Movies Graded

Director: Stefano Sollima Stars: Benicio Del Toro, Josh Brolin, Isabela Moner Runtime: 122 minutes Synopsis: A team of federal agents is given the mission to start a war between Mexican drug cartels after it was revealed that they had been sneaking terrorists into American soil. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10  Verdict:  The second installment in this trilogy does not see the return of director Denis Villeneuve nor cinematographer Roger Deakins. And while their absence was felt, it didn't really affect my overall enjoyment of the film which I knew was going to be controversial and sometimes hard to watch after the opening sequence alone. Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro are back as federal agents Matt Graver and Alejandro, and they stole every single scene they were in just like in its predecessor. The supporting actors, while not ha...

Director: Steven C. Miller Stars: Sylvester Stallone, Dave Bautista, Xiaoming Huang Runtime: 96 minutes Synopsis: A man uses his skills to plot his escape from a maximum security prison. Performances: 2/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: 2/10 Costumes/Makeup: 4/10 Editing: 1/10 Cinematography: 2/10 Score/Soundtrack:  1/10  Verdict:  Just another poorly written and poorly executed action flick that relies on random, terribly shot fights breaking every once in a while to keep the audience awake. I never felt that the team involved was even trying to make a decent movie. The actors looked aware of the quality of the project they were participating in, the special effects looked hilariously bad, the score was cheesy and cheap, the cinematography god awful, and the editing, especially during fight scenes, terrible. Stallone and Bautista barely had anything to do, and the flick would've exactly been the same without them. They were clearly inc...

Director: Ben Howling, Yolanda Ramke Stars: Martin Freeman, Anthony Hayes, Susie Porter Runtime: 105 minutes Synopsis: A man looks for someone to take care of his daughter in a zombie-infested Australia. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 4/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10  Verdict:  I love Martin Freeman, and I can't think of a movie or TV show with him in it that I disliked, but there's always a first time for everything. "Cargo" is yet another movie taking place in a world taken over by zombies, and in my opinion is one of the weakest ones. Other than the fact that it's filled with cheese and clichés, it also lacked the emotional impact needed to keep us invested, mostly due to the facts that the characters weren't really developed well. Martin Freeman pretty much played himself, and the supporting cast didn't really give convincing performances, which is partly ...

Director: Billy Wilder Stars: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim Runtime: 110 minutes Synopsis: A struggling writer develops a dangerous relationship with a faded film star. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  "Sunset Boulevard" earned Oscar nominations in the four acting categories, and boy are they deserved. The performances alone in this movie, especially Gloria Swanson's, are worth your time. But that's not all. The film is also filled with pop culture references and memorable cameos that perfectly reflect its time. The story, even though it contained a couple of conveniences that bothered me, was gripping from start to finish, and made me laugh as much as it left me disturbed by the events unfolding. It shouldn't come as a surprise at this point, but "Sunset Boulevard" is yet another classic dire...

Director: Ben Falcone Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Matt Walsh, Molly Gordon Runtime: 105 minutes Synopsis: After her husband asks for a divorce, a middle-aged mom goes back to college to complete her degree. Performances: 2/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 2/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 4/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10  Verdict:  What else were you expecting from a Melissa McCarthy comedy directed by Ben Falcone? The final grade is one more than the number of times I laughed during this comedy, and it should tell you everything you need to know. Final Grade:  1/10

Director:  Gary Ross Stars: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway Runtime: 110 minutes Synopsis: Debbie Ocean, sister of famous con man Danny, gathers a group of women to pull the ultimate heist during the Met Gala. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10 Verdict:  "Ocean's Eight" is not a disaster, but is incredibly unspecial and mediocre. It's nowhere near the quality of Steven Soderbergh's "Ocean's Eleven", both from a technical and a screenplay point of view. I didn't really buy the characters as a team, and the jokes felt forced and to some extent out of place. However what annoyed me most were the frequent plotholes and conveniences that kinda ruined the fun of the heist for me. Finally, the score and scene transitions used felt amateurish at times and distracted me from what was going on in the film. All I wa...

