Quick Flicks 2018 | popculturedmoviemike

Quick Flicks 2018 - Recent Movie Round-Up

First Reformed First Reformed is one of the more under the radar films of 2018, but it also happens to be one of the best films of the year and features one of the best male performances of the year from Ethan Hawke. Hawke plays Reverend Toller, a solitary man who is the pastor at a failing, historic church. His living quarters are empty except for a table and chair that Toller uses to write in his journal while indulging in a heavy dose of alcohol. Read More:	Green Book Green Book is one of the more crowd-pleasing films I’ve seen in a long time. It’s the kind of film Hollywood used to pump out all the time but that we just aren’t getting anymore. Green Book tells the true story of a bouncer from the Bronx, played by Viggo Mortensen, who is hired to be the driver of an African-American classical pianist, played by Mahershala Ali, Read More:	The Favourite If The Favourite isn’t a perfect film, then it’s pretty darn close. From the acting, to the direction from Yorgos Lanthimos, whom might just be the most unique voice in Hollywood right now, to the score, to the set and costume design. Everything in this film is just perfectly crafted. Yorgos Lanthimos is known for some pretty weird films (Dogtooth, The Lobster, Killing of Sacred Deer) Read More:
Bird Box Bird Box has a lot of people talking, but I’m not entirely sure it’s warranted. It’s a decent film, but it’s by no means amazing. The film has been compared to 2018’s A Quiet Place, but that film tops Bird Box in every way. Wind blowing through trees wasn’t scary in The Happening and it’s not scary here. Sandra Bullock was great as usual though.	Can You Ever Forgive Me? Melissa McCarthy has become one of those you either love her or hate her kinds of actors in the mold of Will Ferrell. I’m sure part of the problem is that McCarthy seemingly accepts any script that comes her way, causing her to make quite a few terrible films. However, she’s made some very quality comedies as well. Here, she tries her hand at a serious role and knocks it out of the park. Read More:	The Front Runner So, here’s the thing. My taste for film is so dialed in that I don’t see a lot of bad movies. It’s literally impossible for me to find 5 films I would consider bad this year. Since making a list of just 4 films is weird, The Front Runner drew the short straw. To be clear, The Front Runner is not a bad film. It’s just kind of… meh. Early reports had this film competing for Oscars, Read More:
Ralph Breaks the Internet Wreck-It Ralph is one of my favorite animated films of the past 10 years, so I’ve been anxiously awaiting the sequel. Many sequels are forced, but Ralph Breaks the Internet explores a whole new world. Like the first film, it’s really clever. They pack so many properties and references into one film you almost have to see it twice to catch everything. The highlight of the film for me were the Disney Princesses. They have only a few scenes, but they steal every one.	The Mule Clint Eastwood is the greatest actor/director of all-time. The man is a workhorse, proven by the fact that this is the second film he directed in 2018. This is also the first film Eastwood is acting in since 2012. At first glance, this looks like Gran Torino 2, but his character in The Mule is much more likeable and easy going. My biggest issue with the film was the ending. It felt like it was a tad anticlimactic. I also would have liked Bradley Cooper and Michael Pena to be utilized more.	Roma Roma is directed by Alfonso Cuaron and is currently the Oscar front runner for best picture. The entire film is shot in black and white and features some of the best cinematography I’ve ever seen. Roma is a day-in-the-life film where we follow a Mexican maid as she cares for a middle class family. My main gripe is I would have liked a little more character to shine through from our lead.
Mary Poppins Returns There’s not a whole lot of nostalgia for me when it comes to Mary Poppins. Sure, I know all of the popular songs, but it’s not something I grew up watching. That being said, Mary Poppins Returns is a must watch for me because of one reason - Emily Blunt. She’s one of my favorite actresses working today and she’s perfectly cast as Mary Poppins. The songs are catchy and the film retains a lot of the atmosphere of the original.	Creed 2 The Rocky franchise has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I grew up with Rocky IV being the first Rocky film I ever saw, so it’s natural that I was anticipating Creed 2. Not only did I love the film, but it exceeded my expectations. Michael B. Jordan gives another powerful performance and Dolph Lundgren slips back into the roll of Ivan Drago with relative ease. Creed 2 has a very strong theme of fathers and sons that really pays off as the credits roll.	The Grinch Yes, we don’t need another animated Grinch movie, but this new effort is surprisingly entertaining. They made the smart decision to not make a scene-for-scene remake of the classic original film. In fact, a lot of the most famous scenes are entirely different. There’s also a new character that is sure to become a fan favorite. The Grinch does a nice job of keeping the spirit of the original, but also expanding on the Grinch and his backstory.
A Star is Born If you haven’t seen A Star is Born yet, I’m not sure what you’re waiting for. It’s easily one of the best films of the year. Yes, this is the fourth time the film has been made, but first-time director Bradley Cooper does an amazing job with subject matter that we’ve all seen before. Lady Gaga is the true revelation here. She gives a powerful, stripped down performance. It’s still in theaters, go see it!	Boy Erased All Lucas Hedges does is appear in films that get nominated for Best Picture - Three Billboards, Manchester by the Sea, Lady Bird. Here he plays a teen forced into gay conversion therapy by his religious parents, played to perfection by Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe. Boy Erased is directed by Joel Edgerton, who also directed The Gift, which I adore. The subject matter here is heavy, but it’s an important film that feels even more timely today.	Bohemian Rhapsody I love a lot of Queen’s songs, but I’m certainly no purest, so I really don’t care about inaccuracies. It’s like Braveheart, if you want historically accurate, go read a book. Anyway, Bohemian Rhapsody is a highly enjoyable film, elevated by Rami Malek (Mr. Robot) who channels every fiber of Mercury’s being. The Live Aid finale of the film is easily worth the price of admission.
Beautiful Boy When it comes to films about drugs, often we see things through the eyes of the addict. Here, we see things from the perspective of a parent and the toll having an addict for a son takes on the entire family. Timothee Chalamet, who was the youngest Best Actor nominee in almost 80 years last year for his performance in Call Me by Your Name, gives another fantastic performance. That said, this is clearly Steve Carell’s film.	Widows Widows is directed by Steve McQueen (not that one) and tells the story of four women whose husbands die in a heist gone wrong and who soon find themselves caught up in a world of crime. For some, Widows is too light on the heist and too heavy on politics, but I really enjoyed it. Windows features an outstanding ensemble cast and is one of the very best films of the year.	Overlord Don’t be fooled by the trailer, Overlord is much more of a straight up war film than it is a horror film. Sure, it certainly veers into that territory, but calling it a horror film is selling it short. Overlord is some of the most fun I had at the theater all year. It’s a shame nobody went to see it. The film also features one of the more intense openings I've seen since Saving Private Ryan. I have a feeling Overlord is destined to be one of those films that grows with time.
Halloween The original Halloween is one of the greatest horror films of all-time, but the franchise has had a pretty spotty track record when it comes to sequels. This time around, the film is a direct sequel to the original and picks up with a paranoid and highly pissed off Laurie Strode. The film does a great job of bringing Mike Myers to his roots as a true monster that will kill anyone for no reason in particular. Fans of the series will get a kick out of all the nods to the original film.	A Simple Favor A Simple Favor is one of the bigger surprises of the year for me. I think people didn’t know what to make of the film from the trailer and they stayed away. That’s too bad because Favor is one of the more twisty, fun films of the year, featuring outstanding performances from Anna Kendrick & Blake Lively. It’s directed by Paul Feig, mostly known for his comedies.	Mid-90's 2018 is the year of actors making their directorial debut - Bradley Cooper, Paul Dano and now Jonah Hill makes his debut with subject matter and a time period that is clearly near and dear to his heart. Mid-90’s is so authentic that it almost feels like a documentary. Hill chose to work with a cast of mostly first-time actors and it paid off. Mid-90’s is essentially a coming-of-age film, but where it really succeeds is capturing a place in time with picture perfect authenticity.
Venom I wasn’t in any rush to see Venom, but I’m a huge Tom Hardy fan so I figured I’d give it a shot, despite the mixed reception. I was pleasantly surprised. I found the film to be unique to most of the other comic book films out there. Unlike some, I didn’t feel like the film needed Spider-man to work. I love the conflicting nature of Venom as an antagonist taking over and controlling the body of our protagonist.	Bad Times at the El Royale Bad Times at the El Royale is one of the more underrated films of the year. Director Drew Goddard (Cabin in the Woods) is certainly channeling Tarantino and the Coen Brothers, right down to the quirky characters and shifting timelines. Royale also features an amazing cast - Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Chris Hemsworth. But it’s newcomer Cynthia Erivo who steals the film.	First Man First Man is directed by Damien Chazelle, who became the youngest director to win an Oscar for Best Director for La La Land. Chazelle also directed Whiplash, one of my favorite films of the decade. First Man doesn’t quite match his previous efforts, but it’s a highly competently made film. Ryan Gosling is fantastic as Neil Armstrong, a man who keeps his family, as well as the audience, at arm’s length, which might be why the film feels like it’s missing something.
The Old Man and the Gun Billed as Robert Redford’s swan song to acting, Gun tells the (kinda) true story of a notorious bank robber played by Redford. Redford is fantastic and there are scenes where his matinee good looks and infectious charm are on full display nearly 5 decades after he started acting. My main problem with the film is an underutilized Sissy Spacek.	GuernsyLiteraryPotatoPeelPieSociety I know the name is ridiculous, but this is one of the more uplifting films I saw all year. It’s the kind of film Hollywood just doesn’t make for mainstream audiences anymore. This truly felt like a film that could have been made in the 40’s or 50’s. Society stars the enchanting Lily James. Netflix has been hit or miss with their original films, but this is one that deserves a chance.	Hold the Dark Hold the Dark is another Netflix film. Dark is directed by Jeremy Saulnier, one of my favorite up-and-coming directors, who directed the fantastic Green Room and Blue Ruin. Hold the Dark is going to divide many people. I really enjoyed it, but for some it’s going to be just too weird and slow. The highlight of the film is a gruesomely intense shootout.
