It's been 40 years since Laurie Strode survived a vicious attack from
crazed killer Michael Myers on Halloween night. Locked up in an institution,
Myers manages to escape when his bus transfer goes horribly wrong. Laurie now
faces a terrifying showdown when the masked madman returns to Haddonfield, Ill. -- but this time,
she's ready for him.
Director: David Gordon Green
Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Nick Castle, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will
Patton, Virginia Gardner
Release Date: October 19, 2018
Genres: Horror , Thriller
Rated R for horror violence and bloody images, language, brief drug use
and nudity
Runtime: 1h 44 min
Review:
David Gordon Green’s Halloween franchise refresh can be considered a
success on multiple levels. Green and
Danny McBride wrote the script and their fandom shines through multiple times
with specific call backs or camera techniques throughout the efficient but
effective film. Green occasionally
flashes some visual flourishes which give the film a stylish look that makes
for a better quality film overall. The
main thing they are able to inject into this entry in the franchise is a sense
of fun. There are well timed jump scares
and tension throughout the film but there’s also some well placed comedy which
keeps the film from being another soul less sequel. Michael Myers is scary again even if some of
the slasher tropes feel a bit goofy here and there. Jamie Lee Curtis comes back to her
cornerstone franchise and plays her part very well thanks in part to an interesting
take on her character. There are a few
surprises here and there but ultimately the film goes exactly where you think
its going. Typically this is a major
draw back but the film is so lovingly crafted that fans will be hard pressed
not to be impressed by a return to form for one of the hallmark horror
franchises.
The El Royale is run-down hotel that sits on
the border between California and Nevada. It soon becomes a seedy battleground when seven
strangers -- a cleric, a soul singer, a traveling salesman, two sisters, the
manager and the mysterious Billy Lee -- converge on a fateful night for one
last shot at redemption before everything goes wrong.
Director: Drew Goddard
Cast: Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota
Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, Lewis Pullman, Nick Offerman, Chris Hemsworth
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Genres: Mystery , Thriller
Rated R for horror violence, and language
including some sexual references Runtime: 2h 21min
Review:
Bad Times at the El Royale is a solid twisty
thriller from Drew Goddard.You’d be
remiss if you didn’t feel some very strong Tarantino vibes throughout mixed
together with some Agatha Christie as each individual story plays out.The film is stylish and engrossing even if
the ultimate payoff is bit of a letdown.Goddard cast is made up of strong performers and a bevy of recognizable
faces but Broadway star Cynthia Erivo really leaves an impressive mark.Jeff Bridges centers the whole thing with a
tangible sense of heart with healthy shades of grey.Jon Hamm does solid work in a limited role
and the film is lesser for taking him off the board as early as it does.A perpetually shirtless Chris Hemsworth is
clearly having a blast hamming it up as the cult leader that brings all the
plot threads together.For all the
strong performances and stories, you d start to get the sense that Drew Goddard
fell in love with his own creation as the film starts to meander towards the
end.There’s really no reason for the
film to be nearly 2 and half hours and the film suffers since this type of
pulpy fare is best in short doses.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for First Man and Bad Times at the El Royale.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on my agenda: First Man.
Some stuff you know and probably a lot you didn't know about Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.
First Man is approximately 90% Things-I-Hate-About-Awards-Type-Movies, but I still enjoyed it more than I expected to. Ryan Gosling is terrific in the lead, and his supporting cast--led by the extraordinary Claire Foy--has no trouble keeping pace. The story of Armstrong's personal life is almost as fascinating as his road to the moon, and the film gives equal screen time to each. An over-abundance of extreme close-ups is effective in depicting claustrophobic cockpit conditions, but it gets awkward when it's just folks talking science or eating dinner. Likewise, jiggly camera work and very dark shots work well in putting the viewer inside the craft--often under terrifying circumstances--but otherwise are plain annoying. The movie could have used a bit of a trim, but it never really drags or feels bloated; ultimately the amazing story outweighs any flaws in the filmmaking. Closing with full disclosure: for the duration, all I could think of was Lincoln Osiris trying to re-enter the Earth's atmosphere in an old refrigerator box, which is why they don't let me vote for the Oscars.
First Man clocks in at 141 minutes and is rated PG13 for "some thematic content involving peril, and brief strong language."
