As far as DC and Marvel films go, I haven’t really been disappointed in any of them. I know, as someone who watches and reviews movies, I should have higher standards for these films, but I just don’t go in with high expectations. Sure, some are better than others, but I’ve never truly been bummed watching them. I also know DC’s track record is pretty rough…Wonder Woman is the only critically acclaimed film on their roster.
Read moreMovie Review
Movie of the Month: Us
As opposed to my other reviews, I promise there will be no spoilers here, so it may be a tad short. I recall back in December when I went to go see Mary, Queen of Scots, that a very creepy trailer that was made creepier by the previously not creepy song “I Got 5 on It” by Luinz was playing. That trailer was for Jordan Peele’s follow up to 2017’s Get Out, called Us. I texted my sister immediately and we’ve been patiently waiting for its release ever since. It was 100% worth the wait!
Read moreMovie Review: Five Feet Apart and Avenues
My sister and I decided to torture ourselves this weekend by going to see Five Feet Apart, a story centering on two teens with Cystic Fibrosis who fall in love. Now, I am slightly more educated on Cystic Fibrosis, as one of my friend’s children is conflicted with this disease. Having that background, I know that these two teens can’t be together, especially given their particular severity. I’m going to keep this short, but spoily: cute and romantic dates, breaking the rules, someone dies from their recklessness, and then they have to separate or really they will both also die. It was sad, but not Fault in Our Stars sad.
On the other end of that spectrum, I watched an indie film written and directed by Michael Angarano (the uncle you love to hate, Nicky, from This Is Us), called Avenues. Michael teamed up with his Sky High and tennis buddy Nicholas Braun (Succession) as two friends who reconnect around the holidays, shortly after a brothers death essentially walking around the city and talking at each other. They meet up with two girls and hang out through the evening. Maybe I was missing something, but the dialogue was odd and even more terribly delivered by Michael Agangaro. It was a short film, but even so, I don’t recommend putting it on your list to watch.
Netflix Movie Review: Triple Frontier
Another Friday, another new Netflix movie. Not that I mind. Most are actually really well done, and Triple Frontier was no exception. It also didn’t hurt that it had five A-list stars in all shots of the film. Helmed by Kathryn Bigelow, who’s no stranger to war films (The Hurt Locker, Zero Dark Thirty), this movie was gritty, taking place mostly in the jungle of Columbia.
Read moreLords of Chaos
I have been looking forward to watching Lords of Chaos since I heard about it for the first time a few months back, and it did not disappoint! This film was fascinating. Based off the book of the same name, the movie centers around a 90s band that dubbed itself the first “true Norwegian black metal band,” called Mayhem. Now I know what you’re thinking, “what’s this difference between black metal and metal?” Well the answer, according to deceased guitarist who went by the name, Euronymous, black metal is just like regular metal except it’s “Satanic” and “heavy.” Being a fan of heavy metal music myself, I actually really enjoyed the soundtrack, which actually featured songs that Mayhem recorded back in the day.
Read moreCaptain Marvel Movie Review
The “superman” of the Marvel comic world finally got her own film, and quite honestly, it delivered! Now I think I may have went in with the bar set a little lower due to other reviews I read and the social media reaction, but I was thoroughly entertained. And that is what movies are supposed to do!
Read moreGreta Movie Review
In a shocking turn of events, I only saw one movie this weekend! I know. I’m as disappointed in me as you must be. Even though I only saw one movie this weekend, I made it count with the campy thriller, Greta, starring Chloe Grace Moretz and Isabelle Huppert.
Read moreBest & Worst of 2018 – Movies
With it being the last day of 2018, I am sad to say that I won’t be able to squeeze in any more movies, new or old. It was a wild ride for me – 146 films! Quick math, that means I would have watched one movie per day this year, but let’s be real, sometimes I crammed five or six into one weekend 🙂 Below are my top 10 for best and worst films I watched this year along with some worthy runner-ups.
WORST
- Acrimony – Starring Taraji P Henson, and just so, so terrible. She’s a woman with rage, and is hell-bent on her life being the worst. Oh, and she’s crazy.
