Film review: “The Shape of Water”(2017)

"The Shape of Water" (2017) Drama/Horror Written by: Guillermo del Toro & Vanessa Taylor Directed by: Guillermo del Toro Featuring: Sally Hawkins, Michael Shannon, Richard Jenkins, Doug Jones, Michael Stuhlbarg, Octavia Spencer Giles: [interpreting Elisa] "When he looks at me, he does not know - how - I am incomplete. He sees me... as I …

Continue reading Film review: “The Shape of Water”(2017)

Film review: “Downsizing” (2017)

"Downsizing" (2017) Sci-Fi/Drama Written by: Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor Directed by: Alexander Payne Featuring: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig Paul Safranek: "I'll see you on the other side." High concept movies either work, become talking points which can reflect societal, political or economic norms either challenging them or reinforcing ideas or concepts …

Continue reading Film review: “Downsizing” (2017)

Film review: “I, Tonya” (2017)

"I, Tonya" (2017) Drama/Comedy Written by: Steven Rogers Directed by: Craig Gillespie Featuring:  Margot Robbie, Sebastian Stan, Julianne Nicholson, Bobby Cannavale, Allison Janney Tonya Harding: "I mean, come on! What kind of friggin' person bashes in their friend's knee? Who would do that to a friend?" Towards the end of every year there are multiple films …

Continue reading Film review: “I, Tonya” (2017)

Film review: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017)

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017) Drama Written & Directed by: Martin McDonagh Featuring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, John Hawkes and Peter Dinklage Willoughby: "I'd do anything to catch the guy who did it, Mrs. Hayes, but when the DNA don't match no one who's ever been arrested, and when the DNA don't match any other crime nationwide, and …

Continue reading Film review: “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” (2017)

Film review: “All the money in the World” (2017)

"All the Money in the World" (2017) Drama Written by: David Scarpa Directed by: Ridley Scott Featuring: Michelle Williams, Christopher Plummer, Mark Wahlberg, Romain Duris, Andrew Buchan, and Timothy Hutton John Paul Getty III: [voice over] "To be a Getty is an extraordinary thing. My grandfather wasn’t just the richest man in the world, he was the richest man in the …

Continue reading Film review: “All the money in the World” (2017)

Film review: “The Florida Project” (2017)

"The Florida Project" (2017) Drama Written by: Sean Baker and Chris Bergoch Directed by:  Sean Baker Featuring: Willem Dafoe, Brooklynn Prince, Bria Vinaite, Valeria Cotto, Christopher Rivera, and Caleb Landry Jones Moonee: [to tourist at ice-cream stand] Excuse me. Could you give us some change, please? The doctor said we have asthma and we have to eat …

Continue reading Film review: “The Florida Project” (2017)

Film review: “Paddington 2” (2017)

"Paddington 2" (2017) Animated Comedy Written by: Paul King & Simon Farnaby Directed by: Paul King Featuring: Ben Wishaw, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi and Hugh Grant Henry Brown: Paddington wouldn't hesitate if any of us needed help! He looks for the good in all of us. There is no doubt that the release of …

Continue reading Film review: “Paddington 2” (2017)

Film review: “Last Flag Flying” (2017)

"Last Flag Flying" (2017) Drama Written by: Richard Linklater & Darryl Ponicsan Directed by: Richard Linklater Featuring: Steve Carell, Bryan Cranston, and Laurence Fishburne Larry 'Doc' Shepherd: "I'm not going to bury a marine. I'm just going to bury my son." This new movie co-written and directed by the great Richard Linklater is not something that you might …

Continue reading Film review: “Last Flag Flying” (2017)

Film review: “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017)

“Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2016) Science Fiction Running Time: 152 minutes Written and Directed by: Rian Johnson Featuring:  Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyong'o, Domhnall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran, Laura Dern, and Benicio del Toro Luke Skywalker: "Breathe. Just breathe. Now reach out. What do you see?" Rey: "Light. Darkness. A …

Continue reading Film review: “Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi” (2017)

Film review: “Patti Cake$” (2017)

“Patti Cake$” (2017) Drama Running Time: 108 minutes Written & Directed by: Geremy Jasper Featuring: Danielle Macdonald, Cathy Moriarty, Siddharth Dhananjay, McCaul Lombardi, Patrick Brana, Bridget Everett, Mamoudou Athie Patti: [to Barb] “Act your age.”  Barb: [to Patti] “Act your race.” Firstly, it has to be said upfront that this debut film by music video …

Continue reading Film review: “Patti Cake$” (2017)

Film review: “Wonder” (2017)

“Wonder" (2017) Drama Running Time: 113 minutes Written by:  Steve Conrad, based on the novel of the same name by R.J. Palacio Directed by: Stephen Chbosky Featuring: Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Jacob Tremblay Auggie Pullman: [voice over] "I know I’m not an ordinary kind of a kid, I’ve had twenty-seven surgeries. They help me to breathe, to see, …

