Cindy Prascik's 2018: My Year in Movies

Dearest Blog: 2018 was a strange year for movies, as it was a strange year in many, many ways. I only saw 70 new movies during the year that's winding down, which is 20-30 off my normal total. At fault were two main factors: First, there were fewer movies that felt like imperative viewing, and, secondly, the behavior of movie audiences has become so bad that I'm less inclined to get out and see something just to see it, or merely to have content for the blog. I've become much more likely to seek out something I can watch at home than to brave the talkers, texters, seat-kickers, and smuggled-candy rattlers at the cinema.

Normally, year's end finds me trying to whittle 20-25 favorites down into a top-ten list, but this year only 13 movies earned final consideration. This year also may mark the greatest divergence yet between my list and the lists of people who get paid for their movie opinions. As usual, that's due in part to many awards contenders not getting screen time locally until they rack up a pocketful of major nominations, but mostly paid film critics and I just don't agree on what makes a good movie. I hope you'll consider both of our opinions, then get out to the movies and form your own.

Disclaimer: As usual, repeat viewings or the lack of opportunity for same may result in a film's original Weasley rating not being reflected in its year-end position.

Without further ado, my top ten best/favorite movies of 2018:

10. Black Panther (original Weasley rating 9/9) Black Panther is a superhero whose time has come. Marvel once again hits the casting jackpot with Chadwick Boseman, who fronts a compelling tale fleshed out by vibrant visuals and an amazing score. It burns me just a little that Black Panther will be the first of its genre to earn serious awards consideration, an honor deserved by The Dark Knight and/or Captain America: The Winter Soldier, but that's the system's problem and can't be held against the movie. Two claws way up!

9. Sherlock Gnomes (original Weasley rating 8/9) Sherlock Gnomes took a beating from critics and fans alike, but I loved it for its bright colors, boppy tunes, extremely reasonable runtime, and, of course, Johnny Depp. If there hadn't been much good said about it before, upon the release of Holmes and Watson, at the very least it became the best big-screen Sherlock Holmes of 2018.

8. Aquaman (original Weasley rating 8/9) DC's big-screen Aquaman takes a long-ridiculed, B-list hero and makes him a box-office juggernaut, thanks to a well-crafted film and Jason Momoa's effortless coolness. It's not as dark as past DC offerings, nor as silly as garden-variety Marvel; instead Aquaman makes its own niche and is better for it.

7. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (original Weasley rating 8/9) I love the Hotel Transylvania franchise for its ability to bring a little bit of creepiness into any season. The third installment in the series is colorful, bouncy fun, and, as always, benefits from limiting Adam Sandler to just one stupid voice, as opposed to his usual array of MANY stupid voices. Long live Drac!

6. Green Book (original Weasley rating 9/9) Green Book is an "inspired by actual events" story that, if it takes some liberties with real life, its message is no less timely or important for it. Magnificent performances from Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen make Green Book one of the year's true must-see movies.

5. Hunter Killer (original Weasley rating 8/9) Quit laughing, will ya? Hunter Killer is an epic two hours of enormous effects, steely glances, and male posturing, all the things that bring me to the big screen regardless of any other considerations. Throw in my fave, Gary Oldman, and Gerard Butler doing his best meathead hero, and you've got a guaranteed new classic that I'll watch hundreds of times once it hits cable.

4. Darkest Hour (original Weasley rating 9/9) Oscar says this is last year's film, but I didn't see it 'til January, so it makes my 2018 list. An everything-winning turn by Gary Oldman heads a picture that keeps you on the edge of your seat despite knowing how it all turns out in the end.

3. Bohemian Rhapsody (original Weasley rating 9/9) Another based-on-a-true-story that takes some cinematic license with the facts, Bohemian Rhapsody is an uplifting biopic that proves the old saying: a happy ending depends on where you end your story. A star-making turn by Rami Malik makes Bohemian Rhapsody a top contender as we cruise through the heart of Awards Season.