Apostle Apostle is another Netflix film directed by a young, up-and-coming director, Gareth Evans, who directed the ridiculously awesome Raid franchise. Apostle is nothing like those films. It’s a moody, twisty period film about a man sent to rescue his kidnapped sister from a religious cult on a mysterious island. Another film sure to divide audiences.	The House with a Clock in its Walls The House with a Clock in Its Walls is a harmless, yet forgettable film. I love Jack Black, and he’s working overtime to make Walls entertaining, but the film never really matches his talent, not to mention Cate Blanchett’s talent. The film is directed by Eli Roth, who is known more for horror films. I suppose as an intro to more mature content for kids, Walls is a good place to start.	Ugrade Here’s another film that should have fared better at the box office. Upgrade takes its B level story and elevates it with slick visuals and aesthetic, not to mention some truly funny moments. The end kind of gets away from them a little, but when it comes to action films, Upgrade is some of the very best 2018 has to offer.
Hereditary Despite the trailer, Hereditary isn’t a straight horror film. It’s far more of a thriller. Whatever you want to call it, it’s one of the best films of the year and easily one of the more disturbing films I’ve seen in a long time. Toni Collette gives a terrifying performance that I really hope is remembered come Oscar season. These are the kind of films we need more of today. My hope is Hereditary stays in people's minds all year like Get Out.	The Predator The Predator is written/directed by Shane Black, who directed the vastly underrated The Nice Guys a few years back. Black also had a small role in the original Predator, so you would think he’d have a pretty good feel for where the franchise should go. So much for that, the film can’t make up its mind as to whether or not it should be an action film or a comedy. It shouldn’t be this hard to make a Predator sequel.	Leave No Trace Leave No Trace is a perfect companion piece to one of my favorite films of the year You Were Never Really Here. Both films deal with vets trying to assimilate back into society. Trace follows a father/daughter living off the grid. Foster is one of the best character actors working, but he’s outshined by rising star Thomasin McKenzie. This is a quiet, yet powerful film that will have you reflecting on the damage war does not just to soldiers.
Mission: Impossible - Fallout You will notice with my summer reviews a feeling that many of the films were just okay. Yeah, that doesn't apply with Fallout, which is easily one of the best films of the year and more than likely one of the best action films of the past 2 decades. Say what you want about Tom Cruise, but the man is the last remaining action star and he’s unquestionably one of the hardest working actors in Hollywood. Fallout is a must-see. Trust me.	Eighth Grade I’m not sure there’s another film that has come anywhere close to portraying what it’s like to be a teenage girl in today’s world as well as Eighth Grade does. The best part of Eighth Grade is that everybody watching can identify with the main character no matter when you grew up. Elsie Fisher is a revelation as an awkward teen that expels advice on YouTube, but doesn’t practice what she preaches. Keep an eye on Fisher.	Blackkklansman BlacKkKlansman tells the impossible, but true story of an African-American police officer who infiltrates the Ku Klux Klan. The film is directed by Spike Lee, and is easily his best film in over a decade. John David Washington (Denzel’s son) instantly solidifies himself as an actor to watch. It’s hard not to see his dad sometimes. BlacKkKlansman is one of the more unique films of the year and easily the most timely.
Revenge As you can tell from the title, it’s no surprise what kind of film this is. If you like your revenge flicks with over-the-top blood and violence, then Revenge is right up your alley. It’s hard not to see the similarities between I Spit on Your Grave, where the beautiful damsel is hellbent on seeking retribution. Revenge is a timely film, and despite some of the more ridiculous moments, I enjoyed this one. Keep an eye on Matilda Lutz.	Paddington 2 I never saw the first Paddington, but I’m really regretting that because Paddington 2 was one of most charmingly funny films I’ve ever seen. To say I was surprised by how much I loved Paddington 2 is an understatement. It's the kind of live action family film (that doesn't have superheroes in it) we just don't get anymore. Of course, part of the reason I loved the film so much is because of who I saw it with wink.	Operation Finale Operation Finale tells the true story of a group of secret agents tasked with capturing one of the remaining architects of the Holocaust. The film stars Oscar Isaac and Ben Kingsley. I was fascinated by the story that I knew nothing about, but I thought the film rushed through the actual capturing. For films like this, the setup and strategy of the capture is the best part. Finale wants us to revel in the cat and mouse game.
Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom If you listen to some people, Fallen Kingdom is the worst film to have been put to celluloid. It’s certainly not amazing, and doesn’t come close to the original, but it’s a perfectly fine summer blockbuster. What elevates the film for me is director J. A. Bayona, who directed the underrated A Monster Calls. Bayona added a visual style not often seen in mainstream blockbusters.	Sicario: Day of Soldado Sicario was one of my favorite films of 2015 and was directed by one of the best directors working today, Denis Villeneuve. Day of Soldado isn’t quite as good as the original, but it might just tell a better, more accessible story. Soldado follows Alejandro, played by Benicio Del Toro, who pretty much stole the first film. He’s fantastic here as well and we might just have a surprise franchise on our hands.	Incredibles 2 The wait is finally over! It’s crazy to think that the original Incredibles came out in 2004 and quickly cemented itself as one of the best animated films of all-time. The follow-up is enjoyable, but struggles to capture the same magic. I thought the film lacked a strong villain. I think at this point I may be suffering from superhero fatigue. That said, the best parts of the film are with Jack-Jack and dad.
Ant-Man and the Wasp I feel like I keep using words like “competent” and “harmless” to describe many of the films I saw this summer, but that pretty much sums up this summer slate of films. Good, but not great, for the most part. I really enjoyed the first Ant-Man. Paul Rudd is great in that role and boosting Evangeline Lilly’s role was a welcome addition, but the film is kind of forgettable as soon as you leave the theater.	Equalizer 2 Denzel is Denzel. You know you’re going to get a decent film when he’s around. That’s pretty much what Equalizer 2 is, decent. I really enjoyed the first film, I thought it was a really solid action film. Unfortunately, the second film is kind of boring. The issue is the film tries to juggle way too many side stories during the first two acts of the film, and then jams all the main story stuff into the third act. That said, it’s Denzel.	Thoroughbreds Thoroughbreds tells the story of two upper-class teenage girls hatching a plan to murder one of their parents. The film is surprisingly dark, but one of the more underrated films of the year. It stars two of the better young actresses working today, Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy. Thoroughbreds also features the fantastic Anton Yelchin in his final performance. The film is a little hollow, but I think that's kind of the point.
Tag Tag tells the surprisingly true story of a group of friends that have been playing the same game of tag since they were kids. Tag isn’t bursting with laughs, but it’s a harmless comedy with a unique plot device. I wish they did even more with the gimmick though. Possibly the best part of the film was Jeremy Renner’s version of the Crash Test Dummies song, watch it here:	A Quiet Place A Quiet Place might just be the best film of the year so far. If you like thrillers and haven’t seen A Quiet Place yet, do yourself a favor and find a theater where it’s still playing. It’s a fantastic theater experience. The film is directed by John Krasinski, he also stars in the film with his real-life wife, Emily Blunt. Blunt is great in everything, but she’s outstanding here as a mother who will stop at nothing to protect her family.	You Were Never Really Here Here’s the first hidden gem of 2018. You Were Never Really Here revolves around Joaquin Phoenix as a war vet who works for a local mobster. Phoenix is fantastic as usual and he barely says a word. His character is so broken and pitiful, but the same time so lethal. The film really takes a close look at PTSD and the impossible task of a veteran trying to assimilate back into society. It's directed by Lynne Ramsay, a name to watch.
Tully On the surface, Tully looks like your standard comedy about the tropes of movie motherhood, but it’s so much more than that. What I can say is that Charlize Theron gives another career-defining performance. I think at times it’s almost taboo for a woman to admit that being a mother is not always easy. Theron captures the ups and downs of being a mother and the film in general captures the monotony of motherhood.	Star Wars: A Solo Story I know the film is getting a ton of hate, but I thought it was a competent action film. Not everything has to be compared to the legendary films the franchise has to offer. Despite early reports, I thought Alden Ehrenreich did a nice job of channeling Harrison Ford. The film features quite a few exciting set pieces that take their rightful place with the very best the franchise has to offer.	Action Point Action Point is an absolute mess. I love Johnny Knoxville and his merry band of jackasses, but Action Point tries to be a real film and falls well short. The film couldn’t make up its mind on whether or not it wanted to be a real movie or a Jackass film. In the end, it was neither. I applaud Knoxville for trying something different, but he should stick to the Jackass films or what he did with Bad Grandpa.
Deadpool 2 If you liked the first Deadpool, then you are in for a treat. The sequel is very much the same kind of humor, this time the references to pop culture are layered on even more, which I just loved. The action scenes are great as you’d expect and the actors all seem like they are having so much fun, because of that, it’s impossible to not have fun too. Reynolds is great as Deadpool, but the film is stolen by newcomer Zazie Beetz as Domino.	Avengers: Infinity War This is a small film that you probably haven’t heard of. Just kidding, it doesn’t get much bigger than Avengers: Infinity War. The film features superheroes from almost every Marvel film released in the past decade. With all the characters, you would think the film would be bloated, but they did a great job of balancing all the stories. Don’t listen to people, the end is fantastic. I can’t wait to see how it concludes.	Chappaquiddick For those that aren’t up on history, Chappaquiddick tells the story of Ted Kennedy and the accident that left a woman dead from drowning. Jason Clarke is fantastic as Ted Kennedy and the film does a great job of showing us how he tried to cover the accident up. As the youngest brother, Ted had an immense amount of pressure on him. Chappaquiddick is one of the more overlooked films of the year.
Unsane I love Steven Soderbergh, I feel he’s an underrated filmmaker. Logan Lucky was one of the better films of 2017 that nobody talked about. I applaud his desire to experiment with film, but Unsane did not work for me. The film is shot entirely on an iPhone. It’s a cool idea, but it gives the film a low quality, amatuer feel. That’s not what kills the film for me. The plot is muddled and somewhat predictable. Nice try though.	Ready Player One Ready Player One is one of my favorite books of the past decade. After I read it, I knew it had big screen written all over it. I can’t think of a better filmmaker to bring the book to life than Steven Spielberg. With Ready Player One, Spielberg returns to his roots after a string of more adult fare (The Post, Bridge of Spies). Ready Player One isn’t a carbon copy of the book, but it really captures the spirit of the book.	Beirut Beirut stars Mad Men icon Jon Hamm in one of his larger big screen roles. I didn’t know a lot about Beirut going in, but I found it to be a surprisingly competent political thriller. The film also stars Rosamund Pike, who I thought was underutilized here. Beirut is clearly a vehicle for Hamm, but giving Pike a little bit more to do would have benefitted the film. If you're into spy thrillers, check this one out.
