Movie Report Card: Doctor Sleep

Date: 11/8/19
Title: Doctor Sleep
Director: Mike Flanagan
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Kyliegh Curran, Rebecca Ferguson, Emily Alyn Lind, Cliff Curtis, Zahn McClarnon

GRADES

ACTING: 90
DIRECTING: 90
SCREENPLAY: 85
EDITING: 85
CINEMATOGRAPHY: 95
SOUNDTRACK: 95

FINAL: 90/A-

COMMENTS

What a ride. There are going to be aspects to Doctor Sleep, that will drive die-hard fans of Stanley Kubrick's film nuts. My feelings on Kubrick's classic are pretty well documented, but I will re-share briefly here. I like his film. I'm a bigger fan of the book, but the film has been forever ruined for me. While in film school, I had to endlessly study The Shining. So much so, it tarnished the film for me forever. I can never watch it the same way again. One aspect to Doctor Sleep that I enjoyed immensely, is that it invigorated something new and fresh, into The Shining for me. Mike Flanagan, has made something that is completely his own, but still feels like it belongs with the original film. While Doctor Sleep has a few issues here and there, this thing took me on a journey. Sometimes that journey annoyed me. Sometimes that journey excited me. Sometimes that journey bored me. Sometimes that journey scared me. I went through a myriad of emotions while watching Doctor Sleep. However, I enjoyed the ride immensely. Flanagan directs the shit out this film. The visual style here, helps keep this thing floating. Ewan McGregor and Rebecca Ferguson, are fantastic. Ferguson, especially, is so deliciously chewing the scenery here. She is so much fun to watch. Young Kyliegh Curran, is also great. The score to this, is fantastic. It has its own flare, and calls back to the original nicely. Doctor Sleep is a slow burn, much like the original. Sometimes that slow burn though, can be a problem. The flick can feel its runtime here and there, and that's unfortunate, as when this thing is firing, it's firing on all cylinders. I like this film a lot. I may even love it. It's one of those that I am still thinking about. I can't wait to see this again. What a ride.