SPIDER-MAN: FAR FROM HOME
3.5 out of 5 stars
The web-slinging is back in full swing in this splendid Spidey sequel that leaves New York for a European vacation. The cosmic CGI superhero action can get a little crazy, but it’s a terrific teen rom-com at heart with plenty of laughs. Tom Holland as Peter Parker is perfection, his childlike innocence is infectious while his hurt in losing Tony Stark is heartbreaking. And Jake Gyllenhaal is an awesome addition, given a role in which he can work his magic. He’s got the look and attitude down pat and loaded with lethal jokes too. Fun is what director Watts is going for & he accomplishes just that. It’s a wonderfully woven web of excitement, unpredictability, wit, & a meaningful lesson of being a hero & the afflictions attached to it.
ALL IS TRUE
2.5 out of 5 stars
Branagh makes a stellar Shakespeare, which is no surprise since the two go hand-in-hand. Dench is also terrific as the Bard’s wife. The faults lie within the story of Shakespeare’s retirement simply not being that exciting, him wandering around aimlessly while being haunted by the death of his son. But every now & then, in a family filled w/ grief & scandal, we the audience do get a chance to see past the great writer’s genius & pick up involving insight into his regrets. More of that would’ve been wonderful.
LATE NIGHT
3 out of 5 stars
Thompson is fearless, funny, & fierce as a late night talk show host who refuses to be replaced. As her creative counterpart, Kaling is a joy to watch – dishing out honesty & wit from her performance to her script. But in this timely workplace comedy, director Ganatra crams every topical theme imaginable into a routine story that stops itself short of being a scathing satire that stings.
STUBER
3.5 out of 5 stars
Buckle up for a buddy action comedy that sends us on an entertaining thrill ride. Director Dowse has memories of the genre from the ‘80s & ‘90s, but his attitude is very much 2019 – producing five-star violence & laughs. Bautista & Nanjiani are excellent together, forming a friendship built on fear & dysfunction. They couldn’t be any different, & that’s why they make the perfect pairing.
DARK PHOENIX
2.5 out of 5 stars
Not as awful as Apocalypse, but the last of this X-Men series certainly doesn’t end on a high note. Director Kinberg wanted to get Jean Grey’s transformation right this go around, but sadly it’s put on a repeat of irretrievable potential. And what a shame as Turner’s talent could’ve scorched the screen if given the chance. Perhaps in some other movie universe. To have such an incredibly impressive cast suit up as these iconic comic book mutants for years to only give them a tiring & emotionless goodbye – that’s the saddest part of this whole thing. Their endgame is about as far as you can possibly get from being epic.
TOY STORY 4
4.5 out of 5 stars
A fourth movie of this beloved series seemed to serve no purpose after everything we went through w/ Toy Story 3. But we are oh so wrong. From the classic characters to the hilarious new ones, it’s still at the top of its game. Woody gets his own emotional, soul-searching story of purpose, coming to a fork(y) in the road of what kind of toy he wants to be. No one should be shocked that the animation is spectacular, & the wonderful new direction director Cooley takes these toys in is unexpectedly touching, funny, & positively profound.
FRAMING JOHN DELOREAN
3.5 out of 5 stars
DeLorean’s life makes for a wildly entertaining story that Hollywood has been trying to tell several times over unsuccessfully. However, directors Argott & Joyce have done the impossible w/ their engrossing & daring doc of the American innovator & disgraced car colossus. The dramatic re-enactments featuring Baldwin as DeLorean aren’t quite necessary as nothing beats the real thing of a man building an ageless automobile that would become his undoing. It’s a captivating cautionary tale that takes you on one hell of a ride w/ no intentions of pumping the brakes.
MIDSOMMAR
3.5 out of 5 stars
With his follow up to Hereditary, director Aster tells a fucked up fairytale w/ hallucinations, humor, & horror – all unnerving & unforgettable. He takes his sweet time piling on the mental madness, depicting grief in the most warped way imaginable & redefining the deterioration of a relationship. It’s beyond beautiful aesthetically, while the story is stunning, insane, audacious, & shocking. Pugh wrings out a powerhouse performance – turning tragedy into vengeance & finding empathy in the unlikeliest of places.
THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS 2
2.5 out of 5 stars
This animated sequel scratches & claws to find a cohesive story worth telling, & after three attempts – only one makes the cut. That means less than half of what we watch is distracting & forgettable. Directors Renaud & del Val have an impressive pack of voice actors w/ Ford being top-notch as top dog. Even so, as energetic & playful as these pets are, they’re all just chasing their tails in circles w/ no new tricks.
THE PROFESSOR
1.5 out of 5 stars
A muddled, mediocre character study where Depp is still hanging on to that bad boy persona as a dying professor letting loose. For him to take a role that’s mostly built on behaving badly, it’s old news & unimpressive. Director Roberts cares little about his female characters, & him trying to teach us to live life to the fullest is half-ass at best.
YESTERDAY
3 out of 5 stars
A world without The Beatles is unimaginable, yet director Boyle shows us just that w/ a charming rom-com that offers stellar performances from Patel & James. And while its premise is exciting & can go in many directions – it still struggles to exist by not choosing the one less traveled. Loving the music is a given, however, nothing is groundbreaking about an unsung singer/songwriter posing as something he’s not. Though imitation is the highest form of flattery.
THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO
4 out of 5 stars
A gorgeously picturesque film that’s abuzz as director Talbot captures a changing City by the Bay. It’s a poetic story of friendship, gentrification, & holding onto the past too tightly. Fails is fantastic as Jimmie who has an undying affection for a house that’s no longer his home. There’s an internal struggle within him of becoming more than who he is in a place that stopped loving him long ago. As the best friend, Majors is magnificent, drawing the world he sees & acting it out w/ truthfulness. What we witness is a grim yet graceful portrayal of a place that’s forgotten where it came from, but not those who are living in it.
PAVAROTTI
3.5 out of 5 stars
This enthusiastic & endearing doc about the larger-than-life tenor conducts great admiration for what he did on & off the stage. It hits all the high notes on what people worldwide loved about Luciano, as well as his love for well….almost everything. But it’s when we witness his passionate performances that director Howard’s terrific tribute puts us in pure awe. Opera’s biggest rock star will give anyone goosebumps w/ his unmistakable voice.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of theSoBros Network, and the 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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