“Joker” Grade: A+ (97.5%); easily one of the most brilliant and culturally-relevant films of our time. Some were said to have walked out of the film or simply boycotted the film due to its “glorification of violence.” I saw nothing of the sort. Instead, the film spotlights the sad reality of mental illness and the tragic outcome when someone seeks validation and help but is refused at every turn and labeled “a freak.” This film should make you uncomfortable, but hopefully, it can help to spur meaningful conversation around the ideas of perspective and those who are seeking or need help. I could see fans of “superhero” movies being quite disappointed in the film because it’s not a “superhero” movie. It’s a serious film that takes on heavy, dark, and depressing themes which are sadly quite realistic for the times we live in.
“For Sama” Grade: A+ (97%); this documentary is easily one of the rawest and emotionally-jarring films I’ve ever seen. There’s that old saying that when you’re going through something difficult, to remember that it could always be worse, and most people who are given that advice usually respond with some sort of variation of “that’s not helpful.” Well, if this film doesn’t make you reflect on what you do have in your life to be thankful for, and that it truly could be a lot worse, then I’m not sure you still have a soul. What an incredibly sad and miraculous journey this filmmaker, her husband, and their baby went through, but hopefully their sacrifices aren’t for naught as the filmmaker feared towards the end of the piece. Hopefully, her work is able to move enough people towards love, peace, and a better future.
“Ford v Ferrari” Grade: A+ (97%); this movie has it all; it’s funny, thrilling, suspenseful, makes you reflect on life and who we are as human beings, and hits you in the feels in all the best ways. Christian Bale and Matt Damon both turn in superb acting performances and the cinematography is some of the best I’ve ever seen. This film will garner a lot of Academy Award recognition, and for good reason. It’s one of the greats of all-time.
“The Edge of Democracy” Grade: A (95%); one of the better documentaries that I’ve seen in a long time. This film chronicles the formation and eventual fall of democracy in Brazil over the past 30 years. The filmmaker had exclusive access to both of Brazil’s Presidents during their brief democracy and demonstrates the danger of a two-party political system ripe with corruption and the role that polarizing media can play on an entire country, and who the real “losers” are: the citizenry. There are clear parallels to America’s current political climate in the film; almost a warning of sorts that this is where we are headed if we aren’t careful.
“The Mandolorian” (Season 1) Grade: A (94%); from start to finish, this series gives Star Wars fans something to be proud of that Disney actually created. The characters are well-developed and the universe and the detail that director Jon Favreau put into each episode is incredible (even though there is one pretty bad plot hole in the last episode which is why I dinged the grade from being better). The structure of the series is aligned with old-school spaghetti westerns where a couple of the episodes don’t really move the overall narrative much but contain a complete story in and of themselves. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, mind you. And one final note in my review about the show: Baby freaking Yoda. Watch it.
“Marriage Story” Grade: A (94%); Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver both turn in stellar acting performances in this made only for Netflix film (I can’t believe I just admitted that Kylo Ren can actually act…) that successfully depicts the pain and struggles of a couple going through a divorce and the sad effects that it has on their 8-year-old son. It’s an incredibly raw and real film that makes you care about both characters equally in their struggle of a crumbling marriage. As well done of a film as this is, and it IS an A-list film for me, just be forewarned that it is depressing in the same way that “Three Billboards” was, so if that’s not your cup of tea, you might steer clear of it. But it should garner some Academy Award love come February.
“Tell Me Who I Am” Grade: A- (93%); Netflix’s description for what this documentary is about does it no justice and admittedly kept me from watching it for a while because it didn’t sound that interesting. However, this is one of the more powerful films I’ve seen this year. It provides an interesting and sad case study on ethics and prompts the viewer to reflect on the power of perspective and its ability to shape the reality we experience. This documentary has some of the rawest emotion that isn’t manufactured that I’ve seen in a long time. I highly recommend if you’re the type who likes to reflect on life and deeper meaning.
“One Child Nation” Grade: A- (92%); this Amazon Prime documentary has been nominated for ‘Best Documentary Feature’ and I can see why. The filmmaker details her personal story as well as many others who are a part of the generation that had to live out the horrors of China’s ‘One-Child Policy’ which ended in 2015 in favor of a ‘Two-Child Policy’. The film is a testament to the power of fear and propaganda and the tragic and potent outcomes that they can both have. Definitely worth a watch, but you should be forewarned, there are a lot of pictures of dead babies in the film.
