"Miss Me This Christmas" was literally a bad movie period. I would give it maybe 2 stars out of 5 and that's MOSTLY because of Redaric Williams.
Married couple Regina (Erica Ash) and Franklin (Redaric Williams) have the house, the careers, but live by Regina's whims. They get married on Christmas like she wants, move into the suburban home like she wants, but it's not enough. We are suppose to identify with Regina, but she's pretty awful. She accuses her husband of cheating when he doesn't, doesn't listen to him when he details his whereabouts and explanations, and when he challenges her back she asks for a divorce. And so begins her pettiness of not admitting she's wrong and cutting him down to any and everyone she meets in the movie. It's hard to watch and I only made it to the end hoping she'd wise up.
The problem with this movie is it followed the rules of a black movie, but not of a holiday TV movie. And it rushes into things with NO rhyme or reason. I hated this movie and wanted nothing more than for it to end.
This movie started off NOT the typical "Hallmark/Netflix" movie so I was a tiny bit annoyed it veered into the formula.
Teddy and Kate are brother & sister whom must deal with their first Christmas ever after losing their firefighter dad earlier in the year. Teddy acts out, while Kate still wants things to stay the same. They band together when Kurt Russell as Santa Claus was a perfect casting choice!!!!
It definitely has heart and shows things we haven't seen in another Christmas movie, but sometimes these smart kids are stupid. And that's the frustrating part. I get that sometimes kids are kids, but it just set up that these kids are different.
It turned itself around, and I do love it, but just that one part didn't ruin it for me. 4 out of 5.
I do not care if it's predictable. I do not care that it follows a formula. I do not care that it's cheesy. I love, love, love "The Princess Switch."
Vanessa Hudgens plays Chicago baker Stacy DeNovo...and Margaret Delacourt, Duchess of Montenaro. They meet by chance and switch places for two days...well that was the plan. Stacy is in an international baking competition in Belgravia. Margaret is in Belgravia to meet her future husband Prince Edward (sexy Sam Palladio). Nick Sagar as Kevin Richards, Stacy's best friend, is a scene stealer!!! Love him.
One of my "Hallmark/Netflix" movies of all-time! 5 out of 5 stars.
4 stars out of 5. It's not perfect, but it's also not the greatest heist film ever.
Loosely based on a British mini-series Viola Davis plays Veronica, the wife of the leader of bank robber Harry Rowlins (Liam Neeson). Despite his job they live the high life in a penthouse and social clout. When Harry and three of his bank robber brothers die in a fiery police standoff, Veronica enlists the help of the other widows to pay off the debt their husbands owed.
There are BELIEVABLE twists and turns (except one that made me roll my eyes and kept it from a 5 star). Elizabeth Debicki as the abused Alice, Michelle Rodriguez as mom of 3 dress shop owner Linda, and Cynthia Erivo as Linda's hairstylist friend Belle round out the widows cast. The foursome is quite believable as sisters in arms. And what transpires is amazing. Colin Farrell as Jack Mulligan, heir apparent to the Chicago alderman seat.
I liked the movie alot aside from that ONE thing. Worth seeing though because that one thing didn't RUIN the movie for me. Gillian Flynn and Steve McQueen adapted the series to screen well.
The highest grossing musical biopic of all-time. "Bohemian Rhapsody" is far and away one of my favorite movies of all-time as well.
The story about how Indian-British Farrokh Bulsara became Freddie Mercury. This movie covers it ALL. How he came up with the name Freddie Mercury, why he never got his 4 extra incisors removed, his sexuality, how they came up with the name Queen, and how the band was so far ahead of their time. In fact that is why I'm guessing the movie is called "Bohemian Rhapsody." Not only did that 6 minute rock opera change the course of music, but so did Queen. NOT just Freddie. The band didn't want to be singled out. Although it's main story is Freddie's background, the movie IS about the band. Some liberties were taken for dramatic effect, but make no mistake this movie IS about the band.