Isle of Dogs I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Wes Anderson’s films for quite some time. His brand of quirky filmmaking can be a little too much for me sometimes. Isle of Dogs is vintage Anderson. The idea is unique and pulled off very well. It would have been nice to connect with the main character a little more, but that’s nitpicking. If you’re a fan of Wes Anderson’s films, I see no reason why you won’t adore this one.	Tomb Raider I’ll watch anything with Alicia Vikander. I love the Tomb Raider games, but I was never a fan of the Jolie films. This version is grounded far more in reality than the Jolie films. Vikander does a great job of capturing Lara Croft’s charisma and physicality. There are quite a few great set pieces. It’s not a great action film, but it’s a lot of fun if you’re looking for something easy and light. I'd sign up for one or two more of these no problem.	Blockers If you’re looking for an R-rated comedy, look no further than Blockers. The film falls in line with most R-rated comedies released nowadays in the sense that it is pretty raunchy. The film has quite a bit of heart. Blockers deals with parenthood and fear of letting your children grow up. We haven’t seen too many coming of age films that focus on the parents, so even though the film isn’t as funny as I was hoping for, it’s worth a rental.
Annihilation There's not enough space in this little section for my thoughts on Annihilation. It's the kind of film that stays with you long after the credits roll and really elicits discussion. It's a shame films like this are getting shunned by audiences, but that's a larger issue worth exploring. Make no mistake, it's sure to leave most people scratching their heads and/or shaking their fists. With this effort and Ex Machina, Alex Garland is off to a great start.	Game Night Good major studio comedies have all but disappeared from Hollywood. Most R rated comedies rely too much on raunchy gross-out humor, Game Night doesn't fall into that trap. It's easily the funniest pure comedy I've seen in a few years with laughs throughout. Bateman and McAdams are having a blast with the premise and Jesse Plemons steals every scene. This is an easy to digest comedy. Go see Game Night so we get more comedies like it.	Black Panther Black Panther isn't quite as good as the critics and fans are making it out to be, but it's pretty darn good. Director Ryan Coogler (Creed, Fruitvale Station) has made a fun, yet important superhero film. Panther also features maybe the best Marvel villain to date in Jordan's Killmonger. He upstages Black Panther in his own film. The film also features strong African American women, something rarely found in most films.
The Cloverfield Paradox I'm not a huge fan of the original Cloverfield, but I adore 10 Cloverfield Lane. Paradox doesn't come close to either. The film lacks character and you can tell the script has been retrofitted for the Cloverfield universe. Much of the Cloverfield lore feels forced. The film in general seems to only exist to give the studio a get out of jail free card to make as many Cloverfield films as they want without having to worry about continuity.	I, Tonya I, Tonya tells the too insane to be true story of Tonya Harding. Director Craig Gillespie, who directed the underrated Lars and the Real Girl, does a great job of fleshing out a story we thought we already knew. From the title alone, we know that this is Tonya's story and the film has a lot of fun with that, often having Tonya break the 4th wall and speak to the audience. Margot Robbie gives the performance of her career. This one was a lot of fun.	Hostiles I'm not sure there's another genre that marries breathtaking visuals with visceral violence like Westerns. Hostiles is a perfect example of this. Director Scott Cooper has made one of the very best Westerns in recent memory. Just in case there's anyone out there that doesn't believe Bale is one of the best actors of his generation, he gives a mesmerizing performance. Rosamund Pike is also amazing as a grieving mother.
The Post There's nothing wrong with The Post. It checks all the appropriate boxes - Hanks, Streep, Spielberg. It's also a fairly forgettable film and lacks the livewire electricity of a film like Spotlight. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I left the theater thinking that there was something missing with this one. I feel like it lacked that one powerful scene that you will go back to time and time again. It's a perfectly enjoyable film, but not one of the year's best.	3 Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Billboards is directed by Martin McDonagh, who directed one of my favorite films, In Bruges. Here, he's made a film that pulls no punches and generates some of the best performances of the year from a great cast. Rockwell and Harrelson are top notch, but this is McDormand's film. Some might not be entirely satisfied with how the mystery unravels, but that's not what this film is about at the end of the day.	Call Me by your Name Call Me by Your Name is a coming of age story that takes place in 80's Italy. Like Moonlight last year, Name tells the story of a young man learning about his sexuality. The main difference being Moonlight dealt with suppression of sexuality, whereas Name deals with the celebration of it. Timothée Chalamet loudly announces his arrival to Hollywood. Hammer is also fantastic and should have been nominated.
The Shape of Water With the Shape of Water, visionary director Guillermo del Toro has created a film with a unique look, feel and story like nothing I've ever seen before. It's such a visually beautiful film that tells a truly heartwarming story, as odd as it may be. Sally Hawkins is amazing without ever saying a word. Michael Shannon does his usual villain thing and steals every scene. Shape of Water is easily one of the most memorable films of 2017.	Logan Lucky Steven Soderbergh is a liar. The Ocean's 11 director and once "retired" filmmaker knows how to make a caper film. Logan Lucky is one of the best heist films in years. Tatum and Driver play blue-collar brothers aiming to knock off a race track. Craig is having the most fun in years as a legendary safecracker sprung from prison for one final job. The film snaps from scene to scene. Steve knows how to lay the groundwork for a heist.	Molly's Game Aaron Sorkin is one of the most well known writers in Hollywood (A Few Good Men, West Wing). His rapid fire, whip smart dialogue is his calling card. With Molly's Game, he makes his directorial debut and he knocks it out of the park. Chastain is fantastic as always as a former Olympian turned gambling kingpin. The film does a great job of putting you in the middle of the high stakes gambling world. Idris Elba is also fantastic here.
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle I'm not a big fan of the original Jumanji. When I heard they were making another film, I brushed it off as another unnecessary Hollywood remake. What we got was one of the funniest more entertaining films of the year. The Rock is great playing against type, Kevin Hart is great as well, Jack Black steals the show as a vapid teen girl stuck in a middle-aged man's body. Some reboots can be fresh.	Star Wars: The Last Jedi The Last Jedi seems to have split people right down the middle. I rather enjoyed the film. I think director Rian Johnson (Looper) did a great job of making the film his own, but at the same time, staying true to the Star Wars universe. The Last Jedi is a welcomed addition to the franchise. Where the film might lack is in the character interactions. They haven't had a lot of time to build a relationship with the audience just yet.	All the Money in the World It’s not often that films fly under the radar with me, I read about movie news all year long, but All the Money in the World snuck up on me. What’s even more shocking is the fact that it’s not some indie film directed by some unknown director. This is a Ridley Scott film we are talking about here. The making of the film might be just as interesting as the actual film itself. READ REVIEW
Blade Runner 2049 It’s been months since I saw Blade Runner 2049. Let me try that again, it’s been months since I experienced Blade Runner 2049 in theaters. Experienced is the correct word. The film is an absolute masterpiece, but even with the benefit of time, I’m still not sure I can eloquently convey what an amazing film it truly is. I guess I can start in the most logical place when praising a great film...READ REVIEW	Mudbound Netflix has become a powerhouse of entertainment, especially when it comes to their original shows. Their original films are a different story. They haven’t quite garnered the attention of the TV shows. Films like Mudbound deserve to get a theatrical release, and while it’s great that the film is offered to the massive audience Netflix has... READ REVIEW	The Disaster Artist If you don’t know by now, The Disaster Artist is about the making of The Room, a film that has been hailed as the Citizen Kane of bad movies. For years I had heard of this terrible film called The Room, but didn’t have much desire to watch the movie just because it’s epically terrible. Then James Franco announced that he would be directing and starring in a film about its making. READ REVIEW
Good Time My underrated list is made for films like Good Time. This is one that even the most die hard cinephile probably hasn’t heard of. Good Time tells the story of two brothers, Connie and Nick, whose attempt to rob a bank goes terribly awry. Nick, who is also mentally ill, gets caught by the police and Connie, played by Robert Pattinson, must try and free him before he heads to prison. READ REVIEW	Thor: Ragnarok What is Thor: Ragnarok doing on a list about underrated films? Hear me out. Yes, the film made a bazillion dollars, but I don’t think people are giving this one the credit it deserves. When it comes to great superhero films of 2017, most people mention Wonder Woman and Logan, and rightly so, but Ragnarok belongs in that discussion. It took the most boring character in the... READ REVIEW	Stronger If you’ve been reading my stuff over the past few years, it’s no secret that I’m a huge Jake Gyllenhaal fan. This list is further evidence of that. First up is Stronger, the powerful true story of Jeff Bauman, a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing who lost both of his legs in the attack. Gyllenhaal gives another fantastic performance... READ REVIEW
Wonder Honestly, when I saw the trailer for Wonder, I rolled my eyes. I’ve seen films like this before. They’re super cheesy and lay the schmaltz on extra thick. Wonder has none of that. What it does have is a ton of heart and is easily the feel good film of the year. It’s also a film that should be required viewing for every child. Jacob Tremblay proved with 2015’s Room, a film he should have been nominated for... READ REVIEW	The Lost City of Z If you want an idea of how the movie landscape has changed in recent years, look no further than The Lost City of Z. Decades ago, The Lost City of Z would have been one of the most important films released. Today, it’s an underseen afterthought. There’s literally no place for it at our local cinemas. That may not worry you, but it drives me crazy. The film made just 8 million dollars domestically... READ REVIEW	Life Some films bomb at the box office and it just makes sense. Then there are films like Life that just have me questioning everything I know about moviegoers. Life features a great cast, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds and Rebecca Ferguson and it deals with the tried and true subject matter of an alien lifeform on board a space station. What’s there not to like? READ REVIEW
