Movies Graded

Director: Suzi Yoonessi Stars: Sarah Jeffery, Sarah Gilman, Vanessa Marano Runtime:  72 minutes Synopsis: Before joining the Mystery Inc. gang, Daphne and Velma must work together to catch the responsible behind some spooky stuff going on at their high school.    Performances: 3/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: 3/10 Costumes/Makeup: 4/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 3/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10 Verdict:  Exactly what you'd expect from a movie about Daphne and Velma taking place in a technologically advanced high school and produced by Ashley Tisdale. Final Grade:  2/10

Director: Eric Barbier Stars: Pierre Niney, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Didier Bourdon Runtime: 131 minutes Synopsis: The life of famous French writer Romain Gary with a focus on his relationship with his mother. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  While there is no denying that the life led by the author is fascinating, the way it was translated to film left me a bit disappointed. Other than the fact that the movie was unnecessarily long, director Eric Barbier also to chose to have a lot of shaky scenes and narration, which had a negative impact on film's quality. The editing was also not great, as a lot of the scenes felt disconnected thus affecting the flow of the story. However, the performances, especially by Charlotte Gainsbourg as Gary's mother Nina, were solid, and so was the score. Final Grade:  6/10 To see how "La ...

Director: Ron Howard Stars: Alden Ehrenreich, Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke Runtime: 135 minutes Synopsis:  The early years of famous intergalactic smuggler Han Solo. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Special Effects: 8/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10  Verdict:  "Solo" is not the worst Star Wars film out there, but is the most forgettable. It suffers from weak humor, a safe and blend storyline, and a lack of chemistry between the protagonists. I also never once felt that the characters I was watching were the same ones the world fell in love with years ago. This entry in the Star Wars universe, unfortunately, should've stayed in a galaxy far far away. Final Grade:  5/10

Director: Cory Finley Stars: Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin Runtime: 92 minutes Synopsis:  Two friends resort to the unthinkable in order to get rid of their problems. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  God I love "Thoroughbreds". I love the acting, the chemistry, the score, the cinematography, the dialogue, the personalities... I love the simplicity of the narrative which, when matched with the complexity of the characters, makes for a very entertaining, charming, nuanced, and subtly funny watch. The film, which was originally written as a play, follows the unusual friendship between Amanda and Lily, played respectively by Olivia Cooke and Anya Taylor-Joy. The former is emotionless, cold, and very honest while the latter is shyer, more sensitive, and holds a deep hatred towards her stepfather. Throughout the very well-paced narrative, we slowly explore how the t...

Director: Francis Lawrence Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts Runtime: 140 minutes Synopsis: Follows Dominika, a ballet dancer whose career was ended by a broken leg, leading her to become a Russian spy in order to provide for her ill mother. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10  Verdict:  "Red Sparrow" attempts to be a smart spy thriller but ultimately ends up being way too long and convoluted for my liking.   Final Grade:  5/10

Director:  Billy Wilder Stars: Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, Charles Laughton Runtime: 116 minutes Synopsis: A barrister whose health is failing him decides to take as a client a man accused of murder.  Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 10/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10  Verdict:  Full of twists and turns, "Witness for the Prosecution" is up there with "12 Angry Men" as one of the most thrilling courtroom dramas ever made. I sincerely loved every second of it, and can't recommend it enough.  Final Grade:  10/10

Director: Alexandros Avranas Stars: Jim Carrey, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Marton Csokas Runtime: 92 minutes Synopsis: When similarities are found between a book and an unsolved murder, Tadek, a Polish detective convinced that the author played in role in the crime, decides to reopen the case.  Performances: 4/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10  Verdict:  "Dark Crimes" may be only 92 minutes long, but feels much, much longer. Monotone acting, cringe-worthy dialogue, and unnecessarily long scenes made me lose interest in the plot very early on. In the right hands, it could've been worth the watch, but as it stands, I wouldn't recommend spending your time on it. Final Grade:  3/10

Director: John G. Avildsen Stars: Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita, Elisabeth Shue Runtime: 126 minutes Synopsis: A young kid decides to learn karate in order to stand up to his bullies. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10  Verdict:  More than just a movie, "The Karate Kid" is a life lesson. Led by some of the most iconic characters in movie history, it still holds up to this day and can be enjoyed by pretty much anyone. A must. Final Grade:  9/10

Director: Ali Soozandeh Stars: Farhad Abadinejad, Jasmina Ali, Rozita Assadollahy Runtime: 96 minutes Synopsis:  Four people attempt to break Islamic restrictions in a religion dominated Tehran. Animation: 5/10 Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: N.A. Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10  Verdict:  Slow paced and quite frankly pretty dull, "Tehran Taboo" poorly deals with interesting and very relevant themes. The choice to make the movie an animated one held it back in my opinion, as it took away from the realism of the situation. Final Grade:  5/10 To see how "Tehran Taboo" compares to other movies released in 2017, click here .

Director: Coralie Fargeat Stars: Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz, Kevin Janssens, Vincent Colombe Runtime: 108 minutes Synopsis: When Jen is raped by a man, she becomes determined to hunt him and his two equally guilty friends in a desert.  Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10  Verdict:  Not even some narrative issues and a fair amount of conveniences could take me out of this blood-filled ride. It goes from 0 to a 100 in a second and remains there. I'm already excited to see what newcomer Coralie Fargeat's next project is going to be. Final Grade:  8/10 To see how "Revenge" compares to other movies that came out in 2017, make sure to click here .

