Knives Out

Acclaimed writer and director Rian Johnson (Brick, Looper, The Last Jedi) pays tribute to mystery mastermind Agatha Christie in KNIVES OUT, a fun, modern-day murder mystery where everyone is a suspect. When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan’s dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan’s untimely death. With an all-star ensemble cast including Chris Evans, Ana De Armas, Jamie Lee Curtis, Don Johnson, Michael Shannon, Toni Collette, LaKeith Stanfield, Katherine Langford and Jaeden Martell, KNIVES OUT is a witty and stylish whodunit guaranteed to keep audiences guessing until the very end.

This was a very enjoyable, old school, murder mystery.  The cast was excellent.  The way that they all played off of each other was excellent.  And the pacing of how it all played out was excellent too.  I didn't think I would like this as much as I did from the trailer but was very entertained from start to finish.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It is a very fun and enjoyable watch for this time of year.

Frozen II

Why was Elsa born with magical powers? The answer is calling her and threatening her kingdom. Together with Anna, Kristoff, Olaf and Sven, she'll set out on a dangerous but remarkable journey. In “Frozen,” Elsa feared her powers were too much for the world. In “Frozen 2,” she must hope they are enough.

I tried.  I really really tried to be open minded about this movie and let go of my dislike of the original Frozen.  But the same issues I had with the first one came roaring back with this one.  If you take Olaf out of this I would have totally hated it.  I just don't understand the love for Anna and Elsa.  The music is so dreary and down.  And the subject matter really isn't kid friendly at all when you think about it.  I will never understand the fascination with these princesses and their story.

It doesn't matter what I say about this - pretty much the whole world or anyone with kids will eventually see it regardless. I just really don't get it and was not a fan of this one anymore than I was of the original.  

A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

Tom Hanks is attached to star as Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood," the pioneering children’s television series from The Fred Rogers Company that is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year. The film is inspired by a real-life friendship between Fred Rogers and award-winning journalist Tom Junod. In the heart-warming story, a cynical journalist begrudgingly accepts an assignment to write a profile piece on the beloved icon and finds his perspective on life transformed. Rhys will play Junod the award-winning journalist whose real-life friendship with Rogers inspired the film.

You know when there are movies that somehow massively connect with your hear but you can't really put your finger on why or how?  This was one of those movies for me.  I was completely mesmerized by it but can't include in this review why.  In all honesty - the more time that went by after seeing it the more I realized that I liked it.  This movie has a shot to be on my top ten list at the end of the year because of how much it unexplainably connected with me.

I would absolutely recommend people checking this out.  It really was like Mr. Rogers helping adults cope with or deal with things like he had always helped children do.

21 Bridges

21 Bridges (previously titled 17 Bridges) follows a disgraced NYPD detective (Boseman) who is given a shot at redemption. Thrust into a citywide manhunt for a cop killer, he begins to uncover a massive conspiracy that links his fellow cops to a criminal empire and must decide who he is hunting and who is actually hunting him. During the manhunt, Manhattan is completely locked down for the first time in its history -- no exit or entry to the island including all 21 bridges.

This movie was a pretty decent watch.  It was another dirty cops or not dirty cops which I feel like I have honestly seen way too many of recently.  But Boseman and the direction made this this one definitely watchable.

I would of somewhat recommend people checking this out.  It's not a must see by any means but it definitely is a decent enough watch.

Ford V Ferrari

Based on a true story, the film follows an eccentric, determined team of American engineers and designers, led by automotive visionary Carroll Shelby and his British driver, Ken Miles, who are dispatched by Henry Ford II with the mission of building from scratch an entirely new automobile with the potential to finally defeat the perennially dominant Ferrari at the 1966 Le Mans World Championship.

This was an awesome biographical movie.  Both actors brought their A game and kept you hooked from beginning to end wanting to see how the story played out.  I wouldn't say that this movie is amazing or awesome or whatever but it still was a very enjoyable watch and considering its long running time that would make someone think that it much drag is saying a lot.

I would recommend people checking this movie out.  It is great acting and storytelling and very enjoyable.  

Charlie's Angels

In Banks’ bold vision, Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska are working for the mysterious Charles Townsend, whose security and investigative agency has expanded internationally. With the world’s smartest, bravest, and most highly trained women all over the globe, there are now teams of Angels guided by multiple Bosleys taking on the toughest jobs everywhere.