I apologize to Bradley Cooper for saying he will win for "A Star Is Born" because Rami Malek just stole it from him. Rami IS Freddie. Off-stage and on-stage. I don't think I have ever witnessed an actor/actress embody another human being the way Rami did. Even the rest of the cast LOOKED and SOUNDED the parts (Gwilym Lee as Brian May, Lucy Boynton as Mary Austin, Ben Hardy as Roger Taylor, and Joe Mazzello as John Deacon). I was singing the songs and in stunned silence at how this felt more like home videos than a movie.
Easily 5 stars out of 5. I must own this DVD when it comes out.
Listen "Creed II" isn't a perfect movie at all. In fact it's quite predictable. BUT in the Rocky movie series it is the perfect movie. For that I'm giving it 5 stars. I would say even better than Creed, and I loved that movie.
This movie shows the highs, the lows, and everything in between. It takes ALL the other Rocky movies and pays tribute. It's a present, the wrapping paper, and the bow. Ain't nothing wrong with this movie. I will say Michael B. Jordan has FLOURISHED as an actor physically and methodically. It was amazing seeing his transformation on screen. And Florian Munteanu is a breakout star much like Dolph Lundgren was; his character is NOT a one-note villain make no mistake.
This story picks up with Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) having 1 fight away from being the World Boxing Champion. Up to this point he was doing it to honor his father Apollo Creed and show the world he was every bit his father's son. His adoptive mom Maryanne Creed (Phylicia Rashad) is nobody's fool but supportive. His mentor Robert "Rocky" Balboa Sr (Sylvester Stallone) is not impressed by his motivation. After Adonis wins the WBC, Ivan Drago (Lundgren) has his son Viktor (Munteanu) challenge Adonis. The title is a play on words. It's Creed II, but also Adonis is put in the same situation as his dad. Apollo died in the ring fighting Ivan; now will Adonis die in the ring fighting Viktor? And so begins this amazing movie.
Highly recommend. Feel good movie of the year. And MBJ BETTER get an Oscar nod.
A sequel to "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" picks up with Lisbeth Salander (Claire Foy) living in Stockholm, Sweden contracted by whomever needs her computer hacking services. This time it's Frans Balder (Stephen Merchant). He wants Lisbeth to steal his program Firefall from the US Government. Only when she does some "bad men" steal it from her. Now the search begins to retrieve it back AND find out whom these "bad men" are. What Lisbeth discovers is that sometimes the truth can uncover a painful past.
Claire Foy is PERFECTLY recast. I don't even remember Rooney Mara's performance. Sverrir Gudnason takes over for Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomqvist. The chemistry between Lisbeth and Mikael is still there, but also there's the hurt. I do love how they tell Lisbeth's past and explain how she became her. The script is airtight and meticulously written.
I kinda wish they remade the first THEN came out with this. That's how good this one was. I didn't do so well at the box office but I loved it. 4 stars out of 5. I don't want to give away a spoiler but one of the "bad men" has a reason for being bad. It ANGERS me why. Like legit irrational even though Lisbeth says what the entire audience wants her to say.
My second favorite horror film of all time after "Scream." 5 out of 5 stars!!!!!
This movie is kind of a reboot. It takes place 40 years from Michael Meyers' first attack. What's that mean? The first and second Halloween movies are two days apart. Michael kills 5 people. And then he's locked up. After that he escapes death, escapes prison, and stalks Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis).
So 40 years after the original movie when was locked up Laurie is hole up in a house outfitted with cameras and traps. Her daughter Karen (Judy Greer) was raised to defend herself from "the boogeyman" by Laurie from birth to 12 when the state took Karen away. Karen grew up, got a job, a husband, and bore teenage daughter Allyson (Andy Matichak).
Allyson and her friends are being stalked by Michael, who is clearing a path to Laurie...the one that got away all those years ago. Laurie is Linda Hamilton in "T2" as she lives to protect her family and kill Michael.
Part of me wants a sequel but this movie was SO PERFECT! But having a movie made for $15 million grossing $188 million in two weeks I KNOW Hollywood will make a sequel. I dunno HOW Michael could've survived but I can kinda see how too.
