Spider-Man: No Way Home

 

Spider-Man: No Way Home picks up where the second film in the installment, Spider-Man: Far From Home, left off. With Peter Parker’s identity revealed by Mysterio and him framing Parker for his death, Peter goes to Dr. Strange to make everyone forget, but when he interferes with the spell, he causes the opening of a door to the multiverse.

I thought that the plot was unforeseeable, engaging and full of nostalgia. The dialogue was well written and funny. I particularly enjoyed that they re-ran Uncle Ben’s famous line, “With great power comes great responsibility” and I thought that the themes around second chances was well laced throughout the story.

Like every film, it was full of sharp costumes, high action, well-choreographed fight sequences and crisp CGI. The acting from the entire cast was also great. I also liked that there was more character development with Peter's friends, Ned and MJ. It is easy to feel a connection to these characters.

In my opinion this was the best Spider-Man movie I’ve seen to date. As Tom Holland has said in interviews, this is a true celebration of the last 20 years of Spider-Man cinema and I couldn’t agree more. This was a well thought out, heartfelt tear-jerker was the perfect closure to the teenage version of this Spider-Man’s trilogy. Up next is Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness.

Christmas Inheritance

 

Christmas Inheritance is a romantic comedy/drama that follows Ellen Langford, a New York City heiress known more for her partying ways than her leadership skills. So when her father is ready to step down as CEO, he sends her to their small New England town, with only $100, to test if she's ready to take over her father's company.

The cinematography and story gave me a very lifetime movie vibes. The plot was predictable, but I did like the themes around privilege, being resourceful, family traditions and small town values.

I appreciated the diversity in casting. There was descent acting from all, with some actors I've seen before, but mostly new faces. The main protagonist, Eliza Taylor who played Ellen Langford was likeable, showed a lot of growth in her character and overall did a pretty good job leading the cast.

In the end, this was not my favorite in the Netflix Holiday Universe (NHU) movie but it was cute and heartfelt. 

The Last Duel

 

The Last Duel is a Ridley Scott directed historical drama based on the 2004 book The Last Duel: A True Story of Trial by Combat in Medieval France by Eric Jager starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and Ben Affleck. It is the retelling of Knight Jean de Carrouges’ request to a duel with his former friend and squire, Jacques Le Gris, after his wife Marguerite de Carrouges accuses Le Gris of rape.

The screenplay is was written by Nicole Holofcener, Ben Affleck, and Matt Damon. The writing was creative in that it provided three contradictory perspectives, formatted as distinct chapters, for each of the main characters. Shalini Langer for The Indian Express described the key he themes perfectly as the “delusions of men, the idea of consent and the often greater price of speaking up for women” against their oppressors. These themes are sadly still very relevant, even over 700 years later.

Even though the script was well written I was disappointed that there was no French spoken. The characters are supposed to be French but the main actors were all American or British and spoke in their native accents, which I felt was lazy in the direction of these characters.

I thought that the hair, makeup and costumes well done and fit the era perfectly. The fight sequences were also gritty and choreographed quite well. The only distraction for me was Ben Affleck’s character, Count Pierre d'Alençon, as a blonde. I know based off of his interviews that he wanted this character to separate himself from everyone else, because of his royal rank, with the distinct hair color but this choice was not a good one. He should have either gone a different shade of blonde or just done a different color all together.

The entire cast did well playing off one another but for me Jodi Comer stole the show. I’ve been a fan of Comer’s since her portrayal of Elizabeth of York in the 2017 Starz historical miniseries, The White Princess. In this role she really gave such great range and believability. You really felt for her character and the immense pressure and stress she was under during these times.

Even though this didn’t top Ridley Scott’s best work, Gladiator, it was still very well made and thought provoking. The Last Duel is definitely a film worth checking out.

Holiday in the Wild

 

Holiday in the Wild is a Christmas romantic comedy starring Rob Lowe as Derek and Kristin Davis as Kate. On the eve of her second honeymoon trip to Zambia, Kate’s husband surprises her with a divorce, so she chooses to travel alone where she re-discovers herself at an animal conservation camp.

The story was a bit on the predictable side but it was still a well written and engaging. The themes about finding yourself and finding love again were great.

The vastness of the landscapes and the animals were impressive with only one ball drop toward the end, where it seemed like they where doing re-shoots and the green screen looked poorly done.

Rob Lowe and Kristin Davis had great chemistry. I hadn't seen many of their performances before this, as I wasn’t ever a fan of either of them, but I really enjoyed their dynamic. They both were great actors who were extremely likeable. Overall, the entire cast worked well together and I loved the diverse authenticity of the majority of the group

This is by far one of my favorite Netflix Holiday Universe films. It was super cute and heartfelt; even a bit of a tear jerker. A truly great movie to get you in the holiday spirit.

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby

 

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby is the final installment in the A Christmas Prince trilogy. It picks up one year after Queen Amber and King Richard’s wedding with a royal baby on the way. 100 years after the last signing of a scared truce between the nations of Adlovia and Penglia, Amber and Richard host King Tai and Queen Ming of Penglia to renew their bond, but when the treaty disappears, Amber and Richard must find it before time runs out and the peace between their two nations is jeopardized.

I thought that the plot was unique and slightly less predictable than the first two. In keeping with the theme of the original there were quite a few running jokes from the first installment which I enjoyed.

Thankfully the hair, makeup and costumes were much better, even though the varying size of Amber’s baby bump was a bit of a distraction.

The overacting from some of the actors was also a distraction but overall I thought that the cast did well playing off one another. Everyone seemed to finally be in their groove on this one. I was also happy to see that Amber’s friend Melissa got more screen time and more character development. Additionally there were quite a few more diverse characters which was great to see.

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby was surprisingly better than I thought it was going to be. It wrapped up nicely and also managed to redeem itself from the disappointing second installment.

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding

 

A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding is the Netflix Original sequel to 2017’s A Christmas Prince. It picks up a year after Prince Richard has been crowned king. It follows Amber as she learns to assimilate to royal protocols while also trying to find her voice to call some of her own shots.

I liked that they did a cute play on some of the scenes from the first movie but overall this story was extremely predictable in its plot, even more so than the original.

It also gave me low budget Lifetime movie vibes. This was particularly evident when it came to the character Amber’s disheveled hair and makeup and the cheap looking costumes for the entire cast.

Speaking of casting, I liked that they diversified a bit more. Amber’s friends, Melissa and Andy, got additional screen time in this one but their characters were still pretty one dimensional. Additionally Amber’s stylist Sahil was way too much. I’m sure he was supposed to be funny but it just came off as overacting and annoying. King Richard’s sister, Princess Emily, played by Honor Kneafsey, had all the best one liners and really helped to carry this one.

