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Showing posts from February, 2021

Judas And The Black Messiah - Movie Review

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Judas And The Black Messiah - Movie Review Critics Score - 7 of 10 General Audience Score - 6 of 10 One of the most exciting trailers in recent memory was to a movie that nobody had heard of called Judas And The Black Messiah. That movie is now here. The excitement the trailer generates is palpable. But does the movie earn it the same? PROS - This movie is based around the real life events of Fred Hampton, an articulate, motivating, influential leader in the Black Panther party in the late 60’s. Daniel Kaluuya portrays Fred in what is simply one of the finest performances of the year. We watch as Fred experiences and speaks out against the injustices and corruption in the law enforcement system. Kaluuya’s repeated delivery of the line “I am . . . a revolutionary!”, is utterly breathtaking. It will undoubtedly remain etched in the hearts and minds of many marginalized individuals and those that sympathize with them for years to come. The acting across the board is next level in the film

Nomadland - Movie Review

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Nomadland - Movie Review Critic Score - 8 of 10 General Audience Score - 5 of 10 Why is Nomadland being considered to be among the best films of the year? What is all the hype about? Is it worthy of the hype? In some ways, it certainly is worthy. In others, not so much. It really depends on what you look for in film. PROS - This film follows the path of Fern played by Frances McDormand as she embraces the life of a homeless nomad. One of the most wonderful things about this film is the visuals. The scenery  which Fern is able to enjoy is incredible and we're able to see some of the amazing beauty of the western U.S. The cinematography and camerawork is stunning with some excellent close up shots contrasted with sweeping landscapes and skies. But as Fern continues her journey, McDormand's acting really begins to kick into high gear. As she meets and interacts with some of the other characters, this movie feels almost like a documentary at times with the realism portrayed.  The s

I Care A Lot - Movie Review

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I Care A Lot - Movie Review Critic Score - 8 of 10 General Audience Score - 9 of 10 What can be said about I Care A Lot? It's based on a true story. Nope, not that. But like that, this film is filled with misdirection, twists and turns galore. But will you care a lot about it? PROS - Rosamund Pike plays Marla Grayson who is a con artist of sorts. This performance is the single best thing this movie has going for it, but certainly not the only thing. Pike is fantastic in the role and has already received much praise from critics groups. The odd thing about this performance, one of the finest of the year, is that we, the audience, are actively rooting against this anti-hero, almost from the very start. She's ruthless, brilliant and cunning and without getting into spoilers, we almost revel is seeing her wicked deeds but then also getting her comeuppance. It's a fair delight as we watch Marla go about her business, learn about her work and get to watch the trouble she brings u

Minari - Movie Review

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Minari - Movie Review Critic Score - 8 of 10 General Audience Score - 6 of 10 IMDB description of Minari is “A Korean family starts a farm in 1980s Arkansas.” How well does that concept convert into a full length feature film? And is it a Best Picture contender? PROS - Minari is a simple, clean, deliberately paced and easy to digest movie. The movie follows David, a young boy and his sister, parents and eventually his grandmother as they experience life on an American farm. Some of the situations David and his family encounter are quite amusing and I found myself chuckling, if not heartily laughing, quite often. Some films suffer from a lack of plot lines and twists, some have way to many. This film doesn't have many, but the characters, dialogue and story are engaging enough to carry the film along, without getting bogged down by needless additional drama. The entire ensemble of actors is very well cast and the acting is pretty great. The interactions between David and his grandmo

Malcolm & Marie - Movie Review

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Malcolm & Marie - Movie Review Critic Score - 6 of 10 General Audience Score - 5 of 10 Malcolm and Marie are a young couple that are working through some issues, they may indeed need to start seeing some kind of therapist. As portrayed in last years Marriage Story, the challenges of a relationship can often be a fascinating subject for film. But is the Malcolm & Marie rollercoaster ride worth taking? PROS - Marriage and or the relationship dynamics between two individuals in love are the central themes to many an excellent movie. Malcolm and Marie are no exception to this and prove to be fascinating subjects for our inspection though the course of the evening. The acting is very good and may even stray into the realm of great at times. The performances carry the film along, on their own merits the only two people we see on screen the entirety of the movie are exceptionally talented. Even if they don’t hit the same levels of exceptional work as displayed in Marriage Story. Johan