Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a darkly comic drama from Academy Award winner Martin McDonagh ("In Bruges"). After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter’s murder case, Mildred Hayes (Academy Award winner Frances McDormand) makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby (Academy Award nominee Woody Harrelson), the town's revered chief of police. When his second-in-command Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence, gets involved, the battle between Mildred and Ebbing's law enforcement is only exacerbated.

Never in a million years would I have had this movie pegged as ending up as my favorite/best movie of 2017.  So glad I watched this on the last day of the year so it could qualify.  Frances McDormand should be a lock for best actress of the year.  All of the characters and the story progression just seemed so real and down to earth.  The audience is hooked right from the start and as deeply dramatic as the subject matter is - you will be belly laughing numerous times throughout the movie because of the witty script and delivery from the actors and actresses involved in the movie.   

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It actually gets the must see stamp as the best movie of 2018 in my book.

The Disaster Artist

Based on Greg Sestero's best-selling tell-all about the making of Tommy Wiseau's cult–classic disaster piece "The Room" ("The Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made"), The Disaster Artist is a hilarious and welcome reminder that there is more than one way to become a legend – and no limit to what you can achieve when you have absolutely no idea what you're doing.

I never really thought that I would enjoy this movie as much as I did.  It did an awesome job of creating the "greatest bad movie ever made" and this might have honestly been the most enjoyable performance from James Franco ever.  He had me cracking up from beginning to end.  

I would actually recommend that people check this movie out.  Never thought I would say that when I saw the trailers but I liked it alot.

Molly's Game

Molly's Game is based on the true story of Molly Bloom, an Olympic-class skier who ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game for a decade before being arrested in the middle of the night by 17 FBI agents wielding automatic weapons. Her players included Hollywood royalty, sports stars, business titans and finally, unbeknownst to her, the Russian mob. Her only ally was her criminal defense lawyer Charlie Jaffey, who learned that there was much more to Molly than the tabloids led us to believe.

I don't know that you will find better on screen chemistry between two actors like there was between Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba in this movie.  Every scene with the two of them going back and forth was a shining example of excellent screenwriting and the kind of delivery that can only happen when they have that kind of chemistry.  The back and forth storytelling of this movie only made it all even better.  Again - a testament to the screenwriting because choppy timelines like that can sometimes totally undo a movie.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this one out.  It was a very entertaining watch with great performances and writing.  

The Shape Of Water

From master story teller, Guillermo del Toro, comes The Shape of Water - an other-worldly fairy tale, set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1963. In the hidden high-security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of silence and isolation. Elisa’s life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment.

This movie masterfully succeeded at the basic principle of what determines a good fantasy movie.  They take you there and make you feel like you are watching something that could be real by hooking the audience.  The second this movie started - I was 100% hooked.  Just the opening with the narration and the cinematography of it had me.  The hook never let up and I find myself saying that a movie about a fish man falling in love with a mute was one of the best movies of the year.   

I would absolutely recommend people check this out.  The acting and storytelling are excellent across the board and this movie is the definition of how to make an exceptional fantasy movie.

I, Tonya

Based on unbelievable but true events, I, Tonya is the darkly comedic tale of American figure skater Tonya Harding and one of the most sensational scandals in sports history. Though Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy has forever been defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived and worse-executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Featuring an iconic turn by Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding, a mustachioed Sebastian Stan as her impetuous ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, and a tour-de-force performance from Allison Janney as her acid-tongued mother LaVona Golden, and an original screenplay by Steven Rogers, Craig Gillespie’s I, Tonya is an absurd, irreverent, and piercing portrayal of Harding’s life and career in all of its unchecked––and checkered––glory.

This movie was excellent.  The acting was top notch across the board.  They way that they had the story play out/explained was top notch.  The filming style and use of comedy was by far the best part of all.  I never would have thought that I would have laughed so hard at this movie.  They might as well give Allison Janney the Best Supporting Actress oscar now.  She was amazing.  

I would absolutely recommend people checking this movie out.  It is an incredibly enjoyable movie and a lock for my Top 10 movies of the year list.

