Best Films Of 2019
From what I've seen so far...
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- DirectorDan KraussStarsNat WolffAlexander SkarsgårdAdam LongA young American soldier in Afghanistan is disturbed by his commanding officer's behavior and is faced with a moral dilemma.I don't see this film nearly like most people do. Nor am I about to share the way I see it entirely. Nonetheless, I loved this film, and partly because to me, it really exposes the naivete of the vast majority of the audience. It also exposes many other subtle political truths and ongoing conflicts within. There are a million and one things to draw thought from in this film because it confronts certain things in such an uncompromising and real way.
War is a crazy thing. I've long believed that war should only be engaged in as an absolute last resort, because in truth all that it does is make people crazy, and of course cause a lot of death and destruction. There is no such thing as winning in war, other than for those who profit from it. War in truth, engagement in violent offensive aggression is basically at once an admittance that there is no good solution, or at least that a good solution is not seen, or that you don't actually even want a good solution. Who will fail and suffer the most is really the only main question for most of the people actually involved. Being human is greatly about failing, and nowhere will you see this more clearly or closely than in war type situations.
I will however try to convey to you most of why I do find this film to be great. For one thing, I find the film is actually far more observatory than what most reviewers seem to say of what they saw in it.
This film in my view does not at all set out to what its filmmaker had hoped to show, yet I still see it as a truly great film. The main reason is just because of the uncompromising and thought provoking look we get, into the heads of those deeply involved in situations that are impossibly good. What I mean is, when people are put into certain situations, there is no good outcome. Of course you know this, just being born human assures you that you will not always have a great choice to make. We all have situations that don't have perfect solutions here. So then, the questions become more like, what is the potential best outcome, etc? From other perspectives, and there are many possible here. Certain aspects of the film, both subtle and obvious can be seen in so many different ways; And that's to me what truly makes it great. 8.5/10 - DirectorJames GrayStarsBrad PittTommy Lee JonesRuth NeggaAstronaut Roy McBride undertakes a mission across an unforgiving solar system to uncover the truth about his missing father and his doomed expedition that now, 30 years later, threatens the universe.Too busy looking at what you don't have. A pretty great film! In my view Gray's best film since the very underappreciated The Yards (2000). 8/10
- DirectorGuy RitchieStarsMatthew McConaugheyCharlie HunnamMichelle DockeryAn American expat tries to sell off his highly profitable marijuana empire in London, triggering plots, schemes, bribery and blackmail in an attempt to steal his domain out from under him.One of Guy Ritchie's best efforts yet. Very funny, very entertaining. 8/10
- DirectorRian JohnsonStarsDaniel CraigChris EvansAna de ArmasA detective investigates the death of the patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.Johnson directs this film beautifully, and the editing is spot on as well. A very fun, entertaining, modernized Agatha Christie style mystery. Good stuff! 8/10
- DirectorNick RowlandStarsCosmo JarvisBarry KeoghanLiam CarneyDouglas 'Arm' Armstrong has become the feared enforcer for the drug-dealing Devers family, whilst also trying to be a good father. Torn between these two families, Arm's loyalties are tested when he is asked to kill for the first time.A strong character driven Irish crime drama. While there may be nothing overly new here, the execution of the film is excellent. 8/10
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsPaul Walter HauserSam RockwellBrandon StanleySecurity guard Richard Jewell is an instant hero after foiling a bomb attack at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, but his life becomes a nightmare when the FBI leaks to the media that he is a suspect in the case.Clint Eastwood just keeps making great films. This is such a relevant to our times story, produced in part by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. It tells a fairly horrifying tale of how a person's life can be literally ripped apart by irresponsible journalism and grasping law enforcement agencies. It's a sad but extremely important story at this moment in history. A moment in which the American mainstream media seems to have