David Marantz
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daviddmarantz.bsky.social
David Marantz
@daviddmarantz.bsky.social
Screenwriter, director, film enthusiast, guitar noob.
Avatar: Fire and Ash (3h17m)

Lacking creativity across all areas and plagued by its excessive runtime, the film contents itself with cheaply rehashing its two previous installments and fails to take the story in any meaningful direction.

Rating: D-

#AvatarFireAndAsh #MovieReview #Movies
December 20, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery (2h24m)

Better than the first but not as jubilantly topical as the second, the film remains entertaining throughout, thanks to a stellar cast and sharp direction.

Netflix/Rating: B

#WakeUpDeadMan #KnivesOutMystery #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #Netflix
December 14, 2025 at 9:08 AM
Eternity (1h54m)

Excellent concept developed into a perfect script blending comedy, emotion and a deeper existential thread. Great cast, efficient direction, resulting in something we almost didn't know we were missing: a truly heartwarming romantic movie.

Rating: A

#Eternity #MovieReview #Movies
December 10, 2025 at 9:27 AM
The Electric State (2h05m)

Not a great film but the original world-building translates well to some stunning visuals and the production is, on all levels, impeccable.
A very solid piece of entertainment.

Netflix / Rating: B

#TheElectricState #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #Netflix
December 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Relay (1h52m)

Fantastic script: clever, intense and original with an excellent balance of twists and personal stakes.
David Mackenzie’s razor-sharp direction does wonders as do the top-end performances of all three leads.
This year’s hidden gem.

Rating: A

#Relay #MovieReview #Movies
December 9, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Jay Kelly (2h12m)

Baumbach’s direction is inspired and clever, Clooney’s performance impeccable.
But the story doesn’t have much to offer that’s either original or relatable and ends up more indulgent than anything.

Netflix / Rating: B-

#JayKelly #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #Netflix
December 8, 2025 at 9:20 AM
The Thursday Murder Club (1h58m)

Original set of characters and a stellar cast picked to bring them to life.
But the film overall is desperately lukewarm, a cheap brand of comfortable with little to excite you.

Netflix/Rating: C

#TheThursdayMurderClub #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #Netflix
December 6, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 (1h44m)

The first movie had its moments but though this sequel still has some of wild visuals, the script is a mess where painfully dumb characters plod through nonsensical plot points strung along by tired clichés.

Rating: E

#FiveNightsAtFreddys2 #MovieReview #Movies
December 5, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Jingle Bell Heist (1h36m)

Despite a few clever ideas in its second half, the script lacks punch, the leads have little to no chemistry and the direction is lame and uninventive.

Netflix / Rating: D-

#JingleBellHeist #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #Netflix
December 4, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Zootopia 2 (1h48m)

Great script with an effective story, great character development and a handful of twists; plus as many animal puns and Easter eggs as possible.
A rare example of a sequel on par with an already brilliant original.

Rating: A-

#Zootopia2 #Zootropolis2 #MovieReview #Movies
November 29, 2025 at 9:10 AM
In Your Dreams

The film falls a bit short due to a script with less clear stakes and drive.
The dream world is however creatively entertaining and things pick up nicely in a more intense and satisfying second half.

Netflix / Rating: B-

#InYourDreams #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #Netflix
November 28, 2025 at 9:53 AM
The Running Man

Punchy adaptation of King’s novel the doesnt' hold back on the social commentary, though the script is strangely paced and lacks focus at times.
But this is nicely smoothed over by Wright’s directing chops and Powell’s charisma.

Rating: B

#TheRunningMan #MovieReview #Movies
November 28, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Nuremberg (2h28m)

A tight and efficient movie that focuses on a more personal angle that the wider ranging “Judgment at Nuremberg”.
Fantastic cast, nonetheless Russell Crowe, here to reming us he’s one of the greats.

Rating: B+

#Nuremberg #MovieReview #Movies
November 24, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Wicked: For Good (2h17m)

Same qualities as the first: a riveting cast, splendid visuals and a clever twist on the classic tale.
But this is a poorly paced final act spread over too much runtime, neither as exciting or satisfying is it needs to be.

Rating: C-

#WickedForGood #MovieReview #Movies
November 23, 2025 at 9:22 AM
Frankenstein (2h29m)

del Toro crafts the type of lavish production he excels at.
Isaac gives an all-out performance as the doctor, Elordi is a riveting incarnation of the creature.
A worthy adaptation of the classic novel.

Rating: B+

#Frankenstein #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #Netflix
November 19, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Lola (1h19m)

Clever concept that allows to cobble together a period sci-fi with archive footage and minimal principal photography, though the plot doesn’t have much to offer that hasn’t been done before.

Rating: C

#Lola #MovieReview #Movies #Streaming #PrimeVideo
November 15, 2025 at 10:43 AM
Now You See Me: Now You Don’t (1h53m)

The film retains the wit and energy of its other installments.
But the team behind “Zombieland” and “Deadpool” improves on the formula with more grounded tricks, delivering the best movie of the franchise.

Rating: B

#NowYouSeeMeNowYouDont #MovieReview #Movies
November 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
The Choral (1h53m)

Academic direction and a plot that doesn’t have much stakes and too many characters.
But the point of view is original, the characters nuanced and touching and the cast is skilled, with a riveting Ralph Fiennes at its core.

Rating: C

#TheChoral #MovieReview #Movies
November 13, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Predator: Badlands(1h47m)

Original and well-developed characters plus efficient plot with just the right balance of action and comedy.
Fanning impressive in a dual role and Trachtenberg confirms he’s the right man to rejuvenate the AvP IP.

Rating: B+

#PredatorBadlands #MovieReview #Movies
November 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM
The Smashing Machine (2h03m)

Fantastic performance from Johnson and Blunt that are unfortunately wasted on a fragmented script with little stakes, and hardly any character development.
The fights aren’t even directed well enough to be exciting.

Rating: D

#TheSmashingMachine #MovieReview #Movies
November 8, 2025 at 10:11 AM
I Swear (2h00m)

A young man suffering from Tourette syndrome struggles to live a normal life.

Excellent biopic, authentic and touching with at its heart a riveting performance by Robert Aramayo.

Rating: B

#ISwear #MovieReview #Movies
November 5, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Roofman (2h06m)

Cianfrance crafts a movie that switches effortlessly between comedy, suspense and drama.
Tatum gives an award-level career-high performance and Dunst delivers some very nuanced work; both elevating the material to a truly emotional level.

Rating: B+

#Roofman #MovieReview #Movies
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Bugonia (1h58m)

A film with significant cinematic qualities, a clever script and a truly original tone. But, once again, Lanthimos delivers a movie with no clear purpose and lacking an emotional core.

Rating: C+

#Bugonia #MovieReview #Movies
November 3, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Good Fortune (1h37m)

An incompetent angel tries to show a struggling gig worker that his life has meaning.

Nothing stellar but the plot exploits its concept nicely, the film moves at a good pace and the jokes are funny.

Rating: C+

#GoodFortune #MovieReview #Movies
November 3, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere (2h00m)

Strong performances and a convincing recreation of the era but nothing really connects or resonates meaningfully in this disjointed and shallow script.

Rating: D-

#SpringsteenDeliverMeFromNowhere #MovieReview #Movies
October 24, 2025 at 7:47 AM