It’s a Batman movie, so obviously it’s an instant 10/10. Thanks for coming, drive home safe. Ugh. Fine, I’ll be objective. “The Lego Batman Movie” is a spin-off of the character “introduced” in “The Lego Movie,” again voiced by Will Arnett. This time around Batman must stop the Joker… Continue reading ‘The Lego Batman Movie’ a Well-Constructed Animated Romp
It’s a lot to ask lightning to strike in the same bottle twice… “John Wick: Chapter 2” is the sequel to the 2014 surprise-hit-turned-cult-classic “John Wick” and features Keanu Reeves returning to the titular role of a hitman who just can’t seem to stay retired. Common, Laurence Fishburne, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ruby Rose, John Leguizamo and… Continue reading ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ Shoots Itself in the Foot
I’m enjoying this Michael Keaton renaissance. “The Founder” tells the true tale of how Ray Kroc (Keaton) came to run the McDonald’s food chain and turn it into the franchised empire we know today. Nick Offerman and John Carroll Lynch play the McDonald brothers as Linda Cardellini, Patrick Wilson, B. J. Novak and Laura Dern… Continue reading Like the Burgers it’s About, ‘The Founder’ is a Well-Done Biopic
An ending can often make or break a film; a strong case can be made this film’s ending breaks it. “Split” is the latest film from writer/director M. Night Shyamalan and follows a man with a multiple personality disorder (James McAvoy) who kidnaps three teenage girls (Anya Taylor-Joy, Haley Lu Richardson and Jessica Sula). A… Continue reading ‘Split’ Features Great Performances, Not So Strong Execution
This, “Lone Survivor,” “Deepwater Horizon”… guess Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg are just going to spend the rest of their careers making films about recent tragedies. “Patriots Day” is about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing and its subsequent manhunt. Mark Wahlberg, J. K. Simmons, John Goodman, Kevin Bacon and Michelle Monaghan all star as Peter… Continue reading ‘Patriots Day’ a Solid, Respectful Thriller with a Few Stumbles
This is honestly going to be one of the most difficult reviews I’ve ever written… “Silence” is the latest film from Martin Scorsese, a passion project of the director’s for over 25 years. The film follows two 17th-century Jesuit priests (Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver) who travel from Portugal to Japan in order to locate… Continue reading ‘Silence’ Easier to Admire than Enjoy
This is one of those instances where you sit watching a movie and the entire time you think, “how the hell did this thing get made?” “Monster Trucks” is a “family comedy” (both terms used lightly) starring Lucas Till as a high schooler who finds out a monster from a drilling accident has taken shelter… Continue reading ‘Monster Trucks’ Inexplicably Well-Cast, Expectedly Blandly Written
For the second year in a row, the best film of the year comes out at Christmas. “La La Land” stars Ryan Gosling as a jazz pianist who falls in love with an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) in Los Angeles. John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt and J.K. Simmons also star as Damien Chazelle writes and directs.… Continue reading ‘La La Land’ a Gorgeous Film Celebrating Dreams
This film is the Anakin Skywalker of video game movies. It was supposed to be the Chosen One, the film that would finally make video game movies good and bring balance to the cinematic universe, but instead it turns out to be a bland origin story that betrays the very people that put their hope… Continue reading ‘Assassin’s Creed’ the Worst Video Game Movie of 2016, and 2016 had ‘Warcraft’
Great performance, great real-life story, meh film. “Jackie” stars Natalie Portman as the titular character of Jackie Kennedy, and follows her retelling of the days after her husband’s assassination in 1963. Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and John Hurt also star as Pablo Larraín directs. There are plenty of examples of great actors giving… Continue reading Portman Great as ‘Jackie’ but Script Lets Her Down
The Reel Deal 