In the end though, this wasn’t as good as the original. It felt like everyone just dialed it in with a lot of corny dialogue and awkward acting.

A Christmas Prince

 

A Christmas Prince a Netflix Original Christmas themed romantic comedy starring Rose McIver, Ben Lamb and Alice Krige. When Amber, a magazine journalist, played by Rose McIver, is sent on her first ever assignment, to the fictional foreign country of Aldovia, she has no clue what she’s in store for. In an attempt to get a first-hand take on what’s going on with the illusive Prince Richard, she ends up going undercover as a tutor and discovers there is more than what meets the eye with the alleged playboy prince.

This was your typical feel-good Netflix Christmas film. It was heartwarming and light hearted. Although quite predictable, and not entirely realistic, I still liked the themes around what family really means, taking a chance at love and following your dreams.

Rose McIver did well in the role of Amber. Even though her character doesn’t always have the best intentions, in the beginning, she did still come off as likeable. I also thought that her character’s unique and quirky fashion sense stood her apart from everyone else and was an important part of her character development. I was also really impressed with her American accent; I would have never guessed she was from New Zealand. Regarding the rest of casting; there was not enough diversity in the group and her friends needed a lot more character development.

Overall, this was a decent straight to video story, with beautifully festive landscapes and sets that really helps to get you in the Christmas spirit.

Red Notice

Red Notice is a Netflix distributed action comedy starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot. The film was written, directed, and produced by frequent Johnson collaborator, Rawson Marshall Thurber. In the film Johnson is a FBI agent, out of his jurisdiction, hunting down the #1 and #2 art thieves in the world, who are in search of three bejeweled eggs gifted to Cleopatra around 41 BC.
I liked the change in sets throughout the globe and the costume design was sleek and sophisticated which worked well for the theme. I also thought that the fight choreography was crisp and well executed.
The script was easy to follow and fun. There were quite a few plot twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, which I appreciated. The character personalities definitely played toward the type casts of Johnson, Reynolds and Gadot. Johnson was yet again the cop, Reynolds was the comedy relief and Gadot was the sexy tough one.
Even though the typecasting didn't leave much room for any of these actors to stretch in their dramatics, I still liked how they played off of each another. They are three bankable stars who never outshined one other but instead lifted each other up. I also appreciated the diversity in the rest of the casting. I liked that there were a couple of strong female characters that lead each of their respective groups. My only criticism would be that I would have liked a little bit of a deeper dive on the character development. Especially for Gadot’s character, The Bishop, who was pretty one dimensional.
Overall the movie was okay. This is the kind of movie that is that is worth seeing once and then done. It's one of those types of movies that isn't really thought provoking; it's one that you could multitask to while it's playing in the background as it won't require your full attention. Unfortunately there are talks of a sequel or possibly a trilogy. At this point I'm not excited about that but if this does get green lit I hope that they can make some improvements.

Venom: Let There Be Carnage

 

Venom: Let There Be Carnage is the Marvel/Sony superhero action sequel to 2018's Venom. Andy Serkis directed this film with Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams reprising their roles. It picks up where the original left off with Venom and Eddie Brock, trying to lay low but struggling to co-exist with each other. When Brock gets the opportunity to rejuvenate his career by interviewing serial killer Cletus Kasady, an unexpected encounter leads to Kasady also becoming a host to an alien symbiote. With Kasady, a deranged murderer on the loose, Brock and Venom must put aside their differences before they lose all that is dear to them.

Andy Serkis is known more as an actor in performance capture roles like Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, so I was a bit surprised when I found out he was the director. By the end of the movie I was impressed and thought that he did a great job delivering a well put together and entertaining story that was much better than the original.
The script was funny and entertaining. The Venom part of the dialogue was hilarious. The Venom and Eddie Brock dynamic had so many parallels to a real couple’s relationship. It was quite entertaining watching them navigate life together.
Tom Hardy’s performance was really impressive once I also found out that he also did the voice for Venom. He is such a physical character actor and delivers his lines so comedicly, it’s easy to watch him on screen, he was the star of this show. His tribute to Beverly Hills Cop was also a cool little nugget.
I was surprised that Michelle William's role of Anne wasn’t recast after her terrible performance in the first film, but I’m happy to say that she and Tom Hardy had much better chemistry this time around. In the original film she also had a terrible wig that I'm glad they fixed in the sequel.
Naomie Harris who played Frances Barrison aka Shriek was one of the most interesting characters for me. Harris transformed into someone unlike any other that she has played before. It was great to have seen her not be held down by typecasting and being able to tap into this different type of role.
Overall this was a very entertaining film and as always, be sure to stick around for the end credit scenes. I’m looking forward to the third and hopefully there will be some Spider-Man cross overs in the future as well.

Jungle Cruise

 

Jungle Cruise is an original story inspired by the Disneyland theme park ride, of the same name, where riders are on a riverboat going through a jungle filled with dangerous animals. The story is set in 1916, during the World War 1 era and follows Dr. Lily Houghton, played by Emily Blunt. She is in search of the Tears of the Moon, a tree whose petals hold the power to heal; which would be a revolution in modern medicine and would help in the war effort. After being rejected by the Royal Society, she and her brother reluctantly enlist the aid of a shady skipper, Frank Wolff, played by Dwayne Johnson, to take her down the Amazon in search of the ancient tree.

I thought that the story was fun, family friendly and easy to follow. The script was funny and the fight choreography was clever and cheeky at times.

I liked the costumes and thought that they were perfect for the era.

The casting was great. Dwayne Johnson churns out a lot of content and not all of it is that good but thankfully this wasn’t one of those roles. He was complex and likable as Frank. I think he and Emily had a great banter and chemistry that even played well off screen, when they promoted the move. I didn’t know much about Jack Whitehall, who played MacGregor Houghton, Lily’s brother, but thought that he was hilarious and played so well off of the larger than life personalities of Johnson and Blunt.

For me this was a very enjoyable film. One that I think would have been great as a stand-alone movie but unfortunately it has been greenlit for a sequel. Hopefully, it will live up to the quality of the original.

Bruised

 

Bruised is the Halle Berry directed and starring story of a former professional MMA fighter who has fallen from grace. When her son, that she gave up as an infant, comes back into her life, she has to figure out how to pick herself back up for both of them.

I thought that the plot was original and though a bit slow moving and predicable at certain points, was interesting and realistic.

The soundtrack was perfect for this film; it was just as raw and gritty as the movie. I also liked that they meticulously choose all female rappers for the score.

The script was well written, full of great life lessons, but I would have liked a bit deeper character development for the entire cast.

