Mank

Seeing as Mank is a film directed by David Fincher, it shouldn't be any surprise this is a movie that comes together excellently from a technical perspective. It's very well directed and acted, something that I naturally come to expect from Fincher as a director. With that said, this is not a movie that's going to appeal to everyone. A small niche of people will probably enjoy it. For starters, Fincher makes a lot of call-backs to Citizen Kane. It makes sense because this movie is about Herman Mankiewicz as he writes Citizen Kane, and navigates 1930s Hollywood. One of the main criticisms I have seen levied against this movie is that the pacing often feels a bit too slow. This is something I have to agree with. As I have already hinted at, the performances really do deserve props. As usual actors like Gary Oldman and Charles Dance are in top form. Amanda Seyfried might at her best in this movie. The one person who doesn't entirely feel like they belong to me is Bill Nye as Upton Sinclair. He isn't awful, necessarily. But, Bill Nye also is not an actor by trade. However, I should note that he really isn't in the film very much. This is a film that was written by David Fincher's late father. Naturally, this film was a passion project for Fincher. Overall, as a fan of David Fincher's work, I am glad I saw this film. It's not one that I think will go down as one of his best, nor do I see this as one of Fincher's more rewatchable movies. I enjoyed my time with Mank, but won't need to seek it out multiple times in the long run.

7 / 10    

Jojo Rabbit

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Jojo Beltzer (played by Roman Griffin Davis) is a young boy who lives during World War II. He idolizes the Nazis, so much so that his imaginary best friend is Adolf Hitler (played by the film’s writer and director, Taika Waititi). One day, he discovers that his mother (played by Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young jewish girl named Elsa (played by Thomasin McKenzie). This movie is…something. I don’t necessarily mean that in a bad way either. This is a movie that almost feels like it shouldn’t be able to exist today, but it somehow does. The film is genuinely funny, but has a surprising amount of heart to it. There is sort of this underlying drama to the film as a whole, which makes sense given the film’s setting. Taika Waititi’s film is legitimately well-written and well-directed. Of the two skills, I really have to praise his writing. These are legitimately good characters. The characters are mostly funny, weird, and quirky. However, many of them also feel like they have something deeper going on, whether or not they understand. This can lead to some tonal shifts that don’t always gel quite right, but those moments are few and far between. The performers are all pretty solid. By far, I have to give major props to Scarlett Johansson as Jojo’s mother. You can tell she’s a woman doing what she can as a single mom who loves her son, but kind of hates what he’s becoming. She also has some great moments with Thomasin McKenzie. I also really have to compliment Davis and McKenzie. Both give performances that seem to fit their young ages, but also play parts well beyond their ages. Overall, Jojo Rabbit is a little bit weird, a little bit funny, a little bit sad, and a little bit heartfelt. I don’t think there are many movies quite like Jojo Rabbit. 

9 / 10 

Joker

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Joker feels like it’s something of a potential origin story for the infamous. The film follows Arthur Fleck (played by Joaquin Phoenix) as society beats him down until he takes on the persona of the Joker. The film sort of borrows elements from various stories in the Joker’s mythos, namely The Killing Joke and The Dark Knight Returns. Yet, the movie has some pretty major deviations from the comics. I don’t mind this because one could argue that this film is something of an Elseworlds story. Phoenix excels in the role, and truly feels as though he owns this film. However, I also don’t believe that the rest of the cast should be overlooked. In particular, I would also like to commend Brett Cullen, Frances Conroy, and Robert De Niro. I find it so interesting to see Thomas Wayne portrayed as much more of a jerk. I think there could easily be some merit to this possibility as other incarnations only show him from Bruce Wayne’s perspective. The film is primarily a slow burn, showing a man’s descent into madness. This is a film that clearly takes influence from Martin Scorsese’s work from the late 70s and early 80s, in particular Taxi Driver and The King of Comedy. Overall, I really liked Joker as a small-scale, grounded, haunting look at one of comics’ most enduring villains. 

