Review

‘Atomic Blonde’ Not as Big a Blast as It Should Be

It’s been a good year for women at the movies, with “Wonder Woman” saving the DC Extended Universe and “Girls Trip” being the best comedy of 2017. We were due for a misstep eventually… “Atomic Blonde” stars Charlize Theron as an MI6 agent who must track down a defecting German with a list of undercover… Continue reading ‘Atomic Blonde’ Not as Big a Blast as It Should Be

Review

‘A Ghost Story’ is a Hard Film to Figure Out

I think David Lowery following up a $65 million Disney blockbuster with a $100,000 adult drama is the definition of Hollywood’s “one for them, one for me” rule. “A Ghost Story” follows the soul of a recently deceased man (Casey Affleck) who returns to the home he shared with his girlfriend (Rooney Mara). David Lowery… Continue reading ‘A Ghost Story’ is a Hard Film to Figure Out

Review

‘Valerian’ is a Beautiful Looking Mess

Hollywood needs to stop trying to make Cara Delevingne happen, she’s never going to happen. “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” (I won’t be typing all that this whole review) is based on the French comic series and stars Dane DeHaan and Cara Delevingne as two space cops in the future who must… Continue reading ‘Valerian’ is a Beautiful Looking Mess

Review

‘Girls Trip’ is Raunchy and Hilarious and I Lowkey Loved it

I love it when a film is exactly what you hoped it would be. “Girls Trip” stars Regina Hall, Queen Latifah, Tiffany Haddish and Jada Pinkett Smith as four lifelong friends who travel to a music festival in New Orleans to try and reconnect after years apart. Malcolm D. Lee directs. I have several guilty… Continue reading ‘Girls Trip’ is Raunchy and Hilarious and I Lowkey Loved it

Review

‘Dunkirk’ is an Overly-Ambitious but Still Pretty Good War Film

Between this, “Churchill” last month and “Darkest Hour” in November, World War II Britain is getting a lot of cinematic visits this year… “Dunkirk” is the new film from writer/director Christopher Nolan, and follows the attempted evacuation of some 400,000 British soldiers off the French beach of the titular city in the early stages of… Continue reading ‘Dunkirk’ is an Overly-Ambitious but Still Pretty Good War Film

Review

‘The Big Sick’ Has Big Heart

It’s always nice when Ray Romano pops up in things; I feel this modern generation doesn’t appreciate him enough… “The Big Sick” is the semi-true story of how actor Kumail Nanjiani met his wife (with whom he co-wrote the script). Zoe Kazan stars as his future bride-to-be Emily V. Gordon, as Holly Hunter and Ray… Continue reading ‘The Big Sick’ Has Big Heart

Review

‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ is Visually Strong, Narratively Weak

First Kevin Spacey in “Baby Driver” then Michael Keaton in “Spider-Man: Homecoming” and now Woody Harrelson: I keep forgetting how much I love certain actors until they show up on screen. “War for the Planet of the Apes” is the third film in the reboot/prequel series and follows the final confrontation between the Apes, led… Continue reading ‘War for the Planet of the Apes’ is Visually Strong, Narratively Weak

Review

‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Isn’t Amazing, But It’s Pretty Darn Fun

Much like Kevin Spacey, I always seem to forget how much I love Michael Keaton until I see Michael Keaton pop up on screen. “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is the second reboot in five years of the character, and features Tom Holland reprising his role as the titular hero from last year’s “Captain America: Civil War.” This… Continue reading ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming’ Isn’t Amazing, But It’s Pretty Darn Fun

Review

‘Despicable Me 3’ is Everything You’d Expect, and I Enjoyed Most of It

Maybe the Minions aren’t as much a sign of the Apocalypse as I once feared… “Despicable Me 3” is the third film of Illumination’s most popular franchise, and follows ex-villain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell) who meets his long-lost twin brother (also Carell). The duo must then team up to defeat a childhood actor-turned-supervillain (Trey… Continue reading ‘Despicable Me 3’ is Everything You’d Expect, and I Enjoyed Most of It

Review

Don’t Bet on ‘The House’ to Make You Laugh

Will Ferrell really needs to stop making R-rated comedies, they’re never good. “The House” stars Ferrell and Amy Poehler as parents who start an underground casino in order to pay for their daughter’s college tuition. Jason Mantzoukas, Ryan Simpkins and Nick Kroll also star as Andrew J. Cohen makes his directorial debut. I was looking… Continue reading Don’t Bet on ‘The House’ to Make You Laugh