Director: Jeff Wadlow Stars: Lucy Hale, Tyler Posey, Violett Beane Runtime: 100 minutes Synopsis: A group of friends is trapped in a deadly game of truth or dare where the person who doesn't follow the rules dies. Performances: 2/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: 2/10   Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 2/10 Cinematography: 4/10 Score/Soundtrack:  2/10 Verdict:  I'm not going to lie, there is enjoyment to be had in "Truth or Dare". Not as a horror movie, but as a comedy. The film is so poorly written and acted that I laughed more than once while watching it. The rules set for the game are inconsistent and make absolutely no sense, and I had a hard time sympathizing with the characters as every single decision they made is incredibly stupid. The effects used to make the possessed characters look creepy were minimal but hilarious. It honestly looked like they used a Snapchat filter to achieve them, and boy was it funny. They also tried to impleme...

Director: David Cronenberg Stars: James Woods, Debbie Harry, Sonja Smits Runtime: 87 minutes Synopsis: A TV executive becomes the victim of weird hallucinations after acquiring a new disturbing show for his channel.  Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: 9/10 Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  "Videodrome" is a very interestingly unusual and original film that people will either hate or love. It's a horror movie where the monster is something we interact with daily, making the themes of the movie still relevant 35 years later. While the uniquely bold script and the message behind it impressed me, the way Cronenberg shot this techno-surrealist horror flick was equally spectacular. Howard Shore's creepy score is one that will haunt your nightmares for days, and the practical effects used looked terrifyingly real. My issue with the film came mostly in its second half, wh...

Director: Terry Gilliam, Terry Jones Stars: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle Runtime: 91 minutes Synopsis: A parody of King Arthur's quest to find the Holy Grail. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" is over 40 years old, and still holds up perfectly to this day. It's by far one of the best comedies ever made, and definitely funnier than most comedies hitting theaters nowadays. Just sit back, turn on the subtitles, and get ready to laugh for 90 straight minutes. Final Grade:  9/10

Director: Brad Bird Stars: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell Runtime: 118 minutes Synopsis: Everyone's favorite superhero family is back to defeat the evil Screenslaver. Animation:  9/10 Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict: "Incredibles 2" is for many the most anticipated movie of the summer, and they will not be disappointed. While I still find the first one generally better, I still had a blast watching its sequel. The animation and action scenes were stunning, the cinematography interesting, and the characters, old and new, fun to watch. What for me made the movie slightly inferior to its predecessor was the main villain, who does not even compare to the excellent Syndrome, as well as the plot in general, which lacked the depth of the first one and felt at times lazy. Despite all this, fans of the Parr family will for sure love this sequel and will probably leave ...

Director: Jeff Tomsic Stars: Jeremy Renner, Ed Helms, Jake Johnson Runtime: 100 minutes Synopsis: Based on the true story of a game of tag that has been going on for 30 years, "Tag" follows a group of friends who are trying to defeat their still unbeaten friend.   Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 3/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10 Verdict:  Despite a fun premise and a couple of laughs here and there, "Tag" did disappoint me in the end. A lot of the jokes felt forced and lazily written, which is a problem when these same jokes are the core of the movie itself. The characters were fine, I guess, except for one in particular played by Annabelle Wallis who had absolutely no reason to be in the movie and is only used for exposition purposes. If you're looking for a recently released light comedy centered around a game, I'd recommend watching " Game Night " in...

Director: Brad Bird Stars: Craig T. Nelson, Samuel L. Jackson, Holly Hunter Runtime: 115 minutes Synopsis: A family of superheroes must work together to defeat the evil Syndrome and save the world. Animation: 8/10 Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10  Verdict:  "The Incredibles" is my favorite Pixar movie and one of my favorite superhero movies ever made for a reason. It's much more than just a superhero movie, as it deals with bigger themes like family and balance. All the characters are extremely likable and believable, including the antagonist Syndrome who remains to this day one of the best supervillains ever written for the big screen. One cannot talk about "The Incredibles" without also mentioning Michael Giacchino's iconic score, which can be recognized anywhere in a heartbeat. Kids and adults alike can and probably will enjoy this film. Bring on the sequel. Final G...