9 / 10 

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

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Once Upon a Time in Hollywood follows western star Rick Dalton (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double, Cliff Booth (played by Brad Pitt) as they navigate various ins and outs of Hollywood life in the year of 1969. So, this was one of my most anticipated movies of 2019 without a doubt. Quentin Tarantino is one of my all-time favorite filmmakers. What’s interesting to me is that this film almost feels restrained—for Tarantino anyways. I should say that the violence is still there. There’s just quite a bit less of it compared to some of Tarantino’s other films. As always, the writing is pretty on point. His dialogue is still sharp. The performances are all pretty solid. The clear stand-outs to me are DiCaprio, Pitt, and Margot Robbie. Robbie is someone who I think could easily be overlooked because she isn’t loud and showy. However, I think there’s a quiet, reserved nature to the performance that really makes it work. Some of the smaller, cameo roles should also be commended in my opinion. If I have flaws, there’s really only one for me. It comes more from how conflicted I feel about the film’s length. The film is around 160 minutes long, and I don’t know if it needs to be. At the same time, I don’t know exactly what I would cut, because nothing really feels unnecessary. Overall, I loved this movie, and think it’s honestly another strong film in Tarantino’s filmography. 

9 / 10 

Ford v Ferrari

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The Ford Motor Company hires Carroll Shelby (played by Matt Damon) to build a car that can compete with Ferrari in the racing circuit. To accomplish this goal, Shelby enlists help from hotheaded racer and mechanic Ken Miles (played by Christian Bale). The two men find themselves at odds with Ford executive Leo Beebe (played by Josh Lucas). I love that the relationship between Shelby and Miles is really what drives this film. As good as I genuinely believe that both Bale and Damon are in this film, Bale truly feels like he is the heart and soul. His motivations are the most understandable throughout But, I also have to give credit to the film’s supporting cast. Josh Lucas is so good at playing the weaselly douche bag that he can practically do it in his sleep. Jon Bernthal is an actor that I’ve been a fan of ever since his time on The Walking Dead. Naturally, I was glad to see him in the movie. Director James Mangold handled the racing scenes with some genuine tension. I will also admit that, while I am a fan of sports movies, I don’t really know enough about sports in general to know how accurate this film was, or that I even knew what the actual outcome was going to be. This is a film that was 2 and a half hours long, and never really felt it. 

10 / 10 

Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile

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Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is a biopic starring Zac Efron as infamous serial killer Ted Bundy. The film deals with his relationships with two women, as well as his trial, and all the insanity that this would entail. I have to admit that I don't necessarily know how much I actually have to say about this film, so it is best for me to just get right into talking about the film. When talking about this movie, I think it is best to start by talking about the negatives, because I really don't have very many. The main issue I have is that there are some points where the film jumps around in the narrative, and it doesn't really flow nearly as well as it probably could or should. Honestly, pretty much everything else about this film actually kind of worked for me. The movie's greatest strength is the acting. Zac Efron is the film's greatest strength. He owns this movie. He really nails the charm and charisma that Ted Bundy was actually known for. The other true standout for me was Lily Collins. I really buy the mental and emotional torture her character Liz seemed to be put through. I have to say that I was kind of glad to see Haley Joel Osment in this film, as he really hasn't been in the limelight in a very long time, outside of some occasional film roles here and there. There is one element of this film that I wasn't sure what to expect with this film. The movie is directed by Joe Berlinger (the same man who directed Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2). I mentioned that I had some problems with the first act, though I don't honestly know exactly where the blame should placed. But, I actually didn't mind Berlinger's direction here. Of course it helps that he's clearly passionate about this film. Overall, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile works thanks to its acting (especially from Zac Efron and Lily Collins), and has a couple of stumbles near the beginning before really finding its footing. This film is on Netflix, so I have to recommend giving it a watch if you can.

