Sven's Watched in 2018
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- DirectorGeorge LucasStarsMark HamillHarrison FordCarrie FisherLuke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a Wookiee and two droids to save the galaxy from the Empire's world-destroying battle station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the mysterious Darth Vader.Jan 1
Sawyer chose to watch this again for New Year’s Eve. Finished it off this morning. I think I’ll be rewatching all the Star Wars films several times this year. Can’t say that’s a bad thing for a few of them but I may not want to rewatch some of the others. 10/10 - DirectorLes MayfieldStarsRichard AttenboroughElizabeth PerkinsDylan McDermottA lawyer and a little girl must prove that a man claiming to be Santa Claus is the real thing.Jan 1
Classic Christmas movie remake. The original is better, though this remake is decent too. Either there are some major differences in the courtroom scenes from the original or I am confusing it with Mr Smith Goes to Washington. 7/10 - DirectorDave GreenStarsMegan FoxWill ArnettTyler PerryThe Turtles get into another battle with their enemy the Shredder, who has acquired new allies: the mutant thugs Bebop and Rocksteady and the alien being Krang.Jan 1
Even worse than the first film. On top of the same painfully long and unrealistic action sequences there was the addition of more bad characters. Even the characters I remember loving as a child do nothing for me. Much like the first film, Megan Fox puts in the only good performance in the entire film. 3/10 - DirectorTomas AlfredsonStarsMichael FassbenderRebecca FergusonCharlotte GainsbourgDetective Harry Hole investigates the disappearance of a woman whose scarf is found wrapped around an ominous-looking snowman.Jan 1
The trailer for this film made it look good enough that I considered rushing out to the theatre to see it until I read the reviews. The trailer makes it look like a thriller, but it is a slooow moving drama for most of the runtime. The last 15 mins or so finally pick up the pace, but too little too late. 4/10 - DirectorDavid AyerStarsWill SmithJoel EdgertonNoomi RapaceA detective must work with an Orc to find a powerful wand before evil creatures do.Jan 1
The concept just sounded annoying and I likely wouldn’t have bothered with it if it wasn’t for Will Smith and Ayer being involved. Early on in the film it seemed like there was going to be far too much of the racism against orca and making sure we make the connection that it’s like how African Americans are treated in real life. That didn’t end up being the case once it got to the main story about the wand. 7/10 - DirectorBrian LevantStarsJohn GoodmanRick MoranisRosie O'DonnellIn a parallel modern-day Stone Age world, a working-class family, the Flintstones, are set up for an executive job. But they learn that money can't buy happiness.Jan 2
I don’t think I’d seen this since the first time back when it came out. As a fan of the flintstones cartoon, the jokes that referenced the original series are the ones that worked best. I thought maybe Sawyer would enjoy it, but without that reference point it just wasn’t that good. Most of the casting was right on point though. 6/10 - DirectorJoachim RønningEspen SandbergStarsJohnny DeppGeoffrey RushJavier BardemCaptain Jack Sparrow is pursued by old rival Captain Salazar and a crew of deadly ghosts who have escaped from the Devil's Triangle. They're determined to kill every pirate at sea...notably Jack.Jan 2
Better than the last couple Pirates movies. The action was all fun with good effects for the ghost pirates. The effect of making Bardem look like he was under water all the time worked very well. Not sure if they are planning to make more but if so then at least I have hope that it could be good. 7/10 - DirectorMichael LembeckStarsTim AllenMartin ShortElizabeth MitchellSanta, a.k.a. Scott Calvin, is faced with double-duty: how to keep his new family happy and how to stop Jack Frost from taking over Christmas.Jan 3
All the other legendary figures got to be a bit much though this was still better than the 2nd film by a long shot. More Canada jokes could have been fun in the bit where there tried to pass off the North Pole as Canada. 6/10 - DirectorRoy Del RuthStarsDon DeForeAnn HardingCharles RugglesTwo homeless men move into a mansion while its owners are wintering in the South.Jan 3
Another classic Christmas movie I’d never seen before. Christmas was a very small part of the story, but the story was good, even if it was very predictable. 8/10 - DirectorErnst LubitschStarsMargaret SullavanJames StewartFrank MorganTwo employees at a gift shop can barely stand each other, without realizing that they are falling in love through the post as each other's anonymous pen pal.Jan 3
Non-traditional romance film that is carried by Stewart’s performance. Doesn’t have the rewatchability that I expected, though still enjoyable enough for this 2nd viewing. 7/10 - DirectorKyle BaldaPierre CoffinEric GuillonStarsSteve CarellKristen WiigTrey ParkerGru meets his long-lost, charming, cheerful, and more successful twin brother Dru, who wants to team up with him for one last criminal heist.Jan 3
Better the 2nd time through thanks to lowered expectations. Lots of classic 80s music and other 80s references. Very light on minions, which is not a bad thing, though more with the daughters would have improved the film some. 6/10 - DirectorPierre CoffinChris RenaudStarsSteve CarellJason SegelRussell BrandGru, a criminal mastermind, adopts three orphans as pawns to carry out the biggest heist in history. His life takes an unexpected turn when the little girls see the evildoer as their potential father.Jan 3
The best of the 3 despicable me movies because it’s more about Gru and the daughters. That storyline is the best of the series. I wish they’d spent more time with them in the other films too. Even as the best in the series it can’t compare to even an average Disney movie. 7/10 - DirectorKen LoachStarsDave JohnsHayley SquiresSharon PercyAfter surviving a heart-attack, a 59-year-old carpenter must fight bureaucratic forces to receive Employment and Support Allowance.Jan 3
A decent enough story with a couple main characters that evoked emotion. The style of the film really held it back for me. Very slow moving and filmed like a TV movie including fade outs seem out of place without a commercial break. Somewhat similar to the far superior A Man Called Ove. This film was missed the loads of humour and charm that Ove had. Not to mention style and a polished look. 7/10 - DirectorPierre CoffinChris RenaudStarsSteve CarellKristen WiigBenjamin BrattWhen Gru, the world's most super-bad turned super-dad has been recruited by a team of officials to stop lethal muscle and a host of Gru's own, he has to fight back with new gadgetry, cars, and more minion madness.Jan 4
The worst of the 3 because it has too much of the minions, not enough of the daughters and new characters that add nothing good. 6/10 - DirectorRon ClementsJohn MuskerDon HallStarsAuli'i CravalhoDwayne JohnsonRachel HouseIn ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse incurred by the demigod Maui reaches Moana's island, she answers the Ocean's call to seek out Maui to set things right.Jan 4
