Category: Drama

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t in AMC Dolby

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t in AMC Dolby

This was a “Highly Anticipated” movie for me. I scheduled 11/14 off 8 months ago just so that I could see this movie because Morgan Freeman had reprised his role along with the other original members from previous installments, plus there is a new generation of illusionists who join the team.

This installment does get the gang (The Four Horseman) back together and you get a repeat of the franchise’s familiar tricks along with some mind-blowing illusions, mind-melding twists, turns, surprises and magic not previously seen in any of the other installments.  

There is an interesting story. The movie is fast paced, but the plot is weak. The cinematography and camera angles are breath-taking. There are some nice scenes in Brussels and Antwerp Belgium.

I was very disappointed that Morgan Freeman’s role was very limited in this installment compared to previous installments. 

If you are a fan of the “Now You See Me” Franchise this installment should not be missed. There is an open door for a 4th installment.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

Sarah’s Oil

Sarah’s Oil

After a Month of “No Movies” I am back and the reviews will be coming in “HOT” in the month of November!!

“Sarah’s Oil” is based on a true story about Sarah Rector, an African American girl born in Oklahoma Indian Territory in the early 1900’s who believes that there was oil deep in the barren land that she was deeded. She had deep faith that if she could find an oil company who was willing to listen to her and work with her that her beliefs would come to be.

Once the word got out greedy oil sharks started to circle. Sarah turns to her family, friends and a couple of Texas Wildcatter’s to help maintain control of the oil-rich land and keep her deed safe. The story unfolds from there…

This is a very good, moving and compelling story. It’s executed very well.

Sarah Rector eventually became one of the first female African American millionaires at the age of eleven years old.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in AMC Dolby

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale in AMC Dolby

This final installment follows the Crawley family and their staff as they enter the 1930’s. When Mary (Michelle Dockery) finds herself at the center of a scandal and the family faces financial trouble, the entire household struggles with the possibility of social disgrace. The Crawley’s must embrace change as the staff prepares for a new chapter with the next generation leading Downton Abbey into the future. The story unfolds from there…

If you have a fondness for Tea and Scones, grab a freshly made pot of your favorite Tea, Scones, Clotted Cream and Jams and settle in for a 2-hour drama filled sartorial adventure.

This 3rd installment delivers a satisfying and heartfelt closure to the much-loved saga. It’s a farewell that is truly befitting the Crawleys. 

If you are a fan of the Downton Abbey Franchise, this final installment should not be missed.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Caught Stealing

Caught Stealing

Austin Butler plays Hank Thompson, a high school Baseball phenom who due to an accident can’t play Baseball anymore. Everything is ok with Hank’s life, he has a nice girlfriend (Zoe Kravitz) he tends Bar at a neighborhood pub and his favorite Baseball team is making a run at the pennant. Hank’s Punk Rock next-door neighbor Russ asks Hank to watch his cat while he makes an emergency trip to see about his Dad. All Hell breaks loose when a Motley Crew of gangsters comes looking for Russ. As the next-door neighbor, Hank soon finds himself having to dodge the gangsters and fears for his life but he does not know why. The story unfolds from there…

I will be perfectly honest; I was not feeling this movie during the first 30 minutes… It was coming across as a “B” movie. But… The dots started to connect and the movie became really interesting and edge of your seat entertaining. It’s like a really slow-moving train that soon moves past some obstacles and is able to find a rhythm on the tracks and speeds up for a smooth fast ride.

The movie is “In Your Face Bloody” at times. There is a decent amount of action and intrigue. As I stated the story starts off really slow, but does pick up and become interesting. The cast is pretty good.

I was excited to see actor Vincent D’Onofrio in this movie. I loved him on NBC’s Law and Order Criminal Intent (2001 to 2011)

“Caught Stealing” is worth a look!

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Highest 2 Lowest

Highest 2 Lowest

“Highest 2 Lowest” is about a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington) who is known for having the “best ears” in the business is targeted with a ransom plot. He is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma. The Story unfolds from there… 

“Highest 2 Lowest” is a Spike Lee “JOINT”. This is the 5th Spike Lee / Denzel Washington collaboration. This film particularly showcases the mean streets of modern-day New York City. Additionally, this installment is actually a reinterpretation of filmmaker Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 Crime Thriller “High and Low”.

The movie has great execution, plenty of drama and suspense. The storyline is meaningful and will hold your attention. This movie is not playing in the usual mainstream theaters. I saw it at a Dine-In Theater. The movie opened August 15th. Try to catch it if you can.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

F1: The Movie in IMAX

F1: The Movie in IMAX

Wow! It’s been a while since I have seen a movie starring Brad Pitt.  

Brad Pitt comes to us as Sonny Hayes FORMULA 1’s most promising Phenom of the 1990’s. But an accident on the track nearly ended his career.

