Movies I've Seen in 2017
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- DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsLewis MacDougallSigourney WeaverFelicity JonesConor, a twelve-year-old boy, encounters an ancient tree monster who proceeds to help him cope with his mother's terminal illness and being bullied in school.Very emotional and well performed kids film. Many important messages that can be brought across cheesy but an overall well made film.
7/10 - DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsAndrew GarfieldAdam DriverLiam NeesonIn the 17th century, two Portuguese Jesuit priests travel to Japan in an attempt to locate their mentor, who is rumored to have committed apostasy, and to propagate Catholicism.Excellently crafted by Martin Scorsese. It is clear that it was a passion project for him. Incredible performances especially from Andrew Garfield and is a cinematic piece of art from beginning to end.
10/10 - DirectorPeter BergStarsMark WahlbergMichelle MonaghanJ.K. SimmonsThe story of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and the aftermath, which includes the city-wide manhunt to find the terrorists responsible.Gripping and intense retelling of a horrific event in American history. Never lets up throughout it's entire runtime. Surprisingly well written, adding to the realism.
9/10 - DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckElle FanningBrendan GleesonA group of Boston-bred gangsters set up shop in balmy Florida during the Prohibition era, facing off against the competition and the Ku Klux Klan.Very disappointing and surprising in terms of low quality. Constantly feels all over and the place and it's shocking that Ben Affleck directed this picture. Too many plot lines to keep up with and it continuously shoots itself in the foot.
3/10 - DirectorM. Night ShyamalanStarsJames McAvoyAnya Taylor-JoyHaley Lu RichardsonThree girls are kidnapped by a man with a diagnosed 23 distinct personalities. They must try to escape before the apparent emergence of a frightful new 24th.Relatively basic horror movie yet still manages to be consistently interesting. Despite it's regular tropes, James McAvoy manages a great performance that brings the intensity of the film to a strong level. A step up for M. Night Shyamalan but still not a return to figure.
6/10 - DirectorJohn Lee HancockStarsMichael KeatonNick OffermanJohn Carroll LynchThe story of Ray Kroc, a salesman who turned two brothers' innovative fast food eatery, McDonald's, into the biggest restaurant business in the world, with a combination of ambition, persistence, and ruthlessness.Despite feeling cheesy and like a TV movie at many times (especially the beginning), this film manages to catch itself and become very interesting. Very keen retelling with a solid leading performance from Michael Keaton and solid stylized direction out of John Lee Hancock.
6/10 - DirectorTheodore MelfiStarsTaraji P. HensonOctavia SpencerJanelle MonáeThe story of a team of female African-American mathematicians who served a vital role in NASA during the early years of the U.S. space program.Surprising film to me that ends up being very enjoyable. Good tone throughout the movie that makes you leave the theater with a strong feeling. Only performance that truly stands out was Taraji P. Henson but the other actresses and actors are able to still bring lots to the table from a solid screenplay.
8/10 - DirectorChris McKayStarsWill ArnettMichael CeraRosario DawsonA cooler-than-ever Bruce Wayne must deal with the usual suspects as they plan to rule Gotham City, while discovering that he has accidentally adopted a teenage orphan who wishes to become his sidekick.Takes everything that works about The LEGO Movie and brings it over to the character of Batman. Consistently hilarious throughout with a true step up in animation. Parodies film as a whole and never really falters, providing loads of fun for kids and adults.
8/10 - DirectorChad StahelskiStarsKeanu ReevesRiccardo ScamarcioIan McShaneAfter returning to the criminal underworld to repay a debt, John Wick discovers that a large bounty has been put on his life.While all fans of the first film wanted was bigger and better, few will be disappointed. Great action film with new leaps in the genre, constantly making you want more. Keanu Reeves brings his persona to the screen yet again as you witness an incredibly entertaining two hour action romp.
7/10 - DirectorJames MangoldStarsHugh JackmanPatrick StewartDafne KeenIn a future where mutants are nearly extinct, an elderly and weary Logan leads a quiet life. But when Laura, a mutant child pursued by scientists, comes to him for help, he must get her to safety.Beautifully created superhero movie that will change the game forever. Brutally directed and written as it stays true to it's titular character and becomes more of a drama film as opposed to one of action. Hugh Jackman sends out a perfect goodbye to the X-Men franchise and opens many doors to it's future.
9/10 - DirectorJordan Vogt-RobertsStarsTom HiddlestonSamuel L. JacksonBrie LarsonAfter the Vietnam war, a team of scientists explores an uncharted island in the Pacific, venturing into the domain of the mighty Kong and must fight to escape a primal Eden.Unfortunately, a poorly written action movie that reflects a lot of the same issues from 2014's Godzilla. Weak characters that are given no setup with some surprisingly noticeable CGI. While it does bring about some riveting action sequences and a standout performance from John C. Reilly, it almost contains too much action to all around be considered good.
3/10 - DirectorDean IsraeliteStarsDacre MontgomeryNaomi ScottRJ CylerWhen Earth is on the verge of an alien invasion, five teenagers, who are infused with superhuman abilities, must harness their newfound powers to battle this threat - as the Power Rangers.One of the more surprising films I've seen all year. It's first two acts manage to be far more coherent than expected and the characters prove to be quite interesting. However, it is totally ripped apart by a third act that is completely ridiculous and boasts and awful villainous character and performance through Elizabeth Banks. Completely overshadows the promise shown in the early areas in the film and ruins the whole experience.
5/10 - DirectorBill CondonStarsEmma WatsonDan StevensLuke EvansA selfish Prince is cursed to become a monster for the rest of his life, unless he learns to fall in love with a beautiful young woman he keeps prisoner.Completely unnecessary remake that adds nothing to that of it's beautiful original. While not being anywhere close to a bad movie, it's certainly nothing of a great one. The whole experience will likely leave you with an "eh" feeling at the end as the good things manage to be weighed out equally by the bad things.
5/10 - DirectorDaniel EspinosaStarsJake GyllenhaalRebecca FergusonRyan ReynoldsA team of scientists aboard the International Space Station discover a rapidly evolving life form that caused extinction on Mars and now threatens all life on Earth.While it does manage to have some fairly intense sequences and brings about strong performances from Gyllenhaal and Ferguson, IMDB's quote of "The movie was inspired by Alien" is a sheer understatement. Practically being a clear copy of the 1979 sci-fi horror film, Life brings nothing new to the genre and is simply an unoriginal entry into the film world.
6/10 - DirectorF. Gary GrayStarsVin DieselJason StathamDwayne JohnsonWhen a mysterious woman seduces Dominic Toretto into the world of terrorism and a betrayal of those closest to him, the crew face trials that will test them as never before.Simply put, if you enjoyed the fifth, sixth and seventh entry into this franchise, you'll like the eighth. It is another ridiculous car chase action film that adds even more unrealism to the franchise (which I believed to be impossible). It is in no way a great film but it is certainly an entertaining one for most audiences.