become a witch hunting outfit, commonly destroying the good names of people in the press well before their deserved due process. Perhaps the US should adopt British policy regarding crime in the media. Over there, when a person is accused or charged with a crime, the media is not allowed to report on it until there has been a court descision. I think people on this side of the pond are really starting to see why this is a much more reasonable way to go about it. People are innocent until proven guilty is an idea in which our modern society was supposedly built upon. In recent times however, the mainstream media seems to be trying to mess with this important human right, and are often steam rolling certain people well before their day(s) in court. Something has to change about the current irresponsible media circus that has become so mainstream. I applaud this film and all involved. It's a well told story, written in a very engaging way, with some very thought provoking points. I also thought Sam Rockwell was amazing in his role. 8/10
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoLee Sun-kyunCho Yeo-jeongGreed and class discrimination threaten the newly-formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.I thought it was a very good film. Interesting, funny, fairly original and mostly I enjoyed the real human aspect the film has to it. Perhaps a little overrated by some critics in my view, it's definitely very good as I said. However, it didn't really strike me as brilliant. That's going a little far I'd say. I've seen a number of films from this director and he's definitely strong, but in my view not really groundbreaking. This is definitely his best work from what I've seen so far. 8/10
- DirectorVince GilliganStarsAaron PaulJonathan BanksMatt JonesFugitive Jesse Pinkman runs from his captors, the law, and his past.Honestly, this was in my view better than many Breaking Bad episodes. I liked the series quite a lot, but I wasn't nearly as big on it as many people were. I thought it was a very funny but definitely flawed series overall. Anyway, this film was a damn good continuation of the show. Pinkman was always the best character I thought anyway. I kinda hope they keep following Pinkman in future movies. 8/10
- DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsRosa SalazarChristoph WaltzJennifer ConnellyA deactivated cyborg's revived, but can't remember anything of her past and goes on a quest to find out who she is.I must say, as far as big budget action films go, this was great. It kept me entirely interested the whole film, which very few action blockbusters in recent memory have. I like Rodriguez as a director. He seems to have a great sense for pace in the way he delivers his stories. They slow down only at the right times, and mostly move with a sense of fun and excitement through many of his films. This in my view is one of his best films yet. 7.5/10
- DirectorS. Craig ZahlerStarsMel GibsonVince VaughnTory KittlesOnce two overzealous cops get suspended from the force, they must delve into the criminal underworld to get their proper compensation.I'm putting this as a 2019 film because it only opened up in a few festivals in 2018, and still as of March 2019, very few people have seen it. So it deserves to be on this 2019 list as it wasn't widely available to see until then.
A real slow burner, but in a good way. It's not often we get to see this much realism in this type of film anymore. Hollywood often goes too far to the unbelievable side when doing action and/or cop films these days; Most of them just bore me with their silliness. This one however was very good. This isn't all action by any means, it slowly but surely develops quite an interesting story and group of characters, then we get into a little action. Great to see Vince Vaughn doing some serious films again, he was great here. Recommended to anyone who enjoys realistic thriller/action/drama type films, and isn't overly squeamish. It has a decent running time at around 2 and a half hours, but it goes by quite smoothly I found. I enjoyed the story the entire way. 7.5/10 - DirectorBarak GoodmanJamila EphronStarsJohn RobertsJoel RosenmanJoel MakowerIn August 1969, 500,000 people gathered at a farm in upstate New York. What happened there was far more than just a concert. Woodstock tells the story of a legendary event that defined a generation through the voices of those who were there.Well there are two Woodstock documentary revisits that I've seen from 2019, the 50th anniversary of the original festival. This one is definitely by far the better of the two. The other one sadly was basically just modern political propaganda in the end. This one however gives people a great insiders view of what it was like to be at this legendary event.
