anon

Positives 
- Andrew Niccol always has interesting Science Fiction ideas worth looking into. 
- The social commentary this movie brings up is absolutely worth talking about. 
- Visually engaging, playing with different aspect ratios, first person perspectives. 
- Several cool set pieces, especially the ones involving augmented reality. 

Negatives 
- Kinda dry and slow moving, that there will be people that will likely get bored with it. 
- The general mystery isn't really that interesting. 
- Main characters played by Clive Owen and Amanda Seyfried are trapped with cliche filled personalities. 
- Predictable plot turns and familiar plot tropes only further diminishes any interest to the movie. 
- Simply annoyed with the direction the movie took with Amanda Seyfried's characters. What a waste. 

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Already Available On Netflix  

breaking in

There are familiar themes in this home invasion movie that can be summed up in a few quotes; that were straight from the trailer no less.
"I will do anything to protect my kids."
"I'm just a Mom. You haven't a clue what I'm capable of." 
"You broke into the wrong house." 
That pretty much tells you what to expect from this movie right?

Now, before you write this off as a piece of derivative work that you can live without, I should mention that this is an entertainment movie to watch nonetheless. The simplicity of the premise, being a Mom doing whatever she can to save her kids from these strangers that broke into the home, is exciting enough. It's the whole cat and mouse game, plus the whole "who has the upper hand now" fun. That's essentially what you are watching this movie for. 

The reliably capable action thriller direction by James McTeigue is what keeps the momentum going throughout the movie, and the believability of Gabriel Union's character Shaun is what also makes this all work. There are many moments where you will either positively acknowledge how clever Shaun is, or roll your eyes at some of the plot conveniences that happen. The antagonists are also either written well enough to give them interesting personalities, or the writing overplays the personalities to caricature levels of cliches. I thankfully didn't find the kids annoying, so there's that. 

With "Breaking In," you know exactly what you are getting from watching this movie, or whether this is something you want to see, and that's very much appreciated. It's so straightforward in what it is, that there really isn't anything else I should say about it that isn't already obvious. The movie is serviceable entertainment, and that's that. 

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psychokinesis

Hey look, it's a South Korean superhero movie! Just from that sentence alone, I'm sure there's immediately a preconceived notion of what to expect from it. Is the CGI used for this movie even good? That's hit or miss, but it's more hit than miss. Is this yet another superhero origin story that we have to put up with? It is a superhero origin story, but it has it's unique elements to the tale that it doesn't feel like a chore to watch. Is this another one of those "save the city" or "save the world" kind of things? Actually, No. 

I'm not saying that this is the most original superhero story around, because it does have some familiar plot tropes here and there. There will be people who might compare this to the movies "Hancock" or "Chronicle," and I would argue that I found this far more enjoyable than those two films. Seok-hyeon should be the new superhero that the common people should be rooting for. He's like you, with every day problems, inherently flawed, but the difference is that he somehow gained a super power ability. There's a relatability to him that I appreciated, and probably even more so to those who are Fathers. 

Despite the superhero nature of the premise, the real story that grounds this movie is the relationship between Roo-mi and her estrangement to her father Seok-hyeon. That is the heart of the film here. That super power element does add a nice flavor to this tried and true story about a loser Dad who finally wants to make things right with the daughter he left behind in life though. That situation is amost always complicated in real life, and this story doesn't shy away from those complications either; although once again that superpower thing does help. 

Director and Writer Sang-ho Yeon has given this movie a lot of personality, not only with the premise, but arguably more importantly with it's characters. Speaking of characters, I thought Yu-mi Jung's character in particular was a true highlight to enjoy watching on screen. Besides the fun characters like hers to watch in this film, there are also some sharp social commentary, well designed action set pieces, several memorable scenes, fascinating cultural relevance, amusing self-awareness, a quirky sense of humor, and a good emotional core with a lot of heart, that put all together made "Psychokinesis" feel like a breath of fresh air in an already very familiar movie genre. 

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Watch it on Netflix already!  

tully

I feel like I need to preface this non-spoilers review with the reminder that I am not female, nor do I have a child of my own. I say that because this movie seems like it can only be truly appreciated by them, so I apologize if there are aspects of this story that I simply can't relate with.

If I was to just guess, the movie's intentions are to make you want to really appreciate everything your Mother had to go through to take care of you when you were a child. There are even whole montage sequences during the first parts of the movie, showing the daily grind of what a Mother has to endure in having to take care of a newborn. All that comes off to me as an almost cautionary warning for someone like me about parenthood. It's hard not to feel sympathy for what a Parent has to go through in raising children, but I also get that the movie is focusing on the more challenging aspects, and that it isn't always like that. 

From scenes that show the work that has to be done when being a parent, it also seems that the movie's intentions is to also appreciate the fact that Parents are still humans, with their own wants and desires. That's where the actual premise of the story seems to really be about, and is told through the two main characters played by Charlize Theron and Mackenzie Davis, Marlo and Tully respectively. 