I enjoy this more every time I watch it, mostly thanks to the great songs. One of my fav classic animation Disney films. 9/10 - DirectorDan BushStarsJames FrancoScott HazeTaryn ManningTwo estranged sisters are forced to rob a bank in order to save their brother. But this is no ordinary bank.Jan 7
Interesting mix of bank heist and horror. Early on in the film the mix of genres seemed to work well. As it went on it fell apart as it tried too hard to be deeper than it needed to be. 6/10 - DirectorJonathan A. RosenbaumStarsLou Diamond PhillipsLulu WilsonJanet KidderA 12 year old girl who thinks she's a police officer joins forces with a real police officer to catch a criminal mastermind who has an army of drones that attack the public.Jan 8
I don't remember the first Cop and a Half movie at all, though I don't think that matters at all. This could have been terrible, but if nothing else, it was fun seeing Lulu Wilson in a non horror movie. She plays a pretentious kid as well as she played in the horror films. For whatever reason Sawyer really enjoyed this film so that made it worth watching. 6/10 - DirectorMichael BusterStarsJacob BusterAnson BagleyJosh ReidA writer looks back on his memorable 1986 Christmas, dealing with brothers, bullies, first love, pregnancy and family "elving."Jan 11
Throwaway Christmas movie clearly geared towards kids. I guess it works for the target audience since Sawyer really liked it. It has a good message so at least that’s something. 5/10 - DirectorNiels Arden OplevStarsElliot PageDiego LunaNina DobrevFive medical students, obsessed by what lies beyond the confines of life, embark on a daring experiment: by stopping their hearts for short periods, each triggers a near-death experience - giving them a firsthand account of the afterlife.Jan 12
I have no comparison to the original as I can’t remember it at all. The idea of them flatlining and then unlocking parts of their brain/memory worked well but all the other stuff was forced and only detracted from the more interesting parts of the story. 6/10 - DirectorLisa ArnoldStarsConnor RosenLogan ShroyerMichael GrossEncouraged by his quirky grandfather, a young boy faces his fears at summer camp.Jan 12
Bad acting combined with a predictable and pointless story. Only redeeming factor of the film was watching Sawyer enjoy it. 3/10 - DirectorChris SivertsonStarsAubrey SheaKeir GilchristPeter FacinelliShy Henry is overjoyed to fall into an unexpected romance with gorgeous and popular Samantha the summer after high school graduation. When Henry's love spirals into twisted obsession, Samantha pulls back.Jan 12
I only watched this because it has the kid from It Follows. Basically a copy of a hundred other Romance thrillers. The romance parts were done much better than the thriller parts. The main cast was fine, but some supporting players were distractingly bad. 5/10 - DirectorMaya ForbesStarsJack BlackJenny SlateJason SchwartzmanLocal Pennsylvania polka legend Jan Lewan develops a plan to get rich that shocks his fans and lands him in jail.Jan 12
Based on a true story of a Polka band leader accused of heading a Ponzi scheme. The comedy of the polka king was played down too much. The story itself wasn’t enough to carry the film so more comedy would have improved it some. I liked the real footage blended with footage of Jack Black at the end. 5/10 - DirectorTaran KillamStarsTaran KillamDave 'Squatch' WardBobby MoynihanA group of eccentric assassins are fed up with Gunther, the world's greatest hitman, and decide to kill him, but their plan turns into a series of bungled encounters as Gunther seems to always be one step ahead.Jan 13
A mockumentary about hitmen had some potential to be fun. The bad script and acting made sure it was bad though. Arnold has dropped a long way to be in a film like this. The performances were all bad, despite there being some recognizable actors. The end credits were the best part of the film, with the Arnold song and the self aware joke about a sequel. 2/10 - DirectorDean DevlinStarsGerard ButlerJim SturgessAbbie CornishWhen the network of satellites designed to control the global climate starts to attack Earth, it's a race against the clock for its creator to uncover the real threat before a worldwide Geostorm wipes out everything and everyone.Jan 19
I love a good disaster movie. This, unfortunately, is not that. Super predictable, cliche dialogue/story and a severe lack of disaster action destruction. This is a drama/thriller with a bit of disaster movie in it instead of the other way around. 4/10 - DirectorMatt AngelSuzanne CooteStarsDylan MinnettePiercey DaltonPatricia BethuneA teenager and his mother find themselves besieged by threatening forces when they move into a new house.Jan 19
A bad start for 2018 with this being the first film I’ve watched released in 2018. Rather than just being a typical home invasion movie, it teases the audience with who might be responsible and what their motivations might be. The teases were better than the non existent motivations ‘revealed’ in the end. 4/10 - DirectorDax ShepardStarsMichael PeñaDax ShepardVincent D'OnofrioAn inexperienced rookie is teamed up with a hardened pro at the California Highway Patrol in Los Angeles; the newbie officer soon learns his partner is really an undercover Fed investigating a heist which may involve some crooked cops.Jan 19
There was no question that this film would have zero value outside of the comedy. Unfortunately the comedy wasn’t very strong either. Perhaps some of the jokes are references to the tv show so would be better for somebody who has seen it. 5/10 - DirectorMartin CampbellStarsKatie LeungJackie ChanRufus JonesA humble businessman with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-and-mouse conflict ensues with a government official, whose past may hold clues to the killers' identities.Jan 20
Not much of a Jackie Chan movie which makes sense based on his age. It worked as a Liam
Neeson style thriller, very similar to Taken just with revenge rather than recovery. 6/10 - DirectorDavid FrankelStarsWill SmithEdward NortonKate WinsletRetreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions the universe by writing to Love, Time, and Death. Receiving unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things interlock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.Jan 20
I put off watching this for a long time because I expected it to be really boring. I’m glad I finally watched it. It’s very depressing but a good story and has some good stars that I didn’t expect to see. 7/10 - DirectorMatt SpicerStarsAubrey PlazaElizabeth OlsenO'Shea Jackson Jr.An unhinged social media stalker moves to LA and ingratiates herself into the life of an Instagram star.Jan 20
Good performance from Aubrey Plaza. Elizabeth Olsen is always good too of course. The premise is kinda scary because I’m sure there are lots of people out there like this with social media. The end of the movie sends a bad message for those kind of people. 7/10 - DirectorBenny SafdieJosh SafdieStarsRobert PattinsonBenny SafdieJennifer Jason LeighAfter a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get his brother Nick out of jail.Jan 20