- DirectorTodd PhillipsStarsJoaquin PhoenixRobert De NiroZazie BeetzDuring the 1980s, a failed stand-up comedian is driven insane and turns to a life of crime and chaos in Gotham City while becoming an infamous psychopathic crime figure.Definitely good, but definitely flawed...and also sorta like Taxi Driver extra light and with more focus on spectacle. Still, for the most part a pretty interesting origin story. 7.5/10
- DirectorJay LowiStarsPatrick FabianAngela KinseyColin FordA mature, intelligent high school student has a side job arranging "accidental" deaths (no two alike) of fellow students' parents. A cop detective notices this student being connected to all the kids of dead parents. Who wins the face-off?As a black comedy, I felt it worked and it was fun. It likely won't work for those looking for something more serious or realistic. 7.5/10
- DirectorDaniel MinahanStarsTimothy OlyphantIan McShaneMolly ParkerAs the residents of Deadwood gather to commemorate Dakota's statehood in 1889, saloon owner Al Swearengen and Marshal Seth Bullock clash with Senator George Hearst.I'm a pretty big fan of the Deadwood series. So many great characters in the show was the main reason. This was a pretty strong Deadwood reunion in my view. I enjoyed it. 7.5/10
- DirectorSam MendesStarsDean-Charles ChapmanGeorge MacKayDaniel MaysApril 6th, 1917. As an infantry battalion assembles to wage war deep in enemy territory, two soldiers are assigned to race against time and deliver a message that will stop 1,600 men from walking straight into a deadly trap.It's a pretty strong film in many ways. At the same time, I feel it's gotten far more praise than it deserves. It does very much feel like a war story passed down (Which is exactly what the story really is.), just as a typical fishing story often is. Exaggerated and unauthentic feeling in some ways for certain. Also, there's really nothing new here at all. There isn't even one thing in this film that at all measures up to the best war films ever made. 7/10
- DirectorLorcan FinneganStarsImogen PootsDanielle RyanMolly McCannA young couple looking for the perfect home find themselves trapped in a mysterious labyrinth-like neighborhood of identical houses.Metaphorically interesting to say the least. 7/10
- DirectorQuentin TarantinoStarsLeonardo DiCaprioBrad PittMargot RobbieA faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles.Good, but nothing too special. The acting and comedy was just enough to get through the film while still enjoying it. 7/10
- DirectorMichael Kerry MatthewsThomas MatthewsStarsKate Lyn SheilThomas MatthewsKeith PoulsonA New York social worker finds herself embroiled in the kidnapping of a Washington DC socialite.Low budget film, but quite effective. If you're into offbeat comedies, give it a try. Ignore the rating so far, it only has 380 votes at the moment, so it really means nothing with so few viewers and of course, many voting abusers here as well.
- DirectorJoe BerlingerStarsLily CollinsZac EfronAngela SarafyanA chronicle of the crimes of Ted Bundy from the perspective of Liz, his longtime girlfriend, who refused to believe the truth about him for years.It's interesting but also full of inaccuracies. If interested, read my full review. If you want the best and most informative film on Bundy, that no doubt still belongs to 1986's TV film The Deliberate Stranger with Mark Harmon. 7/10
- DirectorRod LurieStarsScott EastwoodCaleb Landry JonesOrlando BloomA small team of U.S. soldiers battles against hundreds of Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
- DirectorGrant SputoreStarsLuke HawkerRose ByrneMaddie LentonIn the wake of humanity's extinction, a teenage girl is raised by a robot designed to repopulate the earth. But their unique bond is threatened when an inexplicable stranger arrives with alarming news.Not Boring. Not Brilliant. I Am Good
A good thought provoking sci-fi. It's not as boring as some are saying, nor is it nearly as brilliant as some others are claiming. It is good though. A cautionary tale about advanced AI. If you like a thinker, watch it. Don't expect 2001 or anything, it's not even in the same league, but it's a reasonably good watch if you enjoy films you have to think about to fully appreciate. The film definitely has a few big holes, however it also creates some slightly new perspectives a person can ponder. So if you're into that kind of film, then this is one of them. 7/10 - DirectorLuc BessonStarsSasha LussHelen MirrenLuke EvansBeneath Anna Poliatova's striking beauty lies a secret that will unleash her indelible strength and skill to become one of the world's most feared government assassins.It's like La Femme Nikita part 28, but it's definitely an entertaining version anyway. If I went into the film not knowing that it was basically just another version of Nikita, then perhaps I would've rated it lower. Maybe I would've been a little disappointed in that case. But when I saw the preview in the theatre, I knew right away it was La Femme Nikita part 28. So for me, I was quite happy with it, as it was as advertised. 7/10
- DirectorLucas HeyneStarsNathan Stewart-JarrettKelly SryBrian HuskeyThe tragic true story of best friends Steve Driver and Tom Dong, two low end porn actors who sought fame but gained infamy.I really feel I have to give this a 6.5 on here. In some ways it was quite interesting to me, and I feel some things were well captured here. However this film is certainly not for everyone, in fact not nearly everyone. It is a true story that claims to have kept the story as authentic as possible. Some may know by now that I'm big on films that duplicate reality in a very believable way. For the most part, this film is quite believable, as extreme as it is. Not every scene feels 100% authentic, but overall they did a fairly good job in this area. Aside from having some interesting aspects, it also has some pretty hilarious moments here and there. Overall however it is a pretty bleak and sad story that involves a person with mental health issues. The story itself however is really not all that bleak until near the end. 6.5/10
- DirectorRiley StearnsStarsJesse EisenbergAlessandro NivolaImogen PootsAfter being attacked on the street, a young man enlists at a local dojo, led by a charismatic and mysterious sensei, in an effort to learn how to defend himself from future threats.6.5/10
- DirectorTyler NilsonMichael SchwartzStarsZack GottsagenAnn PierceDakota JohnsonZak, a man with down syndrome, runs away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a wrestler. Later, he meets with an outlaw who becomes his friend and coach.This is a fairly good road trip kind of film. Heart warming and funny for the most part. Some parts seem somewhat rushed, rather than convincing, is really my only major negative critique of the film. It will be well worth a watch for most people in my estimation. 6.5/10
- DirectorKen SanzelStarsNicolas CageAnabelle AcostaEnrico ColantoniThree strangers' lives are inevitably entangled in a conflict none of them are prepared for.While it isn't spectacular or anything, it's certainly a lot better than the rating here so far.
