Providing an in-depth analysis of a wide range of major and independent films, offering insights into the filmmaking craft.
This feel-good adaptation of the life of P.T Barnum is exactly what the title of the film suggests, he is the greatest showman and the basis of the entire film is not afraid to run with that – be prepared. The film focuses on the life of the man called P.T Barnum wanting to not…
If an unexpected turn is what you want, that’s precisely what you’ll get from Star Wars: The Last Jedi. Star Wars: The Last Jedi continues the story of Rey (Daisey Ridley), as she attempts to train with the legendary Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) in order to defeat the First Order and face Kylo Ren (Adam…
Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens is the rebirth of the franchise helmed with a fresh new cast and carrying with it the nostalgia driven components that fans craved. With fascinating new characters and more than its share of mysteries Star Wars: The Force Awakens reopens the franchise to new possibilities. The Force…
Like any conclusion to a beloved trilogy, it’s all the execution of its finale – Star Wars would not be where it is today if Return of the Jedi had not succeeded in that. Return of the Jedi continues the story of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) as he faces the final forces of darkness and…
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back not only stands firmly as one the greatest adventure films ever conceived, but also as one of the most iconic representations between the conflict of good and evil – this film sinks its claws into the history books by shattering the audience’s mind with arguably the…
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope introduces audiences to the vast and expansive world of Star Wars, the characters within it, and the historic story that began it all – bringing about a cultural shift in cinema so massive that it fundamentally changed how we tell stories to this day. Following the story…
When all hope was lost for the prequel trilogy, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith strikes up a satisfying conclusion, even if many of the same issues followed over to plague its story. Continuing the story of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christiansen) – this story takes us down a dark path as Anakin…
Trading away the dull politics and childish humor from the first film for a forced romantic plotline and over exaggerated drama – Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones suffers from the same big problem as the first film, a complete lack of vision. Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones…
In an effort to capture the imagination of the younger generation — Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace consequently alienated its older audience and forcing its younger audience to grow up with the heavy burden that they found Jar Jar funny when they were young. Following the story two Jedi’s named Qui-Gon Jinn…
Before I get into it, a small disclaimer: if you plan on watching this film or reading reviews regarding The Disaster Artist then I feel it is paramount that you watch The Room (2003) first, it’s something everyone should experience before they die… of breast cancer. (WATCH ‘THE ROOM’ FOR THESE REFERENCES) The Disaster Artist…
There’s dark comedies and then there’s dark comedies – Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, is the latter. Be prepared because in this absurdist drama you’ll see and feel all manner of tone, from good, to bad. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri follows the story of a mother attempting to raise awareness for the murder of…
We had a masterstroke of an idea to just copy and paste the ‘Daddy’s Home 2’ review here and replace the character names and actor names with those that starred in this film; technically the criticisms of the review would make perfect sense and the entire review would work smoothly, because both movies are IDENTICAL!…
Wonder is the “feel good, then feel sad, then feel good again” movie of the year – directed by Stephen Chbosky and based on the novel of the same name, this touching story stands as an example that adaptations are always possible to do when you have the right team working on the narrative. In…
Justice League discards the brooding tone that has reigned supreme over the DCEU and trades it away for a much more light-hearted and simplistic storyline. But at what cost? Justice League is director Zack Snyder’s attempt at bringing the legendary team of superheroes to the big screen. In this, these heroes band together to form…
Wasted potential are the words to describe the overwhelming response that Suicide Squad had upon release – from the talented casting choice, to the creative team behind the production design; Suicide Squad stands as an example in cinema of having every available resource supplied and completely wasting all of it. Suicide Squad follows the story…
Daddy’s Home Two is yet another cringe inducing attempt at the typical Christmas themed comedy for the year, yes, another bad one – and a sequel at that. Daddy’s Home Two follows the story of a “dad coming home”, in this case, the father of Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg’s character’s – starring John Lithgow…
If you’ve seen Batman v Superman as its standard release and you were confused about the story, or perhaps you felt the movie was messy, well then the ultimate edition may be for you. It’s Snyder in all his glory yet again, with great visuals and style, and with an even messier story structure than…
Zack Snyder‘s first entrance into the DCEU began with Man of Steel – he set both the tone and the visual precedence over all future films, there’s no denying Snyder is a master of visuals, and this is where he shines, he has produced some of the greatest visual cinematography in the superhero genre; not…
Breathe follows the true story of a young man and his life dealing with his disability – in this he attempts to construct a wheelchair for the masses. Right off the bat, this type of story has been seen before in films such as The Theory of Everything (2015), now not to discredit any of…