A refreshingly different take on the heist/getaway movie. The story and the performances are what really carry the movie, though the style adds something special too. The style was unfortunately muted. Had it gone more full out this could have been a great film to remember for years to come. As is it will earn itself a place in the near miss category for all the awards that might have been. 8/10 - DirectorPete DocterDavid SilvermanLee UnkrichStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanMary GibbsIn order to power the city, monsters have to scare children so that they scream. However, the children are toxic to the monsters, and after a child gets through, two monsters realize things may not be what they think.Jan 20
Still a favourite of mine. As much as it is funny, it’s the heart that makes it special. Boo is such a cute character that she wins you over every time. 9/10 - DirectorDan ScanlonStarsBilly CrystalJohn GoodmanSteve BuscemiA look at the relationship between Mike Wazowski and James P. "Sully" Sullivan during their days at Monsters University, when they weren't necessarily the best of friends.Jan 20
Not bad considering the absence of the best character from the first film. I wish they’d make a 3rd one with Boo. 7/10 - DirectorDavid LoweryStarsCasey AffleckRooney MaraMcColm Cephas Jr.In this singular exploration of legacy, love, loss, and the enormity of existence, a recently deceased, white-sheeted ghost returns to his suburban home to try to reconnect with his bereft wife.Jan 21
I’m somewhat conflicted on this movie. What a sloooow moving film. There is literally a 5 minute scene of somebody eating pie...and nothing else. The story and the way it all comes together in the end won me over though. This could have been a great short film. Instead it’s a potential filled feature that requires a lot of patience to get to the payoff. If I ever watch this again I’m sure my rating would drop but right now I’m won over by the end. 8/10 - DirectorAaron SorkinStarsJessica ChastainIdris ElbaKevin CostnerThe true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game and became an FBI target.Jan 21
Intriguing story along with some strong performances. The compelling script was no surprise considering Sorkin's track record, but I was impressed with the directing since this was his directorial debut. The buildup to the final bit may be been a bit too dense. Perhaps him directing his own script missed the opportunity to trim some of the fat. 8/10 - DirectorBen KellettStarsBrendan O'CarrollDermot O'NeillEilish O'CarrollA company tries to shut down Mrs Brown's fruit and veg stall. They can feck off.Jan 21
What a big letdown compared to the tv series. Trying to make a big dramatic story for the film really ruined it. If they'd just stuck with some typical stories and maybe stretched it out a bit to make it a movie it would have been so much better. It seems like its part of a different storyline that I'm not familiar with as well. The series I've seen doesnt even reference this market stall that Mrs Brown runs. Overall an odd and over the top film. Really just a waste of time with only the occasional laugh despite the same characters doing some of their usual bits. 4/10 - DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsJake GyllenhaalTatiana MaslanyMiranda RichardsonStronger is the inspiring real life story of Jeff Bauman, an ordinary man who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become a symbol of hope after surviving the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing.Jan 22
Very boring movie considering the subject matter. The other Boston marathon movie last year was much more interesting. The manhunt angle was much better. The low class portrayal of his family was what makes this film at all interesting. Gyllenhals performance was good for what he was given In the role. 6/10 - DirectorRich MooreStarsJohn C. ReillyJack McBrayerJane LynchA video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.Jan 23
Happy to see that the sequel to this is finally coming later this year. There are some aspects of this film that could have been done better. I would have liked to see more classic video games used with more detail instead of just the tiny references. I also didnt like many of the supporting characters. Great lead characters though and that is enough to make it still be enjoyable after so many viewings. 8/10 - DirectorGeorge NolfiStarsBilly MagnussenYu XiaPhilip NgSet against the backdrop of 1960s San Francisco, BIRTH OF THE DRAGON is a modern take on the classic movies that Bruce Lee was known for. It takes its inspiration from the epic and still controversial showdown between an up-and-coming Bruce Lee and kung fu master Wong Jack Man - a battle that gave birth to a legend.Jan 23
Underwhelming look at the life of Bruce Lee before the release of Enter The Dragon. Perhaps there just wasn’t a more interesting story to tell. The big fight that the movie builds up to was expected to be a disappointment since it’s based on a real ‘fight’. With no contact and no consequences it makes the whole film less interesting. One aspect that was surprising was the fact that it was not simply a Bruce Lee puff piece. In fact it made Lee look bad rather than build him up. 6/10 - DirectorDan GilroyStarsDenzel WashingtonColin FarrellCarmen EjogoRoman J. Israel, Esq., a driven, idealistic defense attorney, finds himself in a tumultuous series of events that lead to a crisis and the necessity for extreme action.Jan 25
Watched this because of the best actor nod. I can understand why it didn’t get a lot of love from critics. The movie is about an unconventional person and it is made in a somewhat unconventional way. His condition isn’t played for emotional effect like most would play it, in fact he condition isn’t even specifically mentioned from what I remember. All that being said, his performance was strong and convincing. I enjoyed the movie in large part because of that performance. 7/10 - DirectorSteve JamesStarsThomas SungHwei Lin SungCyrus Vance Jr.A small financial institution called Abacus becomes the only company criminally indicted in the wake of the United States' 2008 mortgage crisis.Jan 25
Rather than this just being a simple courtroom doc about the only bank indicted for the mortgage mess back in 2008, it was handled like a doc about the family running the bank. Much time was spent on them looking at this as a racial issue. This was refreshing in a way since almost all racism you see highlighted in films is against African Americans and in this case it was against Asians. Even when somebody is shown responding to the accusations of racism it was in no way convincing. “We treated them the same way we would treat Africans or Latinos”. No mention of treating them like white americans. without this angle it might have been an unremarkable doc. - DirectorJoe DanteStarsZach GalliganPhoebe CatesHoyt AxtonA young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.
