STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
2.5 out of 5 stars
Over four decades later, The Star Wars saga concludes w/ Abrams returning to the directors chair to give fans something they’re use to. Entertaining, fun action sequences, & throwbacks to what started it all. Huge props to Ridley & Driver – playing the two most pivotal characters of this new trilogy & lighting up the screen w/ their lightsabers & tremendous talent.
And while the storytelling travels at light speed in order to get to the next battle or big reveal – there’s no concern w/ anything else in between. Without those imperative intimate scenes – the emotional strings attached to characters audiences cherish are cut off. Similar to The Force Awakens, this sci-fi spectacle offers nothing new & rests easy on nostalgia & duplicating what’s already been done before. It’s safe yet satisfying to a degree – though unmistakably soulless at recapturing what made Star Wars a cultural phenomenon so long ago in a galaxy far, far away.
LITTLE WOMEN (2019)
3.5 out of 5 stars
For such a classic & beloved piece of literature to be interpreted multiple times on-screen, writer/director Gerwig takes & turns it into something fresh & engaging. She stuffs the story w/ lushness while carrying a raucous spirit that defies the times the March sisters are confined in. There are marvelous performances all around, but Ronan, Pugh, & Chalamet excite the emotions the most. The end result is a timeless tale told once more w/ a new kind of purpose. Gerwig & her excellent ensemble use their own voice to speak to a new generation about the expectations & limitations of gender roles, demonstrating acts of kindness & unselfishness, & most importantly – the strength of sisterhood.
IN FABRIC
2 out of 5 stars
Witches working retail doesn’t bode well for the shoppers who are chewing up consumerism & swallowing it whole. In writer/director Strickland’s sometimes silly but primarily surreal horror/comedy, it’s torn into two pieces – the first more alluring than the second – of a fanciful red dress w/ a fatal fit. High-class style stitched together w/ absolute absurdity & erotic explosions craft quite a curious, cheeky & inane wardrobe. It’s not afraid to flaunt its stuff, but once you try it on & look in the mirror, it’s more unflattering than desirable.
THE AERONAUTS
2.5 out of 5 stars
A sky high adventure that’s thrilling in the clouds yet tiresome when on the ground. The CGI is put to exhilarating use by director Harper when a ballon pilot & a pioneering weatherman take flight for science & to make history while doing it. But as much aerial ardor achieved up above, the flashbacks down below are uninspiring – repeatedly deflating the audience’s excitement. Sadly, the story never soars despite a terrific performance from Jones & special effects that’ll make anyone afraid of heights shake in their shoes.
THE REPORT
3.5 out of 5 stars
Straightforward & sticking to the facts, writer/director Burns’s film focusing on CIA’s post-9/11 torture practices & cover-up is a gripping investigation needing to see the light of day. Bening is divine as Senator Feinstein, & Driver is sensational portraying Jones, a public servant who is asked to do the impossible – to keep emotion out of his uncovering of America’s heinous acts against humanity. His exhaustive devotion for accountability is inspiring, but when politics are at play, the truth tends to become more & more irrelevant.
JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL
3 out of 5 stars
This screwball sequel, while satisfying, is no game-changer as it introduces new characters & different life or death obstacles that must be defeated to achieve victory a second time around. The reboot cast is back & having a blast – Black still the scene-stealer of the bunch. However, as director Kasdan hopes to rack up points w/ old man jokes, a flying horse, & more body-swapping, the adventure & mischief falls short of reaching the high score set by Welcome to the Jungle. The fun & laughs aren’t left behind, but a new level doesn’t mean more entertaining. We know how it’s played now.
CATS
1 out of 5 stars
If you weren’t a dog person before, you will be after watching this creepy, cut-rate feline song & dance. Seeing an impressive cast’s talents get covered up w/ unfinished CGI fur is definitely distracting & laughable. Some whiskered characters are there just to show off, while others are purring w/ emotion to no effect in a world that feels freakishly fake. Songs aren’t worth remembering, & I’m trying real hard to forget the needless head rubbing & hissing that happens. This massively popular musical is a major misstep on the big screen & for director Hooper.
PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
2.5 out of 5 stars
Director Sciamma’s surprisingly subdued period piece is about an unattainable first love. As two women whose fervor for each other burns bright, the repression of their sexual freedom does its best to fan it out. Merlant & Haenel deliver premium performances, but there’s a disconnect from the narrative that’s artfully arranged but lacks the essential emotion for such a heartbreaking romance. That passion & pain is easy to see, though tough to deeply care about.