The fight commentary was pretty corny but I thought that the fight choreography was well researched and rehearsed. Halle did a great job looking like a MMA fighter and I enjoyed the cameo from UFC Women's Flyweight Champion, Bullet Valentina, although I was confused as to why they made her character Hispanic. They should have changed the script so that she could represent her own country, Kyrgyzstan. Also after hearing that Cat Zingano was the original choice, I would have preferred that.

I remember a few years ago when this movie was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). It sold out so fast I wasn’t able to catch it, but I have been eagerly awaiting this release ever since. I can now say the wait was worth it. This movie was a heartfelt, near tear-jerker and in my opinion was one of Halle Berry's best performances to date.

Eternals

 

Eternals is the latest Marvel blockbuster staring Gemma Chan, Richard Madden, Kit Harington, Salma Hayek, and Angelina Jolie. It takes place after Avengers: End Game and follows a race of immortals, living in secrecy on Earth, defending its population from the Deviants, while shaping its history and civilizations.

This was yet another well-made Marvel movie with great CGI, cool costumes, and sharp fight choreography.

Academy Award winning director Chloé Zhao's work on this movie was superb. She directed and wrote a very easy to follow story that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It was a 2 1/2 hour movie full of great content but didn't feel long at all. 

With all-star casting it wasn’t really a surprise that the acting was superb. Everyone played well off of one another. I also loved the diversity in the casting, not just race but also disability and age. Zhao's methodology in broadening casting representation was seen throughout this film. I especially appreciated seeing Lauren Ridloff, a deaf woman of color, play Makkari, a hearing white man in the comics. The casting made Ridloff the first deaf superhero in the MCU.

Overall this was a great film. Thought provoking, action packed and fun to watch. It’s already primed for the next one and I’m looking forward to it. Also, don't forget to wait for the two post-credit scenes at the end!

King Richard

 

King Richard is the biographical drama of Richard Williams, the father of Venus and Serena Williams. Set in the early 90s, Richard had a very carefully crafted plan, that he would not allow anyone to deter him from, to ensure Venus and Serena’s success in tennis.

This plot was full of so much interesting detail surrounding the Williams family. It was great to see the dynamics of the parents, Richard and Oracene Price, all the sisters and how it was not just the support of their father, but their entire family, that got Venus and Serena to where they are today; two of the greatest tennis players of all time.

The themes around never giving up, standing up to the face of adversity and being able to defy all the odds placed against you, were such important life lessons that are still relevant today. It was also so great to see a Black father on camera lifting up little Black girls and giving them the confidence to take on the most difficult of obstacles.

This up an coming all star cast of Saniyya Sidney who played Venus Williams and Demi Singleton who played Serena Williams not only were superb actors but they also played tennis very believably.

In the end, King Richard was an enjoyable surprise for me. One that I wasn't originally looking forward to seeing but I'm glad I watched. It was by far one of Will Smith's best performances. The movie was uplifting, heartfelt and a tearjerker. I'd definitely recommend checking it out.

Passing

 

Passing is a drama based off of Nella Larsen’s 1929 novella of the same name. Set in 1920s New York City, it is a story of two long lost high school friends with very different lives, one passing for white, while the other lives authentically as African American. When they unexpectedly reunite it ignites a mutual fixation that threatens to destroy both of their lives.

The set design, costumes, hair and soundtrack were all perfectly curated to take you back in time. I also thought that the editing and metaphors were smart and well done.

The acting from both Tessa Thompson and Ruth Negga were superb. They had an unspoken connection, an obsession, of sorts, with each other and also a deep seeded jealousy. These women did a great job leading this movie while playing opposites of the same coin. Tessa played Irene, a family focused, smart and passionate woman. Ruth played Clare, the life of the party, a fun flirty woman who uses her attributes to her advantage.

Normally I’m not a huge fan of monochromatic films but I felt like this was a really good choice for the cinematography. It played well on the phrase, "Nothing is ever black and white."  

Although the ending has been criticized I liked it and thought that it was wrapped up best by Nylah Burton for Refinery29, “Passing leans into the gray areas, refusing to give the audience anything resembling a clear answer... [it depicts the] deadliness of obsession, the dangers of covetousness, and what happens when intimacy and kinship go wrong.”

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

 

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings is a Marvel action drama that follows Shaun aka Shang-Chi, a young man who has been hiding from his destiny and living a life that is not fulfilling. When he is forced to confront his past with the Ten Rings he has to make the choice to fight for his family or sit on the sidelines.

This was a fun, engaging coming of age story with visually stunning and clean fight choreography. I appreciated the realistic usage of the Mandarin language throughout and thought that the script had great themes around family, friendship, and finding your passion in life.

Simu Liu, who played Shang-Chi did a really great job with leading this cast as a relatively unknown actor. He brought a lot of range to the character, physical prowess and a strong presence. I also thought that he and Awkwafina, who played Katy, had great chemistry. As Katy, she was funny and relatable. Overall I liked the diversity of the cast, they were talented and I appreciated how the writers highlighted the strong female characters. Following the Marvel playbook there were also some expected yet still great choice in a cameos.

In the end I left thinking that Shang-Chi was a fun ride. A well-made, proper Marvel movie that is worth checking out.

Frida

Frida is the 2002 dramatic biopic of surrealist painter Frida Kahlo, a woman who channeled her experience of chronic pain into timeless works of art.

The casting was unique and full of high profile actors including Alfred Molina, Antonio Banderas and Edward Norton. The acting from the entire cast was good but for me Salma Hayek was the star of this film. I can see why she was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Kahlo. She brought the physical and emotional pain that Kahlo felt from her long lasting injuries and also the tumultuous relationship that she had with her husband.

The hair, makeup and costumes were beautiful and bright. They were works of art within themselves which was perfect for this movie. The Academy Award for Best Makeup was a well-deserved.

Cinematically I really liked the edits, especially the reenactment of Kahlo’s art. It is explained best by the American Film Institute who included Frida in their Movies of the Year for 2002. They said, “The film's unique visual language takes us into an artist's head and reminds us that art is best enjoyed when it moves, breathes and is painted on a giant canvas, as only the movies can provide.”

My only criticisms would be that I would have liked more Spanish incorporated in the script and there needed to be a clearer more detailed timeline throughout the movie. Other than that, it was an entertaining and easy movie to watch.

Black Widow

 

Black Widow is a standalone, prequel film that picks up after Captain America: Civil War. Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow, played by Scarlett Johansson, is on the run from the law. When she receives a mysterious package, she is forced to confront her past.

