Stronger (2017)

Directed by: David Gordon Green

Written by: John Pollono, Jeff Bauman (novel), & Bret Witter (novel)

Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal & Tatiana Maslany





 After the explosion from the Boston bombing, Jeff (Gyllenhaal) has to start getting used to life without his legs.  He goes through sporadic mood episodes and pretty much loses his motivation to live, but once he finds that he's a hero, he gets the courage to live life to its fullest.

It was okay.  I thought there'd be more about the actual bombing, but it mostly reflected his personal experience.  Gyllenhaal's performance was great and real, but I wouldn't see this film again.  It just wasn't my kind of film.

2 popcorns.

Home Again (2017)

Directed by: Hallie Meyers-Shyer

Written by: Hallie Meyers-Shyer

Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Michael Sheen, & Pico Alexander






This was a typical Nancy Meyers film, except it's by her daughter.  Still, basically the same.

Alice (Witherspoon) is going through the motions of being a single mom when she meets three young men that basically teach her how to still have fun.  She begins a relationship with one when her ex, Austen (Sheen), wants to get back together.

It's a feel good movie with a moral that life doesn't have to end when your marriage does.  Spend time on yourself and live life.  But overall, that's it, there isn't anything that "really" happens.  It's a see on tv type movie.

I wasn't impressed...only with Michael Sheen's hair.  Damn it looks good.

2 popcorns.

The Beguiled (2017)

Directed by: Sofia Coppola

Written by: Sofia Coppola & Thomas Cullinan (novel)

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning, & Colin Farrell



When Corporal John McBurney (Farrell), a Yankee, gets injured during the Civil War, he comes across a young girl named Amy (Oona Laurence), who takes him to an all girls' school to heal.  While there, romantic flings start with several women who all eventually turn on McBurney due to false intentions.

Best thing about this film was Marie played by Addison Riecke.  She was super cute and eased any tension that the film held with her cute face and acting skills.

Other than that the film sucked.  Yup, I said it.  It was terrible.  For 3/4s of the film, I was falling asleep.  There was nothing happening except everyone falling for the Yankee.  There was no action, no drama, barely any romance.  Ugh, I was dying.

Finally, towards the end it got interesting, but the way the film ended seemed like a bad choice.  But then again, I'm sure that's how the book ended.  Note to self: don't read the book.

2 popcorns, only because of good cinematography and that cute little girl.

*** Make sure to follow me to get a first look as to whether the film is worth it.  Click on "follow" in the left hand column.

My Cousin Rachel (2017)

Directed by: Roger Michell

Written by: Daphne Du Maurier (novel) & Roger Michell

Starring: Sam Claflin & Rachel Weisz




After his uncle died, Philip (Claflin) decides to find his uncle's fleeing wife Rachel (Weisz).  After finding her, he discovers her charm and falls in love with her.  But despite Rachel's affections in return, a secret looms from her past.

For the first half of the film, I was falling asleep.  It was all about establishing Philip's feelings for Rachel and vice versa.  It was necessary, but there was too much of it with no subplots to engage the viewer in further.

As for the second half of the film, it was much better.  It started turning into a Hitchcock film interestingly enough and the ending was a satisfying yet not satisfying way to end the film.

Another positive is the camera work brought the film to life.  The shots were so beautiful and moving that it definitely influenced the film to give it an eery feeling.

Nevertheless, 2 popcorns.

The Mummy (2017)

Directed by: Alex Kurtzman

Written by: David Koepp, Christopher McQuarrie, Dylan Kussman, Jon Spaihts, Alex Kurtzman, & Jenny Lumet

Starring: Tom Cruise, Russell Crowe, Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella, & Jake Johnson



Aye, where do I begin!

Tom Cruise stars as Nick Morton, a thief and adventurer.  After a thieving mission gone wrong, he discovers, along with his friend Chris Vail (Johnson), an Egyptian tomb located in Iraq.  Once opened, Nick is announced as the chosen one by Ahmanet (Boutella) that will supposedly be sacrificed so the god Set can have a human body.  In an attempt to break the curse, Nick along with his friend with benefits Jenny (Wallis), go in search of entrapping the mummy that's escaped as well as breaking the curse.

Let's get to it:

THE NEGATIVES -

1) I miss Brendan Fraser! Tom Cruise should not have been casted in this film.  The writers tried to make him funny, but he just isn't funny.  Every time he makes a joke, he just comes off as cocky.

2) The relationship between Nick and Jenny was terrible in comparison to Fraser and Rachel Weisz.  With Fraser and Weisz, there was basically a whole film of them just bantering until the moment of falling in love.  With Nick and Jenny, this was how the relationship went:

You slept with me and then stole my map!  I hate you.
Yeah, okay.  DANGER DANGER!