5/10 - DirectorJordan PeeleStarsDaniel KaluuyaAllison WilliamsBradley WhitfordA young African-American visits his white girlfriend's parents for the weekend, where his simmering uneasiness about their reception of him eventually reaches a boiling point.This is one of the most intelligent films I've seen in years. Everything is meticulously put together on paper and on screen by writer/director Jordan Peele as every scene and line in the movie counts towards the end. Not one performance misses a beat, especially from lead Daniel Kaluuya and the tension never lets up. While I wouldn't call it a horror movie, it's damn near close to a perfect thriller.
9/10 - DirectorBen WheatleyStarsSharlto CopleyBrie LarsonArmie HammerSet in Boston in 1978, a meeting in a deserted warehouse between two gangs turns into a shoot-out and a game of survival.Very original and fun piece of work. Ends up being more of a comedy than anything which works seeing as it's very funny. The action is a whole new style and the entire vision of the movie is always fresh. While the script isn't anything too new and none of the performances truly stand out, it is certainly a solid entry in the lineup of A24 films.
7/10 - DirectorJames GunnStarsChris PrattZoe SaldanaDave BautistaThe Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord's encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.Bringing back the style and visual style of James Gunn from the first Guardians of the Galaxy, this Marvel film manages to yet again be fun but not really great. Lots of moments fall off and some of the emotion seems to be contrived more than anything. The action is very by the books which is interesting considering the sheer originality of the story and characters. Fans of the MCU and the first film will enjoy this picture but there is more underneath the surface that holds it back from surpassing the 1st or holding a place in the best of Marvel's films.
6/10 - DirectorRidley ScottStarsMichael FassbenderKatherine WaterstonBilly CrudupThe crew of a colony ship, bound for a remote planet, discover an uncharted paradise with a threat beyond their imagination, and must attempt a harrowing escape.A pretty poor and desperate attempt to hold the Alien franchise together. With absolutely 0 character set up or development, there is simply no reason whatsoever to care about this movie at all. There are no stakes and the action sequences in this film are shot quite poorly. There is an attempt made here to save the series but Prometheus manages to be more original and simply better than this film which really says something.
3/10 - DirectorJoachim RønningEspen SandbergStarsJohnny DeppGeoffrey RushJavier BardemCaptain Jack Sparrow searches for the Trident of Poseidon to rule the sea while being pursued by old rival Captain Salazar and a crew of deadly ghosts who have escaped from the Devil's Triangle.Despite being a fan of (and growing up on) the first three Pirates of the Caribbean films, this movie is truly sad. There is little to like about this movie as Johnny Depp simply calls in another paycheck. It is too ridiculous to be any kind of intense and not written well enough to be entertaining. While Javier Bardem makes an attempt to save this movie, there really is no room for it as this series should simply be allowed to wither away after a poor 4th and 5th entry.
2/10 - DirectorSeth GordonStarsDwayne JohnsonZac EfronAlexandra DaddarioDevoted lifeguard Mitch Buchannon butts heads with a brash new recruit, as they uncover a criminal plot that threatens the future of the bay.A fairly mediocre comedy movie that manages to be better than I had expected. Brings about a few scenes that draw laughs from the audience and Zac Efron comes around with the best performance in the movie (proving to be a difficult feat seeing as how strong Dwayne Johnson has been nowadays). However, most of the comedy fails to land and it makes for more of an awkward watch more than anything. The timing seems to always be off and a poor/messy plot line manages to throw this movie off the tracks from being good.
3/10 - DirectorPatty JenkinsStarsGal GadotChris PineRobin WrightWhen a pilot crashes and tells of conflict in the outside world, Diana, an Amazonian warrior in training, leaves home to fight a war, discovering her full powers and true destiny.Yes, it is DC's best film in their newly instilled universe. But I wouldn't say that it is a truly good movie. While the scenes between Gal Gadot and Chris Pine are fairly well written, acted and put together, the rest of the movie primarily fails. It is a cookie cutter kind of action movie that had lots of poor side characters and horrifically shot action. Patty Jenkins attempts to bring about multiple messages that are absolutely shattered by bad light show action scenes and cheesy screenwriting.
5/10 - DirectorDavid SorenStarsKevin HartThomas MiddleditchEd HelmsTwo overly imaginative pranksters named George and Harold hypnotize their grumpy principal into thinking he's a ridiculously enthusiastic, incredibly dimwitted superhero named Captain Underpants.Completely surprised me in managing to be funny and smart at the same time. For a movie like this, it brings about strong messages that can be taken to heart by children and adults. The voice cast from the likes of Kevin Hart, Thomas Middleditch and Ed Helms proves to be incredibly strong choices for the characters and the comedy in the film lands time and time again. Very well animated and will be incredibly fun for all audiences.
7/10 - DirectorAlex KurtzmanStarsTom CruiseSofia BoutellaAnnabelle WallisAn ancient Egyptian princess is awakened from her crypt beneath the desert, bringing with her malevolence grown over millennia and terrors that defy human comprehension.Likely the worst movie I've seen all year with really nothing to like. A very sloppy movie that was likely torn apart by a studio attempting to begin a universe. Ripped apart by an amateur script that feels and sounds as though it was written by a high school student, any form of vision director Alex Kurtzman may have had was taken away. While Tom Cruise and solid VFX work makes an effort to save the film, nothing can remove the sight of awful/annoying characters and a totally meddled plot line.
1/10 - DirectorTrey Edward ShultsStarsJoel EdgertonChristopher AbbottCarmen EjogoSecure within a desolate home as an unnatural threat terrorizes the world, a man has established a tenuous domestic order with his wife and son. Then a desperate young family arrives seeking refuge.A very well directed film that brings about many questions in terms of human nature. Each and every performance is quite fantastic in a subtle form of way (similar to Casey Affleck in Manchester by the Sea). Gripping and tense throughout, we see an original filmmaker's vision brought to the screen in front of us. Despite a weak script, a primarily visual film manages to outshine it and bring us deep into this world and it's strong characters.
7.5/10 - DirectorBrian FeeStarsOwen WilsonCristela AlonzoChris CooperLightning McQueen sets out to prove to a new generation of racers that he's still the best race car in the world.Even though Pixar has been faltering as of late, Cars 3 is a fun new entry into their lineup. Recovering swiftly from the failure of Cars 2, we see the strong characters we know and love (with the addition of some great new characters) back into the fold in the Cars world. With interesting elements of emotion throughout, the meat of the story manages to be quite gripping for the entire audience. However, it's overall storyline manages to be pretty basic and has the ability to pull you out of this visually stunning world at times. An overall fun movie that most will adore and is something of a return to form for Pixar.
