It’s official: Peter Berg is a more toned down version of Michael Bay. “Deepwater Horizon” is based on the true story of the 2010 explosion and oil spill by the titular drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico. Mark Wahlberg stars alongside Kurt Russell, John Malkovich, Gina Rodriguez, Dylan O’Brien and Kate Hudson as Peter… Continue reading ‘Deepwater Horizon’ Big on Booms, Low on Story
Another 2016 film, another disappointment. “The Birth of a Nation” tells the real-life story of Nat Turner’s 1831 slave rebellion. Nate Parker directs (in his debut), co-writes, produces and stars as Turner, with Armie Hammer, Aja Naomi King and Jackie Earle Haley in supporting roles. This shares a title with D.W. Griffith’s 1915 film, and… Continue reading ‘The Birth of a Nation’ a Well-Acted but Heavy Handed Drama
Do yourself a favor and instead of watching this, go watch “3:10 to Yuma” and then “Seven Samurai” (after reading this review of course). “The Magnificent Seven” is a remake of the 1960 western film of the same name, which in turn was a remake of the 1954 Japanese film, “Seven Samurai.” It stars Denzel… Continue reading ‘The Magnificent Seven’ a Slow, Surprisingly Dull Western Remake
It’s hard to believe Eddie Murphy hasn’t made a movie in four years but here we are. I wish it was on better terms… “Mr. Church” stars Murphy as the titular character, a chef who is hired to cook for a single mother (Natascha McElhone) and her daughter (Britt Robertson) in 1970s Los Angeles. Bruce… Continue reading ‘Mr. Church’ an Awkward, Tedious Return for Eddie Murphy
Joseph Gordon-Levitt really is one talented dude… “Snowden” is the “based on a true story” bio pic about the whistleblower Edward Snowden, the man who leaked classified info to let the world know the NSA was spying on them through their personal technology. Gordon-Levitt stars as the title character while an ensemble cast including Shailene… Continue reading ‘Snowden’ a Well-Acted but Overlong Drama
This was hands-down the longest, most grueling 89 minutes I have ever spent in a movie theater. “Blair Witch” is the third installment of the franchise of the same name and follows a group of friends who set out to visit the woods where the first film took place. James Allen McCune, Callie Hernandez, Brandon… Continue reading The Boring, Unintelligent ‘Blair Witch’ Is One of Worst Horror Films Ever Made
Of all the “it’s been over 10 years, did we really need a sequel?” films of 2016, this one is certainly the best. “Bridget Jones’s Baby” stars Renée Zellweger in the title role in the third installment of the franchise, and the first since 2004. This time around, Jones gets pregnant and either Colin Firth… Continue reading Bridget Jones Delivers a ‘Baby’ and Some Decent Charm
Oh, Oscar season. How we’ve missed you so. “Sully” stars Tom Hanks in the titular role of Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 which was forced to perform an emergency water landing on the Hudson River in January 2009. Aaron Eckhart stars as Sully’s co-pilot and Laura Linney plays his wife… Continue reading ‘Sully’ a Solid Start to Oscar Season
Between getting stabbed in this and punched in “The Hateful Eight,” it hasn’t been a good year to be Jennifer Jason Leigh’s left eye… “Morgan” stars Kate Mara as a cooperate risk-management consultant who is sent to determine whether or not the company’s artificially-created humanoid (Anya Taylor-Joy) should be terminated after an incident (aforementioned eye-stabbing).… Continue reading ‘Morgan’ an Uneventful, Recycled Mess
It’s like “Funny People” except not funny… “Don’t Think Twice” follows members of a New York City improv group that struggle to cope with their own lives after one of them gets a big break. Mike Birbiglia writes, directs and also stars alongside Keegan-Michael Key, Gillian Jacobs, Kate Micucci, Tami Sagher and Chris Gethard. A… Continue reading Don’t Think About Seeing ‘Don’t Think Twice’
The Reel Deal 