First Man is a flawed telling of a great story, well worth your movie dollar.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, First Man gets seven and a half.
Fangirl points: So many much-loved faces in this one! Shea Whigham! Corey Stoll! Ciaran Hinds! Pablo Schreiber! Brian d'Arcy James! Mister Cory Michael Smith!
Next on the docket, one of my most-anticipated titles of the year, Bad Times at the El Royale.
Mystery abounds at a past-its-prime hotel that straddles the state line between California and Nevada.
From the trailers, I expected Bad Times at the El Royale to be darkly funny, but instead it's mostly just dark. Smart, twisty storytelling and an exceptional cast should be the envy of Hollywood, with Chris Hemsworth, Cynthia Erivo, and Jeff Bridges turning in exceptionally strong performances. El Royale has layers to spare, and just when you think you've got it figured out, another one peels off to reveal something unexpected. The film boasts superb production design and a strong score by Michael Giacchino. I can't go into much detail without spoiling important plot points, but there are some disturbing and uncomfortable moments that lend a grim tone to the whole, ultimately making it less fun than it might have been, but no less brilliant.
Bad Times at the El Royale runs 141 minutes and is rated R for "strong violence, language, some drug content, and brief nudity."
Bad Times at the El Royale is one of the best movies I've seen this year...but I probably wouldn't watch it again.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Bad Times at the El Royale gets seven, which would have been eight but for a mean and unnecessary dig at my beautiful home state of West Virginia.
Fangirl points: You know it's officially awards season when Shea Whigham starts turning up in everything!
Journalist Eddie Brock is trying to take down Carlton Drake, the
notorious and brilliant founder of the Life Foundation. While investigating one
of Drake's experiments, Eddie's body merges with the alien Venom -- leaving him
with superhuman strength and power. Twisted, dark and fueled by rage, Venom
tries to control the new and dangerous abilities that Eddie finds so
intoxicating.
Director: Ruben Fleischer
Cast: Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed, Jenny Slate, Scott Haze,
Reid Scott
Release Date: October 5, 2018
Genres: Action , Horror , Sci-Fi
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for
language
Runtime: 1h 36 min
Review:
Venom is a strange silly film that is saved by Tom Hardy’s
commitment.Ruben Fleisher’s movie is
loud, tonally erratic and occasionally enjoyable.When it works it works mostly due to Hardy
who’s having a blast in the film.He’s
so incredibly watchable that it almost makes you forget the movie and its
overall plot is so basic and tired.Riz
Ahmed and Michelle Williams on the other hand seem to be collecting
paychecks.Neither seems to be terribly
excited about their characters probably because their so simplistic and one
dimensional.Fleishcher seems to be
channeling 90’s movies for some reason.Some of the action sequences, like a motorcycle/car chase, feel like
they’ve been pulled right out of MichaelBay’s The Rock.Hardy, to his credit, keeps it from being an
outright disaster and if there’s a sequel hopefully it gives him a better
overall film.
Dearest Blog: Yesterday it was off to Marquee Cinemas for the "strange bedfellows" double-bill of Venom and A Star is Born.
Spoiler level here will be mild, nothing you wouldn't know from the trailers.
First on the docket: Venom.
A down-on-his-luck video-journalist unwittingly merges with an alien life form, turning his world upside down.
Venom is a disaster. It's a big miss from Marvel, a company noted for not missing even when all it has to offer is Ant-Man. If not for the supreme good fortune of having Tom Hardy in the lead, the movie would be utterly unwatchable. Thankfully, Hardy seems to be having a blast, which makes at least his performance good fun. The rest is, unfortunately, so stupid as to be no fun at all. With its horrific-looking aliens and an overload of carnage, the movie's PG13 rating feels disingenuous; maybe if they'd tossed in an extra F-word and gone full R the finished product wouldn't seem so lame. A told-to-death backstory, underwhelming effects, and idiotic humor ruin any chance of caring about the characters or what is happening to them. If the Captain Marvel trailer made me think a time is coming when comic-book movies will no longer be must-see for me, then Venom certainly drove home the point. In the immortal words of Nathan from The Full Monty, "That were crap."
Venom clocks in at 112 minutes and is rated PG13 for "intense sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for language."
Venom ranks among the worst movies I've seen in 2018.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, Venom gets two.
Next up, the third big-screen rendering of A Star is Born.