“The Great Hack” Grade: A- (91%); another excellent Netflix documentary that chronicles just how little control we actually have in the decisions that we make in our lives. The film shows how our individual digital footprints are being used by large corporate entities to not only make billions of dollars but also swing elections and create real-life unrest across the globe. The production quality could have been a bit better in parts, but this really ought to be required viewing for everybody who has ever used the internet due to the quality of the ideas presented.
“Leaving Neverland” Grade: A- (91%); this 4-hour documentary leaves no doubt as to the horrific things Michael Jackson did, and it is an excellent sociological awareness piece that makes you think about life. However, it definitely could have been done in a traditional 2-hour format as opposed to dragging it out over 4.
“Aladdin” Grade: A (91%); very surprised at how well done this movie is. I was dreading seeing Will Smith as the Genie (there are just some performances like Robin Williams’ Genie that are in a class of their own), but he absolutely nailed it, and in my opinion, it was PERFECTLY cast. An almost flawless recreation of one of the best Disney films ever made. Definitely worth your time and money.
“1917” Grade: A- (90%); this Sam Mendes film (other notable works include: Spectre, Skyfall, Jarhead, Road to Perdition, American Beauty) is certainly a spectacle to behold from a technical standpoint. The film largely incorporates one streaming camera from start to finish (only two true cuts) which is incredibly impressive, and the sound editing, sound mixing, costumes, and makeup are phenomenally done. So for those aspects, it doesn’t surprise me that it is nominated for “Best Picture”, however, the story is a bit basic and doesn’t have a deeper meaning beyond a basic show of determination and sacrifice.
“Honeyland” Grade: A- (90%); this documentary follows a Macedonian woman who takes care of bees for a humble living, one in which she has given up a much different life to take care of her ill-befallen mother. The film successfully depicts a theme around the cycle of life, both in its destruction and its creation on many different levels while also providing a fascinating glimpse into a much different culture than what we have in the United States.
“Jojo Rabbit” Grade: B+ (89%); this quirky dark comedy tells the tale of a 10-year-old German boy who just isn’t quite cut out to actually be a Nazi despite his greatest efforts to become one. Though the film is meant to be over-the-top to draw its comedic value, there are moments where it is a bit much, which holds it back from being A-list caliber material. Ultimately, the film is still an excellent watch and Scarlett Johansson provides a scintillating performance (as does the “kid trapped in a fat kid’s body”), but the lack of a greater theme that is readily applicable to our modern world may leave some feeling as though something is missing.
“The Family” (docu-series) Grade: B+ (87%); based on a best-selling book, this 5-part Netflix docu-series chronicles the existence and influence of what is essentially a shadow government called ‘The Family’ with tentacles spread across the globe under the direction of a man named Doug Coe. The first episode is a bit cheesy as there are some reenactment scenes, but the rest of the series is much more documentary-like and definitely worth a watch. If you don’t remember this organization getting public attention in the late 2000s or don’t know who Doug Coe is, you should watch this just to have a better understanding of world politics and organized religion.
“Fyre: The Greatest Party That Never Happened” Grade: B (86.5%); this Netflix documentary provides a deeper look into the mind and practices of conman Billy McFarland and provides a lens into a sad culture of excess and vulnerability. There is also a theme of what is at the heart of humanity when all structure and organization breaks down.
“The Lion King” Grade: B (86%); unfortunately, this Disney remake doesn’t live up to its groundbreaking 1994 original. The 2019 version was clearly made for the same audience as the 1994 version (as evidenced by Pumba asking Timon whether or not he is going to stop him from using the word ‘farted’ as he does in the original). As I did not see this opening day, I was curious if others thought it would be appropriate for me to take my 3-year-old to, and I must admit, I was sure glad I screened it first. This Lion King is NOT appropriate for little ones – perhaps 6+. Overall, the story is still the same classic, the voice acting was poorly cast, and the film lacks the same whimsical expressions and goofy charm that helped make the original so good. If you grew up loving the original, you won’t be disappointed by this remake, but you won’t be wowed by it either.
“Avengers: Endgame” Grade: B (86%); this follow-up to “Avengers: Infinity War” lacked the excellence of its predecessor, primarily due to some nonsensical plot holes and the dumbest character in the Marvel universe, Captain Marvel. Overall, however, the film was still entertaining throughout and had some good moments of humor.