- DirectorJoe DanteChuck JonesStarsZach GalliganPhoebe CatesHowie MandelThe Gremlins are back, and this time, they've taken control of a New York City media mogul's high-tech skyscraper.Jan 25
I’d forgotten how goofy this sequel is. Very little
Good to speak of with this sequel. The returning characters are the only positive aspect. If they’d made it darker the premise might have worked. 4/10 - DirectorTim MillerStarsRyan ReynoldsMorena BaccarinT.J. MillerA wisecracking mercenary gets experimented on and becomes immortal yet hideously scarred, and sets out to track down the man who ruined his looks.Jan 26
Funny every time. Great comedy that makes this still hold onto my top superhero film spot. Can’t wait for the sequel. 9/10 - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsMichael CeraMary Elizabeth WinsteadKieran CulkinIn a magically realistic version of Toronto, a young man must defeat his new girlfriend's seven evil exes one by one in order to win her heart.Jan 26
I’ve seen this so many times and it still gives me the same feelings. It’s like no other movie ever made and that gives A very satisfying feeling. 10/10 - DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsNicole KidmanKirsten DunstElle FanningThe unexpected arrival of a wounded Union soldier at a girls school in Virginia during the American Civil War leads to jealousy and betrayal.Jan 27
Seemingly innocent at first, but it went to some dark places that I didn’t expect. Dunst did not seem a fit for the role, so thankfully the rest of the cast was pretty good. The pacing was slow and there was little humour though my interest was easily held nonetheless. Very interested to watch the original with Clint Eastwood now. 7/10 - DirectorAkira KurosawaStarsToshirô MifuneEijirô TônoTatsuya NakadaiA crafty ronin comes to a town divided by two criminal gangs and decides to play them against each other to free the town.Jan 27
Some of style used here is dated now. The overly loud and dramatic music is most distracting. The story is still good though. The creative camera angles, the cinematography and the production design in general make it something special. The work of a try auteur. Makes me want to watch more Kurosawa. I’m sure he has some good films I’ve not yet seen. 7/10 - DirectorKore-eda HirokazuStarsHiroshi AbeYui NatsukawaYouA family gathers together for a commemorative ritual whose nature only gradually becomes clear.Jan 27
Emotionally impactful film in some way, though extremely slow moving unfortunately. The small amount of humour improves it somewhat. 6/10 - DirectorEdgar WrightStarsAnsel ElgortJon BernthalJon HammAfter being coerced into working for a crime boss, a young getaway driver finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail.Jan 27
Much like Scott Pilgrim and Shaun of the Dead, Edgar Wright delivers a film with almost unrelenting intensity and style. This movie could be a 10 for me if not for a bit in the middle that slows down that pacing. 9/10 - DirectorWerner HerzogStarsKlaus KinskiIsabelle AdjaniBruno GanzCount Dracula moves from Transylvania to Wismar, spreading the Black Plague across the land. Only a woman pure of heart can bring an end to his reign of horror.Jan 28
I’m not the only one here at movie day who felt this was an even more boring vampire film than Only Lovers Left Alive. Herzog should stick to his usual mix of genres. Horror does not work well for him. Some of the stylistic bits made it good to look at. Too bad that’s not enough to make a movie. 4/10 - DirectorAndy MuschiettiStarsBill SkarsgårdJaeden MartellFinn WolfhardIn the summer of 1989, a group of bullied kids band together to destroy a shape-shifting monster, which disguises itself as a clown and preys on the children of Derry, their small Maine town.Jan 28
Holds up perfectly well to a repeat viewing. The best bits are with just the kids doing their thing. The horror aspects also satisfy. Especially the parts with pennywise of course. 9/10 - DirectorPaul KingStarsHugh BonnevilleSally HawkinsJulie WaltersA young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven.Jan 28
Ultra charming family film. I don’t have any memories of Paddington to help it along. That doesn’t seem to matter at all though. Even the silly and over the top moments feel appropriate thanks to the charming characters. 8/10 - DirectorPaul KingStarsBen WhishawHugh GrantHugh BonnevillePaddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.Jan 28
Stylistically very similar to the first Paddington film. Sets and some humour like a Wes Anderson film is enough to make it something special. Overall it wasnt as charming as the first film because so much time was spent on the human characters without seeing Paddington for long periods. 7/10 - DirectorJoe WrightStarsGary OldmanLily JamesKristin Scott ThomasIn May 1940, the fate of World War II hangs on Winston Churchill, who must decide whether to negotiate with Adolf Hitler, or fight on knowing that it could mean the end of the British Empire.Jan 29
I knew very little about Churchill going into this film. Outside of the great performance from Oldman, I had a hard time getting into the film for the first half or so. His performance managed to hold my interest though. The last half of the film picked up a bit for me and made it more enjoyable. Clearly a deserving nom for Oldman, though I'm not sure I agree with the best pic nom. 7/10 - DirectorYance FordStarsYance FordHarvey WalkerKevin MyersWhen filmmaker Yance Ford investigates the 1992 murder of a young Black man, it becomes an achingly personal journey, since the victim, 24-year-old William Ford Jr., was the filmmaker's brother.Jan 29
While the main issue discussed in this doc is an interesting one, far too much time was spent on other topics. The victims childhood, and family members stories were not needed and added nothing to the main event. The victims family's interviews gave most of the information about the event. Unfortunately they used a painful amount of slow talking to give dramatic effect. Cutting out the excess back stories and using normal rate of speech for the interviews would have made this a compelling documentary short. I'm sure there must be many docs from last year that are more deserving of the oscar nom. 6/10 - DirectorBryan FogelStarsBryan FogelDave ZabriskieDon CatlinWhen Bryan sets out to uncover the truth about doping in sports, a chance meeting with a Russian scientist transforms his story from a personal experiment into a geopolitical thriller.Jan 30