This movie had 1 horror movie cliche (I won't spoil it cuz I'm nitpicking) otherwise it was perfect. I went with my nephew who rarely reacts to stuff...he jumped a minimum of 4 times. And my coworker whom I saw it with the first time screamed every 15 minutes. Like WOW! This movie was scary/suspenseful but you know what? I'd see it again in a heartbeat.
For some reason Karen's husband Michael played by Toby Huss is so adorably adorable. He's kind of this sarcastic John Michael Higgins. And funny and sweet. I kinda wanna make out with him hahaha everytime he was onscreen I think I blushed. Just another reason to go see it. Hi Toby hahaha
Based on the book Firing Point, this is without a doubt the best Naval movie I have ever seen in my life since "Hunt for Red October" and "Crimson Tides."
Gerard Butler plays unorthodox Commander Joe Glass. He must command a submarine to go into Russian waters and rescue an American sub that's gone missing. Meanwhile Admiral Charles Donnegan (Gary Oldman) feels they shouldn't murk the Russian waters in fact let things be. As all of this is going on the Russian President (the tall yummy Alexander Diachenko) has been kidnapped by his own general the evil Captain Vladimir (played with devilish perfection by Ilia Volok). Rear Admiral John Fisk (played by Common whose fully clothed rear keeps popping up onscreen I kid you not) dispatches a Navy Seal team led by Navy Lieutenant Bill Beaman (Toby Stephens) to rescue the Russian President then jump in Glass' sub to come back home. Got all that? lol
This movie has zero flaws. No love interest, no nudity, just good old fashion drama.
It HAS to be a contender for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, but everyone was SO GOOD I can't see anyone standing out. Although Zane Holtz has an amazing breakout role as a rookie on the Seal team trying to rescue the Russian President.
It is worth noting it was actor Michael Nyqvist's last movie as he did die from his battle of cancer. His role was pivotal but I won't spoil it. GO see this movie. I promise it will be worth every second.
Without a doubt the funniest movie of 2018. Sorry Life of the Party.
Tika Sumpter plays Danica aka Da'Nica (haha), a successful ad agent working with Kalli (Amber Riley). Danica's life is a full. A crazy weed growing mom (Whoopi Goldberg), an obvious crush from her coffee owner friend Franklin "Frank" (Omari Hardwick), and a long-term online relationship with "Charlie." THEN her sister Tanya (Tiffany Haddish) gets outta jail after 5 years and has to stay with her.
Danica's life is thrown into a tizzy as Tanya teams up with Kalli to see if Charlie is real even enlisting MTV's Catfish (hotties Nev Schulman and Max George). Tanya's presence in Danica's life is the shot in the arm she needed though because even though Tanya is batshit crazy she balance's Danica's controlled chaos.
Tiffany Haddish DESERVES to win Best Actress in a Supporting Role at the 2019 Academy Awards. She's that funny and every character she interacts with onscreen is that much funnier. When she says in the preview "For sex on this job app what should I put?" Frank's face contorts "What do you want to put?" Tanya "PLENTY!" It's like people want to match to her level of crazy.
EASILY 5 out of 5 stars. Tyler Perry wrote and directed a masterpiece of comedy.
Damien Chazelle and Ryan Gosling team up again for the Neil Armstrong (first man to walk on the Moon on July 21, 1969) biopic called "First Man," and they did not disappoint.
Ryan plays Neil, a married father who grows up to live his lifelong dream of being an astronaut. He's married to Janet (Claire Foy), a quiet yet powerful woman who teeters between supporting her husband's dream and arguing Neil's constant work ethic.
This movie isn't about special effects although they look SO FLAWLESS. It's a human story about the emotional toll the Armstrongs faced. The poster perfectly conveys this. Ryan as Neil is in his space helmet. The dome is part face mask part Earth. YES!
The supporting cast was great too. Corey Stoll as Buzz Aldrin. And Jason Clarke played Ed White, the first man to walk in space on June 3, 1965.
