The King

The King is a Netflix produced medieval, 15th century, drama that follows disgraced, Prince Hal, the Prince of Wales as he must unwillingly turn from drunken philanderer to warrior king. Starring Timothée Chalamet, Joel Edgerton and Robert Pattinson, this movie showcases the politics and hostilities Hal faces from those close to him inside his castle and those from outside the castle in the battle for the respect to claim English reign. 

The plot was interesting and easy to follow. The script was well written and had a good mix of character driven dialogue along with a significant amount of action sequences. The fight scenes were intense at times, bringing a gritty, dirtiness that felt historically accurate. The costumes and the sets were also perfect for the movie, properly transporting you to this archaic, ruthless world.

I thought that the acting throughout the film was great. I especially enjoyed Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of King Henry V. He was really able to carry this movie by bringing to life this smart and calculated king with strong military prowess. He was able to showcase his evolution from a drunken black sheep, to a naïve ruler who just wanted peace, to a powerful, merciless king. Joel Edgerton also did well playing the military expert and loyal friend whose guidance was meant to steer Hal in a righteous direction. The only actor I wasn’t completely on board with was Robert Pattinson. His acting was good, as an almost French reflection of the drunken disappointment that Hal used to be, but his French accent was terrible, as it kept fading in an out thought out each scene that he was in. Honestly, they should have just hired a French actor to play the role. They also could have elaborated more on his character development as he was a bit too one dimensional.

Even though Pattinson was a bit of a damper he couldn’t derail this movie for me. I was still engaged throughout and could have easily enjoyed this film in a theatre. Netflix can be hit or miss with the quality they put out but this one, for me, was definitely a hit.

Good Boys

Good Boys is a coming of age comedy of three friends going into the 6th grade who were invited to their first kissing party. 

The themes of friendship, growing up, taking responsibility and growing apart were all great and relevant in this movie.

The plot was fun and interesting. Unfortunately the comedic piece didn’t hit as hard as I wish it would have. There were a couple of funny moments but for the most part all of the best jokes were in the trailers.

I thought that the three kids in this movie, Jacob Tremblay as Max, Keith L. Williams as Lucas and Brady Noon as Thor, did a great job acting off one another and staring in this movie. I have seen Jacob in other films and I think he has a great range for someone so young. Keith L. Williams brought a lot of the comedy and was probably the funniest one in the entire movie but it wasn't enough to carry an entire movie.

The script lacked creativity and it actually became a bit awkward watching 11 year olds cussing and carrying around sex toys. I remember watching Role Models over 10 years ago and thinking it was hilarious watching a young kid throw insults and cuss but the writers this movie couldn’t deliver in the same way. Ultimately, the movie was entertaining but not worth seeing again.

Birds of Prey: And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

Birds of Prey is the Harley Quinn standalone movie starring Margot Robbie, Rosie Perez and Ewan McGregor. 

The plot picks up after Suicide Squad. It was fun, had touches of comedy but was very predictable. The character development was good but the script was too long and full of too much backstory. The purpose of this movie is to showcase the Birds of Prey but the girl gang doesn’t even get together until the last 20 minutes of the movie which was a disappointment.

I enjoyed the reprisal of Robbie’s Harley Quinn. She does great in everything and really could do no wrong in my book. She carried this movie with a quick wit, resourcefulness, some heart and character growth. Her fight sequences were creative and full of athleticism. I thought that the acting from the rest of the group was mediocre at best. I liked the diversity of the rest of the Birds of Prey but didn’t think that they all interacted well together. It wasn’t believable that Rosie Perez, as Renee Montoya, could be in this group. Mary Elizabeth Winstead was an unknown to me and although her character, Helena Bertinelli / The Huntress, was awkwardly funny at times I just didn’t really care about her. I have seen Jurnee Smollett-Bell in some lower budget things in the past. It was nice to see her in a bigger budget movie, but unfortunately she lacked the athleticism, which her character, Dinah Lance / Black Canary, required. All of her fight sequences were painfully slow and boring. In regard to Ewan McGregor, I always think of him as more of a good guy or a hero so it was weird seeing him in a villain role. His character, Roman Sionis, was not my favorite; he had odd proclivities and his costume, which was supposed to be scary and intimating just came off corny. And finally, even though I was never a fan of Jared Leto's Joker, it was odd that he didn't even make a cameo in this movie.

In the end, this was not worth seeing in theatres. It wasn’t as bad as Suicide Squad, but it was not worth spending money on. For those who want to support Margot, I’d suggest waiting until it's released on Netflix.

Long Shot

Long Shot is a comedy starring Charlize Theron as Secretary of State Charlotte Field and Seth Rogen as journalist Fred Flarsky. Charlotte and Fed were childhood neighbors who hadn’t seen each other since they were teenagers. Then by serendipity they happen to run into each other at the same party, spurring an unexpected partnership.