2. Paddington 2 (original Weasley rating 9/9) Paddignton 2 is a delight. The charming and thoroughly-English continuing adventures of an endearing teddy bear and his family boasts a top-notch cast, with a standout performance by Hugh Grant as its villain. Paddington 2 is movie-making at its finest, not to be missed by anyone of any age.

1. Den of Thieves (original Weasley rating 8/9) From its first trailer, I started calling Den of Thieves my number-one movie of 2018. If we're being honest, along the way I truly expected some big-budget superhero epic or favorite actor's awards bid to unseat it, but...here we are, and here it is. I re-watched it again the night before last just to be sure this was where I wanted it, and, yeah, it is. Shootouts, car chases, Gerard Butler's chest-thumping anti-hero, and an unexpectedly terrific ending make Den of Thieves the kind of movie that will always draw me to the cinema. (For the record, I noticed upon preparing this list that I saw my number-one and number-two movies on the same day, way back in January, and that about sums up the kind of year it’s been at the cinema.)

So, dear reader(s), another year draws to a close. Many thanks to everyone who reads this blog, who takes the time to like, comment, and share, and especially to Daniel, for letting me be a part of his first-class movie page. Best wishes to everyone in 2019, may it be a better year for us all. Happy New Year!

PS: Where's my Cats trailer??

MOVIE REVIEW: SHERLOCK GNOMES

After a string of garden gnome disappearances in London, Gnomeo & Juliet look to legendary detective Sherlock Gnomes to solve the case of their missing friends and family.

Director: John Stevenson

Cast: James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mary J. Blige, Johnny Depp

Rated PG for some rude and suggestive humor.

Genres: Animation, Adventure, Comedy

Runtime: 1h 26min

Review:

Sherlock Gnomes is a fun and lighthearted sequel that works more than it doesn’t even though it doesn’t deliver a ton of surprises.  Going through the basic of Sherlock Holmes mythology in gnome form plays out in a fun family friendly manner.  Johnny Depp provides the voice for Sherlock Gnomes and gives him a fun self centered narcissistic voice.  Depp and Emily Blunt spend the better part of the film together and they have some fun chemistry.  McAvoy spends the better part of the film on a separate storyline which means that he and Blunt don’t have a lot of interplay which was the highlight of the original but it’s all in service of the story.  The film has a solid message of not taking loved ones for granted which is a bit more thoughtful than it really needed to be for this type of family film which is refreshing. 

B

Cindy Prascik's Triple Feature Weekend: Sherlock Gnomes / Peter Rabbit / Pacific Rim: Uprising

Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for that rarest of treats: a triple feature. On the docket: Sherlock Gnomes, Peter Rabbit, and Pacific Rim: Uprising.

 

Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.

 

First up: Sherlock Gnomes.

When all of London's garden gnomes go missing, it's up to the world's greatest detective to solve the case.

 

Like it's predecessor Gnomeo and Juliet, Sherlock Gnomes banks on good-nature and likability for its appeal. It's not a game-changer and and it won't be remembered by awards voters when that time rolls around again, but it's the most enjoyable movie I've seen in a good long while. The movie is blessed with a terrific cast, including newcomers Johnny Depp and Chiwetel Ejiofor, returning favorites James McAvoy and Emily Blunt, and...yes...Ozzy Osbourne, whom the filmmakers are wise enough to use in moderation. The art and animation are pretty, bright, and colorful, if not revolutionary, and the cute story bounces along to a cheerful score by Chris Bacon, peppered with familiar snippets of Elton John songs. Sherlock Gnomes expertly rides a fine line, working for kids of all ages while also entertaining adults. There is nothing here that will disturb or upset the young ones, but, in addition to the tunes, there are several adult gags that aim far enough over kids' heads that parents won't be left answering uncomfortable questions afterward. If the message is familiar, the movie delivers it in such charming fashion you won't even mind. Sadly, there's no Jason Statham gnome this time around (*sobs*), but I still loved Sherlock Gnomes exactly as much as I expected, and I expected a LOT.