Pitch Perfect 3

Now graduated from college and out in the real world where it takes more than a cappella to get by, the Bellas return in Pitch Perfect 3, the next chapter in the beloved series that has taken in more than $400 million at the global box office. After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren’t job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

Here's the deal - in terms of reviewing an movie like normal, this movie was absolutely awful.  It really was a pretty bad movie.  That being said - I love these characters so much that I was able to enjoy it and take it the laughs that you will literally only have if you are equally fond of them.  This movie was pretty much made for the already existing fans of the Aca-pitches.  Anyone who isn't familiar with them or the other movies will think this is one of the dumbest things that they have ever seen.  And even if you are familiar with them - DJ Khaled might be the worst character in this history of these movies. Regardless - they did a good job with most of the girls and even brought some usually in the background more to the forefront.  Fat Amy still rules supreme no matter what.

I would recommend fans of the franchise still check this out.  All others should stay as far away as possible.

Downsizing

Downsizing imagines what might happen if, as a solution to over-population, Norwegian scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall and propose a 200-year global transition from big to small. People soon realize how much further money goes in a miniaturized world, and with the promise of a better life, everyman Paul Safranek (Matt Damon) and wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in Omaha in order to get small and move to a new downsized community — a choice that triggers life-changing adventures.

This movie was pretty disappointing.  I thought it had some pretty decent potential after the trailer.  Unfortunately, the trailer pretty much gave you the entire movie.  I was more than halfway into the movie before seeing anything I wasn't already aware of.  Around then was when Matt Damon met this vietnamese character that really was the only reason worth seeing this.  It was very much not a comedy and much more of a drama which was also disappointing.

I would not really recommend people bothering with this.  It's not awful but it was very disappointing.

Lady Bird

In Lady Bird, Greta Gerwig reveals herself to be a bold new cinematic voice with her directorial debut, excavating both the humor and pathos in the turbulent bond between a mother and her teenage daughter. Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson (Saoirse Ronan) fights against but is exactly like her wildly loving, deeply opinionated and strong-willed mom (Laurie Metcalf), a nurse working tirelessly to keep her family afloat after Lady Bird's father (Tracy Letts) loses his job. Set in Sacramento, California in 2002, amidst a rapidly shifting American economic landscape, Lady Bird is an affecting look at the relationships that shape us, the beliefs that define us, and the unmatched beauty of a place called home.

This was a very well written and acted movie.  It's exactly what coming of age movies should be like.  You feel like you are there with the girl and going through all the emotions and voyage with her.  It had a great hook to keep the audience there with her and the short running time was perfect.

I would definitely recommend that people check this movie out.  It was a very enjoyable watch with a good hook with the characters - especially the lead actress and her mother.

Call Me By Your Name

It’s the summer of 1983 in the north of Italy, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17- year-old American-Italian, spends his days in his family’s 17th century villa transcribing and playing classical music, reading, and flirting with his friend Marzia (Esther Garrel).  Elio enjoys a close relationship with his father (Michael Stuhlbarg), an eminent professor specializing in Greco-Roman culture, and his mother Annella (Amira Casar), a translator, who favor him with the fruits of high culture in a setting that overflows with natural delights. While Elio’s sophistication and intellectual gifts suggest he is already a fully-fledged adult, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him, particularly about matters of the heart.  One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a charming American scholar working on his doctorate, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio’s father. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of the setting, Elio and Oliver discover the heady beauty of awakening desire over the course of a summer that will alter their lives forever.

This is definitely this year's "I know it was a well done movie but I was bored out of my mind" movie.  I get it.  The scenery was great.  The acting was great.   It was a very well done coming of age movie about homosexuality.   But I was soooooooooo bored.  I couldn't even make it all the way through the movie.  There was no real hook.

I would not recommend it based on my enjoyment level but again - I am aware that this is a very well made movie from an artistic standpoint and if you are into that - you should definitely check this out.  

The Greatest Showman

Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.

I very much enjoyed this movie.  The spectacle and cinematography of it all was excellent.  The music was great and made you want to sing and dance along with it several times throughout.  They didn't really develop all the characters too much but I really don't think that they had to.  The movie was more about imagination, expectations,  humanity and perspective than the individual characters.   It was a very enjoyable journey.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  Movies like this are why I love going to movie theaters.  The big hook and journey/music make you really enjoy being there.

Ferdinand

Ferdinand tells the story of a giant bull with a big heart. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and torn from his home. Determined to return to his family, he rallies a misfit team on the ultimate adventure. Set in Spain, Ferdinand proves you can't judge a bull by its cover.

Decent watch.  Kids will like it.  Adults will have something to do with the kids by taking them.  It wasn't necessarily bad for the adults.  It's more sort of just there.  There is literally nothing else to really say about it.

I would kind of recommend parents of younger kids taking them to this only because they don't really have another option.  Outside of that you could totally wait for it to show up on tv.