- Brad’s Status – Super lame, and I’m not even sure I could tell you the plot at this point. Either way, just don’t waste your time on this Ben Stiller flick.
- Phantom Thread – Obscenely boring. So boring that I fell asleep through the middle of it, and that almost never happens! I know this got a ton of Oscar nominations and some wins this year, but it was not my cup of tea. Way to NOT go out with a bang Daniel Day Lewis.
- All I See is You – I already don’t care for Blake Lively, so this sure didn’t help. It had a great premise, just a really poor execution. Basically, a blind woman is suddenly made to see, but she got to physically see a side of her marriage she didn’t want to.
- Flower – Super freaking weird! Zoey Deutch and Adam Scott should have meant this would be good, but it was just not.
- Sorry to Bother You – Hands down the strangest movie I saw this year. I love Armie Hammer, but some parts of this movie are better left to be unseen. I can’t get those half horse people out of my head!
- Assassination Nation – The second strangest movie I saw this year! It was a mix of The Purge and Spring Breakers…so you do the math there.
- Outlaw King – Even the promise of full-frontal Chris Pine could not make finish watching this almost two and a half hour movie about Robert the Bruce of Scotland. I’m not a history buff either, so that probably didn’t help.
- Cam – So, so weird, and really graphic for a Netflix film!
- Hot Summer Nights – The comment I have in my brief review file sums it up “weak Timmy T, weak.”
BEST
- Call Me By Your Name – I know technically this came out in November of 2017, but my home state didn’t get it until January! So there! This film is so beautiful and wonderfully acted. Deserved all the awards it won and got nominated for.
- Upgrade – I freaking loved this movie! It was a very close call on making this my #1 of 2018. This film was so cathartic and very original. It had love, sadness, violence (lots of violence), and futuristic science and technology. Oh yeah, did I mention it only had a budget $3 million?! – visually stunning.
- Tully – Holy plot twists Batman! My sister and I were the only ones in the theater to watch this, but let’s just say it rocked my world. Honestly never saw the plot twist coming!
- Molly’s Game – The dialogue alone was enough to sell me on this movie, but add in underground celebrity high-stakes poker to the mix and I’m all in (no pun intended). I know she’s paying for it now, but am extremely jealous of her former job.
- American Animals – Not a story I would have normally been interested in, but Evan Peters caught my attention, and then the execution solidified it for me. Very unique filming technique – I don’t want to spoil it!
- Eighth Grade – So awkwardly hilarious. My sister was literally squirming in her seat. That’s how well it was done.
- To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before – I never knew how much I needed a new cushy rom-com in my life (since 13 Going on 30, of course) until I watched this Netflix original. It is so cute. That is all.
- Searching – Also holy plot twists! Shot all through Face Time and other social media outlets, I really thought I wasn’t going to be a fan of how this movie played out, but it very much drew you into the story!
- Bohemian Rhapsody – Like I said in my Golden Globes post, Rami Malek totally nails it as Freddie Mercury, and you get a bunch of Queen songs! What else could a person ask for?!
- 1985 – I know I just reviewed this the other day, but what an impact it had. It was shot beautifully in black and white, and just lovely.
WORST: RUNNER-UPS
Wanted to provide the brief commentary I made here. These would be my honest, gut reactions to these films.
- Damsel – Went on forever, not enough Robert Pattinson with a southern accent.
- All Summers End – Just like I wished this movie would.
- The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter – Only funny thing was Josh Brolin’s deer call.
- The First Purge – 3rd best (out of 4).
- Blockers – Gary. Cole.
- Crash Pad – Domhnall Gleeson is just so great that I can overlook this.
- How It Ends – As long as it ends with Theo James, I don’t care!
- Little Italy – So cheesey, and I’m not just talking about the pizza.
- Izzy Gets the F*** Across Town – Izzy is an emotionally unstable person.
- Don’t Worry He Won’t Get Far on Foot – Jonah Hill disco dancing. That is all.
BEST: RUNNER-UPS
Once again, this is my initial commentary right after watching these. Enjoy 🙂
- I, Tonya – Very strong performances (even Keith!).