Five stars out of five. If Bradley Cooper didn't make A Star Is Born, Ryan would win for this movie. Ryan and Claire will get Oscar nods though...well deserved.
Easily my fave animated film ONLY second to "The Little Mermaid."
"Smallfoot" is the reverse of our Bigfoot theories. in this movie the Bigfoot clan live in the mountains. One of them named Migo (voiced AND sung by Channing Tatum) discovers a Smallfoot (human). When he tells his clan not only do they not believe him but they oust him for going against the stones that The Stonekeeper (Common) wears specifically stating Smallfoot doesn't exist.
It's a HUGE commentary on humans and how we use blind faith without asking questions. But more importantly it's a great movie. OH YES there is singing.
Channing Tatum can sing? A sentence I NEVER thought I'd write. But he can. And he's good.
"Venom" starring Tom Hardy and Michelle Williams is actually one of my favorite Marvel movies.
Edward "Eddie" Brock (Tom Hardy) is a journalist who's engaged to Anne (Michelle Williams) when he gets the scoop that Carlton Drake (Riz Ahmed) and his company Life Foundation have sent a shuttle into space for alien life and come back with symbiotes. One symbiote called Riot (a general on his planet) escapes and tries tracking down a perfect human host. Through various tests conducted by Drake Venom doesn't connect to anyone until he meets Eddie. At first Venom wants to help Riot level Earth and make it the new home for the other millions of symbiotes. But now Venom being attached to Eddie realizes Earth isn't a place for his people and helps Eddie stop Riot.
Funny, clever, and pretty original. I love this movie. And hopefully it gets into the MCU. Five stars outta five. Tom Hardy IS Eddie Brock.
BRADLEY COOPER WILL WIN THE ACADEMY AWARD FOR BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE IN 2019!
Bradley Cooper was Ah-mah-zing as Jackson Maine in the 4th remake to "A Star Is Born" (read my review of the first three).
This version is a mashup of all three but focuses on Jackson as a folk singer who meets Ally (Lady Gaga) who's performing at a drag bar while working as a caterer and for her dad's (Andrew Dice Clay) luxury vehicle company. Their chemistry when they meet jumps off the screen. Soon their relationship heats up and Ally goes from singing caterer to megastar...not overnight, but when it happens her star burns so bright. The focal point of this movie is back to the first. The shift is on Jackson and his life.
I get the commentary, but HATED Ally. She was an enabler to a sick man that needed help. Granted you can't help someone who can't help themselves, but I wish she put her foot down more. That's the only thing about this movie I hated. Sam Eliot as Jackson's brother was a nice touch too.
Five stars out of five ONLY because I think Ally's character was deliberately written the way she was written. Excellent movie. But too emotional for me to see again. Seriously WOW! And Bradley directing his first film and co-writing?
Backstory: This was originally suppose to be directed by Clint Eastwood and starring Will Smith and Beyonce BUT she got pregnant with Blue Ivy and couldn't do it. It languished in production hell until Bradley picked it up.
OOOOOOH and no joke Bradley's voice is hypnotic. Gaga is perfection comparable to Barbra Streisand, but Bradley blew me away. Didn't even know he could sing.
I walked into this movie going for Timothee Chalamet, whom I love.
The movie is about Nicholas "Nic" Sheff (Timothee Chalamet) who is a drug addict from his teen years into adulthood. Why this is different is a) it's a true story and b) it's told from the point of view of the parents. Steve Carell plays his dad David, Maura Tierney is his stepmom Karen, and Amy Ryan is his mom Vicki.
David does EVERYTHING he can to help Nic even at the cost of his new life with Karen and their two young kids who J'ADORE Nic.
This movie is so good but I beg you BRING tissues. You don't wanna ugly cry into your sleeve like I did. Both Steve and Timothee WILL be nominated for Oscars, but Bradley Cooper WILL win for A Star Is Born. Great movie regardless. 5 stars outta 5.