I thought that the plot was unique, easy to follow, well thought out and moved seamlessly. There were some parts that were predictable but overall it was very entertaining. Additionally, the script was witty, smart and packed with really funny punches.

I liked the diversity of cast and the strong character development. The acting was also great all around. Charlize played a strong, smart woman in a powerful position, trying to stand on her own, with her merits, as she made the transition to running for president. Seth Rogen was pretty much the same character that he is in everything, but it was a nice contrast to Charlize’s more serious character. I was pleasantly surprised to see O'Shea Jackson Jr in his role. He was an optimistic, supportive friend though all odds. He brought something very different than what he has played in the past.

In the end, I have always thought comedies are one of the hardest films to make. Not ever joke hits with everyone so when a good comedy does come out, it is worth the wait. This is one of those movies. If you are looking for a hilarious movie, full of heart and a bit raunchy, this is the one for you.

Bombshell

Bombshell is the dramatized story behind the atrocious behavior and sexual assault lawsuits aimed at Roger Ailes. With an all-star cast, led by Charlize Theron as Megyn Kelly, Nicole Kidman as Gretchen Carlson, and Margot Robbie as Kayla Pospisil, they were able to showcase this horrible environment and how they were all able to fight back. 

This story is one that made headlines a few years ago but it was interesting to see the plot played out. It showcased all the toxicity behind the scenes, the harassing and downright creepy behavior that was encouraged from top to bottom by the men at Fox, the women bashing to protect Roger, and the sacrifices it took to start to make changes in that workplace.

I thought that the script was written well and moved at a proper pace; it kept me engaged throughout. The cinematography and specifically the editing were done well, it really elevated the anxiety of the situation. I appreciated how the story was told from the female perspective with three strong leads. The acting was superb from them and the rest of the cast, especially that from John Lithgow as Roger Ailes, Allison Janney as attorney, Susan Estrich, Kate McKinnon as Fox co-worker Jess Carr, and Connie Britton as Roger Ailes' wife, Beth. There was also great make up and costumes, especially for Charlize who looked just like Megyn Kelly.

Overall this was a story of women banning together to take the power away from a predator. Regardless of what side you are on politically you can relate to these women and feel for their situation. It was a compelling drama that was worth watching.

To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You

To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, is the sequel To All The Boys I Loved Before. The story picks up right where the last one ended following the young budding romance of Peter and Laura Jean, reprised by Noah Centineo and Lana Condor, respectively. 

The plot was a mature, honest look at a complicated relationship, who you choose to be in those relationships, while finding confidence in yourself. There were great themes around friendship, trust, growth and love.

The acting from the entire cast was great again. You can really feel the connections between the performers because of the well written script and the strong character development, which helped in bringing out an emotionally charged and at times quite heartbreaking story. Lana Condor brought such beauty and style to her character and did another great job carrying this movie. I also appreciated the continuality of the diverse casting. I especially loved the addition of John Ambrose, played by Disney & Dancing with the Stars hunk Jordan Fisher. I thought that he did a great job playing the nice guy, the one you would be torn rooting for. Someone with honest, genuine feelings, who is just looking for love.

I enjoyed that they kept with the theme of the original film when it came to the soundtrack. It was another 80s inspired mix of hits intertwined with current pop tunes. Additionally, the cinematography was creative in how they transitioned from act to act. I also adored the costumes, especially those of Laura Jeans’, they were full of bright colors, fashionably bold choices and full of quirk, just like her personality.

From beginning to end this movie was engaging and full of some great twists. If you are looking for a proper coming of age, rom-com sequel that brings out all of the emotions, this is the one for you.

Uncut Gems

Uncut Gems is a crime thriller set in New York in 2012. It follows Howard Ratner, played by Adam Sandler, a shady jeweler and gambling addict, who is deep in debt with his loan shark which causes rifts with his family, business partners and friends. 

After the movies world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival, there was a good amount of hype for it and Sandler’s performance. He was able to really transform for this part. I didn’t see Adam the comedian when watching him, I really felt transported with his portrayal of a character that was loud, neurotic, and at times would make you so frustrated with all of the bad decisions he was making. The rest of the cast did great as well. There were some surprising additions to the group like, Kevin Garnett and Idina Menzel, who both did really well in their respective roles. Also a relatively unknown actor, in her first role, Julia Fox, did a great job as a driven, ambitious showroom sales woman and mistress.

The story was easy to follow, unpredictable and at times nerve-racking. I thought it was interesting how it was set in 2012, surrounded by real life events, but in a fictional screenplay.

In the end, even though the movie was interesting, I felt like it was dragging on too much and about an hour in I was checking to see how much time was left. Also, the editing at the beginning and the end was odd, and the costumes and soundtrack didn’t really fit the era. For me, this is one that I found was original in thought but, because of how it was executed, not one that I would want to watch again.