The first time I watched Black Widow I feel asleep on it. She isn't my favorite Avenger, so to be fair I wasn't totally invested. I decided to give it another shot today and I was actually surprised by how much I liked it. Not necessarily because of Scarlett but more because of her supporting cast. Florence Pugh who played Yelena Belova was able to hold her own against Johansson. She was funny and charismatic. I look forward to seeing her character in the Hawkeye Disney+ show coming up next month. David Harbour who played Alexei Shostakov and the Red Guardian was also hilarious in a self-deprecating type of way. O-T Fagbenle, who I knew from The Handmaid's Tale, was an interesting choice but I liked it. He was a completely different character as Rick Mason, and even got to use his English accent which was cool. I've liked Ray Winstone for a long time, he has played a lot of different roles in his career. His role of Dreykov was minimal but impactful. Rachel Weisz as Melina Vostokoff was great. I liked her motherly, tough and smart role.

Overall this was a surprisingly well-made and enjoyable movie with a plot that was easy to follow and some unpredictable twists throughout. 

Dune

 

Dune: Part 1, is the first installment of the epic story of Paul Atreides, the son of a noble family, whose house has been ordered by the Emperor, to rule over the desert planet, Arrakis, informally known as Dune, and the export it’s natural resource. This is the second attempt at turning Frank Herbert's science fiction novel into a feature film adaptation, with the original coming out in 1984.

The plot was interesting and engaging though at times quite convoluted so took a couple of watches for me to fully understand everything. Because it is the first installment there were obviously still questions left unanswered. There was not enough of a backstory for me and Zendaya’s character, Chani, is featured a lot in the previews but her story and time on screen is pretty minimal, so I'm looking forward to the sequel to get more of each of those lacking parts.

The script was well written and the fight choreography was creative, futuristic and unique.

I loved the sets and artistic cinematography. There was a lot of complexity and symbolism in the edits. The sets were another character of sorts, you really felt the heat, the vastness and the dryness. The CGI was also crisp and realistic.

The costumes were modern, sleek yet functional. The hair and makeup were also well done. At times I could see a Star Wars influence. I also noticed strong religious influences throughout. Joseph Hammond's Washington Post article said it best, "The Duniverse, as some fans call it, is heavily influenced by ecology and sociology — as well as imagery from the Islamic world and the Middle East. Herbert also used Middle Eastern languages, in particular, Arabic, throughout his novels”.

I know that there was criticism for Arab cultural appropriation and I can see why Maya Lang for Rowdy Magazine pointed that out. But what I will say is that this movie is fiction and is set in 10191 A.G., so we have no clue how ethnicities will evolve and change in the future. And even though there wasn’t a strong Middle Eastern presence, they did provide much more diversity and female empowerment than the original 1984 film, which was an all-White cast with women who did not have strong leading roles.

In the end I left this movie excited for the next one. Timothée Chalamet is a leading man and he held his own with seasoned veterans Zendaya, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin & Javier Bardem. Everyone brought their A-Game and really helped in the temporary transportation to another space and time.

What Happened, Brittany Murphy?

 

What Happened, Brittany Murphy? is a 2 part documentary from HBO Max that recounts the life and sudden death of Brittany Murphy.

I remember when Brittany Murphy unexpectedly died. She was so young and talented, so the first rumor was that it had to be drug related. At the time she was under a lot of scrutiny for being aloof and unfocused so people just assumed she was on drugs. Then when the autopsy came out, and it was revealed to be pneumonia. That was hard for people to comprehend because it seemed odd for someone of her age to have died from this treatable infection, which tended to target a much older population. Shortly after that I remembered the rumors that mold in her home might have been a cause to her death. During this time, everything seemed so frantic and unsure. I never really felt like we got a true answer as to what happened to her, so this documentary did a great job at presenting a lot information that wasn’t originally detailed in those news articles in the early 2000s. 

The part I found most interesting was what was found on Simon Monjack, her husband at the time. I remember seeing articles that talked about how he was creepy but this documentary dug deeper into his past relationships, his secrets and his reputation of being controlling. The documentary also highlighted how Murphy’s personality drastically changed once she was with him. I thought that the filmmakers did a great job of putting these pieces together to show how Monjack could have potentially been a contributing factor to Murphy’s and his own demise over 10 years ago.

I hadn’t thought about this story in a long time, so I was glad to have watched it. It made me think about how you never really know what someone is going though and it’s not right to make assumptions about someone’s mental health or physical health. I hope this documentary will help people think twice before making snap judgement about others. I also hope this does what it did for me, which was make me nostalgic for some of Brittany Murphy’s most iconic roles, so I added Clueless and 8 Mile to my watchlist.

Dave Chappelle: The Closer

 

The Closer is comedian Dave Chappelle’s final installment in his Netflix stand up deal. In this special he talked about COVID, feminism and the LGBT community.

Chappelle has always been one to stir up controversy and this standup was no different. When I heard that he was going after the Trans community again and that people weren’t pleased, I knew I wanted to check this one out to formulate my own opinion.

I came away feeling like Chappelle is a smart guy, I like how he always loops in a couple of history lessons in his standup. I thought that the jokes toward the beginning of the show were pretty funny. The controversial parts were more toward the second half. Someone not really listening might think Chappelle expressed his support for the feminist movement and the LGBTQ+ community with his anecdotes about his one Trans friend, Daphne Dorman, and promising not to tell any more homophobic jokes. However, for those who understand coded language, we see right thought this. What he was really doing was a good ol’ fashion okey-doke, making you think he’s an ally, when in reality, he devoted the entire second half of his show toward further digging himself a transphobic hole. He even had the nerve to say that the LGBTQ community “punches down” on the Black community, which to me sounded a lot like fictional projection. For someone so worried about how the Trans community perceives him, he sure spent a lot of time obsessing over their physical appearance. Even going as far as saying gender is a fact and that he is “Team TERF”, which stands for trans-exclusionary radical feminist, an anti-trans extremist group. The complete opposite of being a feminist or an ally.

I’m a big fan of Chappelle but if he really wanted to quite all of the people who call him transphobic, he wouldn’t have tried to gaslight us by doing some huge monologue at the end of his show, after he had already spent a good 30 minutes prior doing the exact opposite of what he was promising to no longer do. What he should have done was just cut out that entire second half from his set.

Eddie Murphy: Raw

 

Raw is one of Eddie Murphy’s most infamous stand ups from the late 1980s. I’ve been told that it is a classic and one that every fan of comedy must watch. In this standup he talked about women, being single, the gay community and celebrity.

