Friday, August 31, 2018

Searching - Review



In a strange and completely unpredictable outcome, the found footage sub-genre has evolved beyond its shaky origins in the woods of Maryland during The Blair Witch Project. Exchanging shadowy figures in grainy video for a film set inside a computer screen doesn’t sound like an upgrade on paper, but Searching proves that this new gimmick is here to stay, and we might just get a few good films out of it. 

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Operation Finale - Review



World War II is a fascinating period in history, and Hollywood is determined to make sure the public never forgets that through various stories of war and survival. However, the time after the war, the fallout of the atrocities committed has remained relatively untouched. With Operation Finale, audiences are able to see the man responsible brought to justice in a mission that is almost as compelling as the conflict itself.

Friday, August 24, 2018

The Happytime Murders - Review

Presenting a largely family friendly element of entertainment such as puppets in the furthest thing from family friendly has an inherent humor to it in concept. However, The Happytime Murders ran out of clever ideas after the initial conception, leaving a mess that’s hardly worth the effort put into reviewing it. 

Saturday, August 18, 2018

Alpha - Review

We are slowly but surely reaching the cinematic dead zone between summer movie season and award season. With it comes the dumping ground for the leftovers that couldn’t be squeezed into January. While Alpha was never a potential January release it has jumped release dates four separate times, hardly a good sign for a film. However, the end result is not nearly as bad as the marketing would make it seem.

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Crazy Rich Asians - Review


*Insert something about Crazy Rich Asians being the first Hollywood film with a predominantly Asian-American cast since The Joy Luck Club 1993*

The primary talking point surrounding the newest romantic comedy has been around this point, and rightfully so, however, the aspects of this film that should be celebrated should not end at the cast. Crazy Rich Asians may be a simple love story complicated by family, the film truly shines as escapism in the lavish glow of Singapore.

Friday, August 10, 2018

The Meg - Review


A strange fascination with sharks has almost become an obsession for humans recently, but it’s been that way for Hollywood since Jaws basically invented the summer blockbuster. Since then, filmmakers have been trying to capture even half of the greatness of the 1975 film, and while some get closer than others, most miss the mark. While The Meg doesn’t even sniff the upper echelon, it’s inherent stupidity could bring some enjoyment.

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

BlacKkKlansman - Review


Portraying relevant material on screen has never been a struggle for Spike Lee, a director who consciously looks to tell captivating stories wrapped in biting commentary on society’s issues. With BlacKkKlansman, he may have outdone himself. Using the past to open our eyes to the present, Lee may have crafted his best film in years.

Sunday, August 5, 2018

The Spy Who Dumped Me - Review

The strain of forcing jokes can usually be felt throughout a comedy that doesn’t quite hit the mark. The Spy Who Dumped Me is one of those films that tries immensely hard to deliver laughs that just don’t come the way they should. Despite having a solid cast and a decent premise, almost every aspect falls flat. 

Friday, August 3, 2018

Christopher Robin - Review

Disney and their live-action adaptations are here to stay it appears, though the word adaptation isn’t as exact for this round. Christopher Robin takes a different approach, opting for more moments of darkness than quirkiness in a tale that takes the theme of childhood never truly dying and gets lost with it amidst the trees of the Hundred Acre Wood.