Category: 2010 – 2017
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Justice League [2017] ★★½
Forgive me fanboys for I have sinned: I didn’t see “Justice League” upon its release, and it took a long plane ride to Canada to convince me to watch it. Early reviews weren’t too encouraging, to say the least, but now that the dust has settled, it’s interesting to look at “Justice League” from a…
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Veronica [2017] ★★
I’m calling bullshit on this film’s flashy marketing strategy. By telling people that “this Spanish original film is so terrifying that people can’t watch to the end”, Netflix got my attention. But now that I’ve finally seen the film, I can tell you that none of this is true. Sure, it’s an intriguing story about…
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Wonder Wheel [2017] ★★½
While it doesn’t add anything new to Woody Allen’s fruitful career, it’s difficult to dismiss his latest film, “Wonder Wheel”, just because I had a good time watching it. It has an abundance of eye candy and an amusing cast, making it entertaining enough for any Allen fan. We’re in Coney Island this time around,…
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Phantom Thread [2017] ★★★½
Daniel Day Lewis is a genius. Having tackled so many different characters throughout his career (he took home 3 Oscars as a result), he oddly insisted that his role as Reynolds Woodcock, a British dressmaker in the 1950’s would be his very last. A damn shame? You bet. But what a sendoff. Working with the…
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Darkest Hour [2017] ★★½
The Oscar for best actor in a leading role goes to Gary Oldman. His brilliant performance as Prime Minister Winston Churchill is the best, and probably only reason to see this slice of history. Of the movie itself, I can’t say I loved it. I suppose there’s no other way of depicting a history lesson…
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Call Me By Your Name [2017] ★★★½
Luca Guadagnino’s devastating and unforgettable “Call Me By Your Name” hits you like a shot in the heart. In detailing the relationship between 17-year-old Elio Perlman (a wonderful Timothée Chalamet) and an older man (Armie Hammer) during the summer of 1983, Guadagnino takes us on a roller coaster ride of emotions and heartbreak. Both actors wear their…
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All The Money In The World [2017] ★★★
88-year-old Christopher Plummer is sensational in Ridley Scott’s drama “All the Money in the World”. But it almost didn’t happen. That’s right. A month before its release, a scandal involving Kevin Spacey broke, and Scott had to re-shoot his scenes with Plummer instead to avoid a box-office disaster. So yes, kudos to Scott for pulling…
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The Shape Of Water [2017] ★★★½
Guillermo Del Toro makes movies like no other filmmaker. If you’ve seen “The Devil’s Backbone” and “Pan’s Labyrinth”, you probably know the scale of his vision. But nothing could have prepared me for his latest masterpiece: a beautifully crafted, visually stunning love letter to cinema that ranks among his best films. Other Hollywood movies may…
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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri [2017] ★★½
I’ve been a huge Martin McDonagh fan for at least a decade now. His movie “In Bruges” won me over completely and I still have fond memories of his underrated “Seven Psychopaths”. That being said, I didn’t fully appreciate his latest film, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri”, despite its critical acclaim (and the fact that it…
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Downsizing [2017] ★★
Whether he’s teaching us a wine lesson in “Sideways” or simply taking us on a road trip with a father and his son in “Nebraska”, director Alexander Payne has managed to put a personal stamp on everything he does. I didn’t love his newest film, “Downsizing”, and come to think of it this is a…
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The Post [2017] ★★★
Steven Spielberg’s ode to journalism and freedom of speech comes at a time where these values are being questioned in our own country, which makes it all the more worth recommending. From a cinematic point of view, “The Post” is being compared to “All The President’s Men” and even “Spotlight”, and understandably so. Spielberg has…
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Pitch Perfect 3 [2017] ★½
It seems that third time isn’t the charm for Rebel Wilson and the rest of the Bellas. This second (and hopefully last) sequel takes everything that was good in the first two film and ruins it. Wilson gives it her best shot. The movie never does. The plot? Just a silly excuse for a reunion.…
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The Disaster Artist [2017] ★★★½
In 1994,Tim Burton took on Ed Wood, one of the worst directors of all time, and turned his story into one of the best movies of the 90’s. Fast forward 9 years and “The Room”, one of the worst films of all time, opens in one theater in LA to disastrous reviews. You don’t need…
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Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle [2017] ★★★
I was no more than 8 years old when the original “Jumanji” film was released. As an undemanding kid, the movie entertained me, despite its simple story. Now as an adult, I walked in to see “Welcome to the Jungle” with no particular expectations, and what I got in return was a fun ride, fueled…
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Star Wars: The Last Jedi [2017] ★★★½
I still remember struggling with mixed feelings when Disney announced that it would be acquiring the rights from George Lucas and kick-start a whole new “Star Wars” trilogy. What would happen to a saga that clearly ended on Endor with the burial of Darth Vader? The minute “The Force Awakens” opened, I heaved a sigh…
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Better Watch Out [2017] ★★★
On the surface, “Better Watch Out” sounds like a “Home Alone” rip-off. It isn’t. And the sooner you realize that, the more fun you’ll have watching this superbly twisted holiday thriller from director Chris Peckover, who does a great job of raising hell. With screenwriter Zack Kahn, “Better Watch Out” provides young Levi Miller the…
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The Killing Of A Sacred Deer [2017] ★★★
In an era of remakes and cash-in sequels, it’s good to see filmmakers still taking risks with movies that keep their distance from the multiplex formula. I’m talking about Yorgos Lanthimos, the genius behind “The Lobster“. If you’ve seen that movie, you know he’s a director who doesn’t play by the rules. Then again so did…
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I, Tonya [2017] ★★★
I knew almost nothing about Tonya Harding, the American figure skater who was involved in a national sports scandal back in the 90’s. So it was up to Margot Robbie to give me a reason to care. To say that she succeeds with flying colors would be an understatement. Robbie is simply sensational, as she…
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Loving Vincent [2017] ★★★
You can think of “Loving Vincent” as a gift for art lovers and movie buffs alike. It’s a mesmerizing look at Vincent Van Gogh’s final days, as elegantly interpreted by a team of 100 professional painters who hand painted every single frame of this truly unique film. That’s right, you’re not just watching a story…
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Coco [2017] ★★★½
I feel bad for missing out on “Coco” on the week of its release, but now that I’ve seen it I can finally weigh in on this extraordinary film from Disney/Pixar. The concept itself is unprecedented, which makes “Coco” even more original than any animated film I’ve seen this year. Without spoiling the movie’s many…
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