Director: Nattawut Poonpiriya Stars: Chutimon Chuengcharoensukying, Eisaya Hosuwan, Teeradon Supapunpinyo Runtime: 130 minutes Synopsis: A smart teenager uses her brains to make money by helping her friends cheat on tests. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 3/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10  Verdict:  "Bad Genius", despite a fun premise, was a big disappointment. I felt like I was watching a bad, over the top, TV show with needlessly extravagant editing work and a score that I'm pretty sure was found on the internet. Even the sound effects and most of the acting suffered from the same problems, which took me out of the movie more than once. The story reminded me a lot of the "Now You See Me" films and, much like in those, had a lot of cheesy and predictable moments in it. I was really rooting for this Thai movie to be as good as I wanted it to be, but man was I let do...

Director: J.A. Bayona Stars: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pratt, Ted Levine Runtime: 128 minutes Synopsis: Four years after the events of its predecessor, Owen and Claire have to go back to Isla Nubar to save the remaining dinosaurs from a volcano that's about to kill them all. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Special Effects: 8/10 Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10  Verdict:  Slightly better than the first installment of this new trilogy, "Fallen Kingdom" is still lightyears away from the quality of the original "Jurassic Park". Despite containing some interestingly well-shot scenes, it still suffered from a more than mediocre script filled with conveniences, cheese, and laughable twists that don't fit at all with the story. Some characters didn't need to exist and were added either for comedic relief, which felt a bit awkward, or for exposition purposes. I felt like "Fallen Ki...

Director: Martin Scorsese Stars: Robert De Niro, Jodie Foster, Cybill Shepherd Runtime: 114 minutes Synopsis: A veteran becomes a taxi driver and sees his life descent into a world of mental issues and prostitutes. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  Robert De Niro gives, in my opinion, his best performance of his rich career in this movie. His character could've easily been ruined by over the top acting, but is instead one of the most fascinating characters ever created for the big screen. The film is also known for being Jodie Foster's very first major gig, and she absolutely kills it, and absolutely deserves the Oscar nomination she received along with De Niro. If I had to point out something negative about the film, it would be the fact that it feels sometimes dated from a technical point of view. But that's just a nitpick that I ...

Director: Vittorio De Sica Stars:   Lamberto Maggiorani, Enzo Staiola, Lianella Carell Runtime: 89 minutes Synopsis: A man looks for his stolen bicycle in the streets of Rome with the help of his son. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  Even though the movie can be a bit slow at times, it still paints a beautiful portrait of a post-war Rome. Another thing it successfully explores is human nature and how it can be affected by the smallest of things. If you're into grounded movies that explore themes we deal with on a daily basis, then "Bicycle Thieves" is a must.  Final Grade:  8/10

Director: John Cameron Mitchell Stars: Elle Fanning, Alex Sharp, Nicole Kidman Runtime: 102 minutes Synopsis: The story of Romeo and Juliet told with aliens and punks instead. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Special Effects: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" is a movie people will either absolutely hate or, like me, find okay at best. The concept is fun and interesting to explore, but the characters and plot lacked depth and were kind of sloppily written. I did however love the soundtrack, which also fit perfectly with the themes of the movie.   Final Grade:  5/10 To see how "How to Talk to Girls at Parties" compares to other movies that came out in 2017, click here .

Director: Rob Cohen Stars: Toby Kebbell, Maggie Grace, Ryan Kwanten Runtime: 103 minutes Synopsis: A group of thieves attempts to pull the heist of the century in the midst of a category 5 hurricane. Performances: 3/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: 2/10 Costumes/Makeup: 3/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 3/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10  Verdict:  The worst movie I've seen this year without a doubt. The special effects and cinematography make the movie look like it was made for a straight to DVD release. The story makes no sense and is filled with poor dialogue and forgettable characters. The action scenes check all the clichés of a typical 1990s action flick. I was expecting "The Hurricane Heist" to be enjoyingly bad, but it was just painful to watch.  Final Grade:  1/10

Director: Greg Berlanti Stars: Nick Robinson, Jennifer Garner, Josh Duhamel Runtime: 110 minutes Synopsis: Simon is just a regular teenager trying to live a typical teenager's life. However, he has a big secret that could potentially ruin his plans...  Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10  Verdict:  While there is no denying that this is an important cultural phenomenon, being the first film produced by a major Hollywood studio and centered around a gay teenager, it still didn't live up to my expectations. There was something about the characters that felt forced and unnatural, making it harder to relate to them. There were also a lot of cheesy and cringy moments that reminded of typical teen dramas à la "13 Reasons Why", which also stars Katherine Langford coincidentally. The movie also looked boring from a technical point of view and featu...