Starts off as a doc about an amateur bike racer that turns into much more. When it, seemingly unexpectedly, turns to the Russian drug scandal it becomes even more interesting. The way all the information comes out feels very organic. Only thing missing is something at the end talking about the medals that were taken back. This is likely due to the movie finishing before all that came out. This is the best of the nominated docs I’ve seen so far. 8/10 - DirectorGil KenanStarsMitchel MussoSam LernerSpencer LockeThree teens discover that their neighbor's house is really a living, breathing, scary monster.Jan 30
Of all the bad character designs out there in non-Disney animated films, this might be the worst. The characters are all very ugly looking to the point that it distracts from the movie. The story of the movie was fine though its almost impossible to enjoy because of the animation style. 4/10 - DirectorDavid WainStarsFrank GingerichMorgan GingerichAnnette O'TooleIn the 1970s and '80s, National Lampoon's success and influence creates a new media empire overseen in part by the brilliant and troubled Douglas Kenney.Jan 31
Biopic about one of the National Lampoon's co-creators. Made for an entertaining comedy. The style of comedy was good. It seems like this could have worked for a mini series as some of the stories were rushed. Many of the actors playing known characters like Bill Murray and John Belushi looked nothing like the actors they were playing. The fact that they made a joke about this made that work and actually added humour to the film. 7/10 - DirectorWoody AllenStarsJustin TimberlakeJuno TempleRobert C. KirkOn Coney Island in the 1950s, a lifeguard tells the story of a middle-aged carousel operator, his beleaguered wife and the visitor who turns their lives upside-down.Feb 1
I'm always excited to watch anything Woody Allen puts out. Wonder Wheel reviewed badly, but I was still excited as some of my favs of his are ones that have also reviewed badly. I have to agree with some of the critics thoughts on this film though. The story feels like it was undercooked, and the characters lack some of the depth needed to make the audience invest in the film. Based on when the film takes place, I can't agree with the criticism that its offensive. While its not a film that does any favours for women, it seems like it could be an accurate portrayal of some women from that time. 6/10 - DirectorIldikó EnyediStarsAlexandra BorbélyGéza MorcsányiRéka TenkiWhen slaughterhouse workers Endre and Mária discover they share the same dreams, where they meet in a forest as deer and fall in love, they decide to make their dreams come true, but it's difficult in real life.Feb 1
The originality of this story deserves a better treatment than this. The subplots only distract from the already plodding main plot line. Thankfully the lead performances still shine through to make it a worthwhile film. 7/10 - DirectorChris ButlerSam FellStarsKodi Smit-McPheeAnna KendrickChristopher Mintz-PlasseA misunderstood boy takes on ghosts, zombies and grown-ups to save his town from a centuries-old curse.Feb 1
No matter how many times I see this I can’t help but be distracted by the awful character design. The story and score make up for that, but with better character design this would have been great. 7/10 - DirectorFeras FayyadSteen JohannessenStarsKhaled Umar HarahBatulMahmoudKhaled, Mahmoud and Subhi volunteer with the White Helmets trying to save lives of hundreds of victims in the besieged city of Aleppo during the Syrian Civil War.Feb 2
Some of the footage of them rescuing children from the rubble left behind from a bombed building was very impactful. When they then visited the family of one of the children they saved it was emotional. Outside of those scenes, it was a repetitive and uninteresting doc. 5/10 - DirectorMichael SpierigPeter SpierigStarsHelen MirrenSarah SnookFinn Scicluna-O'PreyEnsconced in her sprawling San Jose, California mansion, eccentric firearm heiress Sarah Winchester (Dame Helen Mirren) believes she is haunted by the souls of people killed by the Winchester repeating rifle.Feb 2
The premise gave the opportunity for some over the top horror but it never went there. The one good thing I can say is the It did hold my interest through the runtime thanks mostly to the design of the house. The usual haunted house scares didn’t really work based on the characters and their reactions. The ending wrapped up things too easily which also takes away from the overall effect of the horror. 5/10 - DirectorHarold RamisStarsBill MurrayAndie MacDowellChris ElliottA narcissistic, self-centered weatherman finds himself in a time loop on Groundhog Day.Feb 2
Always happy to rewatch this film. Both a great comedy and a great time loop film. It would be fun to see this film made from a darker perspective, highlighting more of the nightmare of experiencing the same day for years on end. 8/10 - DirectorGreta GerwigStarsSaoirse RonanLaurie MetcalfTracy LettsIn 2002, an artistically inclined 17-year-old girl comes of age in Sacramento, California.Feb 3
I found this film to be a little more enjoyable this time around. The performances are the best part, perhaps with the screenplay with the assist. I still don’t see it as worthy of the director nod that it received. I think much of the love this film is getting is for political reasons. 7/10 - DirectorRuben ÖstlundStarsClaes BangElisabeth MossDominic WestA prestigious Stockholm museum's chief art curator finds himself in times of both professional and personal crisis as he attempts to set up a controversial new exhibit.Feb 3
So many different subplots going on yet none of them go anywhere interesting. Some of them go nowhere at all. The unnecessarily long scenes like the one with the guy acting like an ape did nothing for the film except make it drag on and on. 4/10 - DirectorMichael ShowalterStarsKumail NanjianiZoe KazanHolly HunterPakistan-born comedian Kumail Nanjiani and grad student Emily Gardner fall in love but struggle as their cultures clash. When Emily contracts a mysterious illness, Kumail finds himself forced to face her feisty parents, his family's expectations, and his true feelings.Feb 3