“The Highwaymen” Grade: B (85%); Kevin Costner and Woody Harrelson star in this film about the Texas Rangers who ultimately took down Bonnie and Clyde in the 1930s. To be honest, this film caught me off guard a little bit in its production quality. The costumes and sets were on point and the acting was superb. Despite knowing how the story would inevitably end, there were still plenty of tense moments to keep me thoroughly entertained.
“Parasite” Grade: B (85%); this ‘Best Picture’ nominee is a decent watch, but it’s fast-pace and extremely quirky nature makes it a bit clunky throughout. Although this foreign-language film draws its interest through the first two acts from humor-filled suspense, the film wraps up in its best Quentin Tarantino impersonating fashion with grotesque and meaningless violence. The film also tries too hard to have a deeper meaning that it shoves in the audience’s face by continually stating that “it’s like a metaphor.” Though there are some pretty neat depictions of socio-economic class related to the title of the film.
“You vs. Wild” (Season 1) Grade: B (85%); what a great peek into a type of viewing experience that may or may not catch on in the era of streaming services. This show is literally a “Choose Your Own Adventure” kind of show, where you make the choices for host Bear Grylls on what he is going to do in real extreme environments. If you make poor choices, you get Bear hurt or stranded and he doesn’t accomplish his goal and it’s “game over”. My 3-year old daughter loves this show and has learned a great deal about how to survive in the wilderness from it. Technically speaking, there are some bits of the filmmaking that could have been done better (e.g. the “wolf” is really just a husky they got to bark and it’s pretty obvious), but overall, it’s pretty cool to see this type of interactive show appear on the streaming service. Hopefully, there will be more like this in the future!
“Inside Bill’s Brain: Decoding Bill Gates” (docu-series) Grade: B (84%); this 3-part Netflix docu-series chronicles three key projects that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is undertaking (toilets in third world countries, eliminating polio, and modern nuclear reactors) while also providing an interesting and introspective look at Bill Gates’ past and his path to fame and fortune. It’s a solid series, and people really should check it out just to get an idea of some of the problems the planet faces that we aren’t seeing in the news.
“The World According to Jeff Goldblum” (Season 1) Grade: B- (83%); this Disney+ based show is wonderful in all of its Jeff Goldblum-esque beauty. If you love Goldblum, you will be entertained enough by the show (even when he covers topics that you aren’t that interested in). If you don’t care for Jeff Goldblum (or even feel indifferent by Jeff Goldblum), then you should probably look to spend your time elsewhere.
“The Irishman” Grade: B- (82%); this Martin Scorsese straight to Netflix mobster film starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino is quite solid at times. The film does run a bit long at three and a half hours and does meander at points, but it keeps you intrigued enough to keep watching. The ending is a bit strange and doesn’t seem to fit, but if you have nothing better to do on a snowy evening, it’s worth a watch.
“I Lost My Body” Grade: B- (81%); this “Best Animated Feature” nominee was odd, beautiful, charming, and full of creativity in regard to perspective. It is definitely adult-themed, so approach with caution before you think it’s a “cartoon” and let your children watch it. The film has a lot of relatable themes though and is beautifully drawn.
“The Cave” Grade: B- (81%); this documentary follows a female pediatrician in the city of Damascus while the Syrian regime is bombarding their city. There are some sad concepts in the film and some demonstration of true heroism, but it lacks the same emotional and gut-wrenching appeal that “For Sama” (similar subject matter) has. I also feel the theme of sexism against females working in Syrian culture was too forced and not naturally presented. Save the time and watch “For Sama” instead.
“Fire in Paradise” Grade: B- (81%); maybe it’s because I used to visit the city of Paradise quite a bit when my mom lived there and it was strange to see so many familiar sights in an apocalyptic-looking setting, or maybe it’s actually a really frightening look into what can happen to our lives in the blink of an eye, but either way, this 40-minute Netflix documentary is chilling in a very real way. Some of the climate change commentary seems forced at the end and was really unnecessary, but if you want to see some incredible footage and pictures from the inside of a city while it’s happening, put this on your watch list.
“The Movies That Made Us” (Season 1) Grade: B- (80%); this short season features 4 episodes, and each episode takes a deeper look behind the scenes of a featured movie (“Dirty Dancing”, “Home Alone”, “Die Hard”, and “Ghostbusters”), complete with personal stories and how each film almost didn’t end up being made. If you’re a film buff (or enjoy any of those 4 aforementioned movies a lot), you’ll enjoy the behind the scenes making of each featured film. Hopefully, Netflix makes future seasons of the show.