I had never seen this stand up before so I was surprised that quite a few of his jokes held up. With that being said, there were plenty of cringe worthy moments. When he would talk about women, he was very demeaning. These jokes were also a bit lazy and not very funny. It was more like an omission of his truth vs just telling the jokes. He also spent a lot of time talking about how all men cheat and why it was okay. I thought was pretty extreme; you could tell he was going through something personally. In 2019 Murphy disclosed that during the time he filmed Raw, he wasn't in a great place. He was an angry young man with a broken heart. So that kind of makes sense why he went so hard at women; I just wish he could have figured out a better outlet. 

Additionally, some of the homophobic language he used was hard to hear and definitely not something he could get away with now. Overall, Eddie Murphy isn’t my go-to when it comes to standup. He does not measure up to the comedic genius of Chappelle. To me he was pretty basic and he lost me at the end when it got too awkward. I much prefer him in the acting lane.

Michelle Wolf: Joke Show

 

Michelle Wolf: Joke Show is comedian, Michelle Wolf's 2019 stand up special from New York.

She tackles a lot of topics from feminism to cancel culture. I liked her self-deprecating humor. She was edgy and stood firm in her convictions, which I appreciated. 

She joked about how her voice wasn’t the most pleasant, even a bit shirking at times. That unfortunately became more evident the longer the special went on. I thought that some of her jokes were played out, especially the man bashing, and some of them dragged on for too long. 

In looking for a quick laugh on a Friday night, I was able to get some of that, with the couple of funny bits in this standup. It was however mostly a lackluster performance, so therefore I'd have to say this standup is not one I'd watch again or recommend.

Athlete A

 

Athlete A is a Netflix distributed documentary that digs deep into the abusive culture within USA Gymnastics and heavily focuses on the former attending physician, Dr. Larry Nassar

This was a well-made documentary with a lot of backstory and factual evidence that helped to connect a number of dots. The reporters from The Indianapolis Star were able to expose the toxicity that had been festering inside USA Gymnastics for decades.

It was hard hearing some of the stories from these young women who were sexually and physically abused. You feel sick knowing a number of people got away with atrocious behavior for over 20 years, while the other adults in charge continued to sweep it under the rug, because they didn't want to mess up the brand.

Although this documentary was a bit pre-mature, given that parts of this case are still ongoing, I think that this was a story that needed to be told in hopes to prevent this behavior in the future. I left feeling like some justice had been served when these women were finally believed and got their day in court, where they faced their abuser. I also hope the director of this film does a follow up on those who haven't been prosecuted yet. I'd like to see all of those who were involved in the cover up or any other abuses, get what's coming to them in the end as well.

The Colony

 

The Colony is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi thriller where small colonies of people are all that is left of population after the word froze over.

I thought that the plot wasn’t unique but it was still an interesting take on a natural disaster. The movie definitely gave off a low budget, gritty vibe which worked well for the theme, but unfortunately the script was terrible and the villains were unrealistic.

Kevin Zegers, who is a Zac Efron doppelganger, Laurence Fishburne and Bill Paxton were surprisingly great casting. I’ve never seen Kevin Zegers in a role before, but I thought he had good range and played well off of his co-stars. Laurence Fishburne was a bit typecast but I liked his leadership, and Bill Paxton brought a selfishness and a villainous demeanor that I had not seen him play before, so I was impressed with that.

In the end this movie missed the mark. The Rotten Tomatoes critic’s consensus said it best, "A formulaic sci-fi thriller, The Colony features clichéd dialogue, cheesy special effects, and underdeveloped characters". Therefore, I’d say skip this one.

Respect

 Respect is an Aretha Franklin biographical drama that depicts her evolution from a 10 year old girl singing in her father’s church to the 30 year old superstar she became.

Although the movie only spans 20 years of Aretha’s life, it was a tumultuous time for her. She dealt with an immeasurable amount of trauma during this period in her life. She had to endure a significant loss, physical abuse, sexual assault and addiction while still managing to churn out hits that have lasted a lifetime. I was not a huge Aretha fan growing up but after watching this movie, I have a lot of respect for her, pun intended.

The casting was spot on. Forest Whitaker played Aretha's father C. L. Franklin, a very popular pastor, know as the "man with the million-dollar voice". He did really great in the role showing both sides of this flawed man, the entertainer who everyone wanted to be around and also his darker side, a controlling man, who was abusive at times with questionable relationships. Marlon Wayans casting was an interesting one. He is known more for his comedic roles, so his dramatic part as Ted White, Aretha's abusive husband, definitely encouraged Wayans to stretch his range. I thought he did well in doing so. Jennifer Hudson was the star for me, she carried this movie was grace and poise. She was only woman Aretha chose to play her and it was the best choice. Jennifer embodied the shy 18 year old Aretha who didn’t know the power of her own voice, all the way to the 30 year old woman who knew how to command a room and knew exactly what her worth was and what she wanted in life.

This movie was well made, the hair, makeup and costumes were perfect for the era and script was heartfelt. It even brought out some tears toward the end. Therefore, I’d definitely recommend checking out this gem.

Chaos Walking

 

Chaos Walking is a dystopian science-fiction action-adventure film adapted from the 2008 young adult novel, The Knife of Never Letting Go by the screenplay writer, Patrick Ness. Set in 2257 AD, on a novel planet called the New World, Todd Hewitt lives in Prentisstown, an all-male colony, run by Mayor Prentissn. In this town all of the people have all been afflicted with a condition called “the Noise”, which causes everyone to see and hear each other's thoughts. When a woman named Viola crash-lands on the planet, Todd must help her escape and get back to her people.

The plot was unique and engaging. The cinematography was creative in how they showed the thoughts of each character. The script was well written but the character development could have used some more depth for some of the main characters. I would have liked to have learned more about Hildy, the leader of Farbranch, played by Cynthia Erivo, Viola played by Daisy Ridley, Mayor Prentissn played by Mads Mikkelsen, and Todd's adoptive fathers, Cillian and Ben, played by Kurt Sutter and Demián Bichir.

Even with the lack in character development this star studded cast played well off of one another. Mads Mikkelsen has definitely been typecast at this point, but I thought he did well in the role as the cunning Mayor of Prentisstow. David Oyelowo’s choice in role was a surprise, but I liked what he did with it. He was able to successfully show the complexity of Aaron, a radical preacher who is deeply flawed. For me, Holland stole the show with his character, Todd Hewitt. He gave me a bit of his Spider-Man comedic timing and fast talking in this role but I liked it. I also appreciated the wide range of emotions that he presented as it made it easy to connect to his character.

Unfortunately a lot of critics were not a fan of this movie, and it didn’t fare well in theatres, so I’m concerned it won’t be green lit for the adaptation of the final two novels of the trilogy. Hopefully I’m wrong, as I would like to see how this story pans out.

