the front runner

POSITIVES…
- The whole cast is good in this, from Hugh Jackman, Vera Farmiga, Molly Ephraim, to J.K. Simmons, and many others.
- It’s an interesting historical event to revisit, especially when compared to the political climate of today.
- While the trailer might suggest a singular thematic message in this story, there are actually some other significant topics that this movie brings up, that are absolutely worth discussing.
- Gives us some insight into election campaigns and the people involved in it.

NEGATIVES…
- A huge chunk at the beginning of this movie covers a lot of that campaign jargon and going-ons, that were just boring to watch.
- Despite the good intentions and adept filmmaking, the movie just felt dull and unexciting.
- Just about all the best dramatic parts found in this movie are already showcased in the trailer.

P.S….
- Fun fact for fans of the TV show “Last Man Standing.” Molly Ephraim and Kaitlyn Dever are both in this movie. Since you won’t be seeing both of them on that TV show together anymore.

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the ballad of buster scruggs

POSITIVES…
- As an anthology film, with six short stories, this movie gives us a nice variety of tales about the western frontier.
- The first segment “The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs” is easily my favorite of all of them. It has a lot to do with Tim Blake Nelson’s performance of Scruggs, and the fun cleverness of how the story plays out itself.
- The second segment carries over that fun cleverness to the story, and gives us more of that black ironic comedy that I enjoyed from the first segment.
- The third to sixth segments all had some interesting things to offer to the movie, and continues to give us some great cinematography and that perfect tone that captures that era.
- This is a movie about storytelling, whether it’s tall tales, sad tales, or fascinating tales, and for that I give the Coen Brothers credit for their craft in film making.

NEGATIVES…
- As it also goes with anthology movies, not all segments are going to work with everybody.
- Besides the first two segments, the other four were kinda boring to me, with short spurts of the occasional cool thing that’s happening.
- The conclusions to each segment isn’t going to be completely satisfactory for some people either.
- I kinda wish Buster Scruggs had a whole movie for himself actually.

P.S….
- Is that Harry Potter’s Dudley Dursley in this movie?

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You Can Watch This Now On Netflix

beautiful boy

POSITIVES…
- Powerful performances by the whole cast, from Steve Carell, Timothee Chalamet, to Maura Tierney.
- Steve Carell is doing one of his best dramatic work as the concerned father David Sheff. It’s hard not to feel for the guy.
- Timothee Chalamet gets to check off the box “play drug addict.” At least he does a phenomenal job at it.
- Fantastic soundtrack.
- There were moments in this movie that felt so raw and effective.
- Considering the subject matter, watching this felt appropriately unpleasant and heartbreaking. I appreciated the fact that this movie doesn’t glamorize or romanticize drug addiction.

NEGATIVES…
- This movie was appropriately unpleasant and heartbreaking, which some people may simply not enjoy watching at all, despite the powerful message.
- Meanders at times.
- The bleak tone of the film doesn’t exactly scream “repeat viewing.”
- At one point in the movie, the title card says “one year earlier,” which then becomes meaningless because the narrative loves jumping back and forth in different times. Artistically it works to some degree, but I can see how it can annoying to watch it like this.

P.S….
- ssooo Michael Scott left Holly Flax to be with Susan California? whhaaatt?!
Kudos if you get that joke.

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ralph breaks the internet

POSITIVES…
- If you loved how clever it was on how they visualized what the video game world looks like from it’s own point of view, then you are going to love how they visualized what the internet world looks like from it’s own point of view.
- The voice cast are great as expected, from John C Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Taraji P Henson, Alan Tudyk, to Gal Gadot, and many more.
- Scenes involving the Disney Princesses were AWESOME.
- I already implied the visuals are great, but because of the premise, it’s also fun searching for all the easter eggs inside jokes that involves the internet.
- The after credits scene. Of Course.
- Entertaining. Exciting. Fascinating. Funny. Touching. Insightful. This movie really goes to many different places with it’s premise.
- Despite the seemingly simple story, there’s actually a lot of commentary underneath the many plot threads, a lot that involves elements involving the internet, among other things.

NEGATIVES…
- Despite the strong underlying themes and messages, I simply don’t think the story as it is, is as strong as it probably should be.
- Those looking forward to the returning characters from the first installment might be disappointed in how much time they were actually in the movie.
- There’s this thing in the movie that involves Ebay and about making money via the internet, that I found to be downright wrong and misleading.
- A lot of suspension of disbelief here.

P.S….
- There’s a sequence towards the end of the movie, where the antagonist of a particular action set piece, absolutely triggered a phobia for me just from how it looked visually. Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl.

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green book

POSITIVES…
- Viggo Mortensen is a lot of fun portraying Tony Lip, the tough guy from the streets with no manners.
- Mahershala Ali is great portraying Dr Shirley, the highly educated and skillful pianist.
- The oil and water chemistry between the two is very entertaining to watch, and is one of the core reasons to check this movie out.
- The last acts of this story are also really strong, and should fill you up with some good emotions by the time the end credits hit.
- There are also the historical looks, civic lessons, and prejudicial parallels to today’s time that justifies making this film.

