Maybe they should just let Jon Favreau direct all the live-action Disney remakes… “Beauty and the Beast” is a remake of the 1991 animated film of the same name (first animated film ever nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, fun fact). Emma Watson and Dan Stevens star as the titular characters, with Luke Evans,… Continue reading ‘Beauty and the Beast’ a Colorful but Pointless Remake
Say what you will about Peter Jackson’s 2005 King Kong film, but it’s Citizen Kane compared to this. “Kong: Skull Island” is a reboot of the character and the second installment of Legendary’s “MonsterVerse” following 2014’s “Godzilla.” Instead of being set in the 1920s and featuring Kong going on a New York City rampage, this… Continue reading ‘Kong’ will Bore You Out of Your Skull Island
My friend made a good point while we were watching this: who says “fist fight?” That’s not a thing that is organically said by normal humans. “Fist Fight” stars Ice Cube and Charlie Day as teachers at a high school who plan on fighting each other after one of them gets fired on the last… Continue reading ‘Fist Fight’ as Much Fun as a Punch to the Head
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
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
The Reel Deal 