Movies Graded

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo Runtime: 149 minutes Synopsis:  10 years and 18 movies later, the Earth's mightiest heroes finally confront the universe's biggest threat, Thanos. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: 10/10 Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict:  I loved every second of this two and a half hours epic. What the Russo brothers accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary, as managing to balance literally dozens of superheroes in one movie is a task I thought impossible. The cast, despite not really offering anything new, was brilliant as well, perfectly blending drama and comedy. But the actor who caught my attention the most was Josh Brolin as the pitiless Thanos, who we only saw glimpses of in previous installments, and who without a doubt is Marvel's best and most menacing villain to date. The visual e...

Director: Chris Columbus Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint Runtime: 161 minutes Synopsis: During Harry's second year at Hogwarts, many students are victims of terrible attacks all related to a mysterious room hidden somewhere in the castle known as the Chamber of Secrets.   Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict:  "Chamber of Secrets" is Chris Columbus' second and final contribution to the Harry Potter franchise. After setting up the universe in the first entry, he opted for a tonally darker approach for the sequel. A tone that was explored more extensively in future installments. However, "Chambers of Secrets" still feels very much like an extension of "Sorcerer's Stone". It still has quite a bit of cheese and goof in it, the child performances are still not quite there yet, and the special effect...

Director: Jeremy Phillips Stars: Lindsey Shaw, Judd Nelson, Dendrie Taylor Runtime: 85 minutes Synopsis: A look at Lissa's tainted and depressing life, with a focus on her relationship with her parents and her boyfriend.  Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10 Verdict:  Is "1/1" the best movie of the year? I don't think it is. Is it the most unique one? Yes. I don't think I've ever witnessed a story told the way it was in this film written and directed by Jeremy Phillips. Ambitious films are always a gamble to make, as they could either be viewed as pretentious or genius. And I believe "1/1" is a mix of both. I really enjoyed how the narrative was pieced together in such a way that the audience was able to see what was going on in the protagonist's head, and I liked how every subplot was divided into the same segments. The ...

Director: Alfred Sole Stars: Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton, Paula E. Sheppard Runtime: 98 minutes Synopsis: Alice, a young girl with psychopathic tendencies, is suspected of brutally murdering her sister Karen. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  I was in the mood for a good old horror film since I haven't seen one in a while. I somehow stumbled across "Alice, Sweet Alice", which was originally called "Communion" and which is also Brooke Shields' film debut. I was immediately sold when I learned that the flick was centered around a deranged kid, which is a horror subgenre I really enjoy watching. The fact that it came out during what many consider to be the golden age of horror films was a huge plus as well. However, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with the end result. The movie's biggest asset is by f...

Director: Jason Reitman Stars:  Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass Runtime: 95 minutes Synopsis: An exhausted mother hires a night nanny to take care of her newborn.  Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  I don't think I ever watched a film directed by Jason Reitman that I didn't at least enjoy. And "Tully" is no exception. The film stars an Oscar-worthy Charlize Theron, along with Mackenzie Davis and Mark Duplass, who are both great as well, and mostly deals with the theme of parenthood and how exhausting it can be. What I loved most about the movie are the characters and how humane they are all portrayed. The journey Theron's character Marlo goes through is one that will scare you from ever having children, and the way that character grows as the movie progresses truly shows the star's acting abilities and emotio...

Director: Christopher McQuarrie Stars: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames Runtime: 157 minutes Synopsis: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team find themselves once again in the middle of a mission that, if gone wrong, could cause the world to go to chaos.    Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: 7/10 Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  The "Mission: Impossible" franchise is one I never really got into. I've seen all five previous installments, and I can't honestly say that I loved any of them. Some are better than others for sure, but overall it's pretty much Tom Cruise pulling off impossible stunts that keeps them from being just like every other action/spy thriller out there. Having said that, I went in to watch "Fallout" with fairly reasonable expectations. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, but there was something about the trailer that got me a bit more excited...