Continue reading Film review: “Wonder” (2017)

Film review: “Justice League”(2017)

“Justice League” (2017) Action/Fantasy Running Time: 120 minutes Written by:  Chris Terrio and Joss Whedon Directed by:  Zack Snyder Featuring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Ray Fisher, Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Connie Nielsen, J. K. Simmons and Ciarán Hinds Diana Prince: "People said the Age of Heroes would never come again.“ Bruce Wayne: "It has to. We don't have any more time!“ Has there …

Continue reading Film review: “Justice League”(2017)

Film review: “Victoria & Abdul” (2017)

“Victoria & Abdul” (2017) Drama Running Time: 112 minutes Written by: Lee Hall Directed by: Stephen Frears Featuring:  Judi Dench, Ali Fazal, Michael Gambon, Eddie Izzard, Tim Pigott-Smith and Adeel Akhtar Queen Victoria: “Everyone I love has died and I just go on and on. What is the point?” Abdul Karim: “Service, Your Majesty. We are here for a greater purpose.” Twenty …

Continue reading Film review: “Victoria & Abdul” (2017)

Film review: “Ingrid goes West” (2017)

“Ingrid goes West” (2017) Comedy Running Time: 98 minutes Written by: David Branson Smith & Matt Spicer Directed by: Matt Spicer Featuring: Aubrey Plaza, Elizabeth Olsen, Billy Magnussen, Wyatt Russell, Pom Klementieff and O'Shea Jackson Jr. Dan Pinto: “Can we restart like a reboot?“ Ingrid Thorburn: “Yes, like a reboot.” There have been many movies made that deal with the idea of …

Continue reading Film review: “Ingrid goes West” (2017)

Film review: “A Bad Moms Christmas” (2017)

“A Bad Moms Christmas” (2017) Comedy Running Time: 104 minutes Written & directed by:  Jon Lucas and Scott Moore Featuring:  Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn,  Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines and Susan Sarandon, Jay Hernandez , Justin Hartley and Peter Gallagher Kiki: “I spend months picking out the perfect present for everyone. You know the only thing I get in return? Coupons, free …

Continue reading Film review: “A Bad Moms Christmas” (2017)

Film review: “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)

"Thor: Ragnarok" (2017) Action Written by: Eric Pearson Directed by: Taika Waititi Featuring: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Cate Blanchett, Idris Elba, Jeff Goldblum, Tessa Thompson, Karl Urban, Mark Ruffalo, and Anthony Hopkins Thor: “I don't hang with the Avengers anymore. It all got too corporate.” Well its here the third Marvel film to be released this year after “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. …

Continue reading Film review: “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017)

Film review: “Maudie” (2016)

“Maudie” (2017) Drama Running Time: 116 minutes Written by: Sherry White Directed by: Aisling Walsh Featuring: Sally Hawkins and Ethan Hawke Mr. Davis (Shopkeeper): “I don't know why people pay money for these, my 5-year-old could do better.” Everett Lewis: “Maybe. Maybe he could, but he didn't - Maud did.” Films about real people can be routine …

Continue reading Film review: “Maudie” (2016)

Film review: “Geostorm” (2017)

“Geostorm” (2017) Sci-Fi/Action Running Time: 109 minutes Written by: Dean Devlin & Paul Guyot Directed by: Dean Devlin Featuring:  Gerard Butler, Jim Sturgess, Abbie Cornish, Alexandra Maria Lara, Richard Schiff, Robert Sheehan, Daniel Wu, Eugenio Derbez, Ed Harris, and Andy García Cheng: “There’s potential for catastrophic weather events on a global scale. A geostorm.” There is no doubt in my mind that this has to …

Continue reading Film review: “Geostorm” (2017)

Film review: “Blade Runner 2049” (2017)

“Blade Runner 2049” (2017) Sci-Fi Running Time: 163 minutes Written by: Hampton Fancher and Michael Green Directed by: Denis Villeneuve Featuring:  Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Ana de Armas, Sylvia Hoeks, Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis, Carla Juri, Lennie James, Dave Bautista, and Jared Leto Niander Wallace: "Humanity cannot survive. Replicants are the future of the species. But I can only make so many." Was anyone actually waiting …

Continue reading Film review: “Blade Runner 2049” (2017)

Film review: “Wind River” (2017)

“Wind River" (2017) Drama/Thriller Running Time: 111 minutes Written and Directed by: Taylor Sheridan Featuring: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen, Gil Birmingham and Graham Greene Cory Lambert: “I'd like to tell you it gets easier, but it doesn't. If there's a comfort, you get used to the pain if you let yourself, I went to a grief seminar in …

Continue reading Film review: “Wind River” (2017)