This is literally what you thought it would be from the trailer.  Another completely unnecessary reboot of a movie or franchise that pretty much nobody cared about in any way.  Add to that a beyond lame cast to relaunch this and your brain just kind of screams WHY!?  Like Kristen Stewart?  You want to cast her in something you are trying to bring back to life?  What makes anyone think that is a good idea?  Regardless - the movie is completely pointless and a massive waste of time.  I'm all for girl power if done right - but this cast was weak as all hell.

I wouldn't recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's really a giant waste of time and money.  

The Good Liar

Based on the novel by Nicholas Searle, Career con artist Roy Courtnay (McKellen) can hardly believe his luck when he meets well-to-do widow Betty McLeish (Mirren) online. As Betty opens her home and life to him, Roy is surprised to find himself caring about her, turning what should be a cut-and-dry swindle into the most treacherous tightrope walk of his life.

The pairing of these two actors was awesome.  Like really, really awesome.  They took what would have been a mediocre story and hooked you because of how good they played off of each other and made it into a really good suspense movie.

I would recommend people checking this out simply because of their great pairing and the fact that they definitely hook you all the way through wanting to see how it all plays out.

Last Christmas

Kate (Clarke) harumphs around London, a bundle of bad decisions accompanied by the jangle of bells on her shoes, another irritating consequence from her job as an elf in a year-round Christmas shop.   Tom (Golding) seems too good to be true when he walks into her life and starts to see through so many of Kate’s barriers.  As London transforms into the most wonderful time of the year, nothing should work for these two.  But sometimes, you gotta let the snow fall where it may, you gotta listen to your heart . . . and you gotta have faith. Last Christmas features the music of George Michael, including the bittersweet holiday classic of the film’s title. The film will also premiere brand new unreleased material by the legendary Grammy-winning artist, who sold more than 115 million albums and recorded 10 No. 1 singles over the course of his iconic career.

How do I review this movie without giving away the main twist?  This is a textbook heartstring pulling holiday movie including the big twist.  I have so much commentary and jokes that I want to make about this but again it will give the big twist away.  I'll just say that I never thought that a song would become so literal before.

This is a decent rom-com watch.  Not a must see.  Not awful.  But a cutesy watch.

Playing With Fire

When straight-laced fire superintendent Jake Carson (John Cena) and his elite team of expert firefighters (Keegan-Michael Key, John Leguizamo and Tyler Mane) come to the rescue of three siblings (Brianna Hildebrand, Christian Convery and Finley Rose Slater) in the path of an encroaching wildfire, they quickly realize that no amount of training could prepare them for their most challenging job yet – babysitters. Unable to locate the children’s parents, the firefighters have their lives, jobs and even their fire depot turned upside down and quickly learn that kids – much like fires –are wild and unpredictable.

This movie is EXACTLY what you would think it was from the trailer.  It's John Cena's "Tooth Fairy".  He continues to follow the Rock's blueprint and this is that movie for him.  Legit nothing else to say about it.

This is a decent watch for younger families with some basic and formula laughs and characters.

Midway

Based on the true story of World War II’s Battle of Midway – a turning point in the Pacific theater of World War II. The story follows the real soldiers and aviators who pulled off the unbelievable to turn the tide of the war.  Evans is portraying Commander Wade McClusky, who would go on to win a Naval Cross for his role in Midway. Harrelson will play Admiral Chester Nimitz, one of the leaders who lead the American naval fleet to victory in a forway that involved aircraft carriers, destroyers, and cruisers.

I would love to say that this movie was an awesome war movie but there was just something holding it back the whole time.  Like . . . .  it didn't look real enough.  I feel like the bar has been raised so high for warlike special effects that this one pulled underneath it.  And while I enjoyed the movie and the characters and what not it just seemed to be held back as subpar effort wise because of the effects thing.

I would still recommend people checking this out.  It is a pretty decent watch.  But nowhere near must see status because of that stuff holding it back.