7/10 - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsAnsel ElgortJon BernthalJon HammAfter being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.A film that I could watch 7 times in the theater and not get old of. Intense, funny and action packed the whole way through, we are given the gift of watching Edgar Wright's first action film and boy does it leave you wanting more. Perfectly casted, you leave the theater with goosebumps after the incredibly shot sequences. Despite a few scenes that don't feel right with the rest of the picture and it's pacing, the characters, direction and brilliant screenwriting are sure to entertain you for the full length of it's runtime.
9/10 (Saw 5x) - DirectorMichael BayStarsMark WahlbergAnthony HopkinsJosh DuhamelA deadly threat from Earth's history reappears and a hunt for a lost artifact takes place between Autobots and Decepticons, while Optimus Prime encounters his creator in space.While not being the worst in the now five film franchise, The Last Knight still manages to have almost no redeeming qualities. With incompetent direction, an awful screenplay, rough editing and horrendous performances all across the board, no amount of VFX can save this two and a half hour long monstrosity. Boring and incoherent, it put my grandfather to sleep at least twice in the theater and, seeing as it is a movie in which robots simply fight robots, that says a lot about how much this "film" will hold your attention.
1/10 - DirectorLucia AnielloStarsScarlett JohanssonKate McKinnonZoë KravitzThings go terribly wrong for a group of girlfriends who hire a male stripper for a bachelorette party in Miami.At the end of the day, a comedy has one job to do; make me laugh. Does this movie do that job for me? Yes. There are enough comedic moments in this film for me to call it a good comedy movie. It is a good time at the theater for any audience and is just plainly harmless fun. With two standout performances from Jillian Bell and Kate McKinnon, it manages to stand on its own while never being quite as good as The Hangover which it's constantly trying to be.
5/10 - DirectorJon WattsStarsTom HollandMichael KeatonRobert Downey Jr.Peter Parker balances his life as an ordinary high school student in Queens with his superhero alter-ego Spider-Man, and finds himself on the trail of a new menace prowling the skies of New York City.In an incredibly well directed movie and debatably the most human film representation of Spider-Man out there, the second reboot to the iconic hero does not disappoint. Lifted up by a truly fantastic script, Tom Holland manages to move into contention as the best Spider-Man while secondary performances such as Michael Keaton and Robert Downey Jr. stick in the spotlight as well. It is a marvelously fun, comedic, yet quite intense film that not only works as a great superhero movie, but a great movie in general.
8/10 - DirectorMichael ShowalterStarsKumail NanjianiZoe KazanHolly HunterPakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.A beautifully written film that delves deeply into human interaction and the relationships involved with this. Brilliantly crafted in it's ability to move almost flawlessly from gut bursting comedy to heart wrenching drama, this movie never seems to fall flat. With incredible performances all the way around and editing that only seems to add to the feel of the film, it is a picture people of any age should get around to seeing. It is heart warming and in a way, breaking and will make you Google the true story upon leaving the theater.
9/10 - DirectorMatt ReevesStarsAndy SerkisWoody HarrelsonSteve ZahnAfter the apes suffer unimaginable losses, Caesar wrestles with his darker instincts and begins his own mythic quest to avenge his kind.While Matt Reeves returns to the franchise for a second time with his beautiful direction, this film manages to seemingly be the weakest of it's trilogy. It strays away from the human to ape dynamic that made the first two films special and instead focuses on the apes themselves. Despite this, when the human to ape interaction is on screen, it works quite well due to the incredibly strong performances of Woody Harrelson and Andy Serkis as well as the writing of their characters. Even though it is still a good movie, there is too much holding it back for it to be considered a great one.
5/10 - DirectorChristopher NolanStarsFionn WhiteheadBarry KeoghanMark RylanceAllied soldiers from Belgium, the British Commonwealth and Empire, and France are surrounded by the German Army and evacuated during a fierce battle in World War II.Brought to light by masterful director Christopher Nolan, Dunkirk showcases the horrors of war beautifully. With a stunning cinematographer and sound design that places you right in the middle of the war, this film manages to be eye opening to an event you might not be too aware of. The incredible direction and strong performances makes up for the interesting choice to have a limited script and it works the whole way through. Despite some issues with it’s non linear storytelling, Dunkirk is a very important watch as it is an original piece of war filmmaking.
9/10 - DirectorLuc BessonStarsDane DeHaanCara DelevingneClive OwenA dark force threatens Alpha, a vast metropolis and home to species from a thousand planets. Special operatives Valerian and Laureline must race to identify the marauding menace and safeguard not just Alpha, but the future of the universe.Despite the fact that Luc Besson is able to immerse us in a visually stunning world due to his iconic world building style as a director, it is clear that he should not be put in charge of writing the screenplay. From a meddled storyline to boring/unlikeable characters played by bland actors, Valerian manages to be something of a boring mess. Even with moments of visual escapism from Besson, there is simply no escape from the amateur dialogue and the characters it comes from.
4/10 - DirectorDavid LeitchStarsCharlize TheronJames McAvoyJohn GoodmanAn undercover MI6 agent is sent to Berlin during the Cold War to investigate the murder of a fellow agent and recover a missing list of double agents.While there are some absolutely stunning action sequences in this film directed seamlessly by David Leitch, this is one of the most convoluted movies I've seen in a long time. The plot fails at every given point, whether it be a generic setup or utterly confusing twists. Solid and quite captivating performances from Charlize Theron and James McAvoy make an effort to distract from this but ultimately fail as Atomic Blonde will leave you scratching your head as opposed to gasping.
3/10 - DirectorDavid LoweryStarsCasey AffleckRooney MaraMcColm Cephas Jr.In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to reconnect with his bereft wife.A complex film that will really leave you thinking about a lot of different aspects of life. Each scene and shot is layered with a complicated message of relationships, emotion, coping and most importantly, moving on. Beautifully directed by David Lowery and acted by Casey Affleck and Rooney Mara, you are able to feel everything conveyed in the film just through camera motions and music. There is simply something more to this film than most others and as you leave the theater, you feel as though you've really learned something about each of the characters.
8/10 - DirectorKathryn BigelowStarsJohn BoyegaAnthony MackieAlgee SmithFact-based drama set during the 1967 Detroit riots in which a group of rogue police officers respond to a complaint with retribution rather than justice on their minds.An important film for all to see that may just be one of the best movies made this year. Everything moves together quite seamlessly to create a realistic depiction of what really happened in this horrific event. Bigelow's direction, Boal's writing and all of the incredible performances (with standouts from the likes of Will Poulter, John Boyega and Algee Smith) combine together to bring you into a world that is simply hard to experience. Not much can really be said except for the fact that everyone should see this and that it will absolutely be an Oscar contender later in the year.