As expected, Charlize Theron is amazing in this movie as a 40 year old Mom who seems like she's drowning in life as an exhausted Parent looking for some reprieve. Then contrast that with the 26 year old "Night Nurse," played wonderfully by Mackenzie Davis, full of hope, wisdom, wonder, and energy. While there's an obvious difference between the two due to their ages and experiences, there are also many similarities that connects them together.

The friendship that is sparked between Marlo and Tully is the main crux of this story, which leads to the main themes of the movie that people will probably want to talk about. There will also be those that will probably take issues with some of those themes. Saying what some of those themes are is essentially entering spoilers territory, but I will say that despite my preface at the beginning of this review; some of those themes can be relatable by Men and those who aren't Parents as well. Of course, your own perspective of the movie might not agree with that assessment. 

Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, "Tully" is definitely far more than just a realistic portrayal of what Motherhood looks like, and becomes a film that will challenge you with some uncomfortable truths. From the very first scene, until the very last frame, this movie absolutely took hold of my attention, and has subject matters that are bound to resonate in my head for years to come. 

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bad samaritan

David Tennant knows how to play a good villain. I should expand on that. David Tennant knows how to play a great, scary, disturbing, creepy, and demented villain that you would not want to meet. There are times when I was admiring how clever his character was , but often times I was horrified at the things he does in this movie. If it isn't obvious by now, if you needed a reason to see this film, watch it for David Tennant. 

As for the movie itself though, to be honest, I was concerned at first. The opening was a bit rough, and made me question if I just walked into a bad film. Then the actual premise actually kicked in, and then I was hooked. This is a pleasantly entertaining suspense crime thriller that you are going to want to see play out until the very end. Yes there are unfortunately still some derivative story beats, plot conveniences, stupid moments, and some cheap jump scares, that brings the quality down a bit. Thankfully, the overall experience from the moment David Tennant comes on screen, until the very last frame, are all pretty solid anyway. 

I would be remiss if I didn't point out that while David Tennant is the guy you want to see here, it's still Robert Sheehan's movie as Sean Falco, the bad samaritan himself. Sheehan is good in this. Really good in the role. While it is despicable that his character burglarizes people's homes, it was easy to still feel sympathy for him, with the horrible situation he finds himself in. It's just a spiral of bad things after another, and it's hard not to feel the same hopelessness his character must have been feeling. 

It's true that as a suspense crime thriller, "Bad Samaritan" isn't exactly unique, nor does it add a lot to the already crowded genre. All you can ask for is to be entertained by the story, the characters, and the set pieces, with that, this film delivers there. 

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beirut

Positives 
- It's an entertaining enough hostage negotiation thriller
- Jon Hamm is great in this
- Political intrigue and cultural aspects are interesting enough
- Some plot turns keeps the movie engaging 

Negatives 
- Not exactly a movie that stands out in the crowd
- Some people might complain about the movie's depiction of Beirut
- Certain character decisions were just stupid and almost breaks the suspension of disbelief
- The story doesn't really go too far from the typical plot tropes and cliches
- There really isn't much else to really discuss about the movie, besides actually delving into Beirut's true history in the years this film is based on 

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avengers infinity war

#ThanosDemandsYourSilence 

There Are No Spoilers In This Review (I felt like I needed to emphasize this) 

Wow. What. A. Movie. As the culmination of 10 Years with the Marvel Cinematic Universe, this one lived up to the wait. Mostly. It's not a perfect film mind you. Although it arguably is, if you judge it specifically on what it set out to be. What it set out to be is a perfect movie adaptation in the spirit of an expansive comic book crossover event, that spans multiple titles, locations, and characters, with heavy ramifications to the combined story lines of a multitude of intellectual properties. That's what this movie is, and that comes with it's positives and negatives. I would say there are so many more positives than negatives though. 

With the knowledge that this is like those comic book crossover events, I would say that the plot is very exciting but simple. However, a lot happens in this movie. A. Lot. The thematic story-lines presented have weighty significance to them, but not exactly deep explorations of them. Several of those themes encourages further discussions though. The huge ensemble cast of different characters is amazing to see on screen, but that also means many of them won't be getting much of the spotlight. Seeing heroes from different teams join forces, never gets old though. 

At 149 minutes, I would say 80% of that are purely action-adventure elements, which makes a case against the movie of just being dumb and loud. I would argue that it's not dumb, but there's a lot of loud stuff happening for sure. The action sequences are just a marvel to behold (pun intended). A lot of creativity went into some of those action scenes, I thought that's especially true with Spider-man, Doctor Strange, and Iron Man. It was very easy having my inner 8 year old kid get super excited at what's happening on screen. 