The Last Jedi

Rey took her first steps into a larger world in Star Wars: The Force Awakens and will continue her epic journey with Finn, Poe, and Luke Skywalker in the next chapter of the continuing Star Wars saga. The Last Jedi is written and directed by Rian Johnson.

Wow!  This was incredibly different from what I expected.  After The Force Awakens was pretty much a scene for scene carbon copy of Star Wars, I totally expected this to be a carbon copy of Empire Strikes Back.  It was very much not.  This was a very different Star Wars movies from the others.  It made everything much more open and bigger than just the Skywalkers.  It answered questions about the past and looked to the future.  A much different and open future than we are used to with the Star Wars films.  I can't really go into too much more details without spoilers.  I can just say that there were so many surprises, twists and turns that it made the long running time fly by and I cannot wait to see where this story goes because I honestly have no idea.  The one knock I can make against it is that there was too much CGI.  Honestly it was borderline prequels at some points and so not necessary.  But that was really it.

CORRECTION - there were other issues after thinking more about the movie.  I'm not disappointed with a couple of major issues a lot of fans are having but I am bothered by the lack of continuity from The Force Awakens.  There is definitely a disconnect in several points throughout the movie.  The aura of specialness with certain scenes including cherished characters and special scenes has also been bothering me.  

I would still recommend peeps checking this out.  It's a Star Wars movie. Those that are too analytical and want big elaborate and connected answers to the big mysteries will likely be disappointed.  But those who want to enjoy an awesome ride with great characters both new and old/respected will probably still be able to enjoy it.

Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle

In the brand new adventure Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, the tables are turned as four teenagers in detention are sucked into the world of Jumanji. When they discover an old video game console with a game they’ve never heard of, they are immediately thrust into the game’s jungle setting, into the bodies of their avatars, played by Dwayne Johnson, Jack Black, Kevin Hart, and Karen Gillan. What they discover is that you don’t just play Jumanji – Jumanji plays you. They’ll have to go on the most dangerous adventure of their lives, or they’ll be stuck in the game forever…

I had pretty low expectations going into this one.  I figured this was going to be one of the lamer reboots or whatever you want to call them when they are kind of sequels.  I was very pleasantly surprised.  The Rock bounced back to his usual greatness after the Baywatch turd.  He had great chemistry with the three other kids having to adjust to their very  different avatars.  Jack Black honestly stole the movie though.  Him as a 16 year old girl provided the biggest laughs throughout the movie.  

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very fun ride and paid respect to the original while developing their own version of it.

Darkest Hour

During the early days of World War II, with the fall of France imminent, Britain faces its darkest hour as the threat of invasion looms. As the seemingly unstoppable Nazi forces advance, and with the Allied army cornered on the beaches of Dunkirk, the fate of Western Europe hangs on the leadership of the newly-appointed British Prime Minister Winston Churchill (Academy Award nominee Gary Oldman). While maneuvering his political rivals, he must confront the ultimate choice: negotiate with Hitler and save the British people at a terrible cost or rally the nation and fight on against incredible odds. Directed by Joe Wright, "Darkest Hour" is the dramatic and inspiring story of four weeks in 1940 during which Churchill’s courage to lead changed the course of world history.

This is another one of those movies that you know is a great movie as you are watching.  You know the acting is great.  You know it's going to be nominated for a ton of awards.  But I'm not that much into historical/biographical movies so I was bored out of my mind.  I appreciated how well done t was across the board but I just wasn't enjoying it.

I would still recommend people checking this out.  Anyone into these types of movies is guaranteed to like it and appreciate the performances.  I know it was a great movie.  It just wasn't my cup of tea.

Roman J. Israel, Esq.

Roman J. Israel, Esq. is a dramatic thriller set in the underbelly of the overburdened Los Angeles criminal court system. Denzel Washington stars as a driven, idealistic defense attorney whose life is upended when a turbulent series of events challenge the activism that has defined his career. Colin Farrell costars as the ambitious, monied lawyer who recruits Roman to his firm.

This is one of those movies that you know are well done, well acted and well written.  It was definitely watchable.  But by seeing the trailer you pretty much already saw the whole movie.  Like literally the whole thing.  Nothing took place in this movie that I had not already seen and it made the movie just kind of be there.  Even though it was a decent watch it ended up being about as memorable as the commercials showing you everything.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It is a decent watch but I wouldn't say its worth the time and money at all.