Life

Life is a sci-fi thriller about 6 astronauts who discover an extraterrestrial life form on Mars.

This plot was full of suspense that kept me on edge and the acting from the entire cast was spot on. The movie had some unpredictability which lead to great twists and turns.

This wasn’t a typical, boring lost in space movie and even though there were scenes that made me a bit squeamish it was a very entertaining movie. I’d definitely recommend checking this one out.

Daddy’s Home

Daddy’s Home is a comedy about Brad Whitaker, a mellow, unassuming radio host, played by Will Farrell. Brad has been trying to be the father his wife’s children never had but his plans are disturbed when their biological father, the much cooler and manipulative, Dusty Mayron, played Mark Wahlberg, returns. 

This movie was hilarious almost from start to finish. There were only a couple of parts that were really outside of the box but for the most part it was a hit. Mark Wahlberg and Will Ferrell have proven to be a really great comedic duo. I enjoyed them in The Other Guys and they didn't disappoint with this either. If you are looking for a comedy look no further than this gem.

Bessie

Bessie is a HBO made for TV movie starring Queen Latifah, Michael Kenneth Williams and Mo’Nique. It’s the story of blues singer Bessie Smith. Michael Williams played Bessie’s husband, Jack Gee, and Mo’Nique played Ma Rainey. 

All of the actors in this biography did an amazing job but it was Queen Latifah’s portrayal of Bessie that stole the show. This film gives great insight to the trials and tribulations that Bessie went through to become one of the most famous singers of the 1920s and 30s. It was a well told story with a great script that I would definitely recommend checking out.

The Handmaid’s Tale

I've heard how great the novel and the current TV show on Hulu of the same name were so I wanted to give this movie a shot. The plot was interesting but unfortunately that was all that was good about this movie. It was made in 1990 so it definitely has an outdated film-making strategy, the acting wasn’t the greatest and script could have used some work. For those reasons I feel like this movie unfortunately fell flat and was a waste of time to watch. I'd say skip this movie.

Hacksaw Ridge

Hacksaw Ridge was an incredibly powerful retelling of conscientious objector, Desmond Doss' life during WWI. He served as a medic and refused to carry a weapon or kill another individual during the Battle of Okinawa.

This true story showcased Desmond’s bravery and his relentless determination to be in the military and to save lives, when all others were against him.

The acting in this movie was quite good. Andrew Garfield’s portrayal of Desmond was by far the most compelling part of the film. There’s no surprise why he was nominated for so many awards for his performance. Vince Vaughn was a surprising yet quite impressive selection for the more dramatic role as Sgt Howell, Desmond’s superior. Overall this was a great film and a real American story that I am happy was told and definitely should be seen.

Wonder Woman

I’m happy to announce that Wonder Woman did not disappoint. I was concerned because the commercials didn’t all portray this movie in the most flattering light, but it actually turned out even better than I thought it would.

The plot was engaging and the CGI action sequences were really crisp and clean; made in a way that didn’t look cheap or fake. I think that Gal Gadot was the perfect Wonder Woman. Not only a great beauty but also a talented actor. She was able to convey humor and drama along with some outstanding athleticism. Overall I really enjoyed this movie and would recommend catching an early show because this is a popular one.

Arrival

 Watching Arrival turned out to be 2 hours of my life that I will never get back. Even Amy Adam’s compelling performance couldn’t save this movie. 

It had a Jodie Foster Contact (1997) vibe to it. Very heavy and dry dialogue with the suspense being mild at best. It literally took until the last 20 minutes of the movie to even figure out what the purpose of the film was. The fact that it lacked any sort of action or any other engaging quality until an hour and a half in really made it hard to get through this bore. For this one, I’d say save those 2 hours of your life and avoid this sci-fi stinker.