Speaking of the characters. The actors were all as good as they can be in their roles, but this time around we finally get to see Josh Brolin completely as Thanos. He is very good as that character, and is easily the most menacing villain the Marvel heroes have faced yet. I like what the movie and Brolin did with the character, in the personality and looks department. We've been constantly teased about Thanos for many many years now, and I'm happy to say that he lived up to my expectations of him. 

Kudos to Directors Anthony and Joe Russo for managing this very intricate and ambitious juggling act that is "Avengers: Infinity War." What an incredibly enjoyable fun thrill ride of a comic book movie filled with action, comedy, and drama. Even with the relatively simple premise of a story, there is still so much content to digest; due to the complex backstories. Truly a high mark in pure Marvel Comics entertainment that's designed to please a huge audience, but wow did it also take some welcome risks as well that's going to get reactions from people. 

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you were never really here

Put this on the list of movies to show people what it means to be a cinematic film. This movie chugs along at a captivating pace purely based on the visuals, the editing, the cinematography, and some impressive stylistic choices. That's Director Screenwriter Lynne Ramsay at work, and proves why she's one of the most exciting film makers around right now. 

There's violence in this movie, but you don't see gratuitous violence displayed. There's a lot of world building, but it's done in very subtle ways. There's a lot of plot to digest, but the story itself is pretty straightforward. There isn't a lot of dialogue, but they are hardly ever irrelevant. The movie's premise is very dark, but it doesn't hit you over the head with it; well that's debatable I guess. The delicate but deliberate way this story is told to us is impressive, from the b-roll heavy set-up from the first third of the movie, to the way the rest of the plot plays out, plus that ending. 

Although there are several supporting characters involved here, it is Joaquin Phoenix that stands out over all. Although he is generally intense most of the movie, he is able to convey other emotions so very well, as this man suffering from traumatic past experiences. You should be absolutely captivated and invested in what happens to him here. Truly a remarkable role for Phoenix. 

If there is one thing that might keep this from being a movie you might want to watch over and over again, it's the subject matter. Some people; like myself, might consider it a little too exaggerated, that leads to some questionable plot developments and resolutions; or lack thereof. On the flip side, what we see in the movie has very very very plausible elements to it, which also makes it the more heartbreaking and frightening to comprehend. 

I've never read the Jonathan Ames novel that this is adapted from, but once again kudos to Lynne Ramsay for making "You Were Never Really Here." What an exhilarating cinematic film that's like a dark rabbit hole that you just have to experience. 

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mom and dad

Not going to deny it, but I went into this movie to see how over the top Nicolas Cage is this time around. I wasn't disappointed. Wow does that guy swing for the fences as an actor. I'm not passing judgement on how bad or good he is acting, because he is just too entertaining to watch on screen, so why would I bother criticizing his work? Ham it up Cage! Go nutsoid! We love you for it. That's the reason we watch the movies you are in. Don't know if that's a backhanded compliment, but let's just say it's not. 

Not to be outdone, but Selma Blair is excellent here too. If anything else, her character is the most developed, and the one the audience will probably have any kind of attachment to. The kids are more or less just there to serve the plot, but the parents are what's really interesting here. They could have gone deeper with Cage's character, but what they presented isn't too bad. 

Some if not most people will find issues with the premise and gimmick of this movie. It is somewhat like a different take to the zombie movie genre; except without zombies, which I actually liked. It's definitely a movie you will find on the schedule of a late-night film festival filled with outrageous and over the top gonzo B-movies, which in itself is a description on what to expect here. Suspend your disbelief and just go with it. 

The editing is deliciously manic and constantly in your face, with moments designed to throw off the tone of the movie, but at the same helps give proper context to what you are watching. The soundtrack is bonkers in how it compliments what's happening on screen, and it starts off the bat with a James Bond-esque opening theme song to give us the notice that this film is classy thrash. 

I could nitpick "Mom and Dad" about it's lack of logic, plot conveniences, or it's obvious unnecessary indulgences. Why would I do though? I like it for what it's trying to be. Not a great movie, but one that's entertaining enough to make me laugh at the horrible things that are happening on screen. 

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truth or dare

POSITIVES... 
- I genuinely like the entertaining premise of the movie. 
- I like the evil photo filter smiley face thing idea. 
- Thought the actual truth or dare portions actually helped the overall plot. 
- Lucy Hale and Violett Beane were fun to watch on screen together. 
- It has an interesting turn for an ending. You'll definitely have an opinion about that. 

NEGATIVES... 
- The whole idea for the movie might seem very silly and stupid for some people. 
- It seemed like the movie lost interest in it's whole evil photo filter smiley face thing. 
- I take huge issues with how the kids handled their problems. Didn't seem believable. 
- Lucy Hale and Violett Beane were the only characters I actually cared about. 
- The final act of the movie was a huge mess. 
- There's a lot of issues and plot conveniences in this movie that constantly tries to break your suspension of disbelief. 

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