All I See Is You (2017)

Directed by: Marc Forster

Written by: Sean Conway & Marc Forster

Starring: Blake Lively & Jason Clarke






The film started off boring and repetitive.  It was basically setting up the back story about how Lively's character is blind and how she depends on her husband for the basic necessities, such as walking, reaching for items, and going in unfamiliar places.

As the film continued, it started getting better.  She was able to regain her eyesight to the point where her husband didn't even recognize his wife anymore, because she was a completely different person.

Technically, the film was amazing because it allowed for the audience to get a peek into what her vision was like before and after her surgery.  It allowed us to relate to her more and root for her.

But since about half the film was boring and the ending was unsatisfactory in my opinion, 3 popcorns is what it gets.

Thank You for Your Service (2017)

Directed by: Jason Hall

Written by: Jason Hall & David Finkel (novel)

Starring: Miles Teller, Haley Bennett, & Beulah Koale







Overall, the film was inspiring to be more proactive in fighting for veteran rights.  Plot wise, the film addressed what veterans go through in three different scenarios, such as gang activity, suicide, and the V.A.  It was very eye opening and brought about a larger issue that more people should be concerned of.

As a film, there were portions in the middle that dragged a little, such as the hunting scene, in my opinion, but I thought at the same time that these scenes were appropriate to bring about further scenes, essentially the backstory.  

On another note, I feel the casting choice for Miles Teller was poor.  To me, he's more of a college kid, because of how young he looks, but playing a late 20-year-old seems unbelievable, especially in him being a sergeant.

4 popcorns.

The Snowman (2017)

Directed by: Thomas Alfredson

Written by: Peter Straughan, Hossein Amini, Søren Sveistrup, & Jo Nesbø (novel)

Starring: Michael Fassbender & Rebecca Ferguson






Slowest movie I've seen in a long time.

After women go missing, Harry (Fassbender) and Katrine (Ferguson) begin to find snowmen along with them dead bodies, if there.  Working together, they discover clues to eventually solve the snowman killer.

The film was predictable and like I said, slow.  There was no action really and the investigators kept going back and forth on what they thought were clues, yadda yadda yadda.

Don't see it.  Not worth your time and is hella boring.

1 popcorn.

The Foreigner (2017)

Directed by: Martin Campbell

Written by: David Marconi & Stephen Leather (novel)

Starring: Jackie Chan & Pierce Brosnan






After an explosion killed his daughter, Quan (Chan) is determined to get revenge and know the names of the killers.  Questioning and stalking Liam (Brosnan), who is may have information as to who did the bombing is his main goal.  But Liam claims to not know anything.   But is he lying?

I thought the film would mostly be about Jackie Chan, but it isn't.  He's in it, doing his regular stunts, but the film is mostly about Brosnan figuring out who did the bombing.  That was kind of disappointing.

But the scenes with Chan were excellent.  He definitely showed his acting chops and presented his dramatic side.

3 popcorns.

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017)

Directed by: Angela Robinson

Written by: Angela Robinson

Starring: Luke Evans, Rebecca Hall, & Bella Heathcote







With this film, you get to see how the Justice League hero came to be.

Professor Marston (Evans) is married and teaches at Harvard about the DISC theory: Dominance, Inducement, Submission, and Compliance.  Unfortunately, nobody cares.  Meanwhile, his wife Elizabeth (Hall) is frustrated that she does not earn the credit and reputation for what she's accomplished simply because she's a woman.  Considering their new project, the lie detector, they decide to hire an intern/assistant that can help them test the theory and their invention.  But both fall in love with her.

Did I even talk about Wonder Woman?

Basically the film is just discussing how Marston's relationship with Elizabeth and Olive compile into one woman: Wonder Woman.  Through their unconventional relationship, their careers fall, but it does raise the question: Can you have two soul mates?  Can you be in love with more than one person?

I love these types of movies and although the trailer makes it seem that this film will be boring, I can assure you it isn't.  It is a little unorthodox in terms of subject matter, i.e. porn, but still it's a beautiful film that should be watched by everyone whom is closed minded, or if you like philosophy or Wonder Woman.

5 popcorns.

Victoria and Abdul (2017)

Directed by: Stephen Frears

Written by: Lee Hall & Shrabani Basu

Starring: Judi Dench & Ali Fazal







When presenting Queen Victoria (Dench) with a special Indian coin, Abdul (Fazal) looks her in the eyes and smiles.  Victoria, overcome with interest and attraction, decides to have him stay in England and work there as a servant whom slowly moves up the ranks.  Unhappy with the situation, Victoria's son and other staff members do anything they can to get him deported back to India.

This film is a feel good historical movie that is astounding that it is a true story.  Seeing their relationship on screen shows that both of them were ahead of their time, while everyone else was still prejudiced and racist.

This film also gave great insight as to why she held power for so long and why Abdul had never been heard of before.  The film was outstanding and the chemistry was magnetic.  In addition, the film aesthetics were fabulous, especially the chosen locations.