That was it.  There was not enough communication or banter to actually establish a relationship the audience could see.  Then they were like "I love you,"  but don't.  It was confusing and dumb.  I didn't like either of them, nor their relationship with each other.

3) Jake Johnson was in this film, why?  He was there to provide most of the comic relief, but it would have been so much better if he wasn't in it at all or they took out Tom Cruise.  Them together, to me, did not have chemistry.

4)  The mummies looked like zombies.  They're probably supposed to, but it was confusing. Maybe they were zombies?  What makes a zombie?

THE POSITIVES -

5) Best thing about this film was the implementation of other storylines.  Universal seems as if it is attempting to replicate Marvel and DC, but instead of superheroes, it's monsters.  Crowe plays Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.  How awesome is that!  Plus there were indications that they plan on making a Dracula film and more monster films.  Do it Universal!  Just don't cast Tom Cruise.

6) Sofia was amazing.  She projected an innocence and fierceness that brought the film to life pretty much.  She was a great mummy.

Anyway, those are my notes.  If you're going to see it, I suggest you rent it.  2 popcorns.

Unforgettable (2017)

Directed by: Denise Di Novi

Written by: Christina Hodson & David Leslie Johnson

Starring: Rosario Dawson & Katherine Heigl




Julia Banks (Dawson) is excited to start her adventurous new life with her fiancé David (Geoff Stults).  But little does she know that she's stepping into someone else's shoes...

I was bored for most of the film, except the ending.  Basically it's just a game between Tessa (Heigl) and Julia in an effort to get rid of the other one and end up with the happy family.  Julia though has been through a lot with a crazy stalker and now she has to deal with a crazy ex-wife.

The film's best feature was Heigl's performance.  She plays a good mean and crazy ex-wife.  If looks could kill, if you know what I mean.  You could feel her hatred through the screen.  She was amazing.

Everyone else was eh.  I was really just waiting for the good stuff a.k.a. the fight you see in the trailer.  A lot of the film was giving backstory to the characters, which was fine and all, but really?  Did it have to take up most of the film?

I suggest you rent this one if I were you.  2 popcorns.

Sleepless (2017)

Directed by: Baran bo Odar

Written by: Andrea Berloff, Frédéric Jardin, Nicolas Saada, & Oliver Douyère

Starring: Jamie Foxx, Michelle Monaghan, & Dermot Mulroney



When I first saw the preview for this film, I thought that it was an African American version of Taken.  It's not.  So whoever made the previews, you need to fix that.

Foxx plays Vincent, an undercover cop that actually works for the DEA ready to bust drug dealers.  Unfortunately, those drug dealers catch on and kidnap Vincent's son in order to stop him.  Vincent has to choose between saving his son and saving his job, or can he save both?

It was okay.  That's about it.  There wasn't anything exciting and the film felt familiar.  The best part of the film is Monaghan's part.  She plays a suspicious cop that wants to take Vincent down.  She's pretty awesome.

But nothing other than that.  2 popcorns.

Moonlight (2016)

Directed by: Barry Jenkins

Written by: Barry Jenkins & Tarell Alvin McCraney

Starring: Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Naomie Harris, & Trevante Rhodes



Moonlight portrays three stories of the same person throughout.  First, it begins with Little (Hibbert) and his struggles growing up and finding the proper role models.  The plot then evolves to Chiron (Sanders) and the problems he has in high school with his identity.  Lastly shown is Black (Rhodes) and how he has emerged as a man.

To start off with, I thought this film was slow and boring.  I didn't even watch it all the way through to the end.  I stopped at the third story so don't ask me what happens.

Despite the slow pace, the film was beautifully shot and edited extremely well.  The film felt more like a wonderful magnificent art piece.

The main problem of the film was the plot.  Not the acting, nor the music, etc...just the storyline.  There was nothing motivating me to keep watching the film.  I didn't feel a connection to the character because he kept changing to an older version.

I can see why though it is winning awards.  The film revolves around a controversial topic, which I don't wish to say because it gives important details away, just in case you decide to watch this film.

What do you think of this film?  Too slow for comfort or above and beyond?

2 popcorns.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)

Directed by: Tim Burton

Written by: Ransom Riggs (novel) & Jane Goldman

Starring: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, & Samuel L. Jackson




To start off, I’ve never read the book.  And to be honest, now after watching the film, I don’t want to.

Jake’s grandfather just died.  But he didn’t just die; he was murdered.  In an attempt to reconnect to his late grandfather, Jake follows his grandfather’s directions and goes to a small island near Wales.  While there, he discovers that all the stories that his grandfather told him were true.

The story is great for a book, but not a movie.  Or maybe they put too much of the book in the movie.  It just felt overwhelming. 

