Greta

Greta is a thriller starring Isabelle Huppert and Chloë Grace Moretz. When Frances McCullen, a young woman, befriends a lonely older woman, Greta, things seem normal at first but quickly become disturbing as Greta develops an unhealthy obsession for Frances. 

I thought the plot interesting but predictable. There were quite a few sequences that were not very realistic and even with the good little twist at the end, it was hard to stay engaged with this movie.

The character development was not very unique. The qualities that Greta and Frances had I have seen in plenty of other movies of a similar theme. Even with a cookie cutter base, I still thought that the acting from Isabelle as Greata was pretty good, Chloë as Frances on the other hand wasn’t very impressive. She was a bit boring, as was the delivery of this movie. It was supposed to be suspenseful but the parts that were supposed to generate some sort of anxiety or stress were weak at best, even during the climax at the end, I was not feeling any sort of emotion and that means a lot coming from me because I am one who is easily startled.

I sat though this entire movie hoping it would get better but it never did. It was just a long dragged out movie, which could have had potential, but in the end, dropped the ball. My recommendation would be to save your time and skip this one.

Extraction

Extraction is an action thriller starring Chris Hemsworth as an Australian mercenary hired to find the kidnaped son of an Indian crime lord. 

The plot was engaging and suspenseful throughout. It was easy to follow and reminded me a lot of Man on Fire.

The fight choreography was creative and gritty. The action sequences were adrenaline pumping and realistic.

The acting was great from the entire cast. I was especially impressed with Hemsworth who gave me some unexpected range. His character was easy to like and root for.The only part of this movie that could have used some work was the lack in quality character development and depth, especially from some of the supporting characters. I would have liked to know more about their back stories.

Even with a misstep on the creation of the supporting characters, I still thought that this movie was really good and definitely worth checking out.

Lost Girls

Lost Girls is a Netflix produced, dramatic thriller based on the true story, Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker. It is about activist Mari Gilbert's mission to find her daughter in 2010. Due to the Long Island, New York Police’s inaction, she ends up bringing national attention to over a dozen unsolved murdered sex workers in the area.

I had never heard this story before so I thought that the script was very interesting. It amazed me how incompetent the law enforcement where and how threats of leaking information to the press was the only way to get them moving on murders in their own town. It is also sad to know that these investigations are still open. I liked how they incorporated some real footage at the end of the movie to give it authenticity however the delivery of the majority of the plot was a bit slow moving. This almost would have been better as a 30 minute documentary on a local channel vs turning it into a 90 minute Netflix movie.

Themes around family, forgiveness, activism and moving forward were all present. The character development was good for Mari Gilbert but could have elaborated more on the co-stars. Amy Ryan did a great portrayal of Mari, a complicated character who was rough along the edges and didn't put up with much. She loved her daughters but struggled financially and it hurt her ability to be present as a mother, which caused her to carry around a lot of guilt for not being a good parent.

In the end I was left feeling like the movie was just okay. I think it is hard to feel satisfied with a film like this because of the fact that it is an unsolved murder mystery. Therefore, due to no fault of the writers own, I think it is worth checking out once but not worth watching again.

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker

Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam C.J. Walker is a Netflix produced TV Mini-Series loosely based on the life of haircare entrepreneur and influencer Sarah Breedlove who became Madam C.J. Walker

The plot was interesting, motivating and engaging. It showed how driven and dedicated Madam C.J. Walker was in a man’s world and how difficult it was for people of color to strike out on their own, especially for women, who were encouraged to stay in their place and not make any noise.

The acting from the entire cast and character development were great. You really could connect to and understand each of the major players in this series. Octavia Spencer did a fabulous job in the lead role. She brought strength, grace and power to this character. Tiffany Haddish was also impressive and refreshing in this more serious role as Madam C.J. Walker's daughter, Lelia. Additionally, among the rest of the cast, it was inspirational to see such a variety of beautiful Black men and women, a number of actors who I had never seen on screen before. I also thought that the set design, costumes and hair were all appropriate for the era.

I was not a fan of the soundtrack; it was too modern for a timeline set in the late 1800s. There should have been more big band and less Hip-Hop and R&B. Also, I can also see the criticism that came with the light-skinned Black people portrayed as the villains, I think if there was a bit more diversity in the casting in this area, it would have been more acceptable by some of the critics.

Though perhaps not entirely historically accurate, due to some artistic licenses, this mini-series was still believable and a story worth telling. If you are looking for something that roots for the underdog; that will make you feel prideful, something that is easy to follow and binge worthy, this is the one for you.

The Invisible Man

The Invisible Man is a thriller starring Elisabeth Moss as Cecilia Kass. When Cecilia’s abusive ex, Adrian Griffin, commits suicide, she becomes suspicious and her behavior starts to make her friends and family think she’s crazy. Is Adrian gaslighting her or is she actually crazy, that is the question asked throughout the film.

I thought that the plot was very interesting, it keeps you on your toes until the last moments of the film. The cinematography, specifically the camera edits did a great job of making you feel like someone was watching Cecelia.