“The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance” (Season 1) Grade: C+ (79%); while I enjoyed the series from start to finish because I was one of the cult fans of the original movie growing up, if I’m to be objective in my analysis here, the story is rather slow and boring at times. The creativity of the world-building from set design and costumes kept me immersed though through all of the slowness. The storyline is pretty basic and ultimately quite predictable. The show is much darker than anticipated though, and I probably wouldn’t let children under the age of 10 (and maybe that’s too generous) watch it.
“Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” Grade: C+ (79%); considering this film was supposedly an award candidate for the Golden Globes and the Academy Awards, I would consider this a pretty big disappointment. The film itself is well-made from a technical standpoint, but there’s really not a greater “so what?” theme or meaning to it. I kept watching all of the different storylines waiting for it all to somehow tie back together in some greater or more meaningful way, and after 2 hours and 41 minutes, the credits rolled and I was left thinking “okay…that sucks, it really could have been a great film if it had some sort of coherent takeaway.” The ending did fall apart in typical Quentin Tarantino fashion though with gratuitous violence and hysteria, I will say that.
“Last Week Tonight With John Oliver” (Season 6) Grade: C+ (79%); one of the weaker seasons of John Oliver’s show to date. There are too many “throwaway” episodes where he covers topics that are obscure and targeting niche audiences. His gimmicks in this season were rather weak as well. Definitely the least amount of laughs that I’ve had watching John Oliver over the course of a year.
“The Mind, Explained” (docu-series) Grade: C+ (78%); this 5-part Netflix docu-series investigates several aspects of how the brain functions (e.g. memory, perception, conditioning, etc.) with real-life examples. It can be a bit dry and educational at times, but personally, I like educational when it comes to brain stuff, and there’s some really good stuff in this series if that’s your jam.
“Little Women” Grade: C+ (78%); not entirely sure why this is nominated for “Best Picture”; the film is extremely slow, painfully predictable (and this is from someone who had never been exposed to this story before), and lacks any kind of suspense in moments that could have had suspense if produced better. The reason it still gets a slightly above average grade from me is because some of the acting is superb – about the only thing this movie has going for it.
“Polar” Grade: C+ (77%); surprisingly, I found myself really enjoying this Quentin Tarantino-esque wannabe movie. The story is cut from the same cloth as “John Wick” or “Taken”, so not only did it lack depth or any realistic nature, it was terribly predictable as well. However, it was creative, mindless fun in the form of fast, thrilling, gory action sequences that reminded me of “300” or “Sin City”. Overall, the end product has its shortcomings, but it truly is an incredibly fun and addictive feature.
“Unnatural Selection” (docu-series) Grade: C+ (77%); this Netflix-based docu-series examines the world of CRISPR gene editing and how people are now experimenting with it in their basements. The show introduces the idea that we could eliminate diseases like malaria by genetically engineering mosquitoes, but how religious constructs and belief systems stand in the way. There is also a component of entrepreneurism in claims to cure AIDS using CRISPR by one of the men featured in the series, though it is ultimately a sham. Some interesting science concepts and questions are presented in this series, but it can be a bit dry and slow at times.
“Bikram” Grade: C (76%); a Netflix documentary detailing the controversial life of Bikram Choudhury and the creation of the popular Bikram Yoga movement that swept the United States in the late 1990s and 2000s. On the surface, it doesn’t sound like something that would peak one’s interest, especially if you aren’t really into Yoga (like me), but I was sucked into the corruption and scandal surrounding Bikram Choudhury and how many people continue(d) to blindly follow him and support him. It’s worth a watch if you’ve made it through your Netflix queue and don’t know what to do next.
“Stranger Things” (Season 3) Grade: C (76%); probably the weakest of the three seasons of the show to date. It wasn’t bad, it was just ‘meh’. This season didn’t really develop any of the characters further as season 2 did, so the plotline never really built much intrigue. The nostalgic factor remained strong, however, which is really what this show has going for it. And for Season 4, all I can say is #bringHopperback.
“Married at First Sight” (Season 9) Grade: C (75%); of the two seasons of MAFS released in 2019, this was the more entertaining one. Although the show’s editing (or editing quotes and scenes out of context) drives me bonkers, at least three of the four couples in this season were cast with an eye for drama, which can make “reality” tv more watchable.