IT What else is there to say? If you are one of the few people who hasn’t seen IT, then you’re probably never going to. The film did a great job of capturing the vibe of the book, and they made the correct decision of just focusing on the children and not flipping between their lives as adults. Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Clown is simply mesmerizing. His performance is worth the price of admission alone. The children get an A+ as well.	Mother! Mother! is a brilliant film. Don’t listen to what people are saying. The problem is that director Aronofsky has made an experimental arthouse film. It’s not made for mainstream audiences, so it doesn’t surprise me that they hated it. Mother is the kind of film that begs you to gasp think while watching it. If you figure out what Aronofsky was going for, you’ll agree about its brilliance. Regardless of your level of film IQ, proceed with caution.	American Assassin American Assassin doesn’t reinvent the action genre, but it’s a solid film. Dylan O’Brien proves he has the chops to carry a film and Michael Keaton is fantastic as usual. Taylor Kitsch turns in his best film performance as a psycho soldier gone rogue. The film is left open for a sequel and I’d be more than welcome to one or two. The film also features my new heartthrob - Shiva Negar. What a treat, keep an eye on her. Hell, keep two on her.
Wind River Wind River is directed by Taylor Sheridan, who wrote Sicario and Hell or High Water. Like those films, Wind River takes its time unraveling the mystery, but the payoff is worth it. The film deals with themes of how Native Americans are marginalized in this country. There's also a scene late in Wind River that isn't quite as good as the bridge scene in Sicario, but it's pretty damn close. Looking forward to more from Sheridan.	Atomic Blonde They tried hyping Atomic Blonde as a female John Wick franchise. It’s not. The film is more spy thriller in the James Bond mold than action shoot ‘em up. Charlize Theron commands the role and seems to be having a blast. Disregard the muddled plot, typical of the spy genre, and revel in the slick and stylish filmmaking. Rounding out the cast are James McAvoy, who is devilishly good here, and an always solid John Goodman.	The Big Sick The Big Sick is one of the best romantic comedies in years, but it certainly doesn’t fit into the conventional box the genre is plagued by. The film is based on lead actor Kumail Nanjiani’s real life, so the film has a natural feel to it. It’s truly a beautiful story of love regardless of circumstance. This is hopefully a well deserved big break for Nanjiani, who has been turning in strong comedic performances in small roles.
Dunkirk Every great director needs his epic war masterpiece. This is Christopher Nolan’s. Dunkirk is a triumph of the human spirit. A tale of survival against all odds. The film is also unconventional compared to other war films. In Dunkirk, Nolan tells 3 overlapping stories at once. It adds an intriguing layer, but could turn some off. Dunkirk is a fantastic war film that rightly takes its place among the very best the genre has to offer.	The Dark Tower The Dark Tower is a book series that is near and dear to my heart. While they didn’t completely pull it off, I enjoyed the film. It really captures the spirit of the books. That said, it suffers from trying to stuff so much into one film, but at the same time, neglecting to include things every Tower Junkie wants to see in a Dark Tower film. The film bombed, so this might be the only Dark Tower we get on the big screen for a while.	War for Planet of the Apes The recent Apes films are easily 3 of the best sequels ever made. Not only are they a triumph of special effects, but manage to tell a personal story. There’s a scene late in the film where Caesar doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to because you can literally see all the emotion in his eyes. There's a mix of sadness and anger. It's a beautiful scene and it's not possible without Andy Serkis, who needs to be recognized for his work.
Spider-Man: Homecoming Simply put, Tom Holland is the perfect Peter Parker/Spider-Man. He feels like the awkward teenager that Parker is supposed to be. The best part of the film is that it doesn’t deal with saving the world from an evil foe. The film feels smaller and self contained. Michael Keaton is also great as the villain. I'm not sure what it is, but he sure like playing bird creatures. At its core, Homecoming is a coming-of-age tale, and a darn good one.	Baby Driver Baby Driver just oozes high-octane coolness. If he wasn’t before, Edgar Wright has solidified himself as one of the best directors in Hollywood. His films have a unique look and feel that few directors can match right now. Baby Driver’s use of music is pulled off to perfection. It sometimes feels like you’re watching a musical. Ansel Elgort is an actor to keep an eye on. Foxx and Spacey steal the show. One of the best films of the year.	Wonder Woman This is an important film on so many levels. For DC, they needed a good film badly. For female directors, a female has never directed a tentpole franchise with a budget like this. To say it was a success is an understatement. The film is also surprisingly funny. This fish-out-of-water tale is where most of the comedy comes from. This might just be one of the best superhero films to date. Gal Gadot is perfectly cast as Wonder Woman.
Okja Bong Joon-ho is one of my favorite directors. To me, Snowpiercer is an absolute masterpiece. Okja doesn’t quite reach the level of excellence of his other work, but it’s a film that has a lot of heart. Not since E.T. have I felt so invested in a movie creature. The film is a little heavy-handed with its themes, but it’s worth a watch. Okja is currently streaming on Netflix. Gyllenhaal was my issue. Felt like he was in a different film.	The House There’s nothing really amazing going on in The House. It’s pretty much your standard comedy. It certainly could have been a lot funnier, but overall, it’s worth a rental if you’re looking for a comedy on the weekend. If you’re a fan of Will Ferrell and Amy Poehler then you should at least be entertained. The House missed a few opportunities for laughs by not showing their daughter notice as her parents devolve into casino kingpins.	It Comes at Night Here’s an interesting one. I’m still not sure what to make of it. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say that the title of the film is one of the more misleading titles in film history. For me, it’s detrimental to the film and was the main factor in me not liking it as much as I was hoping for. A24 has put out some amazing films over the last few years, but It Comes at Night missed the mark for me. This will be one of those polarizing films for sure.
Alien: Covenant I’m a huge fan of the Alien franchise. The first two films are perfect. In recent years, I enjoyed Prometheus, but was left wanting more. Alien: Covenant was supposed to cure that. It didn’t. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad film. But it’s kind of forgettable. Prometheus sparked tons of discussion, sadly, I can’t say the same for Covenant. You have a problem when the character you can relate to as most human in the film is a cyborg.	Dead Men Tell No Tales Surprisingly, I actually had a lot of fun with this one. This is easily the second best Pirates film in the franchise, not saying much, I know, but I felt they were able to capture a little bit of what made the first film so much fun. Just pure swash buckling adventure. As always, the story is pretty meaningless, but that's okay. The Pirates films have always been about crazy adventure set pieces. Javier Bardem was a nice surprise as the main villain.	Free Fire Free Fire has no strands of Tarantino DNA. Let’s just nip that in the bud right now. I’ve heard a few people mention that and it’s insulting. There is no story to Free Fire. A bunch of people go to make a gun deal in a warehouse and lots of shooting happens. The End. Nobody loves shooting more than me, but even I need a little bit more. I'm not sold on Ben Wheatley as a director. I've only seen a few of his films but they lack life.
Ghost in a Shell My least favorite film of the year so far. An absolute mess. I haven’t seen the Anime it’s based on, but I know it’s held in high regard, so I’m not sure what happened here. I guess this is what happens when you get the guy who directed Snow White and the Huntsman to direct your movie. On second thought, this should not be a surprise. If there's ever a live action Akira film, I hope they learn from the mistakes of this shell of a film.	Beauty and the Beast Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite animated films, and while the live action version doesn’t quite top it, they did a great job bringing it to life. Emma Watson is perfectly cast as Belle and the rest of the film really stayed true to the original film. Some would argue too true. The new songs fit in seamlessly. It's nice to see films like this brought to new audiences, but the animated film is still a must watch.	Logan The X-Men films are hit or miss for me, but the one constant is Wolverine. He’s easily the best part of the franchise. What we have here isn’t a superhero film. It’s something much more than that. Logan feels like an Indy noir drama. Even the look of the film is more cinematic than the other films from the franchise. Because of this, Logan stands apart from every other superhero film released in the last decade. One of the best films of the year.
Kong: Skull Island If you’re looking for some popcorn fun, Kong: Skull Island should quench your thirst. I enjoyed it far more than the recent Godzilla film. Like Godzilla did in his film, Kong disappears for long stretches. My biggest gripe with the film is our two leads. I’m a huge Tom Hiddleston fan and I like Brie Larson, (won an Oscar for Room) but their characters are paper thin here. Regardless, there's enough action to hold your attention.	Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 The first Guardians film was one of my favorite films of 2014. Just pure fun. Vol. 2 is much of the same, but I didn’t enjoy myself quite as much. The best part of the first film is when the group is together, in this film, they are separated for a large portion. I just wished we could have seen more of that group dynamic. Kurt Russell joins the cast and really stands out here. Fun, just not quite Vol.1.	Get Out Get Out is the directorial debut of comedian Jordan Peele. To say he knocked it out of the park is an understatement. Get Out is the kind of Horror/Thriller we need more of. It's original, timely and well crafted. The film is a social satire about race in our country. To say much more would be in danger of giving too much away. I would say just go see it, it's a breath of fresh air to a genre that has grown stale in recent years.
John Wick: Chapter 2 After the credits rolled on the first film, I turned to my dad and said I'd like 2 or 3 more of these. I'd like to double that now. John Wick is simply the best action franchise out there today. All the action scenes are shot to perfection and they're allowed to breathe. The second film delves deeper in the secret society of assassins, it's wacky, but it's also what sets John Wick apart from other action films.	The Lego Batman Movie The Lego Batman Movie is the most fun I've had at the movies so far this year. The film has a blast poking fun at the Batman franchise. There are so many jokes that are going to fly right over a kid's head, but if you love pop culture, you will appreciate it. The idea of a completely out-of-touch, narcissistic Batman is just hilarious. I can't forget to mention Robin, voiced by Michael Cera, his wide-eyed enthusiasm was infectious. He's easily the most likeable Robin in franchise history.	A Cure for Wellness A Cure for Wellness is destined to be one of those films that people debate about for years. Some people are going to adore it, and other people are going to loathe it. Myself, I rather enjoyed it. It's not a great film, but I was endlessly intrigued by the mystery. Make no mistake though, the film is fairly disturbing and unsettling. The real standout for me was the cinematography. It's easily one of the more beautifully shot films I've seen in years. Wellness also has plenty of atmosphere.
