Well Jordan Peele was able to beat the mediocre freshman directorial debut cliché, so if anyone can stump the sophomore slump it’s him. “Us” is the second feature from writer-director Jordan Peele, following his Oscar-winning start with “Get Out” in 2017. It follows a family (Lupita Nyong’o, Winston Duke, Shahadi Wright Joseph and Evan Alex)… Continue reading ‘Us’ Keeps Us Guessing in the Most Tense of Ways
Remember back in 2014 when Netflix was known for its cut-rate made-for-TV movies instead of helming Oscar contenders? Yeah, this film feels like it missed the queue by a few years… “Captive State” takes place on Earth after an alien species has invaded and forced humanity’s surrender, and follows a small faction determined to start… Continue reading ‘Captive State’ is the Netflix Movie that Netflix Would be Embarrassed to Stream
Ok. I’m a big enough man to admit when I’m wrong. And I may have just been wrong. “Captain Marvel” is the 21st installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and the first film to feature Brie Larson as the titular hero. Samuel L. Jackson also stars as a younger version of his Nick Fury character… Continue reading I’ll Eat Crow and Say It: ‘Captain Marvel’ was Fun and I was Wrong
Remember when Michael Jordan and Brett Favre both kept retiring and promising that it was “for real this time”? Yeah, that seems to be Liam Neeson with his “old man with a gun” films. “Cold Pursuit” is a remake of the 2014 Norwegian film “In Order of Disappearance,” which was directed by Hans Petter Moland,… Continue reading ‘Cold Pursuit’ Leaves Liam Neeson Out in the Cold
Another day, another bland PG-13 Hollywood remake. “Miss Bala” is a remake of the 2011 Mexican film, and stars Gina Rodriguez as an American woman who is kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel while visiting her friend in Tijuana and forced to help them in order to find her missing friend. Ismael Cruz Córdova, Cristina… Continue reading ‘Miss Bala’ Fires Blanks
Haven’t we learned from the likes of “Zoolander” and “Tron” that making sequels to beloved films over a decade after the first installment causes nothing but harm… “Glass” is the third film in writer-director M. Night Shyamalan’s “grounded superhero” trilogy following “Unbreakable” (2000) and “Split” (2017). Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis reprise their roles… Continue reading ‘Glass’ is Such a Letdown that it Will Break Your Heart
Talk about a film that much like its central characters just can’t seem to catch a break. “The Upside” is a remake of the 2011 French film “The Intouchables.” It follows a paralyzed billionaire (Bryan Cranston) who hires a recently paroled convict (Kevin Hart) to take care of him. Nicole Kidman, Julianna Margulies, and Aja… Continue reading ‘The Upside’ Has a Semi-Serious Kevin Hart, but Not Much Else New
Sometimes a film is such a train wreck, a misguided screw-up of such epic proportions, that you can’t help but stare in amazement. “Welcome to Marwen” is the latest film from director Robert Zemeckis, based on the 2010 documentary “Marwencol.” The film, inspired by a true story, follows Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell) who is beaten… Continue reading ‘Welcome to Marwen’ is Awful yet Brilliant, Dumb but Genius
I just want to go back to the days where Adam McKay was helping Will Ferrell make his only good movies… “Vice” is the biopic of Dick Cheney, a man who would rise from young staffer all the way to Vice President of the United States. Christian Bale, who gained 40 pounds for the role,… Continue reading All the Makeup in the World Can’t Cover the Major Flaws in ‘Vice’
I don’t care what anyone says, Jason Momoa is #NotMyAquaman, that will forever be Vincent Chase from “Entourage.” “Aquaman” is the sixth installment of the DC Extended Universe, and the first solo film for the titular character (we last saw him in last year’s abomination “Justice League”). Jason Momoa reprises his role as Arthur Curry… Continue reading ‘Aquaman’ Tries to be Fresh and Goofy but Ends Up Sinking into the Abyss
The Reel Deal 