- DirectorKelly ReichardtStarsAlia ShawkatJohn MagaroDylan SmithA skilled cook has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two collaborate on a successful business.I do love a lot of very artistic films as many probably know of me by now. This director is well respected by many in this area. Overall I found this film too contrived however. It feels quite forced and somewhat bloated to me. This story in my view would be a much more powerful film if it were more simple and natural, and more focused on the main relationship in a more genuine way. The film is decent, but definitely too long for what it is in my view. The main relationship the film is about just doesn't in any way fit in with the original quote given either, at least not in any sort of impactful way. In fact it seems to me that the quote the film starts with, is really the only thing that helps bring some interesting tension to the film. Only because we don't know how the two partners are going to end up dealing with each other, and only the quote really entices us to even ask or care. A little too weak in overall storytelling for me. This films story would be better off shorter and/or more focused on the beautiful aspects of the story I feel.
- DirectorGalder Gaztelu-UrrutiaStarsIvan MassaguéZorion EguileorAntonia San JuanA vertical prison with one cell per level. Two people per cell. Only one food platform and two minutes per day to feed. An endless nightmare trapped in The Hole.A fairly well constructed metaphorical work. Though I feel the film becomes a good bit less effective toward the end. It is fairly good overall, however I really do think with a few small changes, it could also have been much more effective as a whole. Nonetheless, I feel the film is well worth a watch just as it is, at least for most people. 6.5/10
- DirectorPerry BhandalStarsLuke GossFlynn AllenPeter GuinnessWith the world's end imminent, a dying mother sends her young son on a journey to the place which grants wishes. The film's inspired by the works of 13th century Sufi mystic and poet, Rumi.A pretty interesting low budget sci-if effort. 6.5/10
- DirectorCasey AffleckStarsAnna PniowskyCasey AffleckTom BowerA father and his child journey through the outskirts of society a decade after a pandemic has wiped out half the world's population. As the father struggles to protect his child from, their bond and the character of humanity are tested.
- DirectorTodd RobinsonStarsSebastian StanAlison SudolAsher Miles FallicaThirty-four years after his death, Airman William H. "Pits" Pitsenbarger is awarded the nation's highest military honor for his actions on the battlefield.It's certainly overdone nearly to the hilt. But the story is mostly good and it will touch you. Most importantly it may put your mind in places they'd be better off in. The real life hero this film is inspired by is a true inspiration. This was also the 2nd to last film Peter Fonda worked on, but it was in fact the last released. The film is definitely worth a watch. 6.5/10
- DirectorTim StoryStarsSamuel L. JacksonJessie T. UsherRichard RoundtreeJJ Shaft, a cyber security expert with a degree from MIT, enlists his family's help to uncover the truth behind his best friend's untimely death.If you like Shaft films, you'll enjoy this one as well. Personally I liked this one a little better than the 2000 one also with Sam Jackson. It's silly of course as all Shaft films are, but it's also quite funny in enough parts to make it well worth a watch. 6.5/10
- DirectorJeff TremaineStarsDouglas BoothIwan RheonColson BakerBased on the bestselling autobiography from Mötley Crüe, the film is an unflinching tale of success and excess as four misfits rise from the streets of Hollywood to the heights of international fame.If you were alive while the real rise and falls of Motley Crue were going on, or even just read their book The Dirt; You will know that this film is actually a very rushed and glossed over story, squeezed into a nearly two hour movie. In fact many of the individual stories are crammed into one story as to save time. Timelines are all messed up, and so are most of the stories themselves. It's too bad, because their full story would have made a much better long film, or most likely an even better mini-series. These guys did too much and were honestly probably THE funniest damn thing that was going on in the 80's, and oh yeah, they were crazy. That was part of the allure of Motley however, they were like watching a car crash many have said, you knew it was a bad thing, but you just couldn't take your eyes off of it.