The acting across the entire cast was great. Moss held her own as the lead and did a compelling job playing a manic, scared, paranoid character. I would have liked a bit more character development but overall you were able to connect with the people.

I found this movie to be gory, very intense and suspenseful with a great twist at the end. It is definitely worth checking out.

Bad Boys for Life

Bad Boys for Life is the third installment in the Bad Boys franchise. 17 years after Bad Boys 2, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett, reprised by Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, respectively, team up again to track down a killer who is out for revenge, targeting all those who have wronged him.

I liked the plot in that it was unpredictable and focused on the themes of ageing, family, friendship, and being open to change. The twist at the end was a bit lame but they’ve set this up for another sequel so I’ll ride along with it for now.

I thought that the cast was great. They brought back a lot of the originals along with adding a new high tech millennial crew which, mixed with the old guys, made for a fun juxtaposition. We also get the same funny banter from Mike and Marcus that we love along with some fresh faces that also brought some comedy to the table.

The cinematography from the opening sequence was just like the previous Bad Boys movies which made for a nice walk down memory lane, along with similar music and inside jokes referenced from the first and second movies, it made for a film full of nostalgic qualities.

If you liked the previous Bad Boys movies you will like this one too. It is helpful to have seen the first two movies to get some of the jokes, but not necessary. As long as you are looking for an action packed roller-coaster of a movie, this one is for you.

The Banker

The Banker is a drama, based off of true events, of two African American men, Joe Morris and Bernard Garrett, living the American dream during the segregated 1960s through real estate and eventually bank ownership. The movie stars an incredible cast featuring Anthony Mackie, Nicholas Hoult, Nia Long and Samuel L. Jackson. 

The acting was stellar from the entire cast. I thought that everyone played well off of each other, especially the leads Mackie and Jackson. They were opposites, Mackie as Bernard, the more serious and determined revolutionary and Jackson as Morris, the lighter hearted, fun, and established entrepreneur.

The costumes and sets were all appropriate for the time and helped to transport you. The script was well written and pretty funny. I didn’t know about this story so I found the plot to be very interesting and inspiring. It was great to see two men, with all the odds against them, be able to make great wealth and start to encourage major historical changes in regard to housing legislation.

Even though The Banker was two hours long but didn’t feel like it. With its easy moving story full of happy moments, tense moments and hilarious moments, this historical drama is a piece of American history and well worth the watch.

Molly’s Game

Molly’s Game is a drama based off of the autobiography of the same name. It is a true account of Molly Bloom’s life from a young child eyeing to be one of the top Olympic skiers to becoming the mastermind behind one of the worlds most infamous and exclusive high-stakes poker games across multiple states, and in the end, becoming a target of the FBI. 

Leading the cast was Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom along with Idris Elba as her lawyer, Charlie Jaffey, and Kevin Costner as her father, Larry Bloom. I thought that all three did a great job in their respective roles. Chastain as Molly Bloom was quite entertaining. She gave me a lot of range and was able to carry this movie on her own. Bloom was very smart, learning a game she knew nothing about and making it work for her. 

The plot was a bit slow moving but still quite intriguing as I knew nothing in regard to Bloom nor her case. The film was directed and written for the screen by Aaron Sorkin, the writer of the really great show, The Newsroom. In that show they are known for their fast talking and colorful language, which is exactly what I got in this movie. At first it is a bit off putting, there is a lot of voice-over and time jumping but you get used to it.

The plot was almost unbelievable as to what Molly was able to accomplish and the outcome of her situation, but that is how life is sometimes. With that being said, I thought the movie was good but not one I’d watch again.

Spenser Confidential

Spenser Confidential is an action comedy starring Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, Alan Arkin and comedian Iliza Shlesinger. After two Boston police officers are murdered, ex-cop Spenser, played by Wahlberg, can’t let it go; believing that there is something shady afoot. He takes it upon himself to investigate what is going on, with the help of his roommate, Hawk.

I thought that the plot had a ton of predictability throughout and was a typical Wahlberg movie, it was basically The Other Guys, meets Mile 22 mixed with The Departed. I was fine with it though, since I was in the mood for something that was not very thought provoking and more along the lines of something you could half watch and veg out to.

The acting from the cast was very entertaining. Everyone played well off of each other. Newcomer Iliza Shlesinger played Cissy Davis. One of the only females present in this movie and she was hilarious. She held her own and to me stole the show. Another actor that I enjoyed watching was Winston Duke who played Hawk, a young man, looking to turn his life around as an amateur mixed martial artist. He was funny with his subtle comedic timing, and although his acting could use a bit of work, overall I enjoyed his performance. Wahlberg’s role was a photo copy of his past roles but still fun to watch. My only critiques in the casting were that there was too much of a boy’s club vibe; I would have liked to see more major female characters and the bad guys were stereotyped pretty heavily. I would have also appreciated more character development.

Even though there were some things I didn't like, all in all I thought that the movie was easy to follow, action packed and very funny. This is one that I would recommend checking out if you are looking for something fun that isn't going to require a lot of brain power.