Hunt for Wilderpeople Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the most surprisingly funny film of 2016. It's such an endearing film with tons of heart. I really hope people catch this one on streaming devices. Sam Neill gives his best performance since Jurassic Park, another film where he wasn't too keen on kids. At its core, Wilderpeople is about isolation, loneliness and finding your place in the world. A great little hidden gem.	Loving Loving tells the true story of an interracial couple whose marriage was deemed illegal by the state of Virginia. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court. The film features beautiful performances by Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton. It's shocking that something like this went on so recently in our history, and even more shocking that this kind of bigotry still exists in some places.	Ace in the Hole Ace in the Hole is a hidden gem starring Kirk Douglas. The film is even more timely today than it was in 1951. Ace in the Hole tells the story of a disgraced New York newspaper reporter who gets a job in a small New Mexico town. Thirsty for his next big story, he happens upon a man trapped in a cave. The rest of the film deals with the ethics of journalism and the moral ambiguity of the main character. It also shines an early light on America's love affair with sensationalized stories.
My Blue Heaven My Blue Heaven is one of those forgotten 90's films, but it features a vintage Steve Martin performance. Martin plays an Italian mobster in the witness protection program. The film mines most of its laughs from Martin playing an Italian. Just the thought of it is funny. My Blue Heaven also stars the great Rick Moranis. Seeing Moranis do his thing really makes me miss him. I hope he comes back to acting one of these days.	Eye in the Sky In one of his final lines, the late Alan Rickman states, "Never tell a soldier that he does not know the cost of war." This is exactly what Eye in the Sky aims to tackle. Does the value of one life mean more than the many? Eye in the Sky is the best portrayal of war in the 21st century and the moral implications that come with dropping bombs from hundreds of miles away in the comfort of an air conditioned bunker.	Don't Think Twice Don't Think Twice tells the story of a struggling improv troupe when one of their members (Keegan-Michael Key) gets his big break once he's cast as part of a Saturday Night Live-like sketch show. The film really delves into the mixed feelings of happiness and jealousy associated when someone close to you experiences success. Gillian Jacobs really stands out as a member of the troupe who is content with never moving on from the humble troupe.
Under the Shadow Under the Shadow is an Iranian horror film. Many people have compared it to The Babadook, while I enjoyed The Babadook more, I can see the comparisons. The film features a mother and a child who are being terrorized by an unseen force. Like The Babadook, the film features deeper themes. In Under the Shadow, the main theme is about the anxiety and constant fear of living in a war-torn environment.	La La Land Director Damien Chazelle burst on the scene a few years ago with Whiplash, a lively, kinetic film experience that was one of my favorite films of 2014. With La La Land, he adds a different kind of life to the film. It's colorful, vibrant and bursting with old school movie magic. The film also features fantastic chemistry between leads Stone and Gosling. La La Land is about dreamers and the cost of success. It's more than just a silly musical.	Split With Split, M. Night is officially back as a great filmmaker. Don’t be fooled by the trailers either, Hollywood has once again tried to make the film look more like a horror film than it really is. Also, it’s too bad this film came out so early in the year because James McAvoy gives an insanely good performance here. In order to truly appreciate Split, be sure to see M. Night’s previous (good) films. I'm once again excited to see what's next.
Moonlight Moonlight aims to tell the story of a young man at certain points in his life. Unlike Boyhood, 3 actors are used in the role. It pulls it off better than Boyhood did. This is an important film on so many levels. It tells a story we just don't get to see from an African American perspective. My main problem is the same issue I had with Boyhood. The main character's personality isn't all that charismatic.	Hidden Figures It's a shame that it took a movie for Americans to learn about this fantastic story about these brave, intelligent women. It's also infuriating to watch what they had to go through, and shocking to realize that it wasn't all that long ago. All 3 leads gave great performances, and although Octavia Spencer got the Oscar nomination, it's Janelle Monae and Taraji P. Henson who really shine. This story should be taught in schools.	Train to Busan Train to Busan is one of the better zombie flicks I've seen in years. It's essentially 28 Days Later on a train. Unlike most zombies, (like 28 Days Later, these are technically infected) these guys are fast. Train to Busan has a slow build, but when the action gets going, it literally feels like a runaway train. The confined spaces only adds to the terror. Please don't write this film off because it's foreign. That would be a mistake.
Swiss Army Man Swiss Army Man is the most unique film of the year. Paul Dano, who has turned into one of the more underrated actors working today, plays a man stranded alone on a desert island. One day, another man washes ashore. The man is dead. What follows is a series of funny, gross, heartbreaking and a surprisingly sweet series of events. The film also shows what lengths the human brain will go to in order to survive. We need more like this.	Kubo and the Two Strings Kubo is my favorite animated film of the year. The visuals are absolutely breathtaking. A majority of the film was shot using stop-motion animation and actual clay models. It's seamless with the use of CGI. Really awesome stuff. Kubo doesn't have some of the tropes of most animated (I'm looking at you Disney) films, but it still features memorable characters and a fantastic score.	The Founder Michael Keaton plays Ray Kroc, the man who essentially stole the McDonald's company. Keaton is indeed strong in the film, but he doesn't quite reach greatness. We watch Ray go from a hardworking salesman, to cut a throat business tycoon, but we never really see how this changes who is. It just happens with little or no reflection on his part. Regardless, The Founder is a little-known story about an iconic brand.
A Monster Calls A Monster Calls is a strong film and features one of the best performances by a young actor in years. The film tells the story of a young boy whose mother is battling terminal cancer. It also features fantastic visuals and scenes with unique animation. Those who have taken care of loved ones with illness will identify with the themes in the film. The feeling of anger/helplessness the main character goes through is portrayed to perfection.	Eddie the Eagle Eddie the Eagle is the kind of film I wish more people could have seen. It's such a great, uplifting story. There aren't many of those around anymore. Taron Egerton gives an amazing performance as a young athlete that literally won't take no for an answer. His desire to succeed despite his limited ability is inspiring to watch. The best part, the film is based on a true story. A must watch for the underdogs of the world.	War Dogs If War Dogs wasn't based on a true story, you would think it's the craziest film ever. 2 entrepreneurs end up selling millions of dollars worth of weapons to the U.S. War Dogs feels like a poor man's Wolf of Wall Street. The similarities extend past the fact that Hill stars in both films. Wolf was also based on a true story and both films deploy VO. I love films where average guys get in over their heads and then the poop hits the fan.
Keanu Keanu came and went at the box office, but it's one of the best comedies of the year. The film stars Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, 2 of the greatest comedic minds working today. Keanu gets most of its laughs from playing with black stereotypes and the typical male archetypes. Key and Peele have great chemistry. Most brushed off the film for its silly premise, but Keanu is a worthy comedy in a year sparse with them.	Passengers Passengers was one of my most anticipated films of 2016. It turned out to be one of the biggest disappointments. The film is not bad, it's just not what the film the trailer made it out to be. Instead of an epic Sci-fi action film, we got a space romance. It's a fairly decent one with fantastic set and production design, it's just not the film most, including myself were expecting. It's better than people are giving it credit for though.	The Invitation The Invitation is the kind of film that will benefit if you go in without watching the trailer. If you like mysterious thrillers, give it a shot. Be warned though, the film is glacial in its build up. Unfortunately, the payoff isn't quite enough to warrant such a deliberate build, but I found the film to be intriguing nonetheless. If you're looking for something creepy to stream on a Friday night, there are worse choices.
Manchester by the Sea Manchester by the Sea doesn’t feel like a movie. It feels like you are actually watching real people, and that’s where the emotional punch really hits you. Affleck’s performance is one of the more understated performances you will ever see an actor give. It’s easily the best performance of the year by an actor. I wanted to mention that rarely gets brought up when discussing this film is the fact that it’s really funny despite its heavy subject matter.	Arrival Arrival is directed by Denis Villeneuve, one of the best directors working today. If you went into Arrival expecting Independence Day, then you left feeling disappointed. What Villeneuve has given us is an arthouse film disguised as a mainstream blockbuster. Arrival most closely resembles films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Arrival is challenging, thought-provoking and easily one of the year’s best.	Nocturnal Animals Nocturnal Animals is one of the better looking films of the year. It's also one of the more interesting, thought-provoking films of the year. If you’re not into films with multiple storylines intersecting at once, pass on this one. For everyone else, you're in for a treat. The acting is also fantastic, with a standout performance from Aaron Taylor-Johnson. Gyllenhaal, Adams and Michael Shannon round out a great cast.
Hacksaw Ridge Hacksaw Ridge tells the incredible true story of a WWII medic that refuses to carry a gun into battle. Doss is played by Andrew Garfield, who gives the best performance of his career. He’s so conflicted at times, yet so steadfast in his beliefs. Ridge is directed by Mel Gibson. Like he did with Braveheart, the battle scenes in Ridge are just fantastic. It’s right up there with the opening scene from Saving Private Ryan.	Blood Father In Blood Father, Gibson proves he hasn’t lost a step. His quick wit and engaging personality is still there almost 3 decades after Lethal Weapon. I hope he gets his chance to act in more mainstream films. There’s not a whole lot to Blood Father, it’s a guy who has to protect his daughter from a bunch of gang members, but it’s Gibson who elevates the material. A true sign of an elite actor. Blood Father would be a bargain bin bottom feeder for most.	The Shallows The Shallows is directed by Jaume Collet-Serra, is one of the more dependable directors working today. The Shallows is a visually beautiful film and that’s before you take into consideration Blake Lively in a tiny bikini. Most of the film takes place while Lively’s character is stranded on a rock formation. It’s easy to get lost in Lively’s beauty, but she’s not some helpless damsel. She’s tough, resourceful and wickedly smart.