NEGATIVES…
- As it goes with “these kinds” of films, there will be the expected plot tropes and cliches that go along with it. I say that but not ignoring the fact that this is inspired by the true events.

P.S….
- If there’s at least one reaction you will get from this movie, it’s that it will make you really hungry for some delicious food.

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creed II

POSITIVES…
- Michael B Jordan is as good as ever.
- Stallone is Stallone, and I guess we don’t ask for more than that.
- I really liked the story line specifically about Adonis and Bianca.
- I also really liked the plot thread between Ivan Drago and his son Viktor.
- The training montages are always enjoyable to watch.
- Boxing matches are explosive and good as well.
- The overall themes of this story are great, and the movie takes it’s time to let the characters breath and grow.

NEGATIVES…
- The movie takes it’s time, and some might say that it also moves a bit slower than expected.
- It’s a solid movie about boxing, but it honestly doesn’t really add anything new to the genre.
- This franchise still relies heavily on nostalgia and is still retreading what we’ve seen in the Rocky movies.
- Maybe the next installment will finally let Adonis Creed stand on his own for real.

P.S….
- There are a couple of cameo appearances that I didn’t know about, and were pleasantly surprised to see.

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robin hood 2018

POSITIVES…
- Taron Egerton continues to be as charming as ever.
- Jamie Foxx was also good in this.
- Ben Mendelsohn is awesome hamming it up as the villain.
- Action adventure sequences are enjoyable enough to watch.
- The overall modern style directing, visuals, and tone to what should be a straight period piece, did add a nice entertaining flavor to the whole movie.

NEGATIVES…
- The modern style feel of it all isn’t going to go well with some people.
- While the liberties taken to this classic story are welcome, it still doesn’t stray too far from expected plot developments that can make the movie feel derivative in some ways.
- Also expect some plot conveniences to happen to get the story moving in a predictable manner.
- Had potential to be better than what it is, but the movie is content to just be perfectly acceptable.

P.S….
- I know this movie wants to be a franchise, but let’s leave it alone as it is.

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widows

POSITIVES…
- Viola Davis is amazing and gives this film that dramatic gravitas so very well.
- Elizabeth Debicki has probably one of the best and most nuanced characters in this film.
- Cynthia Erivo is proving to be this energetic dynamo of an actress.
- Daniel Kaluuya is excellent as the antagonist you do not want to mess with.
- Michelle Rodriguez, as well as all the other actors are good too, and everybody gets to have a scene or two where they get to show off their acting prowess.
- From beginning until the very end, I was hooked and on the edge of my seat in anticipation to what was going to happen next.
- There’s a lot to chew on here, from the dramatic plot threads, some social commentary that adds more spice to the narrative, the vulnerable emotional scenes, the exciting plot revelations, to the thrilling action sequences, it’s hard not to give this movie all the attention you’re able to give it.
- Thought provoking themes, and memorable scenes, I was enjoying every minute of this film.
- For just being his fourth feature film, Steve McQueen is fast becoming one of my most favorite Directors today.
- Easily one of the best films that happen to involve women trying to pull off a heist.

NEGATIVES…
- As it goes, if you’ve seen enough of these kinds of movies, there are the expected bits of plot conveniences and predictability here and there.

P.S….
- that West Highland White Terrier in the movie seemingly unintentionally steals the scenes she’s in

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boy erased

POSITIVES…
- Strong performances all around, from Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, and Joel Edgerton.
- There were several scenes that were emotionally powerful, that it’s hard not to have empathy for the characters.
- Movie has a great somber tone to go along with the heavy subject matter.
- The story is based on a real life memoir and is definitely worth sharing with people willing to listen to it.

NEGATIVES…
- While the story is based on real life, it also paints a somewhat one-sided point of view, that can easily be accused of propaganda.
- The “antagonists” running the gay conversion program are kinda cartoonishly bad.
- Since the movie emphasizes Lucas Hedges character the most, most of the supporting characters don’t get much in terms of real insightful development.
- Seems to have some gaps in the narrative that glosses over some plot details.

P.S…
- Troye Sivan; who plays Gary in the film, has a beautifully made song for the movie’s soundtrack called “Revelation.”

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the crimes of grindelwald

POSITIVES…
- It’s nice to see the familiar cast of characters and creatures from the first Fantastic Beasts movie.
- Jude Law’s portrayal of Albus Dumbledore went better than I imagined.
- Johnny Depp actually does a good job as the main antagonist Grindelwald.
- Seeing Hogwarts again on the big screen is a big plus.
- The visuals for all the magic and the new locations are great to watch.
- This installment adds a lot of interesting and fascinating ideas and characters into this ongoing story.

NEGATIVES…
- Narrative is kind of a mess and all over the place.
- There were several disjointed transitions from one plot to another, as if it was some hard chapter break in a book. Hey J.K. Rowling, writing a screenplay is not the same thing as writing a novel.
- The narrative unnaturally forces itself to the big plot points, plot reveals, or plot twists.
- Things just happen because they have to happen, which kept me disattached from what I was watching.
- The whole movie felt like it’s just a bunch of big giant exposition sequences that sets things up for the next installments.

P.S….
- Gotta admit, the fantastic beasts are easily one of the main highlights of having this franchise so far.

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