Mini Movie Reviews Archives
-
JOKER
I’m impressed with JOKER, yes, but still having trouble, as Joaquin Phoenix puts it in this interview – “finding something real” or original to say. Does it glorify these lone killers who tend to be white men on the fringes of society? Is it too inciting during a time when the country is even more divided and in political mayhem? On the other hand, does director Todd Phillips (co-writer Scott Silver) find a way to shine a light on these people who have been abused, are weird and ostracized, cut off from kindness, cut off from getting help as social programs shut down. This film could be seen as a…
-
The Addams Family
THE ADDAMS FAMILY (animated) Directed by Conrad Vernon & Greg Tiernan Voice Cast: Oscar Isaac, Charlize Theron, Chloë Grace Moretz, Finn Wolfhard, Nick Kroll, Snoop Dogg, Bette Midler, Allison Janney Tinsel & Tine #MiniMovieReview It’s a cute update of the iconic classy spooky family, with a number of bits to pay homage to both the show I loved as a kid, and the movies of the 90’s. However, the movie begins with the wedding of Gomez and Morticia and I can’t help but wish they’d gone with an entire origin story instead of centering the plots around Pugsley and Wednesday. But of course I realize this movie is not aimed…
-
AD ASTRA
AD ASTRA otherwise known as “Brad Pitt in Space”, feels as if Pitt looked at his body of work and thought Damon, Clooney, McConaughey and Hanks all have space movies under their belts. If I’m gonna leave a legacy, I’ve got to get in on the astronaut game and check that off my list; and this is why we have AD ASTRA (the title is Latin for “to the stars”). The film is set in the near future and centers around the interplanetary and emotional journey of astronaut Major Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) who has followed in the footsteps of his famous astronaut father Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones) who…
-
DOLEMITE IS MY NAME
I wanted to give more time to this review with it being Eddie Murphy, in a role that suits him perfectly – but once again, I’ve had zero time to write, between work and seeing 4 movies this week. Going in, I thought Dolemite Is My Name (Directed by Craig Brewer (Hustle & Flow) was going to parody a fictional Blaxploitation film with a fictional Eddie Murphy character; but when I realized it’s based on actual events and the real brother who embodied Dolemite, it brings another level of enjoyment to the film! It puts me in mind of James Franco’s THE DISASTER ARTIST where he played the oddly legendary…
-
The Peanut Butter Falcon
by Le Anne Lindsay, Editor By now you’ve probably heard about this little Road movie that could, getting 95% Fresh on Rotten Tomatoes. The reason for this is writers/directors Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz have crafted something that feels uplifting and timeless with a pinch of unexpected humor sprinkled throughout. I have to admit, I had little intentions of seeing this movie until it started getting such great buzz; and that’s not because of any misgivings about Shia LaBeouf. I just feel very uncomfortable thinking about people living with afflictions like Down Syndrome. The world has too many sharp edges for people who are so vulnerable to the deep cuts of cruelty.…