Also there’s the subject about the loop.  In the film, Miss Peregrine (Eva Green) has to make a loop so that way her and the children stay in the same day forever.  I felt that there needed to be more explanation as to why they stayed in a loop.  In the film they just explained that they would never grow older, but that didn’t seem like a good enough reason.  Maybe I missed something.

The CGI was cool though and the powers the children had.  But it just wasn’t as exciting as I thought.  It just seemed too complicated for me to concentrate on. 

2 popcorns.

Snowden (2016)

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Written by: Kieran Fitzgerald, Oliver Stone, Anatoly Kucherena (book), & Luke Harding (book)

Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt




If you haven't heard about Snowden, he is a man in which the government hates.  From my understanding he revealed to the public that the government has been secretly spying on us through our phones, computers, and more.  They have their own database that can reveal everything about a person.  Crazy stuff, but I believe it.

Anyway, that's what the film is about.  Based on a true story, Snowden (Gordon-Levitt) goes through life starting in the army to various government agencies such as the FBI, CIA, etc...  He learns an enormous amount of information and has to decide on his own morals whether to reveal to the public what he has learned or to keep going with his highly stressed life in the government.

I thought the concept of the film was very interesting.  I was intrigued to know more, but the way it was put together was boring.  I fell asleep at least twice and so did the person I went with.  We had to go get a soda, it was that bad.  I think the main thing about why I fell asleep is because there was a lot of talking and repetition of Gordon-Levitt deciding if he should or shouldn't.  For a person's life, it makes sense to go back and forth about a big decision.  But for a movie?  I don't think so.

Another issue is that it had too much information to where it made it a little confusing.  I can tell you the beginning and the end, but as for the details of what Snowden and the government knew, I'm lost.  I don't know all of the tech lingo nor the government lingo.  If you do, then you'll probably love this film, but I'm not one of those people.  2 popcorns.

The Disappointments Room (2016)

Directed by: D.J. Caruso

Written by: D.J. Caruso & Wentworth Miller

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Mel Raido, & Gerald McRaney




Dana (Beckinsale) and her family decide to move out to the country after a family tragedy.  Being separated from the city, unfortunately, does not boost the mood of the family and actually creates more friction when Dana begins to become obsessed with the disappointments room that she finds in her new home's attic.

This film was a disappointment.  I mainly saw it because I wanted to know what was in the room and when I found out, I was not too excited about it.

The film's location was beautiful.  So there was nothing wrong with that.  But some of the actors, that weren't the main characters, seemed not so great at acting...essentially the supporting characters were terrible actors.

Another issue I had with the film was the role of Ben, played by Lucas Till.  Till seemed a little on the young side to portray the role given of the flirty handyman.  His bad boy flintiness seemed like the ultimate failure and his character probably couldn't get anyone to sleep with him.

Also the story was a little confusing.  The moral of the story that I came up with seemed different or completely lost on others.  But if you see it, let me know what you think.

2 popcorns.

Lights Out (2016)

Directed by: David F. Sandberg

Written by: Eric Heisserer & David F. Sandberg

Starring: Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, & Maria Bello

I remember when Teresa Palmer was in I am Number 4….memories…

Well Palmer has now appeared in a horror film.  A not that great horror film.

When Rebecca’s (Palmer) little brother Martin (Bateman) begins falling asleep in school, she becomes concerned with his home and her mother.  It turns out that their mother has a demon/spirit/ghost living with them who does not like the lights on.  She also has anger issues.  Rebecca becomes determined to make her brother and mother safe.

Terrible summary, but whatever.

So what I didn’t like about this film is Diana (Alicia Vela-Bailey).  It was never determined what she was.  Technically she could touch you and you could touch her, but then she’d disappear when you’d turn on the lights.  But if you turned them off, she’d be in the same place.  Also she died years ago from light…  Like what?  So then how the heck do you kill her?  (I would tell you, but it would ruin it.) It just didn’t make sense.

Also it wasn’t clear why she was there in the first place.  She was following around her best friend, Sophie (Bello), but that was it.  Was she trying to kill her friend?  Did she want to stay in the human world?  It was just said that she was evil.  Not good enough for me, sorry.

On the positive side, apparently there was no CGI.  Diana was played by a person and did all her own stunts. 

2 popcorns.

The Neon Demon (2016)

Directed by: Nicolas Winding Refn

Written by: Nicolas Winding Refn, Mary Laws, & Polly Stenham

Starring: Elle Fanning, Jena Malone, & Keanu Reeves






Jessie (Fanning) just lost her parents and ventures to L.A. to make something of herself.  While there she gets into modeling and does very well due to her fresh young non-altered look.  The other models don't approve of the new competition and do everything in their power to make sure she doesn't succeed.

The film has a good premise, but falls short when it comes to the conclusion, mostly due to some supernatural weird circumstances that ruin the movie.  But some people may like that.  I wasn't one of those people and recommend you do not see this film unless you like experimental films.  (I usually do, but this one had a weird plot.)

