Nick Schaden

Nick Schaden Pro

Favorite films

  • Taxi Driver
  • Chungking Express
  • Heat
  • Solaris

Recent activity

All
  • Sing Sing

    ★★★★

  • Face/Off

    ★★★★

  • Blade Runner 2049

    ★★★★

  • Trap

    ★★½

Recent reviews

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  • Sing Sing

    Sing Sing

    ★★★★

    Given Sing Sing’s synopsis, I initially expected more plotting and tidier loose ends. Yet the beauty of Greg Kwedar’s and Clint Bentley’s screenplay lies in its minimalism.

    The movie touches on the justice system, friendship, and the transformative power of art. But the film’s core journey is more internal than external, more existential than political. It’s about incarcerated men finding peace and humanity with themselves. We see characters who initially appear intimidating tranform into softer, more vulnerable individuals. The transformation…

  • Face/Off

    Face/Off

    ★★★★

    Few things top the entertainment factor of a wild plot that lets two likeable actors near their career peaks the chance to swap roles. John Travolta clearly has the time of his life doing a Nic Cage impression for most of this movie's runtime. Hilariously, even when Cage is playing Travolta he's still resolutely Cage. Travolta's FBI agent/family man Sean Archer is such a generic shell that it gives Cage room to push the character towards his maximalist tendencies. Cage…

Popular reviews

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  • Uncut Gems

    Uncut Gems

    ★★★★½

    One of the most effective, anxiety-producing thrillers I’ve seen in years because every element works. Slick, well cast supporting players, often non-professional, add critical atmosphere and stakes to the proceedings. The underlying technical craft is dynamite as well, from DP Darius Khondji’s neon-soaked closeups to Daniel Lopatin (a.k.a. Oneohtrix Point Never) always present (if not booming) score. However, it’s the trio of Adam Sandler and the Safdie brothers that secure the film to a top echelon of the thriller genre.…

  • Hit Man

    Hit Man

    ★★★★

    The most convincing case yet that Glen Powell has the juice: natural star, talented actor, and now screenwriter (?!)

    I worried that Linklater was going a bit too broad with a disguise-heavy, kind of silly opening act, but things settle down as Adria Arjona shows up. The chemistry between Arjona and Powell is off the charts, and the movie gently downshifts into a blend of comedy, romance, and crime noir that's a blast.

    Linklater's usual preoccupation with human psychology and…

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