9/10 - DirectorTony LeondisStarsT.J. MillerJames CordenAnna FarisGene, a multi-expressional emoji, sets out on a journey to become a normal emoji.Quite possibly the worst movie made all year, The Emoji Movie faces the same simple problem that plagued the Fantastic Four reboot; nobody cared about it. There is absolutely no effort put forth in this film by anyone working on it and it shows in each and every scene. From the god awful script to the weak and boing voice acting to the bland animation, nothing seems to work in this movie. It put my friend to sleep in the theater and fails at finding the same Inside Out/LEGO Movie success it seemed to be gunning for.
0/10 - DirectorNikolaj ArcelStarsIdris ElbaMatthew McConaugheyTom TaylorA boy haunted by visions of a dark tower from a parallel reality teams up with the tower's disillusioned guardian to stop an evil warlock known as the Man in Black who plans to use the boy to destroy the tower and open the gates of Hell.While not being the disaster this film has been claimed to be, it is nowhere near great. The Dark Tower is a mediocre movie the entire way through that will simply hold your attention for an hour and a half. It constantly waves potential at you like McConaughey's Man in Black or the intricate action sequences but squanders it with cliche screenwriting and a generic structure. There is a severe lack of set up or development and the entire movie feels rushed. This movie simply falls in the middle of bad and good and leaves you feeling absolutely nothing when the credits roll.
5/10 - DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsChanning TatumAdam DriverDaniel CraigTwo brothers attempt to pull off a heist during a NASCAR race in North Carolina.A film that picks up heavily in the second half, yet falls short of Steven Soderbergh's other heist films like Ocean's Eleven. The first hour of this movie is paced very slow (almost too slow) and it all feels very muddled. Characters are constantly introduced with little about their backstory and events just seem to be continuously happening with no major effect. However, when the heist sequence begins, the thrills, comedy and performances (especially from Daniel Craig) really begin to land. Stylistically speaking, Soderbergh does a great job keeping the film consistent and we are left with an enjoyable time at the movie theater.
7/10 - DirectorDave McCaryStarsKyle MooneyJorge Lendeborg Jr.Matt WalshAfter being freed from his life in an underground bunker, a man sets out to make a movie of the only TV show he has ever known.Brigsby Bear provides beautiful and impeccable insight into human nature and interaction through a crazy and seemingly unheard of plot line. Through great performances and character work, we see the development of a fish out of water and everything around that feels quite natural. Darkly comedic, dramatic and yet heart warming at the same time, the film's writing and direction go hand in hand to produce something truly awe inspiring. Despite some repetitive scenes in the second act of the film, Brigsby Bear gives audience members something to feel and connect to, reminding us why we go to the movies in the first place.
8/10 - DirectorDestin Daniel CrettonStarsBrie LarsonWoody HarrelsonNaomi WattsA young girl comes of age in a dysfunctional family of nonconformist nomads with a mother who's an eccentric artist and an alcoholic father who would stir the children's imagination with hope as a distraction to their poverty.Unfortunately, great performances from the likes of Brie Larson and especially from Woody Harrelson are incapable of saving this melodramatic and seemingly overlong biopic drama. Despite having some great moments of dramatic tension and direction, most scenes seem to drag on for a ridiculous amount of time. It's almost difficult to put a finger on why this picture doesn't work as well as it should but there is no doubt that is drags the entire way through.
3/10 - DirectorPatrick HughesStarsRyan ReynoldsSamuel L. JacksonGary OldmanOne of the world's top bodyguards gets a new client, a world class hitman who must testify at the International Criminal Court. They must put their differences aside and work together to make it to the trial alive and on time.A film that had the full potential to be a simple fun ride at the movies that is ruined by amateur film making details. From the sound mixing to the visual effects to the music, The Hitman's Bodyguard falls apart consistently not just as a comedy movie, but as an action movie as well. With poor editing and action sequences that run almost 5 to 10 minutes too long, the movie proves to be frustrating more than anything, especially in the first act. The exposition is poorly delivered and set up, leaving even the most interesting performances from Samuel L. Jackson and Gary Oldman with nothing to work with. As a whole, the movie shows promise but ultimately falls apart due simply to lackluster moviemaking.
4/10 - DirectorTaylor SheridanStarsElizabeth OlsenJeremy RennerGraham GreeneA wildlife officer, who is haunted by a tragedy that happened because of him, teams up with an FBI agent in solving a murder of a young woman on a Wyoming Native American reservation and hopes to get redemption from his past regrets.Despite a choppy and slightly off putting first twenty minutes along with some mediocre supporting performances, this film heavily regains it's balance and showcases why Taylor Sheridan isn't just a proven director, but also a great writer. Original dialogue and excellent lead performances (especially from Jeremy Renner) bring about strong characters to connect to and care about. With realistic writing and direction, Sheridan brings about a gripping and intense thriller, especially in it's impeccable climactic sequence. While not being an amazing film, it is nothing short of a great one and is absolutely worthy of getting out to the theater to check out.
8/10 - DirectorLuis PrietoStarsHalle BerrySage CorreaChris McGinnA mother stops at nothing to recover her kidnapped son.An absolutely hilarious bad movie that is definitely one to get out to the theater to see with a group of friends. By far the most cliched movie made all year, we get to witness horribly shot action, incoherent and repetitive dialogue as well as scenes that are clearly filler to make the runtime an hour and a half long. Even with Halle Berry genuinely trying to put on a good performance, there is absolutely nothing that can save this absolutely laughable mess of a screenplay. Despite all that, it is a great time at the theater as it is a great movie to laugh at with some friends. I would highly recommend getting out and doing that.
2/10 (But see it) - DirectorBenny SafdieJosh SafdieStarsRobert PattinsonBenny SafdieJennifer Jason LeighAfter a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get his brother Nick out of jail.Even though the film has inconsistent moments in ever prevalent style and an ending that seems slightly out of nowhere, Good Time manages, for the most part, to be very good. Strong characters and performances all across the board compliment the strong screenplay and keen direction. The film never feels low budget and it always manages to stay interesting, whether that be visually or story wise. It is paced like a thriller should be paced, resulting in a film that isn't too long or necessarily too short (despite a strange ending).
7/10 - DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsBill SkarsgårdJaeden MartellFinn WolfhardIn the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.With tons of thought and effort poured into every aspect of this film, It manages to be one of the better horror movies I've seen in a long time. From truly original and meticulous scares to excellent performances all the way around (with standouts like Finn Wolfhard and Bill Skarsgard), this film manages to be incapsulating for it's entire lengthy runtime. Characters are well developed (with some slight exception) and most of the grouping feels quite genuine. The costume design, visual effects, cinematography and color palette of the film all add to it's eeriness and it's absolutely one to check out for all horror and Stephen King fans.