“The Laundromat” Grade: C (75%); Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman, and Antonio Banderas (yes, there has been an Antonio Banderas sighting!) star in this convoluted take on the Panama Papers and how the lack of tax laws leads to money laundering, shell companies, and screwing over the common citizen. On the surface, that doesn’t really sound that entertaining, I understand, and quite frankly, there are storylines in the film that don’t help the viewer understand the complexity of how it all actually works, but there is a whimsical charm in the way Steven Soderberg put the film together like a play in parts. In traditional Soderberg fashion, he has several different storylines of several different characters that you expect to somehow come together at the end, but they oddly…don’t. Some people were apparently really turned off by Meryl Streep’s breaking of the 4th wall at the end of the film to make a leftist political statement and have spewed hatred for the movie because of it, but honestly, it’s like 20 seconds and if her personal take isn’t your cup of tea, just leave it be.
“Real Time With Bill Maher” (Season 17) Grade: C (75%); anything that Maher does should always be taken with a grain of salt as he is extremely biased, but he does provide some thought-provoking commentary at times that is meaningful and should be heeded. There are times, however, where Maher needlessly goes after certain groups of people (such as “nerds”) and alienates them by calling them “losers” and “degenerates”, thus costing him some major credibility points in my book. His extremism can be entertaining though if you don’t take him too seriously.
“Pokemon: Detective Pikachu” Grade: C- (72%); the film has its own bit of charm to it, and they create a neat realistic world where Pokemon and people live together, but the “cheese” factor of the film dominates in parts, and the plotline and character decisions become nonsensical in certain scenes. Take it with a grain of salt though; it’s a kid’s movie.
“Married at First Sight” (Season 8) Grade: C- (71%); only one of the four couples paired in season 8 (Luke and Kate) created feelings of tension and got me invested in their outcome. All of the other couples were a bit of a snooze-fest. Like all seasons of MAFS, the editing is so poorly done, but what do you expect from a “reality” tv show on FYI Network?
“Captain Marvel” Grade: C- (70%); straying away from Marvel’s traditional formula of cheesy one-liners and horribly contrived and predictable storylines, this film is probably the best origin story movie that Marvel has created to date…at least, until the last half hour of the film. From the point where Captain Marvel literally stops a ton of nukes in the sky with her bare hands, this may be one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. A-caliber stuff to that point, clear F-stuff from that moment forward.
“Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Oakland Raiders” (Season 14) Grade: D+ (68%); how many times can Jon Gruden say “knock on wood if you’re with me”? Overall, this season of Hard Knocks was rather bland, and they tried to make too much out of not enough with Antonio Brown, but I will give this series credit for foreshadowing the idea that Darren Waller was going to be a beast at tight end. All of my fantasy teams appreciated it.
“El Camino” Grade: D+ (67.5%); this Netflix-based sequel film to the hit TV series “Breaking Bad” finished the storyline of what happened to Jesse after the series finale. Its production quality was surprisingly quite low considering the popularity of the series it was based on, and the storyline was a bit herky-jerky and clunky as you are trying to keep up with what point in time of Jesse’s life storyline you are watching. There was closure to the loose ends of the “Breaking Bad” TV series, but nothing worth wasting your time watching. Read a Wikipedia synopsis in five minutes and save yourself the two hours of viewing.
“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” Grade: D+ (67%); fans were never given a reason for how Emperor Palpatine is back alive, the Sith dagger made absolutely no sense, pretty lucky quicksand to fall down, C-3PO knows where the wayfinder is at, but can’t tell anybody because the Galactic Republic (who would have wanted to prevent the Sith from coming back) apparently programmed him so that it was forbidden for him to tell anyone what Sith inscriptions say, Anakin’s lightsaber was somehow repaired after being absolutely obliterated in “The Last Jedi”, the Emperor didn’t know the Force connection between Rey and Kylo Ren even though Snoke did (and apparently was the one who “allowed” them to “Force Skype” in “The Last Jedi”) and the Emperor was the puppet master behind Snoke, fans were never given a reason for how Emperor Palpatine is back alive, Kylo Ren gets stranded on an Endor moon, but then inexplicably lands on a planet beyond the Outer Rim in a regular TIE Fighter which has no hyperspeed capability at the end, Luke’s X-Wing is suddenly repaired after he purposefully destroyed it beyond repair in “The Last Jedi”, the Emperor’s secret fleet of 500 Death Star Destroyers with hundreds of thousands if not millions of people to man them makes absolutely no sense, oh and did I mention that fans were never given a reason for how Emperor Palpatine is back alive? This final installment of the new Disney-age “Star Wars” trilogy just confirms that the three films were never thought out at all. This is a mess of a film, but at least it’s not quite as bad as its predecessor, “The Last Jedi”. Jar Jar Abrams ruins everything he touches.