With plenty of attention to detail and a flashy visual aesthetic – Murder on the Orient Express presents itself to be the grand mystery film of the year, with all the bells and whistles that a luxury murder train should have – so, does it? Murder on the Orient Express is a crime mystery film…
Thor: Ragnarok is the third installment in the Thor franchise within the Marvel Cinematic Universe by Marvel Studios; it is loosely based around the Norse religious apocalypse known as Ragnarok and follows the return of the goddess of death, Hela. With comedy director Taika Waititi leading a new creative direction for the Thor franchise, it’s…
Katheryn Bigelow’s Detroit places the viewer in the shoes of the victims and the perpetrators of the war torn neighbourhood of Detroit and forces you to feel every ounce they experience. But does this sullen drama get everything right? Well, let’s dissect that. Detroit takes place during the 1967 raids and riots in the streets…
It is so common within the landscape of cinema to be let down by sequel that is attempting to capitalize of the success of an older film part of that franchise. Blade Runner 2049 is absolutely, without a shred of doubt, an exception here. Set roughly 30 years after the events of the first Blade…
Sequels are hard, especially when you lose the original director, an instance of this was with Kick-Ass 2 (2013), a thoroughly underwhelming sequel to director Matthew Vaughn‘s original film. Thankfully time around Matthew Vaughn is here to ensure that Kingsman remains untarnished. The story continues the journey of Eggsy (Taron Egerton) months after the events…
If you aren’t a fan of quote on quote “pretentious cinema” then you may want to turn around – as this is decidedly as very unfriendly film for your typical moviegoers. Mother! viscerally forces you through the intimate perspective of a youthful wife (Jennifer Lawrence) as she is thrown deep into a pit of dark…
Horror movies are about taking one’s fears and using them against the viewer, or in this case using the literal fears against the characters in the film. Director Andrés Muschietti has created as much of a coming-of-age drama as he has a fantasy/horror. The film follows the journey of a rag-tag group of kids (the…
The Hitman’s Bodyguard utilises the refurbished star power of Ryan Reynolds and the always entertaining demeanor of Samuel L. Jackson to offer up your standard summer cash-grab. It’s not hard to notice that this film doesn’t have any defining traits, two men fight bad guys and try to survive, there’s really not much else to…
Standing as one of the most grounded and entertaining movies of the year; Good Time is about the unequivocal bond of brotherhood and the story of a misguided young man making decisions that he believes is best for his brother. Simply, Good Time follows the story of two brothers separated after a heist gone wrong,…
Flashy visuals weren’t enough to save this film from drifting into the depths of Hollywood cliché; Valerian may offer some creative ideas, but its cringe-inducing lines of dialogue and abysmal performances threw away any potential it may have had. In a massive intergalactic city where many alien races live together in relative peace, a mystery…
Hounds of Love has the potential to unsettle you to the core, with its clinical and merciless atmosphere to its emotionally unstable antagonists, this Mystery/Crime film stands as a powerful reminder of the horrors that can be committed. So be warned, all of those who enter this unsettling film. Hounds of Love follows the story…
The Killing of a Sacred Deer is an oddity among many screenplays, as it unconventionally creates an emotional storyline without much emotion – another step in solidifying Yorgos Lanthimos‘ peculiar style. In this strange story we follow a Doctor (Colin Farrell) attempting to atone for a mistake he feel he made. From the director of…
Slow, methodical, and meditative – A Ghost Story won’t be for those that bore easily, but it will reward those who can put up with its mellow length. Pushed with intent, this fantasy drama film follows the harrowed journey of a lost ghost as it peers through time. A Ghost Story is about the exploration…
Serving up what could be considered this year’s first Oscar nominated performances and a touching narrative to glue it all together; Call Me by Your Name offers a unique perspective on a range of different life lessons. Call Me by Your Name follows the story of a 17 year old boy named Elio (Timothée Chalamet)…
When I heard that Sofia Coppola was making a period drama I brushed it aside as perhaps another attempt to try her hand at creating another film similar to Marie Antoinette (2006) and immediately felt a sense of disinterest, but as material released, my interest had peaked and I’m glad it did, as The Beguiled…
If you’re in the mood for weird but not too weird, then search no more – The Square hits a nice balance between odd and entertaining. Winning the Palme d’Or and cementing director Ruben Östlund as a talent; The Square is a film about art, as it literally takes place in an art museum in…
Armed with lead actress Charlize Theron, supporting actor James McAvoy, and director of John Wick (2014), David Leitch; Atomic Blonde has plenty of talent to utilize, and it does… to an extent. Atomic Blonde follows the story an British spy (Charlize Theron) on a mission to obtain a list in Germany that contains the names…
The stagnant state of the rom-com genre has gone unnoticed by myself, as the trend began dying out as early as 2006. The Big Sick made me experience one of those watershed moments where you realize just how few rom-com’s have actually released in this decade, furthermore, just how few good ones. The Big Sick…
From the writer of Sicario (2015) and Hell or High Water (2016), Taylor Sheridan has his directorial debut with Wind River, and thus concluding his trilogy of films. Wind River is another exploration of the failings in fatherhood, and the modern American frontier, as it explores real events to create awareness for current day issues….