9/10 - DirectorDarren AronofskyStarsJennifer LawrenceJavier BardemEd HarrisA couple's relationship is tested when uninvited guests arrive at their home, disrupting their tranquil existence.A balls to the wall insane film that works masterfully due to the direction of Darren Aronofsky. He obviously had a clear vision for how this film should look, feel and convey certain messages and it all comes through in the final product. The editing, production design and cinematography all compliment the consistent tone of uneasiness throughout the entire film and the absolutely incredible pacing of the movie. All of the performances are excellent and we feel a genuine connection to the character that we are supposed to understand. Despite the fact that it is incredibly brutal and has a strange, mind boggling ending (almost too mind boggling), it is one to get out to see if you know what you're getting into.
9/10 - DirectorMichael CuestaStarsDylan O'BrienMichael KeatonSanaa LathanAfter the death of his girlfriend at the hands of terrorists, Mitch Rapp is drawn into the world of counterterrorism, mentored by tough-as-nails former U.S. Navy S.E.A.L. Stan Hurley.An incredibly generic and basic film that begs the question, "Why was this even made?" There is truly nothing special, interesting or creative about this movie and it shows through every single scene. The storyline, performances and characters all manage to be incredibly weak and inconsistent, making American Assassin almost infuriating to sit through. With no sort of timing, tension or build up, there's simply no reason at all to see this movie.
2/10 - DirectorDanny StrongStarsNicholas HoultKevin SpaceyVictor GarberThe life of celebrated but reclusive author, J.D. Salinger, who gained worldwide fame with the publication of his novel, "The Catcher in the Rye".A very well made and overall good film that is held back from being great by a few major issues. While it's strongest aspect is the characters and their development/likability, the movie suffers heavily from conventional storytelling. It almost feels as if we've seen this film many other times with different bare bone stories. Despite this, the movie's strengths most commonly seem to outweigh this problem. With incredibly strong performances, witty and interesting dialogue (for the most part) and a consistent tone and style, Rebel in the Rye manages to be interesting for the heavy majority of it's runtime.
7/10 - DirectorMatthew VaughnStarsTaron EgertonColin FirthMark StrongAfter the Kingsman's headquarters is destroyed and the world is held hostage, an allied spy organization in the United States is discovered. These two elite secret agencies must band together to defeat a common enemy.By far one of the most disappointing movies of the year, this sequel never even comes close to holding a bar to it's predecessor. Completely dragged down by every aspect of it's screenplay, The Golden Circle makes to be a miserable and almost frustrating watch for it's ridiculous two and a half hour runtime. With far too many cliched plot lines to keep track of and completely inconsistent character work (topped by some dreadful performances), there's really nothing to care about in this movie. It seems as though it just took everything that made The Secret Service so intricate, different and unique and tossed it out the window, opting for a generic, poorly made spy film instead.
2/10 (Saw 2x) - DirectorDoug LimanStarsTom CruiseDomhnall GleesonSarah WrightThe story of Barry Seal, an American pilot who became a drug-runner for the CIA in the 1980s in a clandestine operation that would be exposed as the Iran-Contra Affair.Guided by a strong screenplay and a director who knows one hundred percent what needs to be done with the material, this film manages to be fun yet a strong character piece the entire way through. Doug Liman and Gary Spinelli manage to bring the character of Barry Seal to life through witty and clever dialogue, an interesting stylistic choice, and a strong leading performance out of Tom Cruise. We come to understand the full extent of the story and those involved within it, giving something to connect with yet, in a sense, resent at the same exact time. Even with some moments of inconsistency or the film going too far for it's own good, American Made manages to be a very good and strong movie the entire way through.
8/10 - DirectorMike WhiteStarsBen StillerAustin AbramsJenna FischerA father takes his son to tour colleges on the East Coast and meets up with an old friend who makes him feel inferior about his life's choices.Filled with lots of heart and likable characters all across the board, Brad's Status manages to be a good film while a few things hold it back from becoming great. Ben Stiller portrays a mid-life crisis bound man masterfully and with great subtlety as we watch Brad's arch transform over the course of the film. The characters are this movie's strong suit and the direction as well as performances all work to compliment this. While the movie does suffer from unnecessary narration and almost believing it's too realistic for it's own good, it's charming and uplifting nature always comes out on top, giving you a warm feeling leaving the theater.
7/10 - DirectorJonathan DaytonValerie FarisStarsEmma StoneSteve CarellAndrea RiseboroughThe true story of the 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs.Even with Emma Stone and Steve Carell working their best to try and make poor dialogue sound natural, nothing can save this incoherent mess from it's own screenplay. With forced and overall cheesy dialogue at every corner, Battle of the Sexes represents every possible way to make a bad biographical picture. Laughable direction, generic and basically stock music as well as some truly miserable performances (primarily from the likes of Sarah Silverman and Bill Pullman) make you count down the minutes until the film's ending, leaving you longing for a better writer to tackle the truly great story of Billie Jean King.
3/10 - DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsJake GyllenhaalTatiana MaslanyMiranda RichardsonStronger is the inspiring real life story of Jeff Bauman, an ordinary man who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become a symbol of hope after surviving the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.Despite the fact that it's the second film this year to come out regarding the Boston Marathon, Stronger holds it own and manages to make a smaller aspect of a massive incident feel quite large. Viscerally directed and intelligently written, we get a beautiful sense of our main characters, forcing ourselves into their shoes and truly imagining what life would be like should this happen to us. In that regard, this film is widely successful and has you leaving the theater understanding more about human nature. With phenomenal leading performances out of Jake Gyllenhaal and Tatiana Maslany, we're given a ride from start to finish of the inner workings of two characters who constantly work together and yet contradict one another.
8/10 - DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsHarrison FordRyan GoslingAna de ArmasYoung Blade Runner K's discovery of a long-buried secret leads him to track down former Blade Runner Rick Deckard, who's been missing for thirty years.By far one of the most anticipated films of the year, the sequel to the 1982 classic sci-fi film rarely disappoints. Proving itself to be a technical masterpiece, the film boasts absolutely beautiful cinematography, a haunting score, great costume design and stunning visual effects. Denis Villeneuve brings the whole thing to life with his incredible visual style of direction and he manages to get some of the best performances possible out of all of his performers (especially Harrison Ford). It's a sequel that manages to be it's own thing and still manages to give enough fan service that everyone walks out happy. Despite some strange moments of exposition and an ending that doesn't feel as fleshed out as it could have been, this film will leave you thinking for several days at least.