The Magnificent Seven The Western is one of my favorite genres. Hollywood certainly isn’t pumping out as many of them as they used to, but when they do, it’s usually a strong showing as is the case with Antoine Fuqua’s remake of the 1960’s classic. Fuqua reteams with Denzel Washington, whom he directed in Training Day. The film doesn’t quite capture the charm of the original, but it makes up for it with superior gunplay and action.	Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates I’m certainly no prude. Some of my favorite comedies are raunchy, but sometimes you need to have something more. The film is a one trick pony and that one trick isn’t really that funny either. Of course, when it is funny, it’s something we already saw in the trailer. It’s too bad too, because the film features some really good comedic actors. I just wish they had more to work with here.	Hell or HIgh Water Hell or High Water is written by Taylor Sheridan, who wrote last year’s equally taut thriller Sicario. Like Sicario, Water has a slow buildup, but it pays off in the end. Pine and Foster have great chemistry, but it’s Foster who really shines. A favorite character actor of mine for years, he’s about to get his due. At its core, Water is a film about the bond between men - a Texas Ranger and his partner, a father and son and two brothers.
Sully One of the best feel-good movies of the year. Sully is a well crafted film by one of the best directors of all-time in Eastwood and stars one of the best actors of all-time in Hanks. I had the privilege of attending a screening while Todd Komarnicki, who wrote the screenplay for Sully, was in attendance. Sully is one of the better paced and plotted films I’ve seen all year, a credit to Eastwood and Komarnicki alike.	Don't Breathe Here’s a gem that came out of nowhere. The setup to Breathe is similar to the Audrey Hepburn classic Wait Until Dark with a twist. Instead of a blind woman being terrorized by intruders, Don’t Breathe turns the tables on the intruders and makes them the ones being terrorized. Don’t Breathe will literally have you holding your breath during some scenes. The film would have benefited from ending a scene earlier, but a solid film nonetheless.	The Nice Guys The Nice Guys is the most fun I had at the theater this year. The film is directed by Shane Black, who wrote Lethal Weapon, so the man knows a thing or two about buddy cop comedies. The chemistry between Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling is the best part of the film. I know it’s hypocritical, but I’d like to see two or three more of these films. The other highlight of the film is Angourie Rice, who steals more than a few scenes.
The Jungle Book I didn’t have much interest in The Jungle Book when it was released in theaters, but now I’m wishing I saw it on the big screen instead of renting it. The CGI is absolutely stunning. You know you’re doing something right when you don’t even think about talking animals in a live action film. Jungle Book is one of the more well made films of the year. The filmmakers got lucky with the casting of Neel Sethi. He was a revelation.	Money Monster I’m not sure why Money Monster didn’t resonate with critics, but it’s a solid thriller. Directed by Jodie Foster and starring George Clooney as a boisterous financial TV host. After a bad tip, the TV studio, along with the director of the show played by Julia Roberts, is taken hostage by a fed up viewer, played by up-and-comer Jack O’Connell. The film is at its best in the studio and gets away from Foster a little once they hit the streets.	Sausage Party By the end of Sausage Party, you will never look at food the same way again. Don't be fooled by the crude humor, Sausage Party is a clever film with a unique social commentary on race and religion. It’s still a vulgar animated film about food doing bad things, but it’s surprisingly thought provoking. Don't be fooled by the trailer, but most of the film takes place in the supermarket.
Suicide Squad The best part about Suicide Squad is easily Margot Robbie (shocking that I would think that, I know). As Harley Quinn, audiences are now realizing what most of us have known since Wolf of Wall Street and that’s that Margot Robbie is a legit movie star. Anyway, with the hate this film has gotten you would think it kicked everybody’s dog or something. It’s not great by any means, but it’s not as bad as most are making it out to be.	Jason Bourne The Bourne franchise is one of my favorite action franchises of all-time. 2012’s Bourne Legacy starring Jeremy Renner was a misstep, so I was happy to see Damon/Greengrass reteaming. The 4th film doesn’t come close to the original film, but it doesn’t embarrass itself either. That said, I can’t deny the fact that Jason Bourne feels like a compilation of deleted scenes from better Bourne films. Like most summer films this year, a bit of a letdown.	Midnight Special Director Jeff Nichols has quietly put together a really impressive filmography in his young career. Mud and Take Shelter were both very good films and while Midnight Special doesn’t quite hit all the notes I was hoping for, it’s still a solid film. It feels a lot like Firestarter where a child with powers is hunted by government goons. The little boy is played by Jaeden Lieberher, who was awesome in 2014’s St. Vincent.
Secret Life of Pets Have you ever wondered what your pets are doing when you’re not home? Well, now you know. Secret Life of Pets is a unique premise for an animated film and there’s so many more places they can go with it. I just hope the film stretches the premise with subsequent sequels. Secret Life of Pets is enjoyable and features a few scene stealing characters. Just don’t expect a Pixar level of animated film here.	Star Trek Beyond I’m far from a fan of the Star Trek franchise, but I love the recent movies. They’re somewhat underrated to me when it comes to blockbusters. Beyond didn’t get a ton of attention this summer, but it’s one of the rare enjoyable times I had at the theater this summer. Beyond isn’t quite as good as Star Trek Into Darkness, but it’s a welcome addition to what’s turning out to be a strong franchise.	Ghostbusters I get it. We all have Member Berries (Google it if you don’t watch South Park) over Ghostbusters, but people were losing their minds over the mere mention of a remake. Then there are the people who were getting bent out of shape because the film featured an all female cast, which is just plain silly. At the end of the day, Ghostbusters is harmless fun, far better than most people were giving it credit for.
Independence Day Resurgence I would love to write a full review about how terrible Independence Day Resurgence is, but it’s honestly not even worth my time. The original film is a huge part of my teen years, and while it’s not a cinematic masterpiece, it’s Citizen Kane compared to this pile of alien feces. It’s not fun, and that’s the problem. The original film was tons of fun. I could go on, but I'd rather just forget this film ever happened.	X-Men: Apocalypse X-Men: Apocalypse was kind of doomed to be somewhat of a letdown from the start. Coming off of 2014’s fantastic Days of Future Past, it was going to be very difficult for Apocalypse to live up to that. It’s not a bad film, it’s just very forgettable, outside of a badass Wolverine scene. Actually, that’s probably where the film fails - not enough Wolverine. Which is the problem with all X-Men films except ones that center around Wolverine.	Captain America: Civil War Of all the Marvel franchises, the Captain America films are the strongest as a whole. Civil War feels like another Avengers film. In fact, it might just be better than both Avengers films. The Captain America films always feel more grounded to me. They’re also able to mix in real-life issues like the privacy of American citizens. Civil War also does a great job of mixing in superheroes that have had their own films like Ant-Man.
Green Room Green Room is directed by up-and-coming director Jeremy Saulnier, who directed the underrated Blue Ruin. He has a real knack for gritty, realistic filmmaking. Green Room has a simple setup, a band gets held captive by a bunch of Neo-Nazis, but it’s executed to perfection. The highlight of the film is the ruthless performance by Patrick Stewart, playing against type. I got a real Walter White vibe from him.	Demolition Demolition is destined to be one of those movies that divides people, but I enjoyed it. Jake Gyllenhaal is one of my favorite actors. I love his choices over the last few years. Demolition is a coming-of-age story of sorts. The main story deals with grief and how we all cope with it differently. It also explores the notion of how our lives can sometimes get away from us and we can become the person somebody else wants us to be.	10 Cloverfield Lane Don’t be fooled by the title, 10 Cloverfield Lane only shares a very thin strand of DNA with Cloverfield, which is a good thing because I didn’t really like that film. 10 Cloverfield Lane is essentially a stage play, featuring 3 characters in a confined space. The film really keeps you guessing and never grows stale. It also features a fantastic performance by one of the greatest actors of his generation - John Goodman.
Batman v Superman This isn’t Nolan’s Batman. Anybody expecting something of that quality is going to be disappointed. What we get is a fun, yet bloated superhero film. The action takes a while to get going, but when it does, it left me feeling like a kid playing with his action figures again. Love it or hate it, you have to appreciate Ben Affleck’s performance. Possibly one the best blends of Batman and Bruce Wayne we’ve ever seen.	The Witch People expecting a traditional horror film are going to hate The Witch. The film is an art house thriller and a really good one. The Witch has great atmosphere and really builds the story to perfection. Everybody speaks in Old English and they really nailed the feel of early American settlers. Those with patience and an open mind will be rewarded, until the somewhat disappointing ending.	Deadpool Wow! This is not your Daddy’s superhero film. Deadpool is a shock to the system of a genre that has started to grow a little stale. The film never takes itself seriously even for a second, and the audience is the one that benefits from it. The violence is over the top and the jokes are juvenile, but what more could your inner teen ask for? Go in with an open mind, and you will have a blast with Deadpool.
Hail, Caesar! Hail, Caesar is not a bad film, but it could have been so much better. It features one of the best casts assembled in years and is directed by legendary filmmakers the Coen brothers, but the plot goes absolutely nowhere. I loved the Old Hollywood vibe and the behind-the-curtain look of the early years of movie making, but I can’t help but feel it was all wasted. Unfortunately, Hail, Caesar will remain a better concept than film.	Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Don’t be fooled by the fact that this is a Tina Fey film, this is not a comedy. This is an actual movie with comedic moments and it works much better as such than it would as a comedy. The film does a nice job of showing us what it’s like to be a journalist embedded behind enemy lines. It’s also interesting to see how a journalist can lust for the adrenaline of the moment just like a soldier. The highlight of the film is Margot Robbie.	Steve Jobs Steve Jobs is more noteworthy because of its performances, not because it’s a great film. Michael Fassbender gives another strong performance. He was meant to deliver Aaron Sorkin’s dialogue. I also thought Seth Rogen gives one of the best performances of his career. I just wish the film could have constructed a stronger story. I did enjoy the three part structure though. Interesting way to present the story.