8 / 10    

Bohemian Rhapsody

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Bohemian Rhapsody had a troubled production, to say the least. The idea for this movie started surfacing around 2010 and Freddie Mercury was to be played by Sacha Baron Cohen. Cohen abandoned the film in 2013. In November 2016, Rami Malek was cast in the role. The movie went into production in September 2017, with Bryan Singer set to direct. Singer was ultimately fired and replaced by Dexter Fletcher. While I am happy that the movie we got wasn’t a complete disaster, I couldn’t help but find it kind of generic. Don’t get me wrong, there is some really good stuff in it. And this isn’t a bad or awful film by any means, but I don’t know if I can say it lives up to its full potential. Full disclosure, this is a movie I really wanted to love since Queen is one of my favorite bands of all time. This movie has been criticized for historical inaccuracies. I will be the first to admit that I don’t really know that much about the band’s behind the scenes history. The film is also a touch long, and the slower pace can make this movie show its teeth at times. Rami Malek practically embodies Freddie Mercury. It never really feels like I’m watching somebody play Mercury, so much as watching Mercury himself. Nowhere is this better showcased than in the film’s amazing concert sequences, especially the incredible Live Aid scene. For some, it might be distracting that they feel more like music videos. For me, that look and feel just sort of enhanced them In some respects, I wish there was more of them. There’s a point where a music executive for EMI says to something to the effect of: “Kids want a song they can turn up the volume with and bang their heads to. Bohemian Rhapsody is not that song.” When you realize the character who says that is played by Mike Myers, it just feels a little bit on the nose, and probably didn’t need to be in the movie at all. Some of Mercury’s personal life feels a little bit downplayed. Lucy Boynton is a talented actress, but she kind of feels wasted as Mercury’s girlfriend, and doesn’t really seem like she has anything to do. The movie doesn’t really do a whole lot to explore Mercury’s sexuality. My thoughts on Aiden Gillan as John Reid were fairly similar to my thoughts on Boynton’s performance. The man is a good actor, and does good with what he’s given, but he felt kind of wasted. Bohemian Rhapsody has probably been one of the most divisive movies of the year. The opinions seem to be all over the place, I fall somewhere in the middle. I don’t think it’s great, nor do I think it’s awful. 

5 / 10   

A Star Is Born

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A Star Is Born seemed like it had everything going against it. The movie is directed by Bradley Cooper (who has never directed a movie before this film). It’s the third or fourth adaptation of A Star Is Born. For further proof of how easily these kinds of movies can fail, see 2005’s House of Wax, 2017’s The Mummy, 2016’s Ben-Hur, and 2011’s The Thing. But, against all odds, this movie seems to succeed. Singer Jackson Maine (played by Cooper himself) discovers an unknown singer named Ally (played by Lady Gaga). Ally herself is a struggling artist. Before long, the two begin to fall in love with each other. First off, Cooper gives an excellent performance as a musician struggling with his alcoholism and all of his other demons. He has fantastic chemistry with leading lady Lady Gaga. I knew Gaga could act thanks to her stint as the Countess on American Horror Story. But, I didn’t know she had this in her. The biggest surprise about her performance his the fact that I never actually saw Lady Gaga. All I saw was Ally. One of the things about all of the performances in this film (not just Cooper and Lady Gaga) is the fact that everybody actually feels like real people. The relationships Ally shares with both Jackson and her father (played by Andrew Dice Clay enjoying something of a career resurgence between this and Blue Jasmine) are genuine. Clay was something of a surprise to me given the negative stigma around the man and his career. Cooper really does understand what he’s doing behind the camera. Much of his direction feels raw. It doesn’t feel overly showy. He seems more interested in just telling the story of Jack and Ally. I love the way he lights some of the characters (Ally in particular). There are a lot of cliches that this movie could have easily fallen into that it manages to avoid, even if it doesn’t avoid all of them. They could have easily shown that Jackson was jealous of Ally in the very beginning. Instead, he’s actually supportive of her growing as a star. I also like that while Ally wants to do what’s best for her, that doesn’t necessarily make her selfish. She does admit to worrying about the man she loves. It took me a couple of seconds to recognize Dave Chapelle (the man gives a fairly restrained performance given what he’s know for). For as much as I really liked this movie, I did have some issues with it. I don’t think the movie needed to be 135 minutes. There’s a scene where Jackson talks to Ally’s manager, and I don’t see the purpose it had on the story. I feel torn about the Saturday Night Live scene. I get why it’s there, but I kind of didn’t like it at the same time. Overall, A Star Is Born isn’t perfect, but it truly is emotionally powerful. 