8/10 - DirectorMartin CampbellStarsKatie LeungJackie ChanRufus JonesA humble businessman with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-and-mouse conflict ensues with a government official, whose past may hold clues to the killers' identities.What is most mind blowing about this movie to me is it seems as though Martin Campbell simply Googled, "How to Make a Movie", read a few articles and came out with this product. The Foreigner is an absolute sloppy mess and it shows in each and every scene. With absolutely no structure or solid foundation for anything at all, there's almost nothing at all to grasp onto in this movie. As different convoluted plot lines continue to pop up and the sole proponent of this movie (Jackie Chan) continues to appear less and less, the film commits it's biggest crime: being utterly boring. You're simply counting down the minutes until you get to go home seeing as there are a few too many scenes of Pierce Brosnan drinking whiskey and not enough of Jackie Chan kicking ass. This movie had the potential to be fun but totally throws it out the window, opting for an incoherent slock of a film.
2/10 - DirectorSean BakerStarsBrooklynn PrinceBria VinaiteWillem DafoeSet over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World.While not impeccable, The Florida Project manages to be a very good representation of the pure innocence of childhood set next to the terrors of adult poverty. Showcasing strong direction and editing from Sean Baker, we are able to see his vision come to life, even if it is slowed down by repetitive structuring every now and again. Beautiful cinematography, color work, and a few strong performances (from the likes of Willem Dafoe and Brooklynn Prince primarily) help this wonderful if not sometimes difficult to watch story become even more realistic and engrossing. Despite some weaker performances other than the aforementioned actors as well as some minor issues with the script itself, this film manages to hold itself to be heartwarming yet heartbreaking and builds itself further as an Oscar contender.
8/10 - DirectorYorgos LanthimosStarsBarry G. BernsonHerb CaillouetBill CampSteven, a charismatic surgeon, is forced to make an unthinkable sacrifice after his life starts to fall apart, when the behavior of a teenage boy he has taken under his wing turns sinister.Yorgos Lanthimos follows up The Lobster with another great but not as incredible film as the one he had produced in 2016. With more of the jaw dropping and head scratching originality, Lanthimos has cemented his position as one of the best (yet twisted) directors of our current time. Beautiful in cinematography, lighting and composition, each and every scene provides something new to imagine and stare at in pure awe. Excellent performances from the likes of Colin Farell, Nicole Kidman and Barry Keoghan compliment the abnormalities of the film and bring the strange, uneasy and consistent tone to the front of attention. Even with some sequences that feel a little too style over substance, The Killing of a Sacred Deer is a fantastic, yet difficult, watch.
8/10 - DirectorTaika WaititiStarsChris HemsworthTom HiddlestonCate BlanchettImprisoned on the planet Sakaar, Thor must race against time to return to Asgard and stop Ragnarök, the destruction of his world, at the hands of the powerful and ruthless villain Hela.While it does manage to be the best of the Thor films, Ragnarok makes similar mistakes to not only it’s predecessors but Marvel movies in general. What I️ will give it credit for is that it succeeds as being a comedy film with well written and generally delivered comedy. Marvel finally manages to hire a director that knows what a Thor movie should feel like and, tonally, the movie works. However, the complaints arising about a lack of substance are absolutely accurate. Any time there is a possibility for any emotional weight to be brought to the screen, it’s shot down by a lack of build up and pay off. Most characters are quite one note (with the exception of Tom Hiddleston’s Loki and Tessa Thompson’s Valkyrie) and some of the cinematography is shockingly poor. Despite all of that, most superhero and movie fans in general will have a good time at this movie and it's certainly one of the better movies to be out right now.
6/10 - DirectorKenneth BranaghStarsKenneth BranaghPenélope CruzWillem DafoeWhen a murder occurs on the train on which he's travelling, celebrated detective Hercule Poirot is recruited to solve the case.Even with some solid screenwriting and attempts out of most of the actors and actresses in the film, Kenneth Branagh's remake seems to fall flat on most every level. As an all around film, it's quite messy, not knowing exactly what it wants to be and showing many inconsistencies in that regard. The direction manages to be poor accompanied by choppy and strange editing that makes the entire movie feel jolting in a sense. While some performances manage to be not terrible (Josh Gad, Daisy Ridley) there are others that just don't work or can even be laughable at times (Branagh himself and even Michelle Pfeiffer). Despite being solid on a technical level with its costume and production design, the overall storytelling aspect of the film never reaches it's potential and we're shown a painfully slowly paced film which doesn't even reach a murder mystery until the end of the first act, something that becomes infuriating.
3/10 - DirectorZack SnyderStarsBen AffleckGal GadotJason MomoaFueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman's selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his new-found ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.Even though it doesn't place as the worst film in the DC Universe, Justice League does represent a lot of the issues it seems to have. A bland, bleak and overall substance less superhero movie, we're left watching what feels like a incoherent mess that is truly nothing special. Flat direction compliments a painfully cheesy and unrealistic screenplay that truly gives the actors, who seem to be trying their best, nothing to work with. On top of that, poor casting is what truly makes it impossible for characters like the Flash and Cyborg to come to life while their god-awful writing just shoves that fact down our throats. The inexcusable horrendous CGI makes the audience feel as though they are watching a video game play out and a few intriguing and nice shots as well as one or two solid scenes of dialogue don't make up for this low level of overall filmmaking.
3/10 - DirectorGreta GerwigStarsSaoirse RonanLaurie MetcalfTracy LettsIn 2002, an artistically inclined 17-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.A heartwarming and beautiful tale, Greta Gerwig delivers this newest Oscar contender to us with precision and creativity. Excellent performances all across the board, particularly from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf, compliment the witty yet smart dialogue and the intricate, stylistic direction. Comedic, dramatic, heartbreaking and feel good all at the same time, the audience is left with a fantastic takeaway, despite an ending that doesn't hold up entirely with the rest of the film's runtime. Pitch perfect editing, composition and pacing all work with the other brilliant aspects of Lady Bird to bring about the film's strongest suit; character. Filled with depth, layers and complexities, we find ourselves latching onto each individual, loving them for who they are yet resenting their flaws. We feel each of their relationships through intelligent writing and incredible chemistry between actors. As a result of this, we are given the honor of leaving the theater with a little something more, feeling rewarded for making it to the end credits.
8.5/10 - DirectorMartin McDonaghStarsFrances McDormandWoody HarrelsonSam RockwellA mother personally challenges the local authorities to solve her daughter's murder when they fail to catch the culprit.What could quite possibly be the best film of the year so far, Martin McDonagh's newest picture never seems to let down, remaining interesting at the very least across its entire runtime. Genius writing and direction bring the purposefully unusual tone of the movie across perfectly, leaving with this unusual yet sensational feeling as you drive home from the theater. Fantastic character work is further shown off by excellent performances all across the board while strong cinematography works to make the film look phenomenal. From practical effects, to pacing to editing, Three Billboards never seems to miss a beat leaving you with a whole lot of nothing bad to say upon reviewing it.