Funny and charming movie. I only wish the lead actor was somebody different. As much as I like Zoe Kazan, the best scenes were between Kumail and his family and kumail with her parents. 7/10 - DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsTimothée ChalametArmie HammerMichael StuhlbargIn 1980s Italy, romance blossoms between a seventeen-year-old student and the older man hired as his father's research assistant.Feb 3
I thought this was going to be some great love story. It was far from that. Storywise it’s just a standard story with the one twist of the relationship being same sex. It was well made but I don’t think it would be getting any attention if it was about a straight relationship. Performances from the leads were quite good. It did not feel like a worthy best pic nominee. Perhaps because it’s a weaker year for films. 7/10 - DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsMeryl StreepTom HanksSarah PaulsonA cover-up spanning four U.S. Presidents pushes the country's first female newspaper publisher and her editor to join an unprecedented battle between press and government.Feb 3
Streep, Hanks and Spielberg certainly make for a strong set of talent. Streep’s performance was good. Hanks was nothing special. I can understand him and Spielberg missing the nominations. I found spotlight to be much better for this sort of subject matter. So much of what they were working on in this story was driven by personal desire rather than the more positive motivations in Spotlight. 6/10 - DirectorSean BakerStarsBrooklynn PrinceBria VinaiteWillem DafoeSet over one summer, the film follows precocious six-year-old Moonee as she courts mischief and adventure with her ragtag playmates and bonds with her rebellious but caring mother, all while living in the shadows of Walt Disney World.Feb 3
Sometimes a lack of a major plot can ruin a film but in this case it worked. I enjoyed all the characters, especially the kids. Overall I liked this film more than most of the best pic nominees so it’s too bad it didn’t get more attention. I didn’t like all the swearing from the young kids, though it worked for the characters. I just feel bad for the actors who are too young to really understand. Aside from that my only real criticism of the film is the ending. I think I would have liked any ending better than the one they chose. 8/10 - DirectorJulius OnahStarsGugu Mbatha-RawDavid OyelowoDaniel BrühlOrbiting a planet on the brink of war, scientists test a device to solve an energy crisis, and end up face-to-face with a dark alternate reality.Feb 4
Decent space film thanks to some unique ideas for the plot. Unfortunately little to no explanation is given for some of the most unique plot points. The arm and how the Cloverfield creatures got there are 2 major plot points that aren’t explained. Like 10 Cloverfield lane, this film might have been better without the connection to the series. 7/10 - DirectorReginald HudlinStarsChadwick BosemanJosh GadKate HudsonThe story of Thurgood Marshall, the crusading lawyer who would become the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, as he battles through one of his career-defining cases.Feb 5
Almost the entire film was in the courtroom with nearly no backstory at the start. This allows the audience to learn the details of the case along with the jury. Thoroughly entertaining film. Only downside is the quality at times, especially the music, made it feel like a TV movie. 8/10 - DirectorDK WelchmanHugh WelchmanStarsDouglas BoothJerome FlynnRobert GulaczykIn a story depicted in oil painted animation, a young man comes to the last hometown of painter Vincent van Gogh to deliver the troubled artist's final letter and ends up investigating his final days there.Feb 5
It’s impressive how much work was put in to make this unique experiment in animation. Sticking to the style and blocking of his paintings limited the filmmaking. The characters looked like it was done with CGI even though they apparently weren’t. Less realism in the faces might have helped. In the end it comes across as more of an experimental film rather than a new way to animate. Between the weird ‘flickering’ backgrounds and the drawn out story it disappointed. They should have stuck with just making a short film. 6/10 - DirectorAndrey ZvyagintsevStarsMaryana SpivakAleksey RozinMatvey NovikovA couple going through a divorce must team up to find their son who has disappeared during one of their bitter arguments.Feb 5
I’m not sure why such slow moving and mostly uninteresting foreign films end up with nominations. There must be much better foreign films out there from last year. This film stuck with a single plot point that could have resolved in 20 mins considering what was shown and dragged it out to feature length. It’s emotionally affecting based on the subject matter, which helps it a bit. 6/10 - DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsVicky KriepsDaniel Day-LewisLesley ManvilleSet in 1950s London, Reynolds Woodcock is a renowned dressmaker whose fastidious life is disrupted by a young, strong-willed woman, Alma, who becomes his muse and lover.Feb 8
Phantom Thread is a big improvement over the last couple PTA films. A film with beautiful direction and acting. While the pacing is very slow, the score and the performances make it well worth watching. I do hope that PTA will get back to making movies more like Boogie Nights or Magnolia. Phantom Thread may have been a complete bore made by another director, but his style did not come through. 7/10 - DirectorStephen FrearsStarsJudi DenchAli FazalTim Pigott-SmithQueen Victoria strikes up an unlikely friendship with a young Indian clerk named Abdul Karim.Feb 8
I had never heard about the true story this is based on. Good story overall. There was enough humour to keep this film from being just another throwaway period piece. 7/10 - DirectorRichard LinklaterStarsJack BlackMike WhiteJoan CusackAfter being kicked out of his rock band, Dewey Finn becomes a substitute teacher of an uptight elementary private school, only to try and turn his class into a rock band.Feb 10