Creed Creed is the second best film in the Rocky franchise after the original. It’s really a beautiful film about friendship and fatherhood. There’s also something heart-breaking to see Rocky, a once powerful fighter, starting to age. He looks like an old man and it makes you realize how cruel time can be. Creed hits all the right Rocky notes, literally in some cases. Creed doesn’t just live off of nostalgia, it’s a great film.	Amy I really didn’t know a lot about Amy Winehouse. Thankfully and tragically, Amy does a great job of peeling back the layers of this once-in-a-generation artist. Amy is one of those musicians that wasn’t meant for fame. She would have been happy performing in front of a few people. Unfortunately, talent like that can’t be kept secret. It’s shocking to watch the people closest to her do nothing as she spirals out of control.	Room Brie Larson has been working for a while now, but she really burst on the scene this year. Larson plays a young mother that is being held captive in a small shed. Even in this terrible world, she fills her son's life with happiness, despite spending every moment of everyday living in fear. As great as Larson is, it might be young Jacob Tremblay that steals the film. Room proves how innocent and adaptable children can be.
Joy In Joy, Lawrence plays real-life inventor of the miracle mop Joy Mangano. The film is a rags-to-riches success story about a woman striving for the American Dream. Joy is a better film than most critics gave it credit for, but I’m not sure it would be half as compelling if the film featured anybody but Jennifer Lawrence as the lead. She’s the kind of actress that truly elevates the material.	Calvary Calvary is a beautiful film about a kind, virtuous priest inhabiting a world with decaying moral standards. Brendan Gleeson is fantastic as Father James who is threatened with murder while hearing the confession of a parishioner. Gleeson should be a household name by now, he's been turning out great work for decades. Calvary deals with religion and how it fits into our world that has grown to distrust the clergy.	Slow West Slow West is a coming-of-age Western starring talented young actor Kodi Smit-McPhee and one of the best actors working today, Michael Fassbender. West tells the story of a young Scottish boy who travels to America to find the woman he loves. He's joined by an outlaw whose intentions may or may not be entirely wholesome. Slow West is in the mold of a classic Western with a few modern changes along the way.
The Big Short As the saying goes, "If you don't laugh, you'll cry." This is the case with The Big Short. The film deals with one of the worst periods in recent memory and decides to defuse the despicable actions of the banks with laughter. The Big Short can be heavy with financial jargon, but it's self aware of that and has some pretty clever ways of explaining things. The film features one of the better ensemble casts of the year. Give it a shot.	Timecrimes I've been meaning to watch Timecrimes for years, it seems like I always jumped a movie up in my queue when I was about to receive it. Thankfully, I got around to it because Timecrimes is one of the better time travel films out there. It's self contained and fairly easy to follow. The film also has some great horror elements. I wish the protagonist was more likeable, but it's a great film. It's the kind of film that needs to be seen more than once.	The Hateful Eight You either like Tarantino films or you don't. You either like Westerns or you don't. If the answer is yes to both of those questions, then you are in for a treat. Hateful Eight might not surpass some of Tarantino's best films, but it comes pretty close. I'm not sure if there's a director working today that is better at building a scene and crafting dialogue. Hateful Eight is long and self indulgent, but damn if it isn't tons of fun. Can't wait for the Blu-ray.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl Yes, this is a cancer movie. The film deals with a teen boy and a teen girl who have a blossoming friendship. You don’t see that very often in a Hollywood movie. As you would expect from any film dealing with cancer, the film is absolutely brutal. Seriously, bring a box of tissues. Earl is quiet and very quirky, but it also feels like a realistic film. Don’t let the gloomy subject matter steer you clear, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a solid film.	The Revenant With The Revenant, director Alejandro González Iñárritu has crafted a vivid, viciously realistic tale of survival and revenge. The Revenant is a beautiful film depicting one man’s fight for survival. Some of the beautiful shots of nature are a perfect juxtaposition to the violent and primal nature of the film. READ FULL REVIEW	Bone Tomahawk The Western genre has essentially gone extinct from the modern movie landscape. Enter Bone Tomahawk, a film that feels very much like many classic Westerns, but with a Cowboys Vs. Cannibals twist. The fantastic cast is rounded out by Richard Jenkins, Patrick Wilson and a scene-stealing Matthew Fox. Bone Tomahawk isn’t on anybody’s radar, a true deep find, but worth the watch for fans of the genre.
Beasts of No Nation Netflix has created a lot of great original content in the world of TV, but Beasts was their first shot at the big screen. Most movie theaters boycotted the film. Relegating Beasts to be lumped in with the hundreds of other films on Netflix. Beasts has a big time actor in Idris Elba, who gives a powerhouse performance, a director in Cary Fukunaga that has caught fire after season 1 of True Detective. Catch it on a Saturday night when nothing else is on.	Star Wars: The Force Awakens I really enjoy the original Star Wars films, they’re full of adventure and wonder, something that the prequel films are lacking. Abrams really nailed it. There are some really cool new characters, I was especially impressed with relative newcomer Daisy Ridley as Rey. I thought its seamless use with CGI is what really made the film feel like a Star Wars film. I hope more movies go back to their roots and start to use more practical effects.	Spotlight Spotlight follows investigative reporters for the Boston Globe as they slowly uncover a conspiracy of Catholic priests and molestation charges that extend all the way to the Vatican. The film does a great job of not vilifying the Catholic Church. It's just telling the story as it's reported. It also doesn't make the reporters out to be heroes. Spotlight features a fantastic cast of Keaton, Ruffalo & McAdams.
The Walk The Walk plays much like a heist film in many ways and ends up being a bitter sweet love letter to the Twin Towers. The Walk is also a perfect film to see on the big screen. Zemeckis does a great job of conveying height and depth. You really do feel like you’re on that wire. I only wish I could have seen the film in 3D. I think the tragedy of 9/11 is still too close to people’s hearts that people stayed away.	Jupiter Ascending Ooof, what a trainwreck. Jupiter Ascending is just a terrible film. I love when filmmakers are ambitious. Nobody is more ambitious than the Wachowski siblings. Jupiter Ascending fails in almost every category. The film also features a downright cringeworthy performance by Eddie Redmayne, who was fresh off his Oscar win for Best Actor in The Theory of Everything. Nothing worked.	Spectre The good news is that Spectre is better than Quantum of Solace (not hard to do), the bad news is that it doesn’t come close to Casino Royale or Skyfall. As much as I love Daniel Craig as Bond, I must say that he’s just not very fun sometimes. The highlight of the film is a single take tracking shot at the start of the film. It might be time for a fresh face as Bond. Craig may have run his course.
Bridge of Spies In recent years, Spielberg has leaned more towards serious fare as opposed to his more popcorn blockbusters of the 80’s and 90’s. That’s certainly not a bad thing and what we get with Spies is a highly competent film made for adults. Tom Hanks, Spielberg’s favorite muse, is as usual on top of his game. If you’re looking for an adult drama by a legendary director, look no further.	Crimson Peak Crimson Peak is a beautiful looking film. The set design and cinematography are fantastic, but the film is missing something. Disregard the trailer, this is not a horror film, it’s a gothic romance. Removing all hints of ghostly beings would have benefited the film. In fact, it could have been a superb thriller without them. The three leads, Hiddleston, Wasikowska and Chastain deserve better.	The Leisure Class The Leisure Class is the film chronicled on HBO’s Project Greenlight. Unlike previous films from the show and last year’s The Chair, Leisure Class is surprisingly watchable. It’s not great, but it looks and feels like a real movie. The second half of the film wavers in tone, but overall a successful debut from director Jason Mann. Something tells me we will be hearing more from Mann.
Going Clear Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief is the most terrifying film of the year. Hands down. All I really know about Scientology is that it’s a punch line. I had no idea what really goes on inside this organization (I refuse to recognize it as a religion). Even if documentaries aren’t your thing, Going Clear needs to be seen. Scientology needs to go extinct as soon as possible.	The Martian If you haven’t seen The Martian yet, stop reading this and go to the movies. It’s the most fun I’ve had in the theater this year and one of the best films I’ve seen all year. The Martian is surprisingly funny and very educational. Director Ridley Scott proves he’s still got it even at the age of 77. The film proves you don’t need explosions and superheroes to have a blockbuster.	Black Mass Finally, a real film from Johnny Depp. I was starting to worry for a little while, but Depp has proven that he’s still one of the best actors in Hollywood. He channels Whitey Bulger. The rest of the film is rounded out by one of the better ensembles of the year. Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch and Kevin Bacon are all top notch. Black Mass lacks a moral compass, but it’s a solid film.
The Gift The Gift is the hidden gem of the summer. Ignore the trailer that portrays the film as a cheesy B horror film. This is a well made, taut thriller. The film stars, is written and directed by Joel Edgerton (who is also fantastic in Black Mass). He’s been putting out good work for years now, but has proven to be immensely talented with The Gift. Edgerton is an actor/director to keep an eye on.	Sicario Sicario is one of the best films of the year and a film most people will be talking about come Oscar season. Sicario is directed by Denis Villeneuve, who directed Prisoners, one of the best films of 2013. What he has crafted with Sicario borderlines on perfection. The film is a master class on building suspense and tension. READ FULL REVIEW	The Visit M. Night Shyamalan is back, or at the very least he’s on his way back with his latest film The Visit. The film isn’t nearly as scary as the trailer would like you to believe, but it’s a good thriller. The film keeps you guessing and has a satisfying payoff in the end. It’s not the Sixth Sense or Unbreakable, but it’s leagues better than The Happening. I’m rooting for M. Night to fully turn it around. This is a good start.
Straight Outta Compton Compton was the surprise hit of the summer. The film portrays the rise and fall of some of the originators of rap, as well as the racial and social ramifications of their music. It turns out that Compton is a very timely film. Proving we haven’t come as far as we think. My main problem with Compton is it plays too much like a Wikipedia page of the group’s history. Nonetheless, a strong film.	Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation Franchises are supposed to be getting worse with their 5th film, not better. Rogue Nation and 2011’s Ghost Protocol might be the best films in the franchise. Cruise fills every scene with his seemingly eternal youthful essence. Cruise has a true passion for these films, but he’s matched here by newcomer Rebecca Ferguson. Nation features two of the best actions scenes I’ve seen this decade. Believe it.