10/10 (Saw 4x) - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsBryan CranstonLaurence FishburneSteve CarellThirty years after they served together in Vietnam, a former Navy Corpsman Larry "Doc" Shepherd re-unites with his old buddies, former Marines Sal Nealon and Reverend Richard Mueller, to bury his son, a young Marine killed in the Iraq War.With an excellent screenplay coming from veteran filmmaker Richard Linklater, Last Flag Flying manages to do something quite extraordinary and rare in today's industry: make his audience feel something the entire time. Smart and original dialogue paired with strong character work and development help to bring the primary element of this film to the forefront, being the relationship between our three main characters. From there, we're treated to backstory and further progression of their friendship, witnessing realistic, heartwarming, and devastating moments as we come to connect with them. Even with a few pacing issues here and there, this comedy drama film enthralls you throughout it's entire runtime, giving it a point and reason to be in theaters.
8/10 - DirectorLee UnkrichAdrian MolinaStarsAnthony GonzalezGael García BernalBenjamin BrattAspiring musician Miguel, confronted with his family's ancestral ban on music, enters the Land of the Dead to find his great-great-grandfather, a legendary singer.It is truly quite amazing to look back on early Pixar films like Toy Story and see how far we've come in the realm of animation. Coco is by far the best recent release from the acclaimed animated company (about on par with Inside Out) and it's for no small reason. From excellent direction through the likes of Lee Unkrich and absolutely stunning animation in every single detail, this is an animated film like no other in recent memory. The music is fitting and, as a whole, incredibly well performed alongside the voice acting which is stellar (for the most part.) Now with the positives comes a few negatives. The first act and part of the second is relatively slow and may lose some audiences attention which reflects a few of the issues in the storytelling. Underneath all of the creativity and originality, there is a pretty clear template that forms from all the other Pixar films. However, those problems are brilliantly masked by Coco's overall stunning nature and this definitely isn't one to miss.
8/10 - DirectorJames FrancoStarsJames FrancoDave FrancoAri GraynorWhen aspiring actor Greg Sestero meets the weird and mysterious Tommy Wiseau in an acting class, they form a unique friendship and travel to Hollywood to make their dreams come true.A rather interesting and insightful behind the scenes look at one of the more peculiar stories of all time. Despite not being an incredible film, what seems like James Franco's passion project is nothing short of a good one. With a very strong leading performance, Tommy Wiseau seems to come to life in his entire cartoony presence but with an extra layer given to him. There's humanity within him and we gain this knowledge through the commitment of Franco's performance. The dialogue is charming, funny yet heart wrenching, managing to shift somewhat seamlessly between comedy and drama. And while sheer entertainment value works to mask the flaws of this biopic, that technique isn't always successful. Choppy editing, an unfortunate score and an overall rough first and third act truly hold The Disaster Artist back from becoming something great. While there is a lot that works here, there's a lot that doesn't, leaving you with many questions answered but a few new ones about your more recent viewing experience.
7/10 - DirectorJoe WrightStarsGary OldmanLily JamesKristin Scott ThomasIn May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.Brought to life by an enriching and phenomenal performance, Darkest Hour becomes one of the more unique and interesting stories about the British side of World War II. The obvious point of discussion here is Gary Oldman who might as well carry home the Oscar statue right now. He becomes Churchill in every sense of the word; through emotion, dialect, mannerisms and pure heart. While the supporting performances don't hold a candle to him, they are all strong, especially from the likes of Kristin Scott Thomas. A fantastic script that ranges from clever dialogue to brilliant character work (especially with Churchill) bring Joe Wright's vision to life, something that has clearly been festering for a long time. Beautiful cinematography, lighting, and production design make the look of this movie a new and almost refreshing one, often times distracting from the occasional pacing and tone problems. Overall, this is a fantastic and definitely interesting picture to get out and see, especially for award season.
9/10 - DirectorRian JohnsonStarsDaisy RidleyJohn BoyegaMark HamillRey develops her abilities with the help of Luke Skywalker, as the Resistance prepares for battle against the First Order.While I managed to stray away from getting my hopes up or boarding what might be called the "hype train", I found myself to be quite disappointed with The Last Jedi. Considering the talent behind the film, it's almost shocking that the end result came out in a less than average fashion. Even though the storyline involving Rey, Kylo Ren and Luke garners strong performances, an intriguing storyline and the best dynamic of the film, everything else falters pretty heavily. The Finn/Rose storyline manages to be completely inconsistent with every other aspect of the film and you find yourself thrown off each time we cut back to it. With too much happening at once for it's own sake, the eighth entry into the Star Wars franchise is simply messy, slowed down constantly by this feeling like they're making things up as they go along. Considering it has many similar problems with The Force Awakens (all lying in the script), we can only hope for the future and that they will learn come time for Episode IX.
5/10 - DirectorMichael GraceyStarsHugh JackmanMichelle WilliamsZac EfronCelebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.Gracey's The Greatest Showman seems to prove that even going so far as to avoid getting your hopes up for a film can still lead to a shock at the poor ending product. While Hugh Jackman performs his ass off in acting, dancing and singing, the rest of the film simply never reaches his same level of commitment. The entire movie manages to look phony, whether it be stunts that look VFX'd or backdrops that look like bad green screen art pieces instead of genuine sets. 6 editors manage to take what seems to be meticulous choreography and run it into the ground, making it so the audience isn't actually allowed to see any of it in what looks to be it's glory. Technically, the movie falters as well with bad lip syncing and unusual looking shots moving their way to the forefront of attention. Even though the other performances manage to be at least serviceable (with the exception of the child performances which are all awful) there is nothing saving this film which simply seems to be destined to fail from the so-called "talent" attached to it.
3/10 - DirectorGuillermo del ToroStarsSally HawkinsOctavia SpencerMichael ShannonAt a top secret research facility in the 1960s, a lonely janitor forms a unique relationship with an amphibious creature that is being held in captivity.Though marketing seemed to mislead us and push us to believe we would be seeing a much different film than we did, Guillermo Del Toro's newest visual piece still doesn't even come close to disappointing. Del Toro brings back his visual and beautiful style of direction that has seemed to be lacking from his films since 2006's Pan's Labyrinth and boy are we happy to see it back. The wonderful composition and cinematography makes up for the occasional corny line or exchange of dialogue that does appear in the script every so often. Brilliant performances all across the board, especially from the likes of Sally Hawkins and Richard Jenkins, bring the emotion of the film to life, serving it to us through strong line delivery and overall fantastic figure behavior. And despite the fact that certain lines of dialogue are off, the story and character aspect of the script are consistently on, bringing to life an intriguing and particularly fascinating scenario alongside well built and fleshed out characters. While the ending is relatively disappointing in the grand scheme of things, the rest of the beautiful sequences make up for it, allowing this drama fantasy Oscar contender to be one to get out and see ASAP.
