Drama

The Darkest Minds

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: The Darkest Minds
  • IMDb: link

The Darkest Minds movie reviewThe Darkest Minds is a mess. It’s as if someone took an entire season of a Freeform sci-fi series made for a tweenage fanbase and condensed it into a single two-hour film. Based on the story structure and pacing you can tell immediately that the movie was adapted from a novel. Drawn-out events are presented in meandering fashion as we follow Ruby (played in early scenes by Lidya Jewett and later by Amandla Stenberg) through a troubling adolescence when she becomes mutated by a virus that leaves 98% of the world’s children dead and the remainder gifted with poorly explained powers.

After being taken from her family by the Federal Government and thrown into a concentration camp for mutants, Ruby eventually escapes through the help of a social worker (hey, Mandy Moore is still working) who exists only as an agent to further the plot and lead Ruby to other kids like herself (Harris Dickinson, Skylan Brooks, and Miya Cech) hunting for a mythical camp of lost boys living outside the system. Yeah… because societies put together by kids (with super-powers no less) are sure to be super stable.

…

The Darkest MindsRead More »

The Darkest Minds Read More »

Sicario: Day of the Soldado

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Sicario: Day of the Soldado
  • IMDb: link

Sicario: Day of the Soldado movie reviewScreenwriter Taylor Sheridan reunites Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin for the sequel to 2015’s Sicario. When the United States realize that terrorists are being smuggled across the Mexican border along with illegal immigrants, Matt Graver’s (Brolin) team is brought in to deal with the problem. Wanting to start a war between the cartels, Graver decides to bring back Alejandro Gillick (del Toro) who a personal grudge against one of the cartel leaders.

Stefano Sollima steps in for Denis Villeneuve (who directed the first Sicario) this time around. Since Sicario is easily my favorite of Villeneuve’s films, I was sorry to not see him return. The biggest difference between Sicario: Day of the Soldado and the original is the lack of female lead. Filling that spot is the side story featuring Elijah Rodriguez a young wannabe on the Mexican border (which is never as compelling as it should be). The sequel definitely misses Blunt as the only female characters of import are Catherine Keener as Graver’s boss and Isabela Moner as a cartel princess whose abduction becomes part of Graver’s larger plan. While both are important to the plot, it’s really del Toro’s movie this time around.

…

Sicario: Day of the SoldadoRead More »

Sicario: Day of the Soldado Read More »

In the Fade

/ / Home Video
  • Title: In the Fade
  • IMDb: link

In the Fade Blu-ray reviewPunctuated by a terrific performance by Diane Kruger, In the Fade is an unflinching and powerful film delving into the themes of love, loss, hatred, bigotry, and revenge. Kruger stars as Katja, a former drug addict who has put her past behind her and has a stable life in Hamburg with her husband and son… at least until a bombing at the shop kills Katja’s family. While the police look for motives tied to Katja or her husband’s murky past, it soon becomes clear that her Kurdish husband was targeted by Neo-Nazis for no other reason than the color of his skin.

…

In the FadeRead More »

In the Fade Read More »

A Wrinkle in Time

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: A Wrinkle in Time
  • IMDb: link

A Wrinkle in Time movie reviewI don’t know if writing the original story required heavy doses of LSD, but I have a hard time believing that there wasn’t some serious drug use putting this film together. Based on Madeleine L’Engle‘s 1962 novel of the same name, A Wrinkle in Time stars Storm Reid as troubled teenager who, along with her younger brother Charles Wallace (Deric McCabe), heads of on a fantastical adventure with three total strangers (Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, and Mindy Kaling) who inform the children that their missing father (Chris Pine) is alive, trapped in a far off world, and needs their help. Oh, and Meg’s classmate (Levi Miller), who isn’t really even a friend, comes along as well. Because why not?

The film’s strengths lie in its overabundance of CGI and young stars. While somewhat emotionally empty, the settings which Meg finds herself in are visually appealing (even if it appears there’s little actual thought put in to how things work). While the various adult actors appear to be having fun making a kid’s film, all the emotional weight is left for Reid to shoulder. And McCabe succeeds in jumping from quirky to downright creepy when required.

…

A Wrinkle in TimeRead More »

A Wrinkle in Time Read More »

Love, Simon

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Love, Simon
  • IMDb: link

Love, Simon movie reviewI’m a sucker for a good coming of age story. In many ways Love, Simon is fairly by the book. We’re given a likable high school student dealing with school, friends, and his first crush. The difference from most of these types of mainstream films, is that Simon (Nick Robinson) is gay. What makes the film work is that while Simon frets about what others will think of him if they learn the truth, his gayness doesn’t solely define him as a character.

Simon’s friends include longtime platonic pal Leah (Katherine Langford), jock Nick (Jorge Lendeborg Jr.), and newcomer Abby (Alexandra Shipp). He’s also got a loving father (Tad Hamilton), mother (Jennifer Garner), and younger sister (Talitha Bateman). Discovering another closeted gay student at his high school, Simon begins trading emails with “Blue.” As the relationship deepens, Simon imagines various people standing in for the mysterious stranger. Complicating matters are a annoying classmate (Logan Miller) who discovers Simon’s secret and uses it to blackmail Simon into helping him score with one of Simon’s friends. While the weakest aspect of the film, it still contains some genuine moments.

…

Love, SimonRead More »

Love, Simon Read More »