Category: Ratings
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Thor Ragnarok (****) a well-placed step towards the inevitable
In all, this is a fun film that is as good as one could expect coming from one of the heretofore most boring parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. If it feels a bit underdone, it’s because it still follows the formula of megalomaniac who almost has it all until she doesn’t. Marvel has done…
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Brawl in Cell Block 99 (***1/2) – Grinds it out.
The brutality of this film almost demands that it be seen with friends who enjoy being shocked. There has not been this kind of mutilation in a film with this kind of acting in my life of watching film. The real prize is Vaughn, who shows complete trust in the words and storytelling of the…
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Kingsman: The Golden Circle (****) – Viva Las Vegan
There is no dip in quality or effort in this film. If you enjoyed the first one and can willingly suspend disbelief when it comes to characters that come and go, you should have no problems here. Vaughn’s sense of humor, understanding of visual flair and development of character is still on point here.
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Leatherface (*) is a product of diminishing returns…
It takes place mostly in the dark, as if they’re trying to hide that their slashed budget required they film in Bulgaria. I am not sure it would have helped to shed any light on it though. To say this series has gone far enough is pointless. They can keep going around in circles in…
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American Made (***1/2) Liman and Cruise in Scorsese mode
American Made – 2017 Director Doug Liman Screenplay Gary Spinelli Starring Tom Cruise, Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright, Jayma Mays, Jesse Plemons, Caleb Landry Jones, Alejandro Edda, Mauicio Mejia, Connor Trinneer, Jed Rees Watching Tom Cruise move through the quick cuts of Doug Liman’s story about Barry Seals secret life of transporting weapons, taking pictures for the Feds and drugs for…
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The Midnight Meat Train (**) before he was Bradley Cooper and after he was Clive Barker
The Midnight Meat Train – 2008 Director Ryuhei Kitamura Screenplay Jeff Buhler based on the short story by Clive Barker Starring Bradley Cooper, Leslie Bibb, Brooke Shields, Roger Bart, Ted Raimi, Vinnie Jones, Tony Curran Watching The Midnight Meat Train is a weird feeling. Looking back at Bradley Cooper before he found his acting mojo, he still seems like a kid here, even though he…
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Blade Runner 2049 (****) chooses life
There’s a lot here for people who loved the first film. For those who just liked it, like yours truly, this bridges some gaps. Not sure where they can go with the next film, if there is one with the same writer, it is sure to be interesting.
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Her Majesty, Mrs. Brown (****) and Victoria & Abdul (***): Two pieces of a life continued
These films are not to be missed, if you want to see a master at her best. If forced to choose, I will take Connolly, Sher and Dench over Dench by ostensibly by herself.
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Golden Sombrero: To Live And Die In L.A. (*) is just awful
To Live and Die in L.A. – 1985 Director William Friedkin Screenplay Friedkin & Gerald Petievich based on the novel by Petievich Starring Willem Dafoe, William L. Peterson, John Pankow, Debra Feuer, John Turturro, Darlanne Fluegel, Dean Stockwell, Jane Leeves, Jimmy Hart “You ain’t my partner. You ain’t even my fuckin’ friend!” If they took every horrible thing about 80’s…
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The Big Sick (*****) is graceful, genuine and funny
That there are several real male and female characters in The Big Sick is a tribute to its writers, the real life couple whose story is presented in the film. There are very few caricatures in the film. The ones that might qualify are so deftly handled, it just feels like a person we know…
Ebert Did It Better: Gasbag Reviews 