- The Shape of Water – Strange, fairy tale-esque.
- The Commuter – Crazy pants! But not on the level of Split.
- Unsane – Paranoia at its finest (and filmed on a iPhone!).
- Borg vs. McEnroe – Best tennis movie I’ve ever seen – A+ for Shia LeBeouf as McEnroe!
- BlacKkKlansman – Ending gave me goosebumps.
- A Star is Born – So good, so sad.
- Boy Erased – I want Nicole Kidman to be my mom!
- Mary, Queen of Scots – Mary, Queen of Thots
- Instant Family – Adorable and funny!
Thanksgiving Weekend Movie Review
Look Away, The Host, Instant Family, Game Night
Hi All! First post on the blog (sans welcome post)! I managed to get a few days off work, so with that time I watched a decent handful of movies. To start off, I rented Look Away. This movie co-stars one of my newer favorite actors, Harrison Gilbertson. Those of you that haven’t seen Upgrade yet this year, please do so at your earliest convenience. Anyways, Look Away was eerie, and a little slow, but ultimately was dark and twisted. A socially awkward girl who gets mercifully picked on at school and at home finds a creepy sonogram of twins tucked in a mirror. Soon after a doppleganger in this mirror offers to take her pain away by switching places. Eventually, Maria, the lead character, concedes and is now trapped in the mirror while her (obviously malicious) doppleganger, Airam, takes her place in the real world. A few deaths later and I’m not totally sure where we ended up, but mom is reunited with her twins…like I said, eerie.
The next movie I watched was The Host. I know, a few years too late on this one, but there are too many movies to watch in a year! This film that came out in 2013 is based off the novel of the same name by Stephanie Meyers (Twilight fans will recognize). In some sort of “peaceful” alien takeover, the movie opens with a surviving human, Melanie, trying to face off against these aliens who inhabit human bodies and minds (for the most part). She ultimately loses the battle and gets the alien, Wanderer, placed in her. Soon after we learn that Melanie is sharing her mind with Wanderer. And we learn that Wanderer has a conscience, so she helps Melanie find other surviving humans, including her little brother, uncle, and boyfriend. They make it across the desert to a large, cavernous structure that houses other humans. Some trust and others try to kill her, but eventually gains some ground in her little brother, a new love interest for Wanderer (threesome, anyone?), and her uncle. Obviously, not all of those aliens are peaceful, so it’s a matter of fighting that host off before we see any semblance of a happy ending. Overall, I thought it was a little corny, but having not read the book I can’t really judge it 100%. Loved the cast, but Rotten Tomatoes swayed my opinion a little bit with that 8% score.
Next over this extended weekend I took both my grandmas to go see Instant Family starring Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. It was hella cute! And Mark Wahlberg in anything helps it in my opinion. Lots of laughs and the appropriate amount of swearing – my personal favorite was Rose Byrne yelling “Out the way you came Pussy Riot!” I know overall this was a heart-warming movie and it’s supposed to motivate people to foster and adopt, but honestly, this just reinforced why I don’t want kids. I know, heart of ice. I can’t really give too much away considering most should be able to guess the plot, but it had comedy gold with Margo Martindale as grandma Sandy. Definitely worth the watch.
Finally (for my review anyways), I watched Game Night for the second time this year with my sister. Why not when you have free HBO for the weekend?! After this second watch, I stand by my review earlier in the year when I said “best comedy of 2018.” Which is sort of sad for the comedy genre considering it was a black comedy. It follows a highly competitive couple who get together with some of their friends for the ultimate game night hosted by lead Jason Bateman’s brother, Ron Livingston. What was supposed to be a planned kidnapping and brother reconciliation turns into a real kidnapping, mobsters, and one of my favorite scenes! If you don’t laugh at people gagging over blood, are you even human? Stellar cast, and an even more stellar plot! Billy Magnussen plays a hilarious dip-shit, and I don’t think my sister will ever get over the wonderfully creepy performance from Jesse Plemons. Bravo, Game Night, bravo.