Easily my fav Linklater film. It is oozing with charm and filled with good performances. Even the child actors who aren’t perfect with their acting fit right in. 9/10 - DirectorTim BurtonStarsJohnny DeppFreddie HighmoreDavid KellyCharlie, a young boy from an impoverished family, and four other kids win a tour of an amazing chocolate factory run by an imaginative chocolatier, Willy Wonka, and his staff of Oompa-Loompas.Feb 10
I had only watched this remake once before but I’ve seen the original countless times. I have a list of problems with this remake, but there are some aspects I enjoyed about it too. I liked that the tv reports of the children finding the golden tickets were made to be almost exactly like in the original film. A couple of them almost sounded like it was the original audio reused it was so close. Then for some reason the Mike Teevee one was completely changed. The design of the factory, inside and out, was also well done. Just about everything else about it is so bad it’s hard to watch. The flashbacks might be the most offensively out of place and bad, though the oompah loompahs and Depp give them a run for the money. 3/10 - DirectorSteve BinderDavid AcombaStarsMickey MortonPatty MaloneyPaul GaleChewbacca and Han Solo try to get to the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day, but are impeded by an Imperial blockade. Chewie's family passes the time with various forms of entertainment.Feb 10
Sawyer asked to watch this since he has already seen all the other Star Wars movies. I have to say that it’s even worse than I remembered. The songs were so bad and out of place. The performances and even the make up were so different from in the actual films that they were hardly recognizable as the same characters. The other Wookiee looked ridiculous. Lucas is right to try to hide this away. 2/10 - DirectorAri SandelStarsAdam DevineAlexandra DaddarioShelley HennigNoah meets Avery at a Halloween party and falls in love but gets friend-zoned. 3 years later, she's engaged to someone else. Noah returns in a time machine to fix things.Feb 11
Everyone loves a good time loop love story. The focus was clearly more on the love story than the time travel. I would have liked to see more consequences of the changes made. Even a quick montage of bad future changes would have done the trick. Either way the romance side of it was decent. I like that it didn’t go the most predictable direction. 7/10 - DirectorWill GluckStarsJames CordenFayssal BazziDomhnall GleesonA rabbit sneaks into a garden to steal food, and they get a new challenge with a new owner.Feb 11
Surprisingly enjoyable mix of live action and animation. The animated characters were very cute, except for the pig. Gleason made for a good villain and Byrne was perfect as the love interest. 7/10 - DirectorKhoa LeStarsThomas Ian NicholasJon HederArmando GutierrezBased on the book "Walt Before Mickey" covers the early years of Walt Disney's career.Feb 11
The title says it all I suppose, though it was still disappointing that it ends when Mickey Mouse is created. It was interesting to see what Walt went through before having success with Mickey. It would have made for a better film if that was just the first 30 mins or so and then spend the rest of the movie on his successes. I’d like to see a good story about him creating the first feature length animation. 6/10 - DirectorJohn HustonStarsAileen QuinnAlbert FinneyCarol BurnettA spunky young orphan is taken in by a rich eccentric, much to the chagrin of the cantankerous woman who runs the orphanage.Feb 11
I can’t believe I might actually be getting sick of this movie. Still loved the songs and much of the movie but I wasn’t into it like the last times that I’ve watched it. Felt more dated and less interesting overall. 8/10 - DirectorMel StuartStarsGene WilderJack AlbertsonPeter OstrumA poor but hopeful boy seeks one of the five coveted golden tickets that will send him on a tour of Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.Feb 12
Such a pleasure to watch, especially after suffering through the remake. So many great songs and a top notch performance from Wilder. 9/10 - DirectorDavid BrucknerStarsRafe SpallArsher AliRobert James-CollierA group of old college friends reunite for a trip to a most dangerous country in Europe - Sweden, encountering a menacing presence there stalking them.Feb 13
Creative take on the creepy forest horror subgenre. I didnt immediately guess where the story would go which is a nice change from the typical movie of this type. The creative design of the creature is appreciated, as is the way its kept mostly hidden for much of the film. 7/10 - DirectorKari SkoglandStarsBen KingsleyJim SturgessKevin ZegersMartin McGartland joins the I.R.A. and feeds information to Britain's Special Branch Agent Fergus.Feb 15
Considering what the story is, and the fact that its based on a true story, I was surprised at how dry and slow moving this film was. It barely held my interest and it felt much longer than it is. 6/10 - DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsChris EvansRobert Downey Jr.Scarlett JohanssonPolitical involvement in the Avengers' affairs causes a rift between Captain America and Iron Man.Feb 15
Rewatched this in preparation for Black Panther. Still very enjoyable the 2nd time around, though not quite as good as I remembered it. Some characters could have had more time spent on them, like Spiderman. Considering there were too many superheroes already, i'm really worried about how the next Avengers movie will handle that. 8/10 - DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.Feb 16
All the action of any other Marvel movie, except with better acting and a better story than most. In many ways it felt more down to earth than most others. At the same time, some of the Wakanda technology got to be a bit much. Aside from a couple small complaints, the whole film was pretty great. One of the best Marvel movies even though it doesnt have any stand out memorable characters. 8/10 - DirectorSean AndersStarsWill FerrellMark WahlbergMel GibsonHaving finally gotten used to each other's existence, Brad and Dusty must now deal with their intrusive fathers during the holidays.Feb 16
