I don’t know what else I expected from a studio like Sony… “Venom” is the second film to feature the titular antihero (following 2007’s “Spider-Man 3”), and follows Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) as he is exposed to the alien symbiote and gains superpowers. Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Scott Haze and Reid Scott also star as… Continue reading Unlike its Title Character, ‘Venom’ Has No Bite
I love the smell of Oscar season in the morning… “A Star Is Born” is the third remake of the original 1937 film (which starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March), following one in 1954 (with Judy Garland and James Mason) and then again in 1976 (with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson). This time around Bradley… Continue reading ‘A Star Is Born’ Teeters on Greatness
When a film is about as enjoyable as taking a standardized test, you know you’re in trouble… “Night School” stars Kevin Hart as a high school dropout who must return to complete his GED after losing his job. Tiffany Haddish plays his teacher while Rob Riggle, Taran Killam, Romany Malco, Keith David and Loretta Devine… Continue reading ‘Night School’ is About as Funny as Taking the SATs
It’s like “Collateral Beauty” just with a less Oscar-nominated cast and less amusing absurdity. “Life Itself” follows several people as their stories intertwine over the course of decades, and how everyone is all randomly connected by a single event. Oscar Isaac, Olivia Wilde, Mandy Patinkin, Olivia Cooke, Laia Costa, Annette Bening and Antonio Banderas fill… Continue reading I Had More Fun Writing my ‘Life Itself’ Review than I Did Watching the Film
And I thought the DC Extended Universe had problems… “The Nun” is the fifth installment of the “Conjuring Universe” and a prequel to 2016’s “The Conjuring 2.” It follows a Catholic priest (Demián Bichir) and a young novitiate (Taissa Farmiga) who uncover an unholy secret in a Romanian monastery in 1952. Corin Hardy directs while… Continue reading ‘The Nun’ is Just Another Bland ‘Conjuring’ Spin-Off
Between this being the first Hollywood thriller to feature an Asian in the leading role and “Crazy Rich Asians” blazing its own trails and records, August was a good month for Asian-Americans. Told from the perspective of computers, cameras and smartphones, “Searching” follows a father who searches (eh!) for his missing teenage daughter. John Cho… Continue reading ‘Searching’ is a Tech Thriller with a Few Things to Say
This film is a lot like “Sausage Party” and “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” had a lovechild… “The Happytime Murders” takes place in a world where puppets and people co-exist, and follows a human cop (Melissa McCarthy) and a puppet private investigator (performed and voiced by Bill Barretta) that must solve a recent string of killings.… Continue reading ‘The Happytime Murders’ is Dumb, Vulgar and Only Occasionally Funny, but What Else Did You Expect?
“Slender Man” is based on the internet meme of the same name, in which a tall, skinny figure appears and haunts youth who summon him. It stars Joey King, Julia Goldani Telles, Jaz Sinclair and Annalise Basso, and is directed by Sylvain White. This film is lazy, ugly, derivative, boring, monotonous, dull, dreadful and moronic.… Continue reading If ‘Slender Man’ Does Not End Up Being the Worst Film of 2018 I Will Donate to Charity
Adam Driver is a national treasure and we must protect him at all costs. “BlacKkKlansman” is the true story of a black police officer in 1979 Colorado who leads an infiltration of the Ku Klux Klan. The film stars John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Harrier and Topher Grace and is directed by Spike Lee.… Continue reading ‘BlacKkKlansman’ is Crazy True Story that Makes a Pretty Good Movie
I thought Awkwafina was wasted in “Ocean’s 8” but after seeing her steal the show in this I *really* think Awkwafina was wasted in “Ocean’s 8.” “Crazy Rich Asians” is the adaptation of the novel of the same name, and follows an American-born Asian woman (Constance Wu) who travels to Singapore with her boyfriend (Henry… Continue reading Awkwafina is Great, ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is Just OK
The Reel Deal 