Director: Clint Eastwood Stars: Alek Skarlatos, Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone Runtime: 94 minutes Synopsis: The true story of the three Americans who stopped a terrorist attack on a train in France. Performances: 3/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 3/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10  Verdict:  Looks and feels like a student film. The story and its characters lacked authenticity despite it being a true story starring the real people involved. A rare misfire from industry legend Clint Eastwood. Final Grade:  1/10

Director: Tim Miller Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller Runtime: 108 minutes Synopsis: Fuelled by love and anger, Wade Wilson, aka Deadpool, sets off to find and defeat Francis, the doctor responsible for his horrible disfigurement.     Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Special Effects: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10  Verdict:  The first R-rated superhero movie is hilariously self-aware. Despite a pretty straightforward narrative, and some of the jokes feeling forced and cheesy, it's still incredibly entertaining and funny. Ryan Reynold is superb as the Merc with a mouth. Final Grade:  7/10

Director: Billy Wilder Stars: Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck, Edward G. Robinson Runtime: 107 minutes Synopsis: When Walter, an insurance representative, falls in love with Phyllis, one of his clients' wife, they come up with a plan together to get rid of him via an insurance scam.  Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10  Verdict:  A classic if there ever was one. The picture not only benefits from a fascinating and disturbing story that will keep you on the edge of your seat for its entire runtime, but also from incredible performances by the whole cast, and especially Barbara Stanwyck as the ruthless Phyllis. Final Grade:  9/10

Director: Wes Anderson Stars: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton Runtime: 101 minutes Synopsis: Set in a futuristic dog-hating Japan, "Isle of Dogs" follows Atari as he goes on a journey to find his lost dog, Spots. Animation: 10/10 Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A.    Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10  Verdict:  Yet another masterpiece by Wes Anderson highlighted by quirky and funny dialogue, on point voice performances, and, last but not least, beautifully crafted stop-motion animation. Fans of the director's unique style will not be disappointed.  Final Grade:  8/10

Director: Sebastian Lelio Stars: Daniela Vega, Francisco Reyes, Luis Gnecco Runtime: 100 minutes Synopsis: "A Fantastic Woman" is the story of Marina, a transgender woman trying to seek the acceptance of her recently deceased boyfriend's family.   Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10  Verdict:  Slow paced at times, but never to the point of complete boredom, "A Fantastic Woman"'s greatest asset is its beautifully layered and interesting lead character, Marina. Daniela Vega is a revelation.  Final Grade:  7/10 To see how this movie compares to other movies that came out in 2017, click here .

Director: Isao Takahata Stars: Tsutomu Tatsumi, Ayano Shiraishi, Akemi Yamaguchi Runtime: 89 minutes Animation: 9/10 Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Special Effects: N.A. Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10  Verdict:  Roger Ebert described "Grave of the Fireflies" as being one of the best and most powerful war films ever made. And I absolutely agree with that statement. The movie, which is one of Studio Ghibli's very first projects, follows Seita as he takes care of his younger sister, Setsuko, in war-torn Japan. First of all, let's get the obvious out of the way. Just like every Studio Ghibli feature ever made, the animation is absolutely gorgeous and adds a lot to the experience. The same can be said about Michio Mamiya's transporting and wonderful score. But what makes this film one of the best Studio Ghibli animated movies is the excellently layered bond between the main two characters. This bond is...

Director: Dan Gregor Stars: Vincent Kartheiser, Rachel Bloom, Adam Pally Runtime: 99 minutes Performances: 3/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 4/10 Editing: 3/10 Cinematography: 3/10 Score/Soundtrack:  2/10  Verdict:  Yikes. I love a good murder mystery movie, but this one's definitely not one of them. "Most Likely to Murder" follows Billy as he investigates his neighbor and former high school classmate Lowell, who he believes murdered his own mother. There is not one aspect I enjoyed about the movie. It tries to take a comedic approach, but most jokes fall flat on their stomachs and either go on for far too long, or are lazily written and predictable. The main character is extremely unlikable and as a result, made me cringe every time he was on screen. The way the actors delivered their lines was also amateurish and made me suspect that the director just went with the first take he filmed. The f...

Director: Kay Cannon Stars:  John Cena, Leslie Mann, Ike Barinholtz Runtime: 102 minutes Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 3/10 Cinematography: 3/10 Score/Soundtrack:  2/10 Verdict:  When Mitchell, Lisa, and Hunter find out that their daughters are planning to lose their virginity on prom night, they are determined to find them and stop them before it's too late in "Blockers", Kay Cannon's directorial debut. This is a comedy you've probably seen a million times in films like "Bad Moms" or "Superbad", and  that doesn't really offer anything new to the genre. I did laugh a couple of times but most of the jokes were predictable and cliché. The three main performances are okay for the most part, with John Cena defying all odds and actually delivering the best performance of the leading trio, but sadly the supporting cast mainly constituted of young actors wasn't...

Director: Junpei Mizusaki Stars: Koichi Yamadera, Wataru Takagi, Ai Kakuma Runtime: 85 minutes Animation: 9/10 Performances: 5/10 Screenplay:  3/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10  Verdict:  When a fight against Grodd goes wrong, Batman and all his entourage find themselves trapped in Ancient Japan, where the caped crusader must defeat all his enemies to go back to present times. Ever since the trailer for the movie came out, the idea of mixing some of the most beloved western characters with Japanese culture intrigued me. And in a way, that mix actually worked. The character designs were incredible, and the animation succeeded in making the movie look like an anime. Even the tonally eastern score worked pretty well, even though it did eventually get a bit repetitive. However, it's in its writing that the animated film suffers. The characters were really disappointing, especially the Joker, who in my opinion i...

Director: James Foley Stars: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Eric Johnson Runtime: 105 minutes Performances: 3/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 1/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10  Verdict: A narrative that's all over the place, wooden performances by uninterested actors, and one of the most random soundtracks I have ever listened to make "Fifty Shades Freed" the worst entry in the franchise, which is saying a lot. On the bright side, the torture is finally over.  Final Grade:  1/10