A superstar musician takes on a talented protege, and romance ensues.
Dear reader(s): A Star is Born forces me to offer warring disclaimers. If I'm predisposed to view romantic films with disdain, I'm (at least) equally inclined to love any movie about music or musicians. It is to this film's credit that it's so good I don't think either had much influence on my opinion of the whole.
There are a great many positives here, so we'll start with the most obvious: the performances of the film's leads, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. I dig Bradley Cooper. Since The A-Team came out in 2010, my ringtone has been Steely Dan's Reelin' in the Years, so when the phone rings I can hope it's Bradley Cooper. (Spoiler alert: It's never Bradley Cooper.) I will watch Cooper in anything, and I think he elevates any project lucky enough to have him. At this point, it should be no surprise to anyone that he is amazing, though at times I still worry he's so ridiculously good-looking as to be sold short. Here he's no less than Oscar worthy, and (now that Gary Oldman has his!), I genuinely hope that this is Cooper's year. In his debut behind the camera, his top-notch direction may garner him additional hardware. Gaga is also terrific. She's served well by her own experiences, and I won't be at all surprised if she, too, bathes in awards love this winter. The picture's original songs are solid, though I much preferred the guitar-driven numbers performed by Cooper's band to Gaga's epic ballads. If you're still having a hard time getting over all the accolades heaped on LaLa Land's lackluster songs and middling vocals, this movie should be the cure for what ails you. The film runs a bit long, and the story is sort-of hokey at times--as love stories are--but it's well told enough and the characters so engaging that it's a petty quibble. I don't think it's spoilery to warn that A Star is Born is a tearjerker--the woman behind me was sobbing so hard I thought we were going to have to call the EMTs--so bring the Kleenex.
A Star is Born runs 135 minutes and is rated R for "language throughout, some sexuality/nudity, and substance abuse."
A Star is Born offers a new take on a timeless tale, showcasing some truly extraordinary performances and firing perhaps the first real shots of this awards season.
Of a possible nine Weasleys, A Star is Born gets eight.
Fangirl points: Look, there's really no need for me to say any more about Bradley Cooper, but...did I mention Bradley Cooper with long hair and a guitar? *sigh*
Seasoned musician Jackson Maine
discovers -- and falls in love with -- struggling artist Ally. She has just
about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer until Jackson coaxes her
into the spotlight. But even as Ally's career takes off, the personal side of
their relationship is breaking down, as Jackson fights an ongoing battle with
his own internal demons. Director: Bradley Cooper Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady
Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Sam Elliott Release Date: October 5, 2018 Genres: Drama , Music , Romance Rated R for language
throughout, some sexuality/nudity and substance abuse Runtime: 2h 15min Review: Bradley Cooper’s directorial
debut, A Star is Born, is remarkable on various fronts.Remakes are typically hit or miss with the
majority of them paling in comparison to the originals.Even more difficult is making an engaging
remake of a film that’s been made three times beforehand with the 70’s Kris
Kristofferson and Barbra Streisand film being the most recent.Through strong performances and a steady hand
behind the camera, Bradley Cooper pulls off the impressive feat of making this
film engaging even though the entire thing feels incredibly familiar.Cooper’s directorial style is an interesting
mix of Clint Eastwood’s naturalism and steady sense of melancholy similar to
Mike Figgis Leaving Las Vegas.It’s a
beautiful film to look at but his most impressive accomplishment is bringing
out some incredible performances from his cast.First and foremost, Cooper delivers one of the best performances of his
career.Cooper loses himself entirely in
the part not mention he learned how to sing in order to perform the original songs.Lady Gaga is equally impressive mainly
because she turns in a naturalistic performance that feels real throughout even
the film is pretty much a musical fairytale.Gaga and Cooper are incredibly engaging together for the entire runtime
but their supporting players that populate the film make the story feel lived
in and real.I expect a handful of
people will be surprised by the performances turned in by Dave Chappelle,
Andrew Dice Clay and Sam Elliott.Each
has small moments but they are all memorable with Sam Elliott delivering an
awards worthy performance.There are a few
hiccups but they are minor.The film
could use a bit of trimming here and there, particularly in the last act, and a
few cookie cutter characters which merely serve the plot.Regardless, A Star is Born is a real
achievement for everyone involved. A-
