review of FREAKIER FRIDAY, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/08/08/f...
‘Freakier Friday’ is One of the Summer’s Best Surprises
Disney Director Mark Waters was really on a roll back in the early 2000s, with the one-two punch of Freaky Friday and Mean Girls, both starring the up-and-coming Lindsay Lohan. Waters arguably neve…
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Jul 31
‘This is surreal, disgusting and deeply unsettling stuff, but at its core it’s a surprisingly hopeful and romantic story about the challenges a long-term couple can face.’

Here’s my review of #Together, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/07/31/t...
‘Together’ is Gross and Gnarly, Yet Surprisingly Heartfelt
NEON Writer/director Michael Shanks’ debut feature film Together was the talk of the town at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, ultimately selling to Neon for $17 million after one of Park City’s …
saltlakefilmreview.com
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shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Jul 30
‘The humor is supremely goofy, unapologetically silly and deeply weird. This is one of the dumbest movies I’ve seen in ages, and I mean that as a deep compliment.’

Here’s my review of #TheNakedGun, in theaters Friday.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/07/30/t...
‘The Naked Gun’ is Weird, Unpredictable and Hilarious
Paramount Pictures In today’s era of revisiting practically every franchise from the 1990s, it seemed inevitable we’d eventually get to something like The Naked Gun. Of course, I was worried about …
saltlakefilmreview.com
shutupmatt.bsky.social
Matt is trying his best @shutupmatt.bsky.social · Jul 27
‘The sales pitch of a horror movie headlined by Pete Davidson doesn’t really inspire much confidence, but The Home is an aggressively poorly made horror movie that gets almost everything wrong.’

Here’s my review of #TheHome, in theaters now.

saltlakefilmreview.com/2025/07/27/t...
‘The Home’ is Aggressively Dull and Vapid
Lionsgate I was going to let this movie come and go without writing a review for it. I figure there is so much negativity on the internet, I don’t need to add to it. But honestly, if I can save eve…
saltlakefilmreview.com
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