A STAR IS BORN
4.5 out of 5 stars
Just like that old classic love song, we’ve seen & heard this story time & again throughout our lives; but, this remarkable modern remake gets just about everything right. Keeping the artistic spirit alive & kicking, Cooper gives his heart & soul in front & behind the camera as its star & director. Lady Gaga has already proven she’s multi-talented & a force to be reckoned with. Together, their love affair is extremely emotional & raw, yet always headed toward heartache. The music & stage performances are phenomenal, but when the tunes are turned down, there’s a ringing of a delicate, passionate drama meant to devastate. And it does.
ASSASSINATION NATION
3 out of 5 stars
A Salem witch hunt gone wild w/ an incredible injection of exploitation & #MeToo motivation to get this horror-comedy wicked, energized & angry. It’s a bloodbath out there, & director Levinson is as unforgiving as those taken by the wave of hypocrisy & hysteria within their small town. He undoubtedly makes his statement, but loses some of its effect by slipping up in the details. Even so, it’s worth sitting through for Young’s cracking performance & watching her & her hell-raising girlfriends go from survivors to fighters.
FAHRENHEIT 11/9
3.5 out of 5 stars
A scattered yet significant doc about the country we live in & the country we want to live in. To the amazement of some, director Moore takes less aim at Trump & more just on the overall bullshit of politics (on both sides). The theatrics are there, but make no mistake – this charged & funny depiction is our harsh reality. Except now there’s more of a fighting spirit to be found, voices we haven’t heard before that are getting louder.
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE
4 out of 5 stars
Everyone has a secret past in this rad retro thriller that’s smart & stylish & swimming in sinfulness. Director Goddard takes us for a walk on the wild side w/ violent twists & turns, spot-on songs, & an excellent ensemble cast that ain’t going down without a fight. While no one is misused or misplaced, Bridges & Erivo are the standouts making a lasting impression. This dynamite piece of originality is magnetic in its mystery & luminous location – the perfect place for some shit to go down. Then there’s the sharp wit to go along w/ the suspense. This all makes for one helluva good time.
The Old Man & the Gun
3.5 out of 5 stars
If this is to be Redford’s final screen performance, he’s going out w/ a bang. Director Lowery delivers an old-fashioned true tale of cops-and-robbers that’s light, yet contains an excellent amount of enchantment. Thus, all coming from the everlastingly charismatic & charming cinematic legend. Redford is meant for this wonderfully wily role of a guy who lived w/ a devil-may-care attitude, but did so w/ style & graciousness. You’re hypnotized by his scenes w/ Spacek, & happy to watch them do what they do best.
SMALLFOOT
2.5 out of 5 stars
This colorful, snow-filled animation looks to provide laughs & joy through tumbling & yelling w/o really attempting anything else. It has its moments, but the shiftless storytelling hurts its overall ideology of acceptance & having a mind of your own; but, inserting such a vital message in to family friendly fare deserves some serious props & shouldn’t go unnoticed like its forgettable tunes.
TEA WITH THE DAMES
3.5 out of 5 stars
Four legendary ladies of the acting world make you feel right at home w/ their charming, full of laughs convo of confessions, memories, & advice. In director Michell’s fascinating doc, Dench, Smith, Atkins & Plowright glow in female camaraderie as they swap stories from their distinguished careers & spectacular lives they all shared together. Spending time w/ these wonderful women is easy to do & they could be listened to for days.
MID90S
3 out of 5 stars
Suljic is sensational as young Stevie who escapes his troubled home by finding comfort in being a part of a skateboarding clique. In Hill’s directorial debut, it’s only a brief glance in to a coming-of-age story; but, it offers some tenderhearted moments & first time experiences – all unfolding in L.A. when social media wasn’t even thought of yet. The movie is simple in its storytelling, yet being personal & rich w/ authenticity can go a long way.
MANDY
3.5 out of 5 stars
A gorgeous gonzo vengeance hell-raiser from director Cosmatos that’s ultra-violent & takes the extreme to the highest possible level. A cross bow named “The Reaper”, a chainsaw duel, a battle ax for slaying demons – it’s all there & used in the name of love. Behold a wild, WTF cinematic experience that’s pitch-perfect for the crazy, captivating Cage. The rage is real & is unleashed in all of its blood-thirsty glory.
LOVE, GILDA
3 out of 5 stars
There’s no fresh insight in director DaPolito’s doc about Radner & her zest for comedy. However, this remains a loving, praiseworthy tribute that embodies her honest spirit & mastery of performing. Hearing Radner’s voice & seeing her written words is a splendidly intimate touch that leaves you w/ a feeling that you got to meet her. If only for a little while.
THE NUN
2 out of 5 stars
This Catholic horror movie gives up right when it should be picking up. Farmiga & Bichir give a decent effort in making us believers, but the story is scarce & the jump scares are a joke. Director Hardy spends a lot on heightening the atmosphere & then gets real cheap w/ everything else. The Conjuring Universe needs redeeming immediately.
A SIMPLE FAVOR
4 out of 5 stars
Director Feig’s outright funny & deliciously deceptive neo-noir is demented in the sweetest of ways. It’s dark & sexy while being bubbly & fun – a strange concoction that is happily welcomed. And w/ every new twist & turn, there’s a blissfulness in guessing the direction this story is headed next. Lively & Kendrick make for a delightfully dynamic duo & stir up a very peculiar female friendship that you can’t look away from, not even for a split second.
FIRST MAN
4 out of 5 stars
Director Chazelle takes us on a spectacularly soaring ride to the moon – a jaw-dropping & wide-eyed technical achievement for the ages. As Armstrong, Gosling is reserved & unattached, but there’s more hidden underneath. He superbly carries the pain of losing those around him while never losing sight at the task at hand, & his dreams come true at a cost. What keeps this space spectacle human is Foy’s magnificent performance as Armstrong’s wife, Janet. We all watch the sacrifices that are made by these astronauts to be the first to make history; however, there are significant ones made at home that we tend to forget. It’s all in the details as this film consistently captivates w/ each mission & every failure to explore the beautiful mystery of space. Seeing what this “one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” meant to our country & to the the rest of the world is unforgettable.
THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS
3 out of 5 stars
There’s magic in the air as director Roth switches from one kind of horror to another. It’s a fantastical family-friendly movie that has humor w/ just the right dosage of creepiness for the kiddos. Black, Blanchett, & young Vaccaro are having a rollicking good time, welcoming the weird while sneaking in an unexpected emotional maturity for its last trick.
BAD REPUTATION
3.5 out of 5 stars
A roaring rock doc chronicling Joan Jett’s rebellious attitude & groundbreaking recordings that shook the industry while showing all the boys how it’s done. Director Kerslake provides more privacy than wanted, yet there’s more than enough of Jett’s defiance to keep this thing loud & punchy. The most surprising & gracious parts are by far seeing first-hand how this pitch-black rock icon is & always will be the helping hand that rock n’ roll needs & deserves.
THE HATE U GIVE
4 out of 5 stars
Stenberg delivers an astounding performance that’s nothing short of impassioned & truthful in this YA racial drama. She emerges through troubled times to find her identity & place in a community that she’s been hiding from for too long. Ripped from the headlines, director Tillman Jr. simplifies the complicated while never losing its deep emotional resonance. There are powerful moments throughout – the quiet ones hitting the hardest. Overall, the issues that are addressed are real & relevant, & here we are given a thoughtful vision seen through the eyes of compassion & hope.
“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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