The film's production is very low budget, in fact so badly that the Crue's clothes and stage shows are stripped down a whole lot. Which is sad, because the band's look and excess is a huge part of what made the band interesting in the 80's, that, their edgy music and their humor and crazy antics. Whoever did the wardrobe and the stage productions on the film totally missed the boat. Even take a look at the Nikki Sixx character's hair, it's basically nothing at all like his real hair with exception of the color. Couldn't you find a better wig or have one made? Just such half ass production here in this film. Kinda sad, as it doesn't really represent the true Crue in this way. Sure one could say that the Crue at times looked a little cheesie in the 80's, but never to this extent. Their look always had a 70's punk edge, which at times is somewhat absent in the film, and the scaled down concert stages were disappointing in my mind as well. I remember seeing the Crue in the mid 80's and let me just say, even then, before they hit their peak popularity and money wise, their stage shows were nothing short of insane. You only see a tiny glimpse of that in the film however, obviously for budget reasons. They have fake prop stages here worth a few hundred dollars it seems, when in reality Motley had multi-million dollar stage shows by the mid 80's. Their extravagance knew no bounds. The set designers could have been far more creative here for sure.
This is a decent film in terms of it's story if you grew up knowing the band or even if you're just discovering them, but it certainly could have been far, far better as well. If you are new to these guys, I recommend reading the book before seeing this film, or definitely read it if you just saw the film and liked it to any degree. The book is unforgettable, the film is a little slice filled with inaccuracies and budget crunches. I also thought that most of the actors weren't very good. Mick's part was fairly close to the real guy I'd say, Kelly who plays Tommy Lee at times captured him a little bit, but I would say no, he mostly missed the mark. The guys that played Vince and Nikki however were definitely the worst compared to the real guys. Nikki and Vince in reality were much funnier and far more charismatic than these guys were able to pull off. In fact I'd say that Nikki Sixx's left pinky, or Vince's right thumb both have more charisma than these two actors put together.
I'm giving this film a 6.5/10 from my standpoint, as it still is sort of a fun homage to the band and an entire era that the Crue themselves began to make famous. For the general public that can tolerate Motley type filth, I'm going to rate the film a 7/10 because for most of you, it will be well worth the watch just to get a sort of decent perspective of histories most notorious rock band. Even though it is a very rushed and flawed version full of inaccuracies. Honestly if you dig this film, do yourself a favor and definitely read the book. The book is much like this film, yet it's only about 500 times funnier and more interesting. That's the one thing that bothered me about this film the most I think; It was somewhat funny at times, sure, but Motley in reality were four super funny guys who didn't give a crap about anything except having a good time, and playing big rock n' roll for most of the 80's, and some of the 90's too, (Relapses.); And no one did it more over the top and were more serious, yet funny about it than these guys. When I say serious, I mean that at least three of the band members really believed that living fast and dying young was the way to go at life(At least through much of the 80's they did.), they lived full bore and made no apologies about it. It wasn't an act like much of the business oriented entertainment these days. Yes they were trying to attract attention to their band and music, but they did it by just being themselves and letting everyone know it. It was refreshing back then, and it still is today. I paid massive attention to Motley ever since I discovered them in 1983, because to me there was simply nothing going on in the entire world that was as funny, and as entertaining as these guys were. Some years later, they literally became the biggest thing in the world in terms of rock music. Safe to say they were huge worldwide from 85 onward, but they were easily the biggest rock band of all in 89/90.
I glanced over one reviewer who said the film seemed sensationalized, and I just couldn't help but laugh. Everyone who watched these guys live through this era actually knows it's some sort of miracle that these guys are still alive. They were truly the craziest band in history. There were other very crazy rockers around like Iggy Pop and Ozzy sure, but there was no complete band like Motley. I once personally saw Nikki Sixx kick a security guard in the head, and watched the Crue play for over 2 hours literally in the midst of what unmistakably became a riot. Security guards were getting their asses handed to them all over the arena, it was honestly the most insane thing I've ever been a part of; And believe it or not, this was in June of 1990 when the band was apparently sober. If you think this movie over does their antics, you're dead wrong, and likely very naive, this film is actually sort of like a Motley Crue light beer in my view. The 80's had a very crazy side to them for sure with all the cocaine and sex, etc, and Motley were forerunners in exposing that to the mainstream audience. It was a different time and getting away with things back then was a whole different story compared to todays camera happy tech world. Sixx was even arrested at one point for assaulting a police officer, let me stress, read the book! Also left out of the movie is that part where Nikki got so paranoid on heroin, he ended up running around his house and yard with his shotgun firing off rounds and nearly killing his alarm company security man.