Doctor Sleep

Warner Bros. Pictures have enlisted Mike Flanagan to direct "Doctor Sleep," the follow-up to King’s classic "The Shining." Published 36 years after "The Shining," "Doctor Sleep" follows an adult Danny Torrance from the original novel. Haunted by the inhabitants of the Overlook Hotel, where he spent one horrific childhood year, Dan has been drifting for decades, desperate to shed his father’s legacy of despair, alcoholism, and violence. Finally, he settles in a New Hampshire town, an AA community that sustains him, and a job at a nursing home where his remnant shining power provides the crucial final comfort to the dying. Aided by a prescient cat, he becomes “Doctor Sleep.” There Dan meets Abra Stone, and it is her spectacular gift, the brightest shining ever seen, that reignites Dan’s own demons and summons him to a battle for Abra’s soul and survival.

I had this book in my Nook library for years and never got around to reading it so I went into this movie blind.  The trailers really didn't tell you much except for that it was a "sequel" to The Shining.  I saw the run time and was pretty much like UGH!  But I was very surprised.  The movie was by no means terrifying.  Like you will not lose sleep at all after watching it.  But it was more than creepy enough and definitely kept you massively hooked from start to finish.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  I liked it a lot but again if you are going for straight scares - it is not that.  There are some towards the very end but it really just zeroes in more on being creepy.  

Motherless Brooklyn

St. Vincent’s Home for Boys, Brooklyn, early 1970s. For Lionel Essrog, a.k.a. The Human Freakshow, a victim of Tourette’s syndrome (an uncontrollable urge to shout out nonsense, touch every surface in reach, rearrange objects), Frank Minna is a savior. A local tough guy and fixer, Minna shows up to take Lionel and three of his fellow orphans on mysterious errands: they empty a store of stereos as the owner watches; destroy a small amusement park; visit old Italian men. The four grow up to be the Minna Men, a fly-by-night detective agency-cum-limo service, and their days and nights revolve around Frank, the prince of Brooklyn, who glides through life on street smarts, attitude, and secret knowledge. Then one dreadful night, Frank is knifed and thrown into a Dumpster, and Lionel must become a real detective. As Lionel struggles to find Frank’s killer–without letting his Tourette’s get in the way–he’s forced to delve into the complex, shadowy web of relationships, threats, and favors that make up the Brooklyn world he thought he knew so well. No one–not Frank, not Frank’s bitter wife, Julia, not the other Minna Men–is who they seem. Not even The Human Freakshow.

This was a decent watch.  Kind of long.  Definitely dragged at times when it very much did not need to.  But it hooked you and kept your attention.  The cast was awesome and Edward Norton was amazing as always.

I would kind of recommend people checking this out.  It's a decent watch with good performances if you have the time.

Terminator: Dark Fate

James Cameron and Tim Miller are treating the new movie as a direct sequel to Cameron’s "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." “We’re starting a search for an 18-something woman to be the new centerpiece of the new story,” Cameron said. “We still fold time. We will have characters from the future and the present. There will be mostly new characters, but we’ll have Arnold and Linda’s characters to anchor it.”

I'm not going to say that this movie was awesome because it is what it is.  But I will say that I very surprisingly enjoyed this movie.  I will also say that this is the best Terminator since T2.  Granted that is not saying much but still.  The action was cool.  The pacing was cool.  The new characters were well introduced.  The old characters were mixed in well.  I never in a million years thought I would but I really enjoyed this movie.

I would actually recommend people checking this out.  Still can't believe I'm writing that because I gave up them doing any more worthwhile Terminator films but I really liked it.

Harriet

Based on the thrilling and inspirational life of an iconic American freedom fighter, Harriet tells the extraordinary tale of Harriet Tubman's escape from slavery and transformation into one of America’s greatest heroes. Her courage, ingenuity, and tenacity freed hundreds of slaves and changed the course of history.

I was kind of disappointed by this movie.  I have always been attached to the story of Harriet Tubman because when in college for elementary education I built an entire semester around curriculum having to do with her.  And I won't say this movie was bad because it wasn't.  It just didn't have the necessary hook to get you angry like you should when watching a movie about slavery.  I felt like a lot of heartstrings and punches were avoided and if they weren't this could have been an awesome movie.

I would somewhat recommend people checking this out.  Its not a bad watch by any means.  I just think it could have been so much better and more powerful like it should have been.