5 popcorns.

The Mountain Between Us (2017)

Directed by: Hany Abu-Assad

Written by: J. Mills Goodloe, Charles Martin (novel), & Chris Weitz

Starring: Idris Elba & Kate Winselt






In an attempt for survival, Alex (Winselt) and Ben (Elba) rely on each other to find other humans that have resources to lead them back home.  While on the mountain, they encounter dangerous terrain and unforeseen obstacles that bring them closer together.

This movie kept me on edge.  I kept wondering what was going to happen throughout the whole film. Were they going to be saved?  Were they going to die?  Who was going to die first?  Would they stay in touch even after they were saved?

Elba and Winselt had great chemistry, but it was the first time that I've seen a sexual relationship that was interracial.  But you could always just see it as two British doing it.  And yes, sorry for the spoiler.

But anyway I really liked it and some trivia: they were actually there in the snow and Kate Winslet actually did fall in the ice.  Crazy stuff.

4 popcorns.

Battle of the Sexes (2017)

Directed by: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

Written by: Simon Beaufoy

Starring: Emma Stone & Steve Carell








In this bio-flick, Emma Stone plays the famous Billie Jean King while Steve Carell plays Bobby Riggs.  This film was marketed as the greatest tennis match a.k.a. the battle of the sexes, but it was mostly about Billie Jean King discovering that she's attracted to women and how that can ruin her career.  The tennis match was about 20 minutes out of the whole movie.

In other words, the whole movie was advertised incorrectly in my opinion, which in the end ended up with this low score.

Yes, the aesthetics and film technicalities were fine, but the plot dragged on and wasn't exciting.  I don't even think you should rent the film.  Just skip it all together.  It wasn't entertaining at all.

But rather than a kernel, it'll get 1 popcorn, because both gave a good performance.

1 popcorn.

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.

Wind River (2017)

Directed by: Taylor Sheridan

Written by: Taylor Sheridan

Starring: Jeremy Renner & Elizabeth Olsen







When I saw the trailer for this film, I knew I didn't want to see it.  I didn't like that Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen were the stars in this mystery film that focuses on Native Americans and their reservation.  They couldn't get Native American actors?  But then again someone noted that they would need big star names for the film to actually be successful and made.  But, still...

Nevertheless, the film was great.  The plot was sound and made sense as well as made you think about who the killers of this poor Native American girl could be.  While the main storyline was going on, there was also some consideration about Renner's character's background and how he fit in.

4 popcorns.

Brad's Status (2017)

Directed by: Mike White

Written by: Mike White

Starring: Ben Stiller & Austin Abrams






Brad's (Stiller) son Troy (Abrams) is finally going to college.  As a result, they begin scouting and getting interviews to help his son's college applications.  As they go from school to school, Brad contemplates his life and wonders: was it a waste?

This philosophical film is relatable as an audience member.  Has our whole life been a waste up to now?  What achievements have we made?  Are these achievements for ourselves or are they for society?  And what guarantees an achievement?  Is it happiness?  Money?  Contentment?

Okay, maybe I'm being too philosophical, but that's this movie.  It's pretty funny though seeing Brad go through a mid-life crisis while his son is barely beginning his.

4 popcorns.

Mother! (2017)

Directed by: Darren Aronofsky

Written by: Darren Aronofsky

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Michelle Pfeiffer, & Ed Harris






The movie without character names.  Thanks Aronofsky.

Lawrence plays a housewife that is remodeling her husband's childhood home.  Bardem, her husband, is a famous author trying to write his next book without any success or inspiration.  After a husband shows up unannounced, it goes down hill from here.  Bardem, being a great host, allows Harris in to stay the night.  Lawrence, deeply upset by this fears the strangers and wonders their intention.  Next thing you know, more guests show up, causing Lawrence deep anxiety.  The film spirals out of control to end up with (SPOILER below)...

...Lawrence dying and Bardem claiming her heart to restart the whole cycle again.  It was confusing for the most part.  Was Bardem God?  Was he the devil?  Was he mother earth?  Was she?  There wasn't a definite answer, which I guess is supposed to make it brilliant, but from what I heard, it made it some people very upset.

For example, if he was God, why would he allow his wife and child to die, especially all the violence that led to that.  But at the same time, religiously speaking God did sacrifice Jesus.

But then there are theories of him being the devil.  That would explain his charisma and the violence. Plus, the claiming of all the souls and pretty much life being destroyed.  But is the devil capable of love and to love all his fans and wife?

Then the theory of mother Earth.  Is each wife mother Earth?  That would explain the title and how her heart can recreate life.  But he's the one that does it.  And if the crystal that broke in the movie representing balance and peace didn't break, would Lawrence still be alive?

I don't know.  And this is why it's 3 popcorns.  It's an artistic film with an unconventional ending as well as confusing and mostly unsatisfactory one.  But I still liked it.