Director: Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton Runtime: 45 minutes Synopsis: A film monitor dreams of becoming a detective. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 10/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack: 10/10  Verdict:  If filmmaking was a science, Buster Keaton would've won a Nobel prize for this movie. The classic, made in 1924, aged like fine wine and holds up perfectly to this day, nearly 100 years after its initial release. The film is only 45 minutes long but never stops to breathe for a second. It's hilarious and action-packed since the very first second, and this all thanks to Buster Keaton's incredible stunt work (which nearly got him killed), and marvelous comedic timing. Keaton doesn't only shine in front of the camera but also leaves a mark behind it. The film uses editing and camera handling techniques that revolutionized moviemaking forever. The scor...

Director: Chris Colombus Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Richard Harris Runtime: 152 minutes Synopsis: After discovering that he was a wizard, Harry Potter has to adapt to his new lifestyle in Hogwarts.  Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Special Effects: 5/10 Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10 Verdict:  I remember watching this movie for the very first time in theaters when I was 6. I instantly fell in love with J.K. Rowling's universe and became a loyal Potterhead (I'm a Hufflepuff, in case you're wondering). I have since read all the books and watched all the films (much) more than once. Harry Potter has been a big part of my life, and remains so to this day. The newest chapter in Rowling's universe, "The Crimes of Grindelwald", is being released later this year, and I thought It'd be fun to share with you my thoughts on the previous entries in the franchise. "Harry Pot...

Director: Alfred Hitchcock Stars: James Stewart, John Dall, Farley Granger Runtime: 80 minutes Synopsis: Two men commit a murder and host a dinner party immediately after it.  Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 10/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict:  One of the infamous "Five Lost Hitchcocks", "Rope" was also considered at the time of its release to be Hitchcock's most controversial film. The reason? It is lead by a homosexual couple, which is an implication that was considered to be taboo back then. However, this is not the main reason why I watched the classic. "Rope" is Hitchcock's first movie to be shot in color, and one of the most interestingly filmed pictures I have ever seen. Much like the much more recent masterpiece "Birdman", it consists of a total of only 10 scenes pieced together in such a way that the entire movie looks to be ...

Director: Kevin Connolly Stars: John Travolta, Spencer Rocco Lofranco, Kelly Preston Runtime: 104 minutes Synopsis: About the rise in power of notorious crime boss John Gotti. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 3/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10  Verdict:  As I'm writing this, "Gotti" has a glistening 0% score on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning that not one critic gave it a score higher than 6/10. This obviously encouraged me to watch the film, since I sometimes enjoy "so bad it's good" films, and this one seemed to fit the description perfectly. But I was let down. "Gotti" is not a good movie by any means, but it's not because it was hilariously shot, or terribly acted. In fact, the cinematography was kind of decent, and the acting, while not being consistent, was okay. The main problem of the biography was its screenplay, which was incredibly boring and repet...

Director: Ol Parker Stars: Lily James, Amanda Seyfried, Meryl Streep   Runtime: 114 minutes Synopsis: Sequel to "Mamma Mia" (2008) in which Donna's past is explored. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10 Verdict:  "Mamma Mia" remains to this day one of my biggest guilty pleasures. I never really cared about its story or who Sophie's real dad is, but absolutely love the soundtrack and dance sequences. This is why I was surprised to learn that the musical was getting a sequel. As we all know, the songs featured in the film are all written by ABBA, and I couldn't see how the sequel was going to deliver something new when all the good songs were utilized in the first installment. The answer turned out to be pretty simple: ABBA has more hits than I thought they had and, apart from two or three songs, the movie has an entirely different ...

Director: Anthony Byrne Stars: Ed Skrein, Natalie Dormer, Emily Ratajkowski Runtime: 110 minutes Synopsis: A blind woman is taken down a dark path when her neighbor is brutally murdered.  Performances: 4/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10 Verdict:  "In Darkness", technically speaking, is not a bad movie. It's just a frustrating one. The thriller looks good for the most part and flows well except for a few places here and there, but I just couldn't care about the plot which I feel I've seen about a million times before. Everything in it, from the villains to the twists, was generic and unoriginal. The dialogue was dull, and the score a huge disappointment especially considering the fact that the main character is a musician. Another thing that didn't work at all for me was the performances. They were not at all consistent with the tone of the movie, a...

Director: Brad Anderson Stars: Rosamund Pike, Jon Hamm, Mark Pellegrino Runtime: 109 minutes Synopsis: An American diplomat is sent to a war-torn Beirut to negotiate the release of a friend. Performances: 4/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10  Verdict:  First of all, I feel obliged to mention that this is a movie review and will not be influenced by my personal political beliefs whatsoever. Having said that, the words I'd use to describe "Beirut" are boring and forgettable. Almost every aspect of it was bland and unspecial, including the plot, characters, and acting. The film didn't particularly look good either, as many of the scenes were dark and shaky, and the cuts frequent and annoying. This is definitely not a movie I'll remember in a week's time, and not one that I recommend watching. Final Grade:  4/10

Director: Luchino Visconti Stars: Anna Magnani, Walter Chiari, Tina Apicella Runtime: 108 minutes Synopsis: The mother of a young actress will do anything to get her daughter a role in a movie.  Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict:  "Bellissima" is probably my favorite film dating from the Italian Neorealism era (which also saw the making of classics such as " Bicycle Thieves " or "La Dolce Vita"). I absolutely loved that movie, which revolves around the themes of parenthood and cinema. The characters in it are certainly part of the reason I enjoyed it so much. Anna Magnani is an absolute joy to watch, and her character one of the most layered and interesting ones I have seen in a while. The movie centers around her and her obsession with casting her daughter in a film and she sells every single scene she's in. I forgot...

Director: Rob Greenberg Stars: Anna Faris, Eva Longoria, Eugenio Derbez Runtime: 112 minutes Synopsis: A mother of three takes advantage of a former employer's accident to have her revenge on him. Performances: 4/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10 Verdict:  Yet another remake that exists for purely economic reasons. "Overboard" represents everything wrong with the comedy industry nowadays. It lacks originality both in its plot and jokes, puts to screen really unlikable and two-dimensional characters, and is sloppily executed and way too long for a movie of that sort. Unfortunately, I'm letting this one drown.  Final Grade:  3/10

Director: Max Ophuls Stars: Charles Boyer, Danielle Darrieux, Vittorio De Sica Runtime: 105 minutes Synopsis: A series of event unfolds when a French aristocrat decides to sell the diamond earrings her husband got her as a wedding gift. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict:  This is going to be a relatively short review. I watched this film as an assignment given to me with the goal to discover and take in the style of Max Ophuls, a German director who made a name for himself from the 1930s until the mid-1950s. A Franco-Italian production, "The Earrings of Madame De..." is one of his most critically acclaimed pictures, as proven by its 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes and its 4/4 Rogert Ebert grade. And while there is no denying that the movie is a technical marvel, I wasn't as invested as I wanted to be by the story. I found it to be repetiti...

Director: Tony Richardson Stars: Richard Burton, Claire Bloom, Mary Ure Runtime: 98 minutes Synopsis: Based on a play written by John Osborne, focuses on the relationship between a man with anger issues and his wife. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  The best part about the movie was by far the realistic relationship depicted. But unfortunately, this positive asset was tainted by some questionable casting choices (Richard Burton does not look 25 at all), some average performances, and characters that didn't really feel as genuine as their interactions. The directorial debut of Tony Richardson, while beautifully shot, had also some structural problems. The scenes felt poorly linked to each other, and the editing felt sometimes rough and sudden. "Look Back in Anger" had all the ingredients to become one of the greatest films in its g...

Director: Bart Layton Stars: Evan Peters, Ann Dowd, Barry Keoghan Runtime: 116 minutes Synopsis: The true story of a heist committed by a group of young men, and the planning that preceded it.  Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  I have been excited to see Bart Layton's directorial debut ever since the first trailer was released a few months ago. And I'm relieved to say that it did not disappoint. The film felt like such a breath of fresh air in a blockbuster dominated summer. Layton opted to make the movie look like a documentary since the story he chose to adapt is based on real events, and completed it with interviews with the real characters, as well as a very documentary-esque cinematography that worked well considering the intentions of the director. The editing also gave the movie a unique presentation that I absolu...

Director: Nick Park Stars: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams Runtime: 89 minutes Synopsis: A tribe of cavemen must defend their valley in a game of football against a more advanced civilization.  Animation: 6/10 Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10 Verdict:  This is the first time I watch an Aardman film, who is most known for their stop-motion animated films ("Wallace and Gromit", "Chicken Run"). And I won't be running to see the next one. I'm a huge fan of stop-motion animation which I feel is the perfect blend of animation and live action, but this particular project, while having okay clay work, didn't feel as genuine as some other movies I have watched that fall in the same category. The whole film was targetted for a younger demographic, of which I don't really belong in, and is filled with childish and safe jokes that will probably satisfy children w...

Director: Matt Palmer Stars: Jack Lowden, Martin McCann, Tony Curran Runtime: 101 minutes Synopsis: While on a hunting trip, two friends are involved in an unfortunate accident, which spirals them into a weekend they won't be forgetting anytime soon. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  Now that's what I call a successful directorial debut! I stumbled upon "Calibre" while browsing for a movie to watch on Netflix. I found the plot intriguing and decided to give it a shot that turned out to be more than just a pleasant surprise. Before talking about the technical aspects of the movie, I have to mention the gorgeous setting and scenery used. The action takes place in a small Scottish village that neighbors an absolutely beautiful forest, and the director takes full advantage of it. I was awed at the beauty of the thriller from s...

Director: Charles Laughton Stars:  Robert Mitchum, Shelley Winters, Lillian Gish Runtime: 92 minutes Synopsis: A preacher is determined to find the $10,000 a former cellmate once stole and hid.  Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 10/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10  Verdict:  Charles Laughton's only film was quite an impressive one. It's thrilling from start to finish, and features one of the greatest villains in cinema history, played by the excellent and menacing Robert Mitchum. While the story told is enough reason to watch this classic, it will also satisfy people looking for an aesthetically pleasing film. Stanley Cortez's cinematography is an absolute joy to watch, as every single scene felt meticulously studied and shot. My only issues with the movie are the editing which sometimes seemed a bit sudden, but that's certainly due to the year of release of...

Director: Scott Speer Stars: Bella Thorne, Patrick Schwarzenegger, Rob Riggle Runtime: 91 minutes Synopsis: A teenager falls in love with a girl who suffers from XP, a rare disease that prevents her to be exposed to direct sunlight. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 4/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10 Verdict:  Calling this romantic drama cheesy would be undermining how corny and emotionally manipulative it was. It all felt like a huge deja vu that I have literally seen millions of times before. The performances by Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger (yes, Arnie's son) were unspecial and dull, just like their characters. The story was incredibly unoriginal, predictable, and paralleled every single film that belongs in the same category. I should also mention that there were a couple of things that really annoyed me from a logical perspective, like the fact that Bella Thorne's chara...

Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger Stars: Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring, Moira Shearer Runtime: 134 minutes Synopsis: A ballerina and a composer are hired by ballet magnate Boris Lermontov to perform in a new production based on Hans Christian Andersen's "The Red Shoes". Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 10/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 10/10 Score/Soundtrack:  10/10 Verdict:  Not long ago, I stumbled into a film I had never heard of before. I immediately fell in love with it