JURASSIC WORLD: FALLEN KINGDOM
2.5 out of 5 stars
Deep down we’ve always rooted for the dinos in these monstrous size summer blockbusters. But, the empathy you’ll have for them this time around will be huge. There’s no knocking Pratt & Howard who try their best to let us know we should be scared, but we’ve seen it all before. Dumbness dominates in this latest edition of the prehistoric series with a plot that wants to go in a different direction. But, it’s clearly the wrong one. Dull bad guys, an overly long run-time, and a dwindling sense of wonderment leave the biggest bite marks. At least director Bayona lets us remember those fonder times when this sequel gives props to where it all began. The excitement isn’t completely gone, but it’s beginning to become extinct.
TAG
3 out of 5 stars
A rollicking, ludicrous comedy about grown ass dudes playing a game to keep their bromance alive. The premise is fun, and director Tomsic and his totally charming and committed cast play it like it’s life or death. The tender moments are a nice change-up, but there’s no taking this seriously. Being childlike can always be appreciated, but this rated R competition is unruly and not always in a good way. The gags come easy, just not always funny.
UPGRADE
3.5 out of 5 stars
A stone cold sci-fi thriller where man becomes weapon. What may seem like a predictable premise is elevated by an exhilarating story with glorified, gory violence, and an excellent ending that truly works. Get past the dreadful dialogue and watch director Whannell work his maddening magic of the terror of technology bonded by the beauty of a supercharged B-movie bashing heads in. Marshall-Green brings it in this bang-up actioner that’s a little nuts, quite funny, and smarter than it looks.
FILMWORKER
3 out of 5 stars
Director Zierra is giving credit where credit is due in a fascinating doc about Leon Vitali, a gifted actor who gave up everything to devote himself to Stanley Kubrick. Through the disasters and dysfunction, there was a deep love and respect had for one another. It takes a certain kind of person to do what Vitali did and continues doing today—sacrificing life for the art of a demanding yet masterful director. He carries the detriment with pride. And while the insanity of working for Kubrick is well known, there’s a loving message of what collaboration truly is and how everyone needs someone in order to create a vision.
OCEAN’S 8
2.5 out of 5 stars
The first-rate female cast has us instantly sold on another cunning con being executed with great precision from such smooth operators. That is until the humor and excitement are stolen right from under our noses. The cast may sparkle, but the spark is missing between them, especially Bullock and Blanchett. Hathaway is great and the spin-off’s only saving grace by beautifully playing it up in the Hollywood self-parody department. However, this revamped Ocean’s should feel fresh, but it’s up to its same tired tricks that we’ve come to expect, turning this in to one humdrum heist.
INCREDIBLES 2
3.5 out of 5 stars
Pixar’s action packed animated sequel isn’t incredible, but pretty good nonetheless. There are certainly some funny parts, and the reports of Jack-Jack being a scene-stealer are absolutely true. Director Bird makes use of the nearly 15-year absence of his superhero family by expanding on parenthood and what a family looks like in this day and age. It’s abuzz with adventure and terrific themes, yet emotionally it’s just not on the same level with other Pixar classics.
HEREDITARY
4 out of 5 stars
The less you know the better when it comes to this hellish family horror tale that’s dizzying in its disturbance. No matter how nuts it gets, the tingling of terror is a constant throughout. Collette and Wolff are magnificent in Aster’s debut feature about the atrocities of death and being devoured by guilt and grief. The slow burn of suffering is astonishing, serving up the unexpected while rattling the nerves.
HOTEL ARTEMIS
3.5 out of 5 stars
This gritty, nasty action movie about an exclusive hotel for baddies is visually striking with a strangely cool energy running through it. Director Pearce has assembled a quality cast, each one playing an unwonted character born to breathe in this hostile climate. Foster is unrecognizable, yet her impeccable talents occupy every scene she’s in.
WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?
4 out of 5 stars
We are enlightened by director Neville’s terrific and timely doc about a television pioneer who gave his life to embolden childhood education while rocking one colorful sweater after another. Being shocking doesn’t seem like Rogers’ style, but he absolutely was for his time. Children were able to understand what it meant to be accepting and kind with each episode when he walked through the door. He had such a pure heart. And, it’s refreshing to see a person have such a genuine understanding of kids and knew love (or lack thereof) could make a world of difference in their lives. In all of our lives. This touching, thoughtful 94 minutes will make most smile, a lot cry, and have us all wanting to be better humans.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ANDRÉ
3 out of 5 stars
André Leon Talley has a passion for fashion, and it shows in all kinds of extravagant ways in this delightful, yet brushing doc spotlighting a career that was unheard of for a young black man in fashion. And through the glitz and glamour, he’s never forgotten where he’s come from and the women who have shaped him in to the guru he is today. But, director Novack handles Talley with gentle gloves by having more casual convo than substantial sapience. She leaves that up to people who aren’t him, which simply doesn’t cut it. If only his clothes could talk.
MARY SHELLEY
2 out of 5 stars
There’s no monsters here, just a young writer finding her voice to bring the horror of abandonment to the page through loneliness, misery and infidelity. Fanning’s performance is the only thing that comes to life in this otherwise stodgy gothic romance soap opera.
“Nature Boy” 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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