Patriots Day

“Patriots Day” is a very well-orchestrated and very well executed account of the horrific Boston Marathon Terrorist Bombing that occurred in April 2013.

The movie shows the quick work of the Boston Police Dept, First Responders, the FBI, The Governor and other Boston and State Officials as they investigate and try to get to the bottom of this horrible incident as quickly as possible.

At the end of the movie the survivors speak about their challenges and triumphs. The movie reinforces to you that the human spirit is strong in the face of adversity.

While this movie is about a horrific incident that occurred in an American city, the movie is worth seeing because there are definite moments that are heart-warming.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

Live by Night

“Live by Night” is a slow burning gangster movie that has no sizzle. The movie is loosely based on Dennis Lehane’s Crime Novel about a prodigal son of a prominent police chief and his gradual descent into the crime world.

The cinematography is very good, there was lots of action and some of the camera angles were awesome, but the movie just doesn’t grab you. There is a HUGH cast, but even they couldn’t make an already hollow story whole. The story appears to have started in the middle instead of at the beginning.

Ben Affleck directs and stars in the movie. This could be part of the problem. Ben Affleck is brilliant behind the camera, but not in front of the camera.

Several people got up and left the theater long before the movie was over, that’s how boring the movie was.

The previews and trailers for “Live by Night” looked really good. Too bad the actual movie did not live up to its billing.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

A Monster Calls

“A Monster Calls” is based on a best-selling novel by Patrick Ness. The story is about a 12 year old boy, Conor (Lewis MacDougall) who has a lot on his young plate. Conor is dealing with his terminally ill mother (Felicity Jones), a mean, unsympathic grandmother (Sigourney Weaver) and if that’s not enough Conor is being bullied at school. To cope with all that is going on, Conor tries to loose himself in his art.

Soon Conor finds an unlikely ally when a Tree Monster (Liam Neeson) appears at his bedroom window at 12:07am. This time turns out to be significant because at 12:07am just about every night the Tree Monster appears doling out advise, stories and wisdom. The Monster helps give Conor courage to face the truth and deal with all of the events in his life. The story unfolds from there…

Although dark at times “A Monster Calls” has some eye pleasing visuals. The special effects are really good. The story is very emotional and moving.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!

Hidden Figures

This is a special edition of “Thursday Night at the Movies w/The Movie Warrior”

What a way to start off 2017!

Based on a true story, “Hidden Figures” is a very eye opening, moving and entertaining movie.
In the 1960’s NASA employed a number of women of color who were Mathematicians and Engineers. These brilliant women helped NASA figure out how to get a man on the moon and then back to earth safely.

The movie chronicles these historic events while dabbling in the personal lives of the three main female characters. The story unfolds from there…

The movie is awesome! My only complaint is that the personal lives of the three main female characters, Katherine Johnson (Henson), Dorothy Vaughn (Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Monae) should have been a bit more prominent in the movie. It would have been nice to find out how they actually got to NASA.

Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer and Janelle Monae were awesome in their roles. The entire cast was really good.

“Hidden Figures” is definitely worth a look and deserves all of the buzz it’s been receiving.

This is a 5 Star Movie!

Moana

I am ending the year with one last review…

“Moana” is a delightful, heart-warming and entertaining animated movie. If you haven’t seen it, you should.
The movie is predictable, but refreshing because there are some twists and turns in the story that were not obvious.
“Moana” is about a young Pacific-Islander girl, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) who against her Father’s wishes goes out on a dangerous mission across the Pacific Ocean to save her people. There are many obstacles along the way, but none of them deter Moana.

The CGI and special effects are tastefully done. The cinematography is excellent. The story and the characters are very endearing.

“Moana” is a movie for the entire family regardless of age.

This is a 5 Star Movie!

Jackie

“Jackie” is an intimate look at the events before, during and after one of the most tragic moments to happen in American History.

Mrs. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy (Natalie Portman) suffered greatly after the loss of her husband and President of the United States but never showed any anguish while in public. “Jackie” gives you a more behind the scenes look at some of the events, conversations and controversy that took place after John F. Kennedy was assassinated and then laid to rest.

The movie is moving and eye-opening. Natalie Portman is outstanding as Mrs. Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy. The movie borders on a documentary/mini-biopic.

“Jackie” opened on Dec 2nd in limited-release (5 Theaters). It’s only opened in a hand full of theaters around the country (348 Theaters). Check it out if you can find it.

This is a 4 Star Movie!

La La Land

“La La Land” is about an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and a Jazz Man (Ryan Gosling) who are both trying to catch a break in the entertainment and movie business in modern day Hollywood. They both struggle to make ends meet while auditioning for various roles and gigs. They are both overwhelmed with disappointment, but finally they each catch a small break, the story unfolds from there…

The movie is a lively “Singing and Dancing” extravaganza. It will remind you of the days of Fred Astaire, Bing Crosby and Ginger Rogers, only this is modern day Hollywood and a modern day musical.

The movie is executed well, is very entertaining and enjoyable. The cinematography is fabulous. Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling have good on-screen chemistry. The Jazz music that is played through-out is awesome!

“La La Land” is worth the ticket.

This is a 4 ½ Star Movie!

Fences

Denzel Washington and Viola Davis both give masterful performances in the big screen adaptation of “Fences”.

The main characters in the movie are both complex and deep. Their performances make it look easy.

“Fences” is about a family of color in 1950’s Pittsburgh. The Patriarch is Troy (Denzel Washington) who works as a city garbage collector. His wife, Rose (Viola Davis) takes care of the house and their teenage son Cory (Jovan Adepo).
Troy is trying to pave a path to a better life for Cory, but Cory thinks his Dad is selling out to the “Establishment”. The story unfolds from there…

“Fences” is August Wilson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play that has been brought to the big screen. The movie shows its “stage” roots a bit, but that does not stop it from being excellent. Denzel not only stars but also directs. Viola and Denzel’s performances outshine and upstage any possible problems.

What a nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon that also happens to be Christmas Day!

This is a 5 Star Movie!

The Passengers in Real 3D

“The Passengers” is about an idea that would be wonderful if it were clearly mapped out and executed appropriately, but unfortunately for the movie it’s not.

Imagine being able to go to sleep for about 135 years while being transported aboard a luxury space ship and wake up to embark on a brand new world. When you wake up you are the same age you were when you went to sleep. Along the way though the space ship has problems, this causes several people to wake up unexpectedly. The story unfolds from there…

The idea behind “The Passengers” is great, but there is no purpose, cause or reason why. Nothing is explained as to why and how these people were selected to make this journey. There are a ton of questions, but no answers. No real plot.

Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence have great on-screen chemistry, but even that is not enough to make “The Passengers” a blockbuster hit.

This is a 2 Star Movie!

Sing in Real 3D

“Sing” is a cute funny animated movie. It’s not “Zootopia” or “The Secret Life of Pets”, but it is still entertaining.

A Koala Bear impresario, named Buster Moon (McConaughey) stages a singing competition for the animal kingdom much like “America’s Got Talent”, but this event is to save a Grand Theater. Buster advertises that there will be a grand prize of $100,000 dollars, but the selected singers find out by accident that there isn’t any prize money. The story unfolds from there…

“Sing” is funny, silly and warm-hearted entertainment. The story is familiar as it definitely relates to real-life situations.

The movie is more for teenagers, not really a child under 8 years old. There is some rude humor and some disturbing peril that a younger child might not understand.

If you are looking for a movie this holiday season that is animated, funny and warm-hearted then “Sing” is your movie.

This is a 3 ½ Star Movie!