Category: The Twenty-First Century
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Last Christmas [2019] ★★½
T’is the season. Every year I struggle to find a new Christmas movie to watch, so I always end up revisiting the same old classics. I refused to see “Last Christmas” at first (it kept reminding me of the song and I can’t listen to this song anymore), but I finally caved in this weekend…
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Judy [2019] ★★★
If you want to see Renee Zellweger transform herself completely to play an older Judy Garland, then this film is definitely for you. As someone who heard a lot about her sad demise, I was curious to know more about this legendary Hollywood actress/singer. And the movie does not disappoint. After an opening sequence that…
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Jumanji: The Next Level [2019] ★★½
As far as sequels go, “The Next Level” is enjoyable enough. The harshest thing anyone can say about it is that it lacks the element of surprise, and understandably so. The 2017 movie caught audiences by surprise and delivered superior entertainment (although I was skeptical at first). So naturally, a sequel had to happen. Dwayne…
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Marriage Story [2019] ★★★½
Noah Baumbach’s masterful film about a marriage falling apart ranks among the year’s most powerful experiences. “Marriage Story”, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson in two of the best performances you’ll see this Oscar season, slams you like a body punch scene after scene. Baumbach sets his film between New York and LA, where Nicole…
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Le Mans ’66 (Ford Vs Ferrari) [2019] ★★★½
Alright let’s take care of the elephant in the room right away: I’m no car aficionado. I know almost nothing about Le Mans or NASCAR racing in general. So why would a movie about a rivalry between Ford and Ferrari set in the 60’s interest me at all? That’s what I kept telling myself as…
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Knives Out [2019] ★★★½
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been fascinated with a good “murder mystery”. I’ve watched films, played “Cluedo” endlessly, and read Agatha Christie books religiously. And yet, it’s been a while since I’ve seen a whodunit as perfectly crafted as “Knives Out”. You know you’re in for a treat as soon as…
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The Irishman [2019] ★★★½
Martin Scorsese has done it again. Decades of experience run through his latest cinematic masterpiece “The Irishman”. So what better way to celebrate than to bring along Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci and an incredible supporting cast that includes Harvey Keitel, Ray Romano, Anna Paquin, Bobby Cannavale and Jesse Plemons? “The Irishman” is an…
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Doctor Sleep [2019] ★★★
When asked about “Doctor Sleep”, Stephen King said that he wanted to “check up” on Dan Torrance, years after the events of “The Shining”. And indeed, this sequel set over 30 years after the first film gives Ewan McGregor the chance to shine (no pun intended) in a movie that tries to juggle a lot…
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The Good Liar [2019] ★★½
In a multiplex filled with mostly blockbusters, it’s not too bad to spend some time with veteran actors in a thriller that keeps coming at you with twists and turns. “The Good Liar” is directed by Bill Condon and stars Ian McKellen as a professional con artist who sets his sight on a recently widowed…
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Charlie’s Angels [2019] ★★
To say that this reboot doesn’t have any reason to exist would be the understatement of the year. The 70’s TV show wasn’t great by any means, but it had its charm. The 2000 film version starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu had some good moments here and there, but it’s no classic…
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Terminator: Dark Fate [2019] ★★½
I don’t pretend to understand everything that goes on in this vast Terminator universe. And I admit: I have been chronologically confused about the series ever since “Rise of the Machines” hit cinemas in 2003. Know that? It doesn’t matter. Even with all its up and downs, this franchise has maintained its ability to entertain…
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Zombieland: Double Tap [2019] ★★★
Yes, it took a decade for director Ruben Fleischer to cook-up a sequel to his 2009 surprise hit. As a huge fan of the first film, this was damn worth the wait. But before that, and in true “Zombieland” fashion, let’s take a closer look at what the cast and crew had been up to…
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Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil [2019] ★★½
As someone who, swimming against the current, didn’t care much for the first “Maleficent” movie, I thought this sequel was far more enjoyable. While the first film focused on retelling a classic story, this one has some new ideas that kept me entertained at every turn. Angelina Jolie reprises her role as the title character,…
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El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie [2019] ★★★
Alright, bitches, let’s get you up to speed with “Breaking Bad” so far: Walter White died in the series finale, leaving our boy Jesse Pinkman on the run from the police. “El Camino”, written once again by Vince Gilligan and starring Aaron Paul in a role he was born to play, picks up exactly where…
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Gemini Man [2019] ★★½
Plot-wise, “Gemini Man” isn’t groundbreaking by any means, but if you’re going to see it, do it for the sake of the highly advanced technological visuals. This is one of the few 3D movies that made me feel completely immersed in its world. It also helps that it was shot at a high frame rate…
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In The Tall Grass [2019] ★½
Movies based on Stephen King’s books tend to range from terrifying (“Misery”, “Pet Sematary”, It”) to complete rubbish (“Cell”). “In The Tall Grass” was co-written with his son Joe Hill and is currently streaming on Netflix. I wasn’t familiar with the source material and I hadn’t seen the trailer or read a single word about…
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Polaroid [2019] ★
This stinker of a horror movie is one of the worst things you’ll see this year. Following in the footsteps of two of the worst horror films of the decade (that would be “Flatliners” and “Slender Man”, just in case), “Polaroid” focuses on a high school loner who finds a polaroid camera at an antique…
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Child’s Play [2019] ★★½
I couldn’t care less about a remake of the 1988 cult classic “Child’s Play”, but now that I’ve seen it, I guess you could do worse. This is a decent enough updated version that’s actually more gruesome than any other film in the franchise. Bonus points for having Mark Hamill as Chucky this time around.…
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Joker [2019] ★★★½
At first glance, the man who made such movies as “Old School”, “The Hangover” and “Due Date” seems like an unlikely candidate to direct a standalone film about the caped crusader’s greatest nemesis. But Todd Phillips isn’t messing around here. Fierce, deeply disturbing and gut-wrenching at times, “Joker” is a great movie, probably the best…
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Yesterday [2019] ★★★
I don’t know how I missed out on this gem of a movie upon its release, but now that I’ve seen it, I cannot but recommend it, especially if you’re a fan of The Beatles. “Yesterday”, written by Richard Curtis and directed with a keen eye for detail by Danny Boyle, is a film that…
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