Quick Flicks 2018 - Recent Movie Round-Up

First Reformed

Green Book

The Favourite

Bird Box

Can You Ever Forgive Me?

The Front Runner

Ralph Breaks the Internet

The Mule

Roma

Mary Poppins Returns

Creed 2

The Grinch

A Star is Born

Boy Erased

Bohemian Rhapsody

Beautiful Boy

Widows

Overlord

Halloween

A Simple Favor

Mid-90's

Venom

Bad Times at the El Royale

First Man

The Old Man and the Gun

GuernsyLiteraryPotatoPeelPieSociety

Hold the Dark

Apostle

The House with a Clock in its Walls

Ugrade

Hereditary

The Predator

Leave No Trace

Mission: Impossible - Fallout

Eighth Grade

Blackkklansman

Revenge

Paddington 2

Operation Finale

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom

Sicario: Day of Soldado

Incredibles 2

Ant-Man and the Wasp

Equalizer 2

Thoroughbreds

Tag

A Quiet Place

You Were Never Really Here

Tully

Star Wars: A Solo Story

Action Point

Deadpool 2

Avengers: Infinity War

Chappaquiddick

Unsane

Ready Player One

Beirut

Isle of Dogs

Tomb Raider

Blockers

Annihilation

Game Night

Black Panther

The Cloverfield Paradox

I, Tonya

Hostiles

The Post

3 Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

Call Me by your Name

The Shape of Water

Logan Lucky

Molly's Game

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

All the Money in the World