After enjoying the first film, I thought I'd give this one a chance. I wouldnt say that the first one was good, just entertaining. This sequel lost most of what was enjoyable about the first one. The addition of the new characters made sure of that. Both Gibson and Lithgow were constant sources of unfunny. The last 10 mins or so of the movie got significantly worse than the rest of the film leading up to that point. 4/10 - DirectorLewis MilestoneStarsJoan CrawfordWalter HustonFred HowardA prostitute newly arrived in the South Pacific finds herself at odds with a stern missionary determined to save her soul.Feb 18
Mostly uninteresting film. The plot was very straightforward with no surprises. The constant rain sound effect got old fast. Thankfully Joan Crawford's performance was good enough to keep it afloat. 5/10 - DirectorTony RichardsonStarsLee RemickYves MontandBradford DillmanWilliam Faulkner's steamy tale set in the South in the 1920s. Governer's daughter is seduced and raped by a Cajun who returns after she's married to cause her further trouble.Feb 18
Strong performance from the lead actress. Some pretty serious subject matter covering both rape and murder. The film didnt seem handle these serious subjects with as much depth as it could have. These acts were just glossed over and accepted as if they were nothing more than a light insult. 5/10 - DirectorDaniel MannGeorge CukorStarsShirley BoothAnthony QuinnShirley MacLaineA housewife is doing her best to keep her family together as it's slowly falling apart, a fact she's trying to ignore. Her cheating husband's birthday party is approaching and many lines will be crossed after that event.Feb 18
It seems like one average classic film after another today. Average, and slightly depressing, story of life as a woman in the 50s with a miserable and unfaithful husband. Anthony Quinn looked pretty old in this film already. Surprising to see that he continued making movies for another 40+ years after this. 5/10 - DirectorJohn FortenberryStarsLucas CruikshankJake WearyStephanie CourtneyFred suspects that his new music teacher is a vampire and sets out to prove his theory.Feb 18
Terrible movie all around. The only positive was how much Sawyer enjoyed it. The main character has very strange and annoying voice but it made Sawyer laugh a lot. I will definitely end up watching the other Fred movies because Sawyer liked it so much. 3/10 - DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsKevin SpaceyJennifer GarnerRobbie AmellA stuffy businessman finds himself trapped inside the body of his family's cat.Feb 18
This is a pretty bad movie, but I enjoyed it more this time since I already knew what to expect from it. The message is nice even though everyone’s actions are so unrealistic 5/10 - DirectorNick ParkStarsEddie RedmayneTom HiddlestonMaisie WilliamsSet at the dawn of time, when prehistoric creatures and woolly mammoths roamed the earth, Early Man tells the story of Dug, along with sidekick Hognob as they unite his tribe against a mighty enemy Lord Nooth and his Bronze Age City to save their home.Feb 19
Similar to everything else Nick Park and that’s not a bad thing. I didn’t know anything about this movie going into it so I was surprised when I realized it was basically an animated sports movie. 7/10 - DirectorClay WeinerStarsLucas CruikshankPixie LottJake WearyLovestruck, awkward teen Fred Figglehorn makes desperate attempts to make Judy fall in love with him - while also dodging the mischievous Kevin.Feb 19
Pretty much the same as Fred 2. Really bad movie, but fun to watch with Sawyer since it makes him laugh so much. The mother character is offensively bad. Some of the other cast are from much better shows/movies. The bully character is from It Follows, the friend is from iCarli and another character was Oscar from The Office. 3/10 - DirectorRy Russo-YoungStarsZoey DeutchHalston SageCynthy WuFebruary 12 is just another day in Sam's charmed life, until it turns out to be her last. Stuck reliving her last day over and over, Sam untangles the mystery around her death and discovers everything she's losing.Feb 21
More of a teen drama with some time loop added in, rather than the other way around. Thankfully I still enjoy a decent teen drama so that was ok. Far from the strongest time loop film, though enjoyable like every other. Some very annoying minor 'mistakes' in the film though. She repeats the day a few times and comments that no matter what she does nothing changes even though there was a pretty drastic life changing difference. Makes me wonder if something plotwise got changed and they just left the line in anyhow. 7/10 - DirectorNora TwomeyStarsSaara ChaudrySoma ChhayaNoorin GulamgausIn 2001, Afghanistan is under the control of the Taliban. When her father is captured, a determined young girl disguises herself as a boy in order to provide for her family.Feb 22
Very different animated film because of the serious subject matter covered. Great, although sad, story of a young girl forced to pretend to be a boy to care for her family. Much better than the other unconventional animated film Loving Vincent. 8/10 - DirectorJonathan JudgeStarsLucas CruikshankJake WearySiobhan Fallon HoganWhen school is out, Fred Figglehorn experiences a summer camp nightmare.Feb 23
Just when I thought it couldnt get any worse. Even goofier and more annoying than the first 2. 2/10 - DirectorAlex GarlandStarsNatalie PortmanJennifer Jason LeighTessa ThompsonA biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.Feb 23
Beautiful looking movie, with a strong sci-fi story setup. The method used where they are interviewing the character after the events did spoil some of the suspense since we know they survive. The whole idea for the story and each element of the film had an undercooked feel to it. I really liked the film but wanted it to go deeper. Overall a letdown compared with Garland's last film Ex Machina. 7/10 - DirectorRidley ScottStarsMichelle WilliamsChristopher PlummerMark WahlbergThe story of the kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III and the desperate attempt by his devoted mother to convince his billionaire grandfather Jean Paul Getty to pay the ransom.Feb 26
Entertaining movie based on true events. I'm not sure it deserves the nomination for Plummer's performance though. I think that was mostly a political move because he replaced Spacey. I'd be interested to see the version cut together with Spacey's performance. Overall the film was good, but could have done with some tightening timewise. 7/10