Sherlock Gnomes runs a quick 86 minutes and is rated PG for "some rude and suggestive humor." (Though the more crass bits from the trailer are missing from the finished product.)

 

Sherlock Gnomes is great fun for all ages. Of a possible nine Weasleys, Sherlock Gnomes gets eight.

 

Next on my agenda: Peter Rabbit.

 

Rabbits and humans jockey for territory in a somewhat abrasive fairytale.

 

Well, dear reader(s), if there's one thing I want you to know right off the bat, it's that Peter Rabbit probably isn't as bad as you'd think from the trailers or from everything you've heard. Make no mistake, it has BIG problems, but it overcomes most of them for an enjoyable outing.

 

Getting the bad news out of the way first, we'll begin with the obvious: Those damn rabbits. They are utterly insufferable, like the brattiest, most annoying kids you've ever met. It makes rooting for them impossible, even when the film hits that "delivering the message" point where the relevant parties are supposed to become the best versions of themselves. While the physical comedy mostly works, and Domhnall Gleeson's expressions and timing are impeccable (more on that later), the film's "jokes" are painfully bad, especially a couple awkward attempts at social commentary. The movie struggles mightily to settle on a tone, doubling-down on unfunny attempts at humor and, especially towards the beginning, coming across rather nasty. Finally, though the parental guidelines don't mention it, there are a couple things in this movie that may be upsetting to younger kids. At one point when the rabbits' well being is threatened, there was a small boy in my screening screaming, "I don't like it! I DON'T LIKE IT!" so...um...take care with those little ones, will ya?

 

Now the good news, and there's more of it than I expected. Leads Domhnall Gleeson and Rose Byrne are ridiculously adorable and have great chemistry. Gleeson, who seems to be in every single movie these days and continues to prove he's pretty amazing at everything, shows off some solid comic chops, working mostly opposite a tennis ball on a stick that would later become the film's talking woodland creatures. An almost-unrecognizable Sam Neill is also great (as always) in too little screen time. The story never really goes anywhere you don't expect, but I'm not sure you'd want it to. Songs pop up awkwardly throughout the movie, but there are some great pop nuggets that are no less enjoyable for the weird placement. Ultimately, the charm of Gleeson and Byrne outweighs the negatives just enough to make Peter Rabbit worth your while.

 

Peter Rabbit clocks in at 95 minutes and is rated PG for "some rude humor and action."

 

I'd taken a pass on Peter Rabbit weeks ago, and only saw it this week by virtue of a cinema schedule that left a huge gap between Sherlock Gnomes and Pacific Rim. In the finest example of backhanded praise you're likely to find today, I can tell you it was certainly better than spending two hours sitting in the hallway. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Peter Rabbit gets five.

 

Closing yesterday's triple-header was the sequel Pacific Rim: Uprising.

 

Hey guys...guys...we're cancelling the apocalypse again, 'kay?

 

Uprising is a big step down from the original Pacific Rim, and I can assure you with a reasonable amount of certainty, dear reader(s), that I didn't find it so only because it's missing Charlie Hunnam and Idris Elba. (Though that won't ever help in my eyes, obvs.) The film suffers from paper-doll characters and painfully bad dialogue, but is salvaged somewhat by its likable cast. Though the action is solid, the plot is weak and filled with predictable twists. Lorne Balfe's score is properly epic, and the effects are as massive as a movie-hugeness junkie like me could hope, but, ultimately, if you want brainless fun with big robots, Transformers is a better option.

 

Pacific Rim: Uprising is a witless good time that you'll forget almost as soon as you exit the cinema. 

 

Of a possible nine Weasleys, Pacific Rim: Uprising gets six.

 

Until next time...