6.5/10
- DirectorVincent D'OnofrioStarsJake SchurLeila GeorgeChris PrattThe story of a young boy who witnesses Billy the Kid's encounter with Sheriff Pat Garrett.Pretty good actually in many ways. The writing was a little weak in places I felt. Otherwise, it's mostly impressive. 6.5/10
- DirectorRoland EmmerichStarsEd SkreinPatrick WilsonWoody HarrelsonThe story of the Battle of Midway, told by the leaders and the sailors who fought it.In a lot of ways, not a good film. At the same time, it's worth watching. 6.5/10
- DirectorJoey KleinStarsImogen PootsNeve CampbellAlex WolffAfter the untimely death of his mother, a teenager befriends his charismatic but troubled next-door neighbor and becomes embroiled in a world of addiction and violence just as the opioid epidemic takes hold of their small town.A very bleak look at opioid addiction. It's pretty well executed overall but there really isn't much to it. Just bleak dark drug use. So in other words, we've basically seen this film before. Well I certainly have at least, and more than a few times even. 6.5/10
- DirectorAdam RobitelStarsTaylor RussellLogan MillerJay EllisSix strangers find themselves in a maze of deadly mystery rooms and must use their wits to survive.Ridiculously stupid in multiple ways, definitely! However the film is also quite surprising at times with how smart it is. The film is somewhat of a puzzling enigma, much like a great escape room is. As bad as it is, it's also good in multiple ways. Honestly I can't rate it any lower than... 6/10
It's definitely worth a watch if you're interested. In my view, this is a thriller, and not really a horror film at all. I'm also not sure why some have said that this film is a partial copy of Hostel. How so? The only thing they have in common really is that some rich people have grouped some people together in order for them to be killed in a sort of game/sport. It's not as if Hostel was even nearly the first film to do such a thing, it's more like the 50,000th film to do that.
I really think TheWrap's William Bibbiani said it best...
"It’s a movie about escape rooms that literally kill you, and if you’re willing to buy into that premise, it’s about as good as a movie with that premise could probably be."
You can also probably guarantee that the sequel will be absolute garbage. - DirectorKaren MaineStarsNatalia DyerTimothy SimonsWolfgang NovogratzAfter an innocent AOL chat turns racy, a Catholic teenager in the early 2000s discovers masturbation and struggles to suppress her new urges in the face of eternal damnation.
- DirectorRose GlassStarsMorfydd ClarkCaoilfhionn DunneJennifer EhleA pious nurse becomes dangerously obsessed with saving the soul of her dying patient.The film is watchable, sure, but it's honestly almost an entirely pointless film, and we've seen it all before. How the hell is Metacritic giving this an 83/100? I'd like to rest my case on this one that modern critics are for the most part, garbage! Apparently Esquire magazine called this a "horror masterpiece". The first thing I'd like to ask them is, where the hell is the horror? And what exactly makes it a masterpiece? The lead character is entirely unconvincing as anything except a mentally delusional person. Her struggle with faith is not even embraced in any real way. We're just watching a mentally ill idiot for an hour and a half, that's all. It's not scary at all, and it's overly predictable in almost every single scene in the film. I really can't believe that people think this is a good story. It's an average and very simple story that we've seen many times. The film is well acted and it's well delivered in terms of pacing, editing and the overall atmosphere is decent. As I said, it's watchable, but it's not much more than that at all. It's really hard to believe how many publications and so-called film critics have called this film frightening. Where do these people live, all in gated communities? This film is like a much less convincing and light version of Repulsion one could say, and Repulsion was released in 1965; And to this day it still packs three times the psychological punch this film does, easily! At least these metamorons at Metacritic gave First Reformed a slightly better score than they did this one, but seriously, it should have a far better score. 6/10
- DirectorStephen MerchantStarsDwayne JohnsonLena HeadeyVince VaughnA former wrestler and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids dream of joining World Wrestling Entertainment.6/10
- DirectorJ.C. ChandorStarsBen AffleckOscar IsaacCharlie HunnamLoyalties are tested when five friends and former special forces operatives reunite to take down a South American drug lord, unleashing a chain of unintended consequences.Reasonably good, but definitely nothing special. I'd say this is easily in fact the worst film Chandor has made yet. 6/10
- DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJames McAvoyBruce WillisSamuel L. JacksonSecurity guard David Dunn uses his supernatural abilities to track Kevin Wendell Crumb, a disturbed man who has twenty-four personalities.Not terrible, but it definitely could have been much better. Easily the worst film of the trilogy. Definitely a big disappointment considering how good Split was. 6/10
- DirectorJonas ÅkerlundStarsMads MikkelsenVanessa HudgensKatheryn WinnickA retiring assassin suddenly finds himself on the receiving end of a hit, contracted by none other than his own employer seeking to cash in on the pensions of aging employees.Worth a look if you enjoy modern exploitation type films. It's not as bad as many critics have said. Many things could've been better about the film, for sure, nonetheless it's still worth a watch for many. 6/10
- DirectorTaika WaititiStarsRoman Griffin DavisThomasin McKenzieScarlett JohanssonA young German boy in the Hitler Youth whose hero and imaginary friend is the country's dictator is shocked to discover that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.Sure the film has some really funny moments and is definitely very cute at times, and it's even a fairly worthy piece by the end. However the setup itself was not nearly crazy or funny enough in my view. It was lame and boring for much of the film. This could have been a great film, were it more funny or even just more interesting in the beginning. Instead much of the film is far too boring and pointless to watch more than once. I find it hard to even rate Scarlett J films this low, but I feel it really is this films deserved rating. 5.5/10
- DirectorAdrian GrunbergStarsSylvester StallonePaz VegaSergio Peris-MenchetaRambo must confront his past and unearth his ruthless combat skills to exact revenge in a final mission.
- DirectorRadu DragomirStarsDana RogozMadalina CraiuRazvan VasilescuMo and her best friend Vera are caught cheating during exam by Ursu, the toughest professor in the university. After she asks him for a second chance, the professor invites them to his place. Here, the students will have to pass an unexpected examination. It's all fun and games, until Mo loses control.They almost had something great here. There are some nice unexpected happenings and they feel quite genuine. But overall sadly the film doesn't do much at all with what good it does create. 5/10
- DirectorMichael StarrStarsLyndsey LantzJenny MesaKim ReedKaren, left for dead in the wilderness, struggles to survive after uncovering a dark secret about the people in her Middle America hometown while searching for her missing Latina lover and a migrant child who disappeared without a trace.There are some good things here, but overall it's just not executed in a convincing enough fashion. 4.5/10
- DirectorCarlo Mirabella-DavisStarsHaley BennettAustin StowellDenis O'HareHunter, a newly pregnant housewife, finds herself increasingly compelled to consume dangerous objects. As her husband and his family tighten their control over her life, she must confront the dark secret behind her new obsession.This will long be a cult favorite because it is so odd in certain ways. It also is a very emotional film that lets people easily relate their own oddness to it, or their own personal relationship struggles, specifically to the main character and her struggles. This is a film that has affected many people I'm sure. Some have probably felt that it was very cathartic, and it could even be somewhat therapeutic for some. I can certainly see how some people may feel a great affection for this film, or feel they have a great connection to it. In some deeply emotional ways, it's a very relatable story.
All that said, mostly the film is very generic and stereotypical in its story and character interactions. The topics though are very touchy for some, controlling behavior, manipulation, lack of independence, abuse, neglect, and other areas that can be very sensitive for many people, or even for most people you could say. There is however only one great point in the film about power, and there really is nothing else of note overall in terms of the story, other than the oddness of the eating disorder. The atmosphere and look of the film is pleasant and somewhat its own. The writer/director did some good things here, but overall it has far more problems than good aspects.
Truly, the film sums itself up best with the beginning and ending scenes, both depict sensitive things with nowhere near their due respect. I'm giving it a 4/10, but honestly it is barely even a 4 for me. It almost got a 3. The director here shows promise in multiple areas, but the writing needs to be overall more thoughtful, at least with a little more perspective. There's far too much myopic anger in the writing, and very little depth beyond that. All the big subjects in the film are tackled in such an immature and tasteless way; AND, you see this most clearly in the first and last scenes. 4/10 - DirectorTanya WexlerStarsZoey DeutchJai CourtneyJudy GreerIn the underworld of debt-collecting, homegrown hustler Peg Dahl will do anything to escape Buffalo, NY.
- DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesHalle BerryIan McShaneJohn Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassins' guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head, he is the target of hit men and women everywhere.I didn't get the allure of the sequel, nor do I of this third edition. This is just like watching a silly cartoon where you know almost everything that will happen, just before it happens. Again the action is mostly very good, but the story is just silliness. This 3rd part is even more fight filled than the others, this is basically just watching Keanu Reeves pretend to beat people up for about 2 hours straight. It's only slightly more entertaining than watching paint dry I'd say. Halle Berry is brutally bad as she often is, (With the huge exception of Monsters Ball of course.). If you thought part two was stupid, wait until you see this turd, ahem, I mean third. 4/10
- DirectorJulius OnahStarsNaomi WattsOctavia SpencerKelvin Harrison Jr.A married couple is forced to reckon with their idealized image of their son, adopted from war-torn Eritrea, after an alarming discovery by a devoted high school teacher threatens his status as an all-star student.Overall an incredibly flawed film that was applauded by quite a lot of critics. There are really very few constructive points made in this entire film, and it really does become ridiculous in all seriousness. The acting for the most part is excellent, and really the only reason the film is watchable. For the most part it seems like the film wants to say something important, but it doesn't really say much of anything other than that the writer likely feels that America is a deeply systematically and culturally racist country. More than anything the writing just isn't even nearly convincing. The way the parents approach Luce about the "issues" his teacher first finds is entirely out of place. It's very, very hard to buy into the fact that these parents have raised a kid that is excelling in even nearly as many ways as he is, especially when you see the way they handle this. The film has all sorts of problems like this, the writing leaves the film feeling very unauthentic, even though the actors mostly give great performances. Disappointing. 3.5/10
- DirectorWilliam EubankStarsKristen StewartVincent CasselMamoudou AthieA crew of oceanic researchers working for a deep sea drilling company try to get to safety after a mysterious earthquake devastates their deepwater research and drilling facility located at the bottom of the Mariana Trench.3.5/10
- DirectorAlice WinocourStarsEva GreenZélie BoulantMatt DillonAn astronaut prepares for a one-year mission aboard the International Space Station.As it's suppose to be some sort of tribute to female astronauts, it really is for the most part, a disaster. The film is horribly unengaging, somewhat irresponsible, and mostly just a flat out bore. 3.5/10
- DirectorAri AsterStarsFlorence PughJack ReynorVilhelm BlomgrenA couple travels to Northern Europe to visit a rural hometown's fabled Swedish mid-summer festival. What begins as an idyllic retreat quickly devolves into an increasingly violent and bizarre competition at the hands of a pagan cult.Another Copycat Film From Ari Aster
Another cautionary rating to add to this list, hopefully I'll save you from watching this trash.
This is in all seriousness, a laughably bad modernized version of The Wicker Man, and told with the exact same kind of story reveal as Rosemary's Baby. And I can't really stress the 'laughably bad' aspect here enough. The film is silly, and far beyond reason in most aspects of the story itself. In other words, this is basically just another version of the exact same film Ari Aster made with his first film. And just like his first film Hereditary, this Rosemary's Baby type of story format reveal is done so much worse than it was done by Polanski in the late 1960's, that it just makes me cringe. Yikes!
The film has good cinematography, and I got a few laughs out of it, though I'm sure most of those laughs were not at all what the makers of this film were hoping for. For my money, this was for the most part, a brutally bad film. Do you actually have ANY ideas of your own, Ari?
3.5/10 - DirectorRich PoggioliStarsMark J. GoodmanArlo GuthrieRichie Havensa look at the famous music festival.Easily the worst Woodstock documentary I've ever seen. 2.5/10
- DirectorMartin OwenStarsTommy FlanaganRhyon Nicole BrownMyAnna BuringA support group of killers is held regularly. The participants sit in a circle of trust and share their transgressions.Brutal....and this coming from a person who is a big Oldman fan. 2.5/10
- DirectorBob ByingtonStarsKaley WhelessNick OffermanMartin StarrA small town's reaction to scandal.1.5/10