BOMBSHELL
3 out of 5 stars
The toxic masculinity pumping through Fox News – starting w/ its creator Ailes – gets cut wide open thanks to women pitted against each other joining forces to speak out. It’s not quite the stunner director Roach & his docudrama may suggest; however, the performances, specifically Theron & Robbie, are enthralling & fierce – representing two separate sides professionally but both hiding the same secret of sexual harassment. This scandalous, headline-making story is empathetic, sometimes funny, & mostly entertaining. At the same time, the execution is a narrow one. The right kind of risks aren’t taken to fully comprehend the complexities of such a sickening situation.
1917
5 out of 5 stars
In what appears as one continuous take, director Mendes delivers a groundbreaking, breathtaking WWI story where time is the greatest enemy. Two young British soldiers, Blake & Schofield, are given what feels like an infeasible task of delivering a message to prevent an attack on over a thousand soldiers – one of them being Blake’s older brother. The harrowing & heroic mission takes them through hostile territory where death awaits at every turn.
Chapman is fantastic as Blake, but it’s MacKay’s commanding performance as Schofield that you won’t soon forget. He’s astounding as he stays determined in beating the clock. While an unbelievable technical achievement, this tremendously tense trench warfare stunningly shows the chaos & fear surrounding the sacrifices made to save another. Incredible & immersive. One of the best war movies ever made.
WEATHERING WITH YOU
2.5 out of 5 stars
A teen romance that has its head in the clouds & feet barely on the ground in this visually dazzling anime where love takes form inside a climate crisis. But as the rain stops & the sun comes out, there’s an emptiness that shouldn’t be there. A storm of consuming concepts are swirling around; however, for a story about selfishness, sacrifice, & the inward connection w/ weather – director Shinkai’s approach is a bit foggy. His magic realism has great intent, yet misses the mark.
TOGO
3.5 out of 5 stars
Disney loves underdog stories, & this excellent & endearing one is one of their best. Based on true events, director Core movingly displays when the unbreakable bond between man & man’s best friend matters most. With his wonderfully warm performance, Dafoe shows his softer side as a musher who faces a life or death journey through the treacherous Alaskan wilderness w/ his unbelievably determined lead sled dog. It’s an exciting race against the clock, but also a classic tale of companionship that never ceases to amaze when well-told.
SPIES IN DISGUISE
2 out of 5 stars
Smith voices a super spy turned pigeon who flies solo while Holland speaks for a young inventor whose weird gadgets consist of cats, glitter & hugs. Together, they make a fun but forgettable team in this undemanding animated actioner. The anti-violence message is worth spreading to kids & adults alike; though, directors Quane & Bruno suit it up in a plot that can hardly spread its wings & liftoff. It’s uncool kiddie espionage w/ bad jokes & a style that’s not all its own.
LES MISERABLES
3 out of 5 stars
Tensions run high, & ultimately erupt, in director Ly’s arresting drama of an Anti-Crime law enforcement unit crossing the line in a diverse & divided France. The strong stench of oppression & anger is in the air, & it comes from neighborhoods pushed to the breaking point by power & corruption. Enough is enough. And even though the film treads familiar ground, it’s still a gripping story of injustice that has authenticity on its side. More so, there’s no clear heroes or villains. They’re all going to battle in a war made by a toxic society whose ramifications ignite a revolution.
A HIDDEN LIFE
2.5 out of 5 stars
Director Malick’s filmmaking style is a thing of absorbing beauty. It’s also frustrating as hell. With his new WWII drama, it’s the most straightforward storytelling in almost a decade. Yet, our patience is once again tested w/ discursive direction filled w/ pretty imagery that only adds to an already ridiculous runtime. Despite all of that, Malick presents war as not bullets & bloodshed, but rather one of faith & conviction that’s sincere & weighs heavy in standing strong on moral ground.
Diehl is sensationally devoted as Jägerstätter – an Austrian husband/father/farmer who recognizes the difference between good & evil, & sacrifices everything for what he believes is right. And as his wife, Pachner is sublime, taking on another form of punishment than her conscientious objector husband but hurts all the same. Their courage is the most compelling part of a film that’s overall missing a deeper understanding of a man who became a martyr. It’s not like Malick didn’t have the time.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.
