Author: tlkabtmovies
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The Favourite [2018] ★★★½
He’s done it again. Filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos follows up “Dogtooth”, “The Lobster” and “The Killing of a Sacred Deer” with a period piece that has his name written all over it. It’s a deliciously wicked film, beautifully shot and perfectly acted by Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone and Olivia Coleman (no wonder they’re all nominated for…
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On The Basis Of Sex [2018] ★★½
“On the basis of sex” dramatizes an important chapter in history when young lawyer Ruth Ginsburg fought hard for equal rights between men and women in 1970. It’s an interesting slice of history, and you couldn’t ask for a better actress to fill in Ginsburg’s shoes. Felicity Jones has already made an impression in such…
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Vice [2018] ★★★½
I have a confession to make: I was not looking forward to this movie. As much as I love Christian Bale, I never thought I would be interested in a movie about Dick Cheney, the American politician who served as a Vice President of the United States from 2001 to 2009. But as soon as…
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The Upside [2019] ★★½
On paper, this Hollywood version of the french hit “Intouchables” has no reason to exist. But I tried to keep an open mind as I was watching it last night. As a result, I found myself enjoying it. It’s nowhere near as funny or moving as the original, but with that aside, it’s an enjoyable…
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Glass [2019] ★★★
It’s flawed, it doesn’t flow as smoothly as “Split”, and it might confuse the hell out of newcomers. Know that? I still had a blast watching “Glass”, the sequel to 2000’s “Unbreakable”, starring Samuel L. Jackson and Bruce Willis, and 2017’s “Split”, in which James McAvoy played a psychiatric patient who suffers from dissociative identity…
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How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World [2019] ★★★
I am not a big fan of the number 3, but when it comes to animated movies, I am willing to make an exception. Here’s a trilogy that remained consistent over the years, delivering one spectacular installment after the other. And “The Hidden World”, the first sequel in five years is no exception: it’s a…
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Roma [2018] ★★★
“Roma” doesn’t look or feel like any other movie I’ve seen in 2018, and not just because it was shot in black and white. It has a distinct atmosphere, and that’s obvious from the very first shot. Director Alfonso Cuarón transports us back to his childhood neighborhood in Mexico City. The year is 1970 and we’re…
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The Mule [2018] ★★½
If I had to give you one reason to see “The Mule”, Clint Eastwood would be it. It’s a joy and a privilege to see him in top form at 88, playing a Korean war veteran who somehow ends up transporting drugs for a Mexican cartel. He is also a man who is trying to…
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Bird Box [2018] ★★
Let’s start the year with something that’s been bugging me for a few days. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a good hype when it comes to movies, as long as it’s justified. In the case of “Bird Box”, Netflix’s latest apocalyptic thriller starring Sandra Bullock, the hype isn’t justified at all. As I start…
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Bumblebee [2018] ★★½
Forgive me readers for I have sinned: I enjoyed a “Transformers” movie for the first time since 2007’s entertaining film starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox (feels like a long time ago now). We had 4 sequels since then, and they all sucked. So, what’s so different now? I’d say “Bumblebee” wisely turns back the…
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Mary Poppins Returns [2018] ★★★
Let’s take care of the elephant in the room right away: “Mary Poppins Returns” was never going to replace the beloved 1964 classic starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke. The original means so much to so many people to let any modern movie diminish it. That being said, I breathed a sigh of relief…
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Christmas Movies To See This Year (And Every Year)
T’is the season. You’re probably getting ready to see “Home Alone” for the 100th time, but there are several Christmas films that are also worth seeing. Some of them bring back so many memories, while others are simply enjoyable films that everyone can enjoy during the holiday season. What are some of your favorites? …
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Second Act [2018] ★★
Jennifer Lopez plays a 40 something woman who wants to prove that street smarts is just as good as book smarts. So she creates a fake CV and lands a dream job as a consultant for a big company. That’s the premise of “Second Act”, a movie that pretty much gives zero fucks about logic…
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Colette [2018] ★★★
Whether it’s in “Pride and Prejudice”, “Atonement” or “The Duchess”, Keira Knightley is always portraying interesting and colorful characters in period pieces. Now with “Colette”, this might be her most important role yet. Director Wash Westmoreland (who did a fine job in “Still Alice”) manages to capture the “grandiose” dreams of Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, the woman who…
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Aquaman [2018] ★★★
It oozes old-fashioned entertainment. That’s “Aquaman” in a nutshell, DC’s latest superhero to finally get his own standalone film. But who would have thought that after the super serious “Batman V Superman” and “Justice League”, “Aquaman” would be their funniest entry in the series? What’s more, Jason Momoa is fully up to the task. This…
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Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse [2018] ★★★½
Believe the hype. “Into The “Spider-Verse” isn’t some animated spin-off that will eventually get lost in the shuffle. It’s one of the best “Spider-Man” movies ever made and my personal favorite since Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man 2”. It gave me a lot to cheer for: a fresh concept and an incredible execution to match it. Credit…
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The Possession Of Hannah Grace [2018] ★½
I was compiling my list of the year’s worst movies when I noticed that this film was playing at the local multiplex this week. So naturally, I had to see it. And I wasn’t disappointed at all: this is one of my favorite “bad” movies of the year; Generic, far from scary, and downright silly.…
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Ben Is Back [2018] ★★½
“Ben is Back” is at once intriguing and frustrating. While the first half grabbed me, I found myself losing interest after the hour mark. But at least I can start on positive note. Writer director Peter Hedges opens his movie with a bang: Julia Robert’s drug addicted son shows up unexpectedly on Christmas eve. It’s…
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Instant Family [2018] ★★½
It doesn’t reinvigorate the comedy genre in any way, but there’s something truly irresistible about “Instant Family”. I was drawn instantly to its appeal, and I had a good time watching the story unfold. Also, I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed seeing Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne in a movie. They play a…
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Creed II [2018] ★★★
It’s easy to throw the word “predictable” at any boxing movie these days. After all, if you’ve seen the 6 Rocky movies and 2015’s terrific “Creed”, then you probably know what to expect from “Creed II”. So to say that it’s all about the journey and not the destination would really be the understatement of…
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