Category: 4.5 Stars
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13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi – Bay finally stands on the rock
Still, as good as 13 Hours… is, it would be hard to watch more than once. These were real people doing excellent work, but the whole thing represents a battle our Redcoats are not winning.
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The VVitch (****1/2) stares back at you
It’s a raw film that feels every bit of the gravity of living and more.
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Forgotten Gem: Starman (****1/2) is better than Dutch Apple Pie
John Carpenter’s Starman – 1984 Director John Carpenter Screenplay by Bruce A. Evans & Raynold Gideon Starring Jeff Bridges, Karen Allen, Charles Martin Smith, Richard Jaeckel, Robert Phalen, Dirk Blocker, M.C. Gainey In my mind’s eye, Starman is a big hit that was seen by everyone in the 1980’s. When Jeff Bridges was nominated for an Oscar as…
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10 Cloverfield Lane: Children behave… (****1/2)
This is the rare case where the tie in works for the right reasons.
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Sicario (****1/2): The depth of darkness
Villeneuve is one of the best directors alive. He his streak is 3 near-classics and counting. His sensibility is one of quiet observation. He allows the viewer to draw his own conclusions on what they are seeing, without pushing even subtly in any direction.
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The Hateful Eight (Roadshow Edition) ****1/2 is a study of balance
The Hateful Eight – 2015 Written and Directed by Quentin Tarantino Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Demián Bichir, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Bruce Dern, Lee Horsley, Zoë Bell, James Park, Gene Jones, Dana Gourrier That actors save their best performances for Quentin Tarantino is certainly not a surprise. That he continues to pull new good actors from the fringes…
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The Martian (****1/2) – The good of the one…
The Martian – 2015 Director Ridley Scott Screenplay Drew Goddard based on the book by Andy Weir Starring Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Jeff Daniels, Michael Peña, Kate Mara, Sean Bean, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong In a time in which one person taking the lives of many others gets so much attention, it is nice to see a work of art…
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Cool Papa E Reviews Rocky / Creed The Complete Saga
Rocky The Complete Saga – 1976 – 2015 Rocky – 1976 Director John G. Avildsen Starring Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burt Young, Carl Weathers, Burgess Meredith, Joe Spinell, Tony Burton, Geraldine Hughes Screenplay Sylvester Stallone Synopsis Down and out low ranking boxer Rocky Balboa (Stallone) gets the shot of a lifetime when he is randomly picked to take on the World Champion…
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X-Men: Days of Future Passed / The Rogue Cut: We can go anywhere from here
The Rogue Cut is like the bloom of a rose the day after you thought it had reached maturity. Instead of beginning to wilt, it flows even more thoroughly from its core, giving the bloom a depth and resonance it never had previously. The interesting thing about it though, is that it’s not only or…
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Pitch Perfect 2 (****1/2) makes it look easy
Director Elizabeth Banks Starring Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Skylar Astin, Ben Platt, Adam DeVine, Alexis Knapp, Flula Borg, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen, Hana Mae Lee, Ester Dean, Anna Camp, Keegan-Michael Key, Katey Segal John Michael Higgins, Elizabeth Banks, Chrissie Fit Screenplay Kay Cannon The people responsible for the sequel to the surprise hit from 2013 have a gift. They have taken the relatively sparse world of comedy about women accessible…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 