Elle Fanning's character was great and who knew she was so tall?!  Poor Dakota.  Anyway, she'll probably go far in life and did a great job of being a model as well as adjusting to Jessie's character arc.

Even though I didn't like the plot, there were some interesting things technical wise.  The camera work was creative and artsy.  There were a few scenes with sun flares, too many in my opinion, but then they were nice shots of scenery and just general creative shots.  The editing was beautiful too with the neon lights and tint.

Other than that though, nothing to get excited about.  2 popcorns.

The Choice (2016)

Directed by: Ross Katz

Written by: Bryan Sipe & Nicholas Sparks (novel)

Starring: Benjamin Walker & Teresa Palmer







The Choice is just like all the other Sparks movies.  Just like The Notebook, The Longest Ride, The Last Song, etc...they pretty much all have the same elements.  Travis (Walker), a veterinarian, is neighbors with Gabby (Palmer), a medical student.  They hate each other, then fall in love, there is some other guy, yadda yadda yadda.  Of course someone has to fall ill or die.  If someone didn't then it would not be a Sparks film.  But there wasn't anything special about this film.  It is just like all the others as I said.

At first I did not want to see this film.  It looked boring and similar to the others.  But I only saw it due to Benjamin Walker.  He was married to Mamie Gummer (Meryl Streep's daughter) and now he is married to Kaya Scodelario, who is from my favorite television show Skins.  So I needed to see why these actresses I loved were marrying this guy.  I didn't see it, but maybe it's his eyes.  They look as if his puppy just died.  Anyway his acting was mediocre.  Very similar to Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, but just The Notebook, not any of Gosling's other films.  Palmer was good too, but nothing amazing.

The editing and cinematography were the best things about this film.  There was a slow motion part that I loved.  It's in the trailer I believe when Palmer gets into a car crash.  Plus there are some beautiful shots of the scenery where the story takes place.

I think perhaps Sparks has finally climbed over his successful peak.  Is he finally done?  Doubt it.  The person I went with was crying during the film, so there probably are still fans out there.  I guess I just outgrew him.  2 popcorns.
                       

Jane Got a Gun (2016)

Directed by: Gavin O'Conner

Written by: Brian Duffield, Anthony Tambakis, & Joel Edgerton

Starring: Natalie Portman, Joel Edgerton, & Ewan McGregor







I wasn't too impressed by this film as I hoped I'd be.  I liked it and everything, but it was not amazing in my opinion.

Jane (Portman) ends up in a sticky situation when her husband Bill Hammond, played by Noah Emmerich, comes home shot in the back and barely alive.  He tells her the gang of outlaws led by Colin McCann (McGregor) are coming to finish him off and probably take care of her too.  In order to survive, she finds Dan Frost (Edgerton), her past fiancé and asks for his help.  Begrudgingly he helps in order to protect the woman he still loves.

Definitely a love triangle going on in this film, but it did not seem to be portrayed well by Portman.  Edgerton was great in how he handled a situation where he met the man that took his fiancé away and so was Emmerich in how he was a bed ridden man that could do nothing, but glare and Edgerton.

The plot of the film was well enough, but like I said, nothing too exciting.  Everything technical about the film was right in the traditional sense, but there were no crazy moves or experiments with camera shots or editing that I noticed.

I suggest renting the film, since it isn't bad, but it isn't that great either.  2 popcorns.

The Good Dinosaur (2015)

Directed by: Peter Sohn

Written by: Peter Sohn, Erik Benson, Meg LeFauve, Kelsey Mann, & Bob Peterson

Starring: Raymond Ochoa & Jack Bright






I think out of all the Pixar movies I've seen, this one is the least liked.  I'm not trying to say it was the worst and make it sound bad because Pixar films are never bad, but every other Pixar film that has been made is better.

Arlo, the good dinosaur voiced by Ochoa, is the smallest and most cowardly of his family.  He tries to impress them, but he ends up being too scared to actually prove himself.  One day, his father grows tired of Arlo's fear and tries to make him stand up for himself, but fails.  Later, when Arlo gets separated from his family due to a caveman human named Spot, voiced by Bright, he has to face his fear if he is ever going to get home.

This movie is beautiful.  The colors, the lighting, the landscape are all gorgeous.  Some trees and water actually looked real; it was that amazing.

As for the actual plot, I was a little disappointed.  For some reason I thought it would be more heart wrenching.  Before seeing this film, I did get some sneak peaks from my school when a Pixar employee visited, but I didn't think that affected my viewpoint of this film.

The film kind of dragged and it seemed pretty obvious of what was going to happen.  Maybe it was supposed to be obvious, I mean it is a children's movie, but it was just a tad boring.  But still beautiful.  That's pretty much all I can say about it.  Boring and beautiful.  2 popcorns.