Stillwater

 

Stillwater is a crime drama starring Matt Damon and Abigail Breslin. It follows Bill, an unemployed oil-rig worker from Oklahoma, who travels to France to help his estranged daughter, Allison, who claims innocence to a murder she was convicted of committing.

Even though foreseeable in many parts, I thought that the writers did a good job giving us an interesting and unique plot. There were great themes around second chances, expanding your horizons, and it asks the question of what are you willing to sacrifice for family.

The casting was well done with strong character development. Matt Damon, really transformed into Bill Baker, a proper mid-western roughneck. The costumes, hair and accent were perfect. Seeing Baker’s evolution, while living abroad, outside of his comfort zone, was also something I'm glad was highlighted. Abigail Breslin who played Allison did well, but Lilou Siauvaud, who played Maya, was the most impressive. She was a young force with wide range, who had great chemistry with Damon.

Overall this was a well-made movie, that was suspenseful at times, and did a great job showcasing how even the most closed minded of people can change when they immerse themselves in other cultures and languages.

F9: The Fast Saga

 

F9: The Fast Saga is the ninth movie in the Fast & Furious series and the tenth overall, when you include the spin off, Hobbs & Shaw. Returning as director was Justin Lin, who was the filmmaker of four of the previous movies in the franchise. The story follows Dom who is living a slower paced life with his family, until an international terrorist, who turns out to be his and Mia's estranged brother, forces him out of retirement, to join his crew, in an effort to stop a global catastrophe.

The plot was interesting, I liked the backstory of the brothers at odds, and the themes around family and second chances were compelling. I think it is also great that they always bring back the original cast. The Han story line was lazy though. I wasn’t a fan of how they handled his character arch. I do however like how they are always trying to keep the late Paul Walkers character, Brian, relevant in all the movies since his passing.

The action stunts were over the top and unrealistic. Cars going into space and flying into planes is just ridiculous. What I liked so much about the first movie was that it felt real. Now I feel like the creators are just throwing anything at the wall and hoping it sticks. I also had an issue with some of the lighting and cinematography. One scene in particular looked so terrible, it was like they did reshoots but the lighting was so bright, the actor looked blown out with an angel like halo around him, and the set didn't even look like it was in the same place as the original shot.

I know coming into these movies that they aren’t going to be Oscar worthy. They are the kind of movies that you can just have fun, mindlessly watching. Even with the low expectations though, this one was by far the worst in the franchise. It has already been revealed that they have two more planned so I’ll still see them, because I’ve already gotten this far, but it will be reluctantly.

He's All That

 

He’s All That is a modern remake of the 1999 hit She’s All That. In the gender swapping re-creation Padgett Sawyer, played by TikTok star Addison Rae, is a social media influencer and popular girl at school who takes a bet that she can transform the anti-social and nonconforming classmate, Cameron Kweller, played by Tanner Buchanan, into the next prom king.

I liked that the plot attempted to reinvent the original script with the gender swap. They were also very tech heavy which was appropriate for the modern age. I also appreciated that they tried to pay homage to the original in a number of different ways, including the soundtrack and an almost exact timeline of events. The problem was that the script was corny, not very funny, and I wasn't a fan that in a couple of parts it was also verbatim to the original.

Regarding casting, I enjoyed that they brought back Matthew Lillard and Rachael Leigh Cook but I wish that they would have reprised their original roles. I was also disappointed that more of the original cast didn't come back. For the new group, I wasn’t a huge fan of Kourtney Kardashian’s part. She didn’t actually showcase any acting skills, she might as well have just done a cameo vs playing a character. Addison Rae and Cameron Kweller had some awkward moments and lacked chemistry. The casting director and writers also dropped the ball when it came to properly showcasing the diversity of their characters. Not only was there less people of color than the original but they were also lazy in the writing by stereotyping the minorities. The Black people were the villains or the backup dancers and the Asian people were the nerdy tech gurus or the sidekick friends. They all had minimal character development and hardly any lines.

In the end, this movie was not even remotely as good as the original. It felt too gimmicky and predictable. It also didn't give me the nostalgia I was looking for. Therefore, I came away feeling like this was a lackluster attempt and not worth watching again.

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard

 

Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard is the sequel to The Hitman’s Bodyguard starring Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Samuel L Jackson. It picks up where the last left off with Reynolds’ character, Michael Bryce, struggling with the fact that his body guarding career is in shambles. When a terror attack threatens Europe, he must push past his insecurities, to grudging team up with the last people he'd want to work with again, hitman, Darius Kincaid played by Jackson, and his wife, Sonia, played by Hayek.

The plot was foreseeable at times but still very entertaining with high action from almost the beginning, It was funny, with great themes about getting up when you are knocked down and pushing forward though adversity.

Ryan Reynolds, Salma Hayek and Samuel L Jackson had strong chemistry and worked well off of one another. Salma was the star of the movie and was very funny. I was also impressed when she discussed in interviews that she did her own stunts. I also enjoyed the addition of Morgan Freeman.

Overall, I thought that this was a proper sequel, equal to or perhaps even better than the original. It was full of fun; a clever comedy worth checking out.

Snake Eyes

 

Snake Eyes is a GI Joe origin story starting Henry Golding as the titular character, a young man who has dedicated his entire life to avenging his father's death.

I liked that this wasn’t a typical GI Joe movie. I was worried it would turn into the disgrace that was 2009’s G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, but thankfully they gave us something better. The plot, which incredibly predictable, was still very engaging. It had heart and relevant themes around family and loyalty.

There was also great fight choreography that was quite creative at times, with well-done cinematography. They did a great job of showcasing some beautiful sets and vast Japanese landscapes. I also liked the traditional costumes.

Regarding the casting, I thought that Henry Golding was a superb choice. He is a leading man and brought range to the role. I also thought it was great that there were no damsels in destress. All of the women cast were strong leading ladies that could handle their own. 

My only critique is that this was set in Japan but there was only a sprinkle of Japanese used. I would have liked the script to have had more authenticity in that aspect.

Overall though, this was a pretty good movie. It is one that is definitely worth checking out and I'm looking forward to the upcoming sequel.

Free Guy

 

Free Guy is a story about a non-player character (NPC) who begins to evolve and see his life for more than just the game he's been programed into.

The evolution of AI is not an unknown concept, as it has been used in past movies, however this plot was still able to give me a unique and interesting take on the subject. The script had great themes around bravery, breaking free of the status quo, and opening your mind to new possibilities. Unfortunately the jokes were weak; I only laughed a couple of times.