8 / 10 

Widows

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When their husbands all die in a botched robbery, three women choose to finish the job for the men. The events of the women trying to pull off the robbery is set into motion when Veronica Rawlings (played by Viola Davis) is threatened by political candidate Jamal Manning (played by Brian Tyree Henry) to get his stolen money back. This is one of those movies I was interested in when I found out about it, especially as a fan of heist movies. Still, I didn’t necessarily know what to expect the final result to be. The women playing the widows (Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Elizabeth Debicki) are all excellent. This is to be expected out of Viola Davis. Michelle Rodriguez is somebody I was already a fan of, but it was nice to see her add some vulnerability to her typical tough-girl schtick. Elizabeth Debicki really stood out to me. The most I’ve really ever seen her in was Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2, and while she’s fine in that movie, Widows really gives her a showcase for talents. She plays a woman is constantly victimized, and finally has a chance to stand up. I almost feel bad for not seeing some of the twists and turns coming (especially because I do watch a lot of movies). The thing is, I’m happy they were able to surprise me. I also love the conflict set up between Jamal’s rival, Jack Mulligan (played by Colin Farrell) and his father (played by Robert Duvall). You can tell that Jack somewhat respects his legacy, but also wants to break away from some of the more negative traditions held by his father (who shows from the first scene that he is racist). Props should also be given to Daniel Kaluuya as Jamal’s brother, Jatemme. Jatemme is about as despicable and menacing a villain as you can get. Kaluuya sells it by bringing an intimidation factor I never knew the man had in him. Director Steve McQueen gives some style to the movie as well. McQueen co-wrote the film with Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn. This film was a passion project for McQueen, and clearly shows in the best way possible. You can really tell the man wanted to make this movie. There is only one scene in the movie that could have been cut a little bit shorter, but that really is me nitpicking. Overall, my complaints in this movie are minor nitpicks at most, but Widows is still an excellent film, and should be seen. 

9 / 10 

Creed II

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Adonis Creed (played by Michael B. Jordan) is challenged by Viktor Drago (played by Florian Munteanu). Adonis feels as though he needs to take the match due to the legacy that follows the idea of “Creed vs. Drago.” Throughout all of this, he finds out that his fiancee Bianca (played by Tessa Thompson) is pregnant. As much as Adonis wants to take the fight, Rocky (played by Sylvester Stallone) has reservations. Over the past couple of years, I have felt that Michael B. Jordan has sort of cemented himself as one this decade’s defining actors, and he truly is excellent in this film. I also have to compliment this film’s writing and directing. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I found out that Ryan Cooler wasn’t coming back to direct this film. But, Steven Caple, Jr. did a fantastic job with this movie. The film was co-written by Sylvester Stallone and Juel Taylor. This movie can feel a touch familiar at times, but the more the movie went on, the more I didn’t really care. Part of the reason is that I feel as though this movie does what a good sequel should do. The characters progress, and are actually given new situations. I feel that Tessa Thompson, in particular, feels a little more fleshed out. In this film, she is pregnant with hers and Adonis’s baby. She has her own fear that their child will be born deaf (a fear that is all too real for many people) because she is deaf herself. As a character, Viktor Drago could have easily been a one-note cartoon, something akin to what Ivan (played by Dolph Lundgren) was in Rocky IV. But, you actually get to see a little bit of how similar and how different Adonis and Viktor are. You see that they both have expectations thrust on them, both by themselves and by others. If this movie is about anything, it’s about the relationships between fathers and sons. You see how Adonis is, in his own way, still somewhat in his father’s way. You get a little bit about how Rocky is estranged from his own son. Overall, Creed II may not be quite as good as the first film (it is very hard to capture that lightning in a bottle feeling twice in a row), but it is still a very good sequel that deserves to be seen.  

9 / 10