Dunkirk stands as a stark replication of the real life events that transpired, the men who lost their lives, and the desperate reach towards home. Expect a film that respects and honor’s the events that took place while showcasing the harsh realities of war. In this film we follow the journey of multiple young men…
If quick editing and witty dialogue are your jam, get in loser, because Baby Driver will take your on a road-trip to a highway of it. Baby Driver follows the story of a young man named Baby (Ansel Elgort) with a debt on his hands, he’s the getaway driver, but here’s the catch, he’s gotta…
Few trilogies ever really pan out in a fashion that has each successive film become increasingly better; well, it does here. War for the Planet of the Apes continues the story of Caesar and the dilapidated world of humanity that has now almost entirely fallen apart. War for the Planet of the Apes stretches it…
With the rare collaboration of two major studios you would think Spider-Man: Homecoming would have been caught in a web of messy creative decisions – well, to put things simply, Marvel Studios took the reigns here and they don’t let this opportunity go to waste. Spider-Man: Homecoming continues the story of Peter Parker after the…
Weak, very weak… It’s hard to deny Michael Bay knows his way around visuals and action sequences, but in almost every other category of his movies, Bay relentlessly stumbles, and Transformers: The Last Knight is no exception. Transformers: The Last Knight continues the story of Cade Yeager (Mark Wahlberg) as he confronts yet another end…
There are two types of people who go Despicable Me or Minions movies, those who are dragged and those that come with a smile on their face. Depending on which group you identify as will depend on whether this film does anything for you. Despicable Me 3 continues the story of Gru, his daughters, and…
If you’re here to gain a better understanding of the events that lead to one of world’s greatest invasions, well, turn back – because what you’ll get is a character-study of Churchill more than a lesson on history. Churchill takes place during the days leading up to D-Day, covering Churchill’s fundamental disagreement with the invasion…
If you’re planning on watching it in the evening, then I’d say this movie does one thing right, it lives up to its name, because you’re sure as hell going to have a rough night. Rough Night is a dark comedy film directed by Lucia Aniello, it is her first feature film and hopefully her…
Nobody asked for The Mummy to come back to life, yet here we are. So, is this resurrection worth all the fuss? The Mummy follows the story of an army-dude (Tom Cruise) accidentally awakening a Mummy (Sofia Boutella) – yep. Tom Cruise is one of the biggest American action stars in the world, and while…
The savior, Wonder Woman, has arrived in all her Amazonian glory – bearing a shield to protect itself from the seemingly inescapable DCEU criticisms, a lasso to round up all the critics, and a sword to make sure they know who’s calling the shots. Get ready for something truly wonderful. Wonder Woman follows the story…
Offering only the occasional chuckle sprinkled with some high tier eye candy – Baywatch is neither entirely serious or comedic as a whole. This is… exactly what you’d expect. Baywatch follows the story of six lifeguards joining forces to take down a drug lord. If not for the charm of Dwayne Johnson and the peculiar…
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword is Guy Ritchie’s attempt at bringing this historical legend to the big screen – but can Richie’s modern film-making style truly meld with a middle-ages fantasy? Simply, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword follows a man named Arthur (Charlie Hunnam) and his quest to take up the magical sword…
A curse, a treasure, and a dead man hunting on the sea – these three story elements are present in every Pirates of the Caribbean film, and this one is no exception. Before I get into the review, I need to let you know that it’s ESSENTIAL that you stay and watch the end credit…
Book-to-film adaptations have become very common in the past decade, I find that most lose touch with what the novel was intending to say, however, The Sense of an Ending sits on the edge. The Sense of an Ending was directed by Ritesh Batra, it follows the story of a divorced man called Tony Webster…
While the marketing implies a potential horror storyline and a crew having a family dynamic akin to the original Alien films – Alien: Covenant instead leads with the same style as Prometheus (2012); with less focus on the alien and crew, and more focus on the story building. Alien: Covenant follows the story of a…
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is funny, colorful, and enjoyable in most categories – Drax makes inappropriate jokes, Baby Groot dances, and there’s 80’s music playing constantly; if you want all those things, then you’ll get them in droves. However, if you wanted a tenser story with richer character development, this sequel focuses primarily…
Colossal is a film that should neither work nor exist; yet it functions firmly as a dark comedy with just enough drama, suspense, and quirkiness to keep you intrigued till the very end. Colossal is a sci-fi comedy directed by Nacho Vigalondo – it follows the story of a young woman with an alcohol problem…
Flipping cars, explosions, and the comedic tough guy one-liners – whether you roll your eyes or laugh at the absurdity, Fate of the Furious is designed to be as entertaining as it is ridiculous. Fate of the Furious is an action film directed by F. Gary Gray and is the 8th installment of the Fast…