DON’T BREATHE
3.5 out of 5 stars
A searing home invasion movie w/ a simple concept but a lot to offer. It puts you in a chokehold of tense, nerve-racking moments where the silence makes you sweat the most.
HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE
5 out 5 stars
An off-kilter, effusive film about finding one’s place in this world, while learning anything you can from those you meet, no matter who they are or where they come from. Director Waititi spreads hilarious moments, enormous heart, & striking beauty of “majestical” New Zealand all over his wondrous story. Neil & Dennison are oddly perfect together, giving marvelous performances.
DON’T THINK TWICE
4 out 5 stars
A prizewinning film w/ a hilariously gifted cast where comedy is a love that can giveth & taketh away. Genuine & authentic, it’s an inside look of how jealousy, creativeness, intimidation, & brilliance eat away at this art form for some serious laughs.
SULLY
3 out of 5 stars
A real-life humbled hero just doing his job is left w/ nightmares & what ifs in Eastwood’s quietly restrained film about Miracle on the Hudson. Such a shame he keeps it gripping only during flight but overly standard everywhere else. Hanks’ graceful & calming confidence as Sully takes command & gets this miraculous story in the air.
THE BEATLES: EIGHT DAYS A WEEK
3.5 out of 5 stars
Highly entertaining rock doc about the years when Beatle Mania was running world wide & filling stadiums. Absolute pandemonium. It’s insightful & mesmerizing as we take notice of music being changed forever.
APRIL AND THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD
4 out 5 stars
Wonderfully deranged & beautifully animated, this film has big ideas w/ the spectacular vision to back it up.Secrets,oppression & the fight for life push through this thriving,inventive French tale.
SNOWDEN
3 out of 5 stars
JGL is fantastic as the controversial whistleblower who gave up everything to open the world’s eyes to their loss of privacy. Shockingly, Oliver Stone presents these issues in a lethargic, straightforward movie, which has never been his style.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (2016)
3.5 out of 5 stars
A simple quick draw of thickheaded violence.There’s no novelty added to this timeless genre; still, Fuqua delivers a brand new attitude and needful humor that’s contagious. This thanks mainly to Denzel & his gangbusters squad,even though some of their personalities are shooting blanks.
QUEEN OF KATWE
3 out of 5 stars
A terrific cast w/ a meaningful message about using sports to lessen life’s struggles is the light in a movie that loses its fighting spirit. Simple storytelling deflates that Disney inspiration.
STORKS
3.5 out of 5 stars
The wit & wackiness helps this animated romp spread its wings. It doesn’t deliver a flawless landing, but a terrific voice cast & directors’ established vibe help it fly high.
GOAT
4 out of 5 stars
Terrific turns from Schnetzer & Jonas in this fascinating, deeply disturbing psychological film about college hazing. The mental torment is almost more unbearable than the physical. It speaks volumes about what kids accept & endure to feel included.
BLAIR WITCH
2 out of 5 stars
The sequel tries to be current & effective, but what worked phenomenally back in 1999, doesn’t quite startle you in 2016. It turns to the same old tricks, followed by stale scares.
LIFE, ANIMATED
4 out of 5 stars
A beautifully powerful & hopeful doc about how movies speak to us in miraculous ways. Disney remains a constant in a young man’s battle of autism, & his obsession becomes his blessing.
DEEPWATER HORIZON
3.5 out of 5 stars
Made w/ intensity &sense of urgency,Wahlberg & Berg make the carnage grounded &mesmerizing to behold on the big screen. Lacking depth & character building, this disaster movie still makes you feel the heat.
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
1.5 out of 5 stars
A peculiar story shredded by an unexceptional movie. A weak adaptation where Burton’s sensibilities are useless, & instead chained down by dreary dumbness.
OPERATION AVALANCHE
3.5 out of 5 stars
The paranoia of the Cold War & conspiracies of the Moon landing clash in this sorta silly, but unexpectedly suspenseful mockumentary. The longer it goes, the more intriguing it gets.
Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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