I liked the interesting choice of casting, many of the people I didn't recognize, but I appreciated the diversity and thought everyone played well off of one another. The character development could have used some work. I didn't have a strong investment in any of leads.

Even though Free Guy was predictable I did enjoy the lighthearted nature of the movie. However, this is not worth spending money on in theaters. I’d recommend waiting for it to drop on a streaming service.

Untold: Malice at the Palace

 

Untold: Malice at the Palace is a Netflix distributed documentary that goes into deep detail surrounding the 2004 brawl between Detroit Pistons fans and a few Indiana Pacers players.

This documentary did a great job being impartial unlike the media at the time. I couldn’t believe some of the things media personnel were saying. They would never be able to get away with some of the racist language that they used against the NBA players today. I was young when this originally happened so I didn’t really have much of an understanding as to what went down but now that I’ve seen this, I feel really bad for the athletes involved. Many of them were robbed of their opportunities to win a championship and some had an unnecessarily tarnished image for the remainder of their careers.

The issue to me is with the fans. The emotional investment for some of them was really out of control. I will never understand why some fans feel like they have the right to assault professional athletes or that they can do anything else besides just watch the game.

In the end I thought this was a well-made documentary that left me with a deeper understanding of what happened in 2004. I also see how the NBA still has so much more to learn when it comes to protecting their players. Almost 20 years later, it’s sad to me that the culture shift still hasn’t happened and that fans are still behaving so disrespectfully to players.

Sweet Girl

Sweet Girl is a Netflix distributed action thriller starring Jason Momoa and Isabela Merced. Set it Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Ray Cooper, played by Momoa, is a husband plagued by the death of his wife. He pledges to bring justice to the people responsible while doing everything in his power to protect his daughter, the only family he has left.

In his directorial debut, Brian Andrew Mendoza, did a great job, the plot was interesting and had an impressive and unpredictable twist. The cinematography was also good with the back and forth of time. The only critique I'd give is that sometimes certain scenes in the script were too convenient; it would have been better if certain goals were harder to get to.

Jason Momoa brought his A-Game to his role as the lead actor, producer, and informal casting agent. He chose Isabela and I noticed one of his friends, Michael Raymond-James, who I've seen in True Blood, Once Upon A Time, the Momoa led Road to Paloma and Frontier. There were also plenty of Easter eggs throughout that showed Momoa’s influence from the knives, to the pink cell phone case and some of the character names.

From an acting perspective this was the best I've seen Momoa, minus an exaggerated crying scene that could have used some work. I hadn't seen Isabela in any other movies, but I was impressed with her range and the fact that she did her own stunts. Even though he and Isabela Merced have had a couple of awkward press conferences together, they didn't show any of that in the film. They had very strong bond and there was a decent amount of character development for them. I also liked the diversity in casting, but I would have liked to have seen a deeper dive in some of the supporting characters' backstories. I was also impressed with the crisp and realistic fight choreography.

In the end, Sweet Girl was a surprisingly well done movie, with an engaging plot and a great twist at the end. This is definitely worth checking out.

Awake

 

Awake is a Netflix distributed science fiction thriller starring Gina Rodriguez as a mother and former U.S. Army medic, Jill Adams, who might have the answer to a disturbing global event that wiped out all electronics and for some reason has also prevented everyone's ability to sleep except for her daughter.

I thought that the plot was unique and unpredictable, keeping you on the edge of your seat the entire time.

I liked the diversity of the casting and the acting from the entire group was pretty good, even with the lack of character development. Rodriguez did well carrying the movie in the leading role as a smart, strong, brave, single mother willing to do anything to protect her children. I wish they would have dug deeper in her backstory. It was hinted that she was a recovering addict and that she had some strained relationships but we kind of had to guess as to why because the script never revealed those necessary details to make a well-rounded character.

The ending only addresses a portion of the plot points so you are left wanting more. Since this was a Netflix issued movie it wasn’t terrible but they could have done more to really bring this to a more satisfying end.

The Kissing Booth 3

 

The Kissing Booth 3 is the third and final installment of Netflix’s Kissing Booth series. It picks up where the second left off; it’s the summer before Elle and her best friend Lee go off to college. Elle wants to make it the best summer ever but is hiding a secret that might just ruin her plans.

The plot was a bit played out and predictable but I still thought it was engaging. I liked that they continued the original themes around the evolution of friendships and love. I thought it was relatable how Elle was dealing with the internal struggle of pleasing others vs finding what makes her happy. I also liked the cinematography and and use of flashbacks to really bring together how close theses characters were.

I appreciated that everyone from the original cast came back again including Molly Ringwald who is so great in that maternal, caring role. Joel Courtney who plays Elle’s best friend Lee was overacting at times so it was a bit of a distraction but the rest of the group were all great. Joey King, Jacob Elordi, Maisie Richardson-Sellers and Taylor Zakhar Perez, who all reprised their roles of Elle, Noah, Chloe and Marco, respectively, all played well off of one another. I also liked that they dug deeper into the character development of Chloe.

At first I was a bit disappointed in the lack of growth and development for these characters but as time passed I did see a suitable arch. It ended up being a good trilogy, coming full circle. It was a proper goodbye that was heartfelt and a bit of a tear jerker.

Till Death

 

Till Death is a thriller starting Megan Fox. She plays Emma, a woman in an unhappy marriage to her husband Mark. On their 10th wedding anniversary, Mark surprises her with a romantic evening at their secluded lake house, in the dead of winter. Things seem like they might be picking back up again but everything quickly changes the next morning when she finds herself handcuffed to Mark's dead body. Stuck to him and isolated, Emma begins to learn this is only the beginning of Mark's twisted revenge plan.

I thought that the plot was unique with a well written script and the editing was really great and suspenseful.

The character development wasn’t too bad overall. They did enough throughout to give a good picture of almost everyone’s backstory so that it seemed more believable. This was, by far, Megan Fox's best work to date. She was able to hold my attention though her character’s bravery, toughness, wit and resourcefulness. I was definitely locked in, sitting on the edge of my seat, hoping for her survival.

In the end, I was really impressed by the quality of this movie. A couple of parts were a bit foreseeable but overall pretty unpredictable and gripping.

Midnight in the Switchgrass

 

Midnight in the Switchgrass is loosely based on the true story of “The Truck Stop Killer.” It follows a FBI agent and a Florida Department of Law Enforcement agent as they investigate a string of unsolved murder cases of young women.

I thought that the plot was interesting and with such a stellar cast I assumed that this was going to be a really great movie. Unfortunately, the acting was terrible from everyone except Emile Hirsch. He was the only one that kept me somewhat engaged. I was really disappointed in Bruce Willis. It was like he just phoned this one in; giving no effort what so ever. I haven’t seen Megan Fox in anything in a while but she definitely seems like she’s the same in everything. This was particularly bad for her though and I'm not sure if it was just the script or if it was her delivery as well. There was also a lack in chemistry for the entire cast.