“The Umbrella Academy” (Season 1) Grade: D (66.5%); this series started off very strong with A-caliber episode after A-caliber episode until halfway through. Then the wheels come completely off and it features F-caliber episode after F-caliber episode, culminating with a girl exploding the moon by shooting laser beams out of her eyes. Yes, you read that correctly. Overall, save yourself the time investment and pass on this.
“American Factory” Grade: D (66%); this “Best Documentary Feature” nominee left me scratching my head at first because it is dull, boring, and lacked any kind of deeper meaning. It covers the ability of American and Chinese citizens working together to create windshields in a rural Ohio factory. There is a bit of fascination with how different each culture is in work ethic and worldview, but overall, it’s a snoozer. When I looked into why it might be nominated for “Best Documentary Feature”, I found that the film was produced by Barrack and Michelle Obama’s new film company. So, to me, it’s pretty apparent that it was a “political” nomination. Save yourself the time and skip this one.
“The Inventor: Out for blood in Silicon Valley” Grade: D (65%); an HBO documentary detailing the corrupt business practices of Elizabeth Holmes. It would have been a decent watch except for two key elements: 1. There was no resolution. You have no idea how everything turns out. & 2. It really should have been a 20-minute Dateline piece, not an hour and a half documentary.
“Murder Mystery” Grade: D (65%); at first glance, seeing Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler headlining a quirky comedy sounds like it should be decent. This Netflix-based film, however, doesn’t do much to hold your attention beyond that. The movie could be fun at times, but stylistically, there was too much going on here, and what I mean by that is, in one scene the simplistic Saturday morning cartoon plot complexity and immaturity of the characters made you feel like you were watching a kid’s movie, while other scenes were trying to be adult-level serious with strong language. To save you the time, the butler did it.
“Zombieland 2: Double Tap” Grade: D- (63%); probably one of the year’s more anticipated films considering the first installment quickly became a cult-classic. While this sequel can be mindlessly fun in short spurts, the plotline is terribly predictable and has the depth of a stereotypical valley-girl (a character, by the way, that the film has). The comedy gets stale in a hurry, as you feel you are watching three to four Deadpools on the screen at once (uncoincidentally, the film was written by the creators of Deadpool). In theory, this sounds amazing, in actuality, it works against itself in tiresome fashion. Definitely save yourself the money and satisfy your curiosity later with a cheap on-demand rental come January or February when you’re trapped inside on a chilly evening.
“Game of Thrones” (Season 8) Grade: D- (62%); such a disappointing and awful ending to what was the greatest show in television history prior. Way too many plot holes, the neutering of Jon Snow’s character, and an obviously rushed finish with surprisingly sloppy writing. Although Season 7 of GoT ends with a cliffhanger and lots of anticipation for how the series will conclude, I tell all of my friends who haven’t watched the series yet to definitely watch it, but stop once Season 7 concludes. Don’t bother with Season 8 unless you want the whole experience ruined.
“The Two Popes” Grade: D- (62%); this film has been on many award deserving lists, and I honestly don’t know why. Usually, when you have Anthony Hopkins in a film combined with award-type hype, that’s a recipe for an all-time classic. Not the case here. This film depicting the current pope’s friendship with the previous pope is a snooze-fest and the production quality is just awful. Not sure where anybody is finding merit in this movie.
“One Day at Disney” Grade: D- (61%); this documentary features several different people who work for the Disney company and their journeys to the company and for the company. In all honesty, it’s not necessarily a “bad” film, its heart was in the right place so-to-speak, it’s just really dry and the stories don’t really inspire as the description advertises. A great little feature to fall asleep to though.
“6 Underground” Grade: F (58%); this Netflix-only film starring Ryan Reynolds is a train wreck narratively-speaking. It’s nothing more than a mindless, senseless sequence of unrealistic action-packed eye-candy scenes. So if it’s your cup of tea to not want to have to think AT ALL and just watch explosions, car chases, and gunfights, then you might like it. If not, this is a bore and a waste of time.
“Unicorn Store” Grade: F (57%); Academy Award-winning actress Brie Larson stars in and directs this terrible film. There are very few movies that I just stop watching because they are that large of a waste of my time (“Napolean Dynamite” & “The Tree of Life” are the only other two), but this makes that notorious list for me. There is nothing good about this movie that I saw, so I’m not going to devote any more time to critiquing it.