8/10 - DirectorAlexander PayneStarsMatt DamonChristoph WaltzHong ChauA social satire in which a man realizes he would have a better life if he were to shrink himself to five inches tall, allowing him to live in wealth and splendor.The strong first act and portion of the second act that Downsizing brought to the table does manage to stand on its own, but fails to distract from the weak rest of the film. It's quite amazing to me that the storyline takes a completely different and rather uninteresting turn, leaving the idea of Downsizing in the dust and focusing on an entirely new story that is nowhere near as interesting. Throughout the poorly paced and quite annoying latter half, we're left forgetting about the relatively strong first hour to Alexander Payne's comedy picture. It manages to flesh out a very intriguing concept and make it entirely understandable, leading the audience to want to see more from it. Backed up by strong performances all across the board and clever dialogue choices, the early chunk of this film is almost worth going to see this for. Unfortunately, the problems in the story grasp hold of the film and leave you bored and dozing off, seeing as the editing is quite choppy and leaves at least 20 minutes of footage in the final cut that should easily have been removed.
5/10 - DirectorDee ReesStarsJason MitchellCarey MulliganJason ClarkeTwo men return home from World War II to work on a farm in rural Mississippi, where they struggle to deal with racism and adjusting to life after war.Complimented by strong visionary direction out of Dee Rees and impeccable performances from each actor and actress on screen, there's no doubting that Mudbound is a stellar film, despite a few flaws. Rees manages to almost display what seems to be a beautiful painting of images onto the screen, making it quite apparent to us that this was Netflix's most expensive original film to date. While there is some unfortunate handheld cam that never seems to work, most of the cinematography is quite beautiful, working on it's own sometimes amongst well designed set pieces but underexposed lighting. Standout performances came from the likes of Jason Mitchell and Jonathan Banks who bring about the full sense of their characters, embodying them down to the core of their humanity or lack thereof. The film's strongest suit, however, is it's writing of character relationships. Each and every one is fleshed out completely, set up from the beginning and developed seamlessly throughout the course of the film. We find ourselves feeling tons about the dynamics between these characters, evoking the true emotion that Dee Rees had set out to make us feel from the beginning.
8/10 - DirectorAaron SorkinStarsJessica ChastainIdris ElbaKevin CostnerThe true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.Something quite amazing to me has always been watching different directors try and keep up with Aaron Sorkin's snippy and quick writing. Now, it's clear to me who really has the best vision for how these words should be translated on screen; Sorkin himself. Molly's Game is likely among one of his best works, showing off his writing talent in dialogue, story and character work. The movie moves flawlessly from funny to intense to dramatic and we feel it all the way. The style is, for the most part, consistent and interesting while the flashy direction and editing further compliments the writing, even if some of the cinematography falls a little flat. Sorkin also has this miraculous ability to bring the absolute best out of his performances and he demonstrates that at the top of it's power in this biopic. Whether it's Jessica Chastain's star power and strength, or Idris Elba's wittiness and likability or Kevin Costner's best performance in years, they all stand out and none of them come close to poor. Whether you know about the story or not, this is an incredible and important film to see as opposed to seeing garbage like Jumanji or Pitch Perfect.
9/10 - DirectorRidley ScottStarsMichelle WilliamsChristopher PlummerMark WahlbergThe story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.Being the center of attention recently as a result of the Kevin Spacey controversy, the newest Ridley Scott film had a lot to hold up to. And while it certainly doesn't disappoint, it doesn't do anything exactly miraculous. Ridley Scott does an excellent job bringing the vibrancy of the film alive, brightening the greens and lowering other colors of the film. In general, the style and tone is always brought across very well. Ironically, the film is very well cast and each actor portrays their part with ease and with an extra kick. Williams and Wahlberg have excellent chemistry while Plummer brings a terrifying screen presence to each scene he's in, making us despise and yet fear him at the exact same time. The issues with the film primarily come from the editing and overall structure of the movie. Some scenes and cuts can feel quite choppy or incomplete which may very well be a result of the rushed nature of the production to actually release the film by it's date. Despite that, Scott's biopic still manages to be a success in several instances of the word and is worth seeing just for that reason.
7/10 - DirectorCraig GillespieStarsMargot RobbieSebastian StanAllison JanneyCompetitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the activity is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.In what is clear to serve primarily as a performance showcase, I, Tonya does a fantastic job at doing just that. Bringing to life three phenomenal and embodying performances, the film manages to completely encapsulate us in the life of Tonya Harding as we understand all of her struggles and complexities amongst the other characters. Robbie, Stan and Janney are all perfectly cast, bringing a true screen presence to each scene and being able to transition seamlessly from comedic to dramatic along with the script. These performances (specifically from the likes of Robbie and Janney) are guaranteed to receive some Oscar attention and that's definitely not for no reason. While there are a few editing problems and some pacing issues that come into play towards the end, as a whole, the story manages to be incredibly interesting and it translates to film very well. I have a lot of respect and admiration for this movie as it focuses on Harding's life as a whole, not just "the incident", giving it more life, making it more entertaining, and allowing the audience to invest themselves into this story that much more.
9/10 - DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsTimothée ChalametArmie HammerMichael StuhlbargIn 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student and the older man hired as his father's research assistant.What movies truly set out to do is encapsulate you. Their goal is to make you forget that you are in a movie theater for at least two hours of your time and completely immerse you in a world. It can be quite rare for a movie to do this for me, but it does happen (a la Don't Think Twice last yet). And I'm glad to say, with Call Me By Your Name, it's happened again. Every element of filmmaking seems to fall perfectly into place with this Oscar contender. Beautiful and artistic direction paired with smart writing makes for a generally strong film when it comes to narrative and storytelling. On top of that, career high performances from Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer bring to life the true emotion and core of the film, bringing us along on a true ride and adventure that we're willing to see until the end. While it does have some pacing problems and a similar ending issue to it's fellow competitor Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, this drama romance rarely ever falters. On a technical and storytelling level, this film is all around a success and manages to be completely beautiful on top of all that.
9/10 - DirectorTrish SieStarsAnna KendrickRebel WilsonBrittany SnowFollowing their win at the world championship, the now separated Bellas reunite for one last singing competition at an overseas USO tour, but face a group who uses both instruments and voices.It's amazing to think about the fact that it's been a day since I've seen this movie and I remember absolutely nothing from it. From what I can recall, the third entry into this already incredibly unoriginal franchise adds nothing new. It is all around an incredibly flat film with nothing new to offer in it's dialogue, direction or even it's musical numbers which have all become recycled nonsense of the first two movies. Okay performances, mainly from Anna Kendrick try and save this movie while it starts to seem like Rebel Wilson is improvising her way through a god-awful script. There's truly not much to say about this movie other than the fact that it's entirely unnecessary to go see.
2/10