The writing overall was terrible, the dialogue was amateur at best and when getting deeper into the story there were a lot of parts that didn't make any sense.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of the cinematography. The editing in general was bad but the over excessive use of the metaphorical switchgrass edits, in the camerawork, was the absolute worst.

The Machine Gun Kelly and Megan Fox romance that was sparked after the making of this movie is what the media pushed to encourage people to see this film. And honestly it was part of the reason why I wanted to see it but after seeing it I now get why they focused more on the outside noise vs the actual product. This movie was one of the worst I’ve seen all year and was a complete waste of time.

The Suicide Squad

 

The Suicide Squad is the sequel to 2016's Suicide Squad directed and written by Guardians of the Galaxy filmmaker, James Gunn. Picking up where the last left off, a new cast of anti-heroes from Belle Reve prison join Task Force X, a secret agency run by Intelligence Officer Amanda Waller, reprised by Viola Davis. She instructs Col. Rick Flag, Harley Quinn and their crew to embark on new deadly mission, on the island of Corto Maltese.

With James Gunn at the helm on this movie I was optimistic that it would be a much improved film. I thought that the script and the plot twists were better and it was funnier than the original. The Guardians movies are known for their amazing soundtracks so I was also listening closely to the music choices in this film and found them to be pretty good as well.

I liked the choice in casting. With Margot Robbie and Joel Kinnaman reprising their roles, they led the way. And then with the new additions of Idris Elba and John Cena giving some extra physicality, punch and comedy; it was a unique but well curated bunch.

The fight sequences and action choreography were entertaining. Margot Robbie's character, Harley Quinn had by far the most impressive, physically creative, stunt choreography.

Unfortunately, just like the original, the main villain was terrible. It was so cheesy I couldn’t even believe this was something that they would pick. Sometimes I feel like when you tow too close to the comic book line, it doesn’t always play out right to a non-comic book reading audience.

Overall, this movie was an improvement from the original regarding the script, action and acting however it was still a lackluster film and not one I'd watch again. 

Naomi Osaka Documentary

 

Naomi Osaka is a 3 part Netflix documentary series that shows the evolution of a young tennis star dealing with the struggles of being a naturally introverted person in a competitive sport, and trying to figure out how to handle fame and the confidence to use her voice for good.

I'm glad this came out on Netflix and not another service provider where I would have to wait a week for each part. Parts 1 & 2 were a bit repetitive. It was a lot of the footage that showed how reserved Naomi was. I thought it was interesting that she talked a lot about being nervous and socially awkward because of her homeschooled upbringing. You see a lot of shots of her looking sad or being nervous mixed in with photo shoots where she looks awkward and like she doesn't want to be there. You also see how she handled the ups and downs of her tennis career and the struggles she had early on with mental toughness. 

I probably wouldn't have made it to part 3 if it weren't for the ability to binge, which would have been a terrible mistake because part 3 is where this documentary and Osaka come full circle in finding her voice. You also see her start to gain more confidence in her convictions as she takes the lead in her life and in her happiness. 

In the end I thought that this documentary was just okay. It definitely gave me a more well-rounded understanding of Osaka and her family dynamic but I still think they could have gone deeper. Therefore, this is not something I’d watch again but wasn’t a complete waste of time.

Stuber

 

Stuber is buddy cop action comedy starring Kumail Nanjiani & Dave Bautista. When Uber driver Stu, played by Nanjiani, picks up a passenger, played by Bautista, he has no idea that his life is about to change forever.

I thought that the plot was unique and fun and I liked the themes around manhood, family and the courage to stand up for yourself. The cinematography was well done and the action sequences were fast paced and entertaining.

I liked the diversity of the casting. Kumail Nanjiani & Dave Bautista had great chemistry. They worked well off of each other so no one person really felt like the star of this movie. It was easy to connect to both of their characters. I haven't seen Nanjiani in a lot of movies, but I really liked his deadpan comedic style. Additionally, I really enjoyed watching Bautista on screen. I feel like he gives me something different with every role he plays. He’s come a long way from the WWE.

Even though sometimes corny and predictable, this movie was well worth the watch. It was easy to follow and full of some funny memorable moments.

Those Who Wish Me Dead

Those Who Wish Me Dead is an action thriller starring Angelina Jolie, Finn Little, Nicholas Hoult and Game of Throne’s Aidan Gillen. The film is set in the Montana wilderness and follows Hannah played by Jolie, a smokejumper, still reeling from a major trauma that she experienced. When she comes across Connor, a boy played by Finn Little, who has just witnessed the murder of his father and is on run for his life from a pair of trained assassins, played Nicholas Hoult and Aidan Gillen, Hannah and Connor must do whatever it takes to survive.

I enjoyed the cinematography with its beautiful vast landscapes.
I thought that the plot was unique and engaging. It was also a bit unpredictable. Even though not entirely realistic, I did like how a couple of the females were portrayed. They were incredibly tough, resourceful and could take on any man.

The casting choices were diverse and very interesting. I liked that there were quite a few notable actors who choose a part outside of their typical typecast. Angelina Jolie and Finn Little were a great duo. Even though Finn Little was quite young, in this role, he had very impressive range and played well off of Jolie.

In the end I felt like this was the perfect type of movie to watch from home. Not everyone will like this one but I liked it.

The Informer

 

The Informer is an action crime-drama based on the novel Three Seconds by Roslund & Hellström. Starring Joel Kinnaman, Rosamund Pike, Common, Ana de Armas and Clive Owen. When undercover FBI informant, Pete Koslow, played by Kinnaman, gets caught up in a murder, he is forced to go back to prison, by the FBI, to finish the job he started on the outside, infiltrate the mob he was working for.

When I saw the preview I wasn’t super excited about this movie, but because of all the star power I choose to still give it a chance. The plot was fun and at times unpredictable but lacked originality in the foundation. The type of cop drama it turned out to be is one that I’ve seen so many times before.

I thought that Rosamund Pike and Clive Owen did well as the FBI agents with ulterior motives. Common brought something different, from roles that I’ve seen of his, in the past, as a NYPD agent looking to avenge a murder. Joel Kinnaman also brought range as the family man willing to do anything to get back to his wife and child. I thought that he and Ana de Armas had great chemistry but there wasn’t enough character development and some of the hair choices for de Armas’ character, Sofia, were questionable.

Overall this movie was just okay. Not a complete waste of time but definitely not one that I would watch again.