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
Finally, a 2016 blockbuster that isn’t a let down! “Rogue One” is set between Star Wars Episodes III and IV and focuses on the rebels’ plans to steal the designs to the Death Star. Felicity Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Mads Mikkelsen, Riz Ahmed and Forest Whitaker all star as Gareth Edwards directs. I’m not the biggest… Continue reading ‘Rogue One’ One of Best ‘Star Wars’ Films to Date
Walter White meets Harry Osborn. Hilarious, right?! “Why Him?” stars Bryan Cranston as a father who meets the man his daughter is dating (James Franco) and starts a feud with him during Christmas. Zoey Deutch, Megan Mullally and Keegan-Michael Key also star as John Hamburg directs. Both James Franco and Bryan Cranston have been very… Continue reading ‘Why Him?’ a Totally Stupid, Mostly Unfunny Waste of Talent
Finally, a film that features the excitement of an actual office Christmas party, but with all the laughs of an actual office Christmas party (so to say not much of either). “Office Christmas Party” is about exactly what its title would suggest and features an ensemble cast (including Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T. J. Miller,… Continue reading ‘Office Christmas Party’ as Fun as Real Company Gathering
Subtlety can be a film’s largest strength or biggest weakness, and in this case it’s both. “Loving” tells the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple in 1960s Virginia who fight to have the marriage laws of the United States changed. Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga star as the couple alongside Nick… Continue reading ‘Loving’ is Well Acted but Too Subtle for its Own Good
It’s like “Café Society,” only worse. “Rules Don’t Apply” marks the cinematic return of Warren Beatty in his first acting role since 2001’s “Town & Country” and directorial effort since 1998’s “Bulworth.” Beatty stars as Howard Hughes and the story follows a contract driver (Alden Ehrenreich) and actress (Lily Collins) who are employed by Hughes… Continue reading ‘Rules Don’t Apply’ a Boring, Disappointing Return for Warren Beatty
I mean, at least it’s better than “The Hobbit” or “Star Wars” prequels… “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is the first of five (five!!) films of the spin-off prequel Harry Potter series that follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), the author of the animal guide students at Hogwarts will eventually use. Katherine Waterston, Dan… Continue reading ‘Fantastic Beasts’ a Comforting but Flawed Return to Harry Potter
Part of me spent the entire runtime of this film hoping it would turn out to be an “Inglourious Basterds” spin-off… “Allied” stars Brad Pitt and Marion Cotillard as two spies in World War II who meet and fall in love during a mission to assassinate a German official. Jared Harris, Lizzy Caplan and Matthew… Continue reading ‘Allied’ a Slow-Burn Spy Thriller Worth Watching
Who would have thought a coming-of-age story could be so original? “Moonlight” follows Chiron, a gay African American in Miami, through three stages of his life (youth, teen and adult) and the struggles he faces to figure out who he truly is. Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert star as the three incarnations of… Continue reading ‘Moonlight’ a Well-Acted and Masterfully Shot Drama
The Reel Deal 