Annihilation
is an extremely weird sci-fi movie and I absolutely adored it. This movie is
about a biologist who joins a dangerous expedition into a place where the laws
of nature do not apply. Natalie Portman gives possibly the best performance of
her career. She plays every aspect of her character perfectly. Jennifer Jason
Leigh, Gina Rodriguez and Tessa Thompson all give fantastic performances as the
rest of the team. Oscar Isaac and Benedict Wong also give great performances in
small but crucial roles. Director and Writer Alex Garland did an incredible job.
The script constantly keeps you intrigued and he builds the tension extremely
high. Rob Hardy did a great job as cinematographer. This is a truly hauntingly
beautiful movie to watch. As for flaws,
the first 20 minutes moved a bit to slow but after that it moves at a perfect
pace. As a warning I will say this movie does include some extremely disturbing
imagery at times. Overall I adored Annihilation and I highly recommend it for
hardcore sci-fi fans.
9/10
Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Game Night Review
Game
Night is absolutely hysterical and one of the better studio comedies in recent
years. This movie is about a group of friends who meet for game nights who must
now solve a murder mystery. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams are both hilarious
in this movie and have fantastic chemistry together. Kyle Chandler is great as
Bateman’s brother who’s always trying to upstage him. Sharon Horgan and Billy
Magnussen are really good and play off each other extremely well. Of the
couples, Lamorne Morris and Kylie Bunbury get the least amount of time but
still get their standout moments. However, Jesse Plemons might steal this
entire movie. He is absolutely hysterical as the awkward and creepy neighbor.
John Francis Daley and Johnathan Goldstein do a fantastic job directing this
movie. They have a specific flair that really gives this movie a unique look.
The script by Mark Perez was absolutely perfect balancing character development
while making sure you were also laughing constantly. At 100 minutes this movie
files by at a fast pace never slowing down. Overall I had a blast with Game
Night and I highly recommend it to comedy fans.
9/10
Every Day Review
Every
Day was a fun unique twist on the standard Young Adult romance genre. This
movie is about a shy teenager who falls in love with someone named A who wakes
up in a different body every day. Angourie Rice is great as Rhiannon who must
convincingly sell that she’s fallen in love with this person who is always
switching bodies. All the actors that play A including Justice Smith, Lucas
Zumann, Sean Jones and Karena Evans all do fantastic jobs convincing you they
are the same person in a different body. Director Michael Sucsy did a good job
and brought a unique visual flair to a few scenes in particular. Jesse Andrew’s
script works pretty well, although the odd decision to ditch an intriguing
subplot I did not understand. At 97 minutes the movie moves at a good pace
though occasionally slowing down a bit too much. Overall Every Day was a fun
unique twist on the Young Adult Romance Genre.
7.5/10
Death Wish 2018 Review
Death
Wish was a surprisingly well made and extremely entertaining action thriller.
This movie is about Dr. Kersey, a trauma surgeon, who moonlights as a vigilante
after an attack on his family. For the first time in years Bruce Willis gives a
great performance. He plays the quiet
aspects of his character well while snapping when required. Vincent D’Onofrio
gives a good performance playing Willis’s brother. Elizabeth Shue and Camila
Morrone give strong performances in smaller roles as Willis’ wife and daughter.
Dean Norris and Kimberly Elise are fine in smaller rol,es but they do not have
a ton to do. Eli Roth who is known for extremely graphic violence holds back
for most of the movie however, he eventually lets loose. This movie is filled
with quite a few brutal kills from all sides. Joe Carnahan’s script is great
and filled with the right amount of character development and humor. At 107
minutes the movie moves along at a good pace setting up Willis’ character
before he lets loose. Overall, Death Wish was a big surprise and a ton of fun
from start to finish.
8.5/10
The 15:17 to Paris Review
The
15:17 to Paris is an interesting film experiment and an incredible story. This
movie is based on the true story of three men who stopped a terror attack on a
Paris train in 2015. What makes this movie so interesting is that instead of
actors the heroes play themselves. While Spencer Stone, Anthony Sadler and Alek
Skarlatos are by no means incredible actors, they do a good job and their
friendship feels real. The supporting cast including Judy Greer, Jenna Fischer
and Tony Hale all do a decent job in smaller roles. Clint Eastwood did a great
job directing this movie. It is extremely well filmed and the train scene is extremely
suspenseful. The weak link in this movie is the writing. While most of the
script feels real and natural there are a handful of downright cringeworthy
lines that take you out of the movie. At 94 minutes the pace moves along at a
good rate, although slows down a bit too much right before the 3rd act. Overall,
The 15:17 to Paris was a risky film experiment that paid off with a great film
despite minor flaws.
8/10
Samson Review
Samson Is a terrible Biblical Epic with a few redeeming factors. This movie is about a young Hebrew with super strength gifted by God who must protect his people. Taylor James is passable at best as the title character. He sells the arrogance well but not any of his other traits. Jackson Rathbone is really entertaining hamming it up as the main villain. All the other acting in this movie is pretty terrible and occasionally very cringe-worthy. Bruce Macdonald and Gabriel Sabloff did a really bad job directing this movie. The action sequences are terribly filmed and overly edited. The script is also extremely cliché and poorly written. The CGI is also absolutely atrocious. At 110 minutes this movie felt ridiculously overlong and was extremely boring. As for redeeming factors, the set design is really good and the music is fantastic. Overall Samson is a yet another poor example of a Biblical Epic that I cannot recommend.
4/10
4/10
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