Fast forward 30 years and Sonny is a Nomad Race-for-Hire moving from event to event living out of a Van. Soon he is approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem) who is an owner of a struggling FORUMLA 1 team. Ruben convinces Sonny he should come join his team for one last shot at saving his career, helping the team and winning big. Sonny is informed that he would be driving alongside Joshua Pearce (Damon Idris) who is the team’s hotshot rookie, intent on setting his own pace. 

As the engines start to roar Sonny’s past catches up with him. He learns that in FORMULA 1 your teammate is your fiercest competition. The story unfolds from there…

If you are a fan of FORUMLA 1 Car Racing events, this is a must see. The movie is very authentic. The race cars are super cool and the sponsor names you see are real.

There is great cinematography and the IMAX aspects are awesome. You will feel like you are in the race cars on the track. 

The running time of the movie is a bit long. There were a few dead spots. All in all, the movie is worth the ticket. I really enjoyed seeing Javier Bardem. He was awesome in his role. Damson Idris as the hot shot Rookie Joshua Pearce is easy on the eyes.

This is a 4 Star Movie!!

Thunderbolts in AMC Dolby

Thunderbolts in AMC Dolby

The Marvel Universe goes back to its roots of true Adventure. “Thunderbolts” is an assembly of underdogs who constantly insist they are not Super-Heros.

The team find themselves in a death trap that was set by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Dreyfus).

To free themselves they must embark on a dangerous mission that will force them to each confront the darkest corners of their pasts. The team struggles with either tearing themselves apart or finding redemption and uniting for the better good. The story unfolds from there…

The story is very heavy. There is a lot of action, but not as much as I would have liked. There is some intrigue, but not a lot. The story at times is confusing because there are so many alternate paths that get dipped into briefly. You really have to pay attention or you will be more confused. 

There is a lot of uncertainty around whether you can consider this a comic book superhero story. You are somehow led to believe that “The Thunderbolts” are the team that came before The Avengers.

I am disappointed that there wasn’t more action, but that does not diminish the fact that the movie was executed very well. The Dolby / IMAX aspects are very good. The cinematography is excellent.

If you are a Marvel Universe Fan, You should check out “Thunderbolts”. 

This is a 4 Star Move!!

The Amateur

The Amateur

Charlie Heller (Rami Malek) is a brilliant, but deeply introverted decoder for the CIA. He works out of a Basement Office at headquarters in Langley. Charlie’s world is turned upside down when his wife is killed in a London Terrorist Attack. When his supervisors refuse to take action, Charlie decides to take matters into his own hands and go after his wife’s killers himself, embarking on a dangerous trek across the globe to track down those responsible, his intelligence serving as the ultimate weapon for eluding his pursuers and achieving his revenge. The story unfolds from there… 

Rami Malek portrayal of a “Nerdy CIA Operative” is very compelling. He comes across very well. 

The movie has tons of intrigue, suspense and lots of twists and turns. There is good action without a lot of blood. There are a few dead spots, but overall once it gets going, “The Amateur” provides edge of your seat entertainment.

“The Amateur” is a Good Spy Thriller that falls a bit short of greatness. It’s definitely worth a look.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!!

Black Bag

Black Bag

Movie Reviews will be coming in HOT over the next 2 Weekends!!

This is the first of potentially 4 Movie Reviews that I will post before March 31st.

“Black Bag” is a gripping Spy Drama about Legendary Intelligence Agents George Woodhouse and his beloved wife Kathryn. When she is suspected of betraying the nation, George faces the ultimate test Loyalty to his country or Loyalty to his marriage. The Story unfolds from there… 

“Black Bag” is definitely “GRIPPING” It does live up to the hype. Michael Fassbender and Cate Blanchett play very well together.

This is a Steven Soderbergh Production. He is an AWESOME Director and his movies are usually very intriguing, “Black Bag” is all of that. The suspense and mystery in the movie build to a fevered pitch that leads to a very interesting ending. If I provide any more details I would be giving it away.

If I have a complaint, it would be that the movie running time was a bit too short.

Run, don’t walk to see “Black Bag”.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!

The Fire Inside

The Fire Inside

“The Fire Inside” is about the journey that 2 Time Olympic Gold Medal Boxing Champion Clarissa Shields took to get to the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Miss Shields is arguably the greatest female boxing champion of all times.

Flint Michigan’s Clarissa “T-Rex” Shields is the only Olympic Boxing Champion to ever win back-to-back Gold Medals.

The movie is inspiring, enraging and at times intriguing. The movie gives you a nice glimpse into the world of boxing, dealing with a coach who dispenses “tough Love” and what it takes to make the Olympic Team and then what it takes to win a Gold Medal not once but twice. 

“The Fire Within” is the best Non-Block Buster movie playing right now. 

Check it out “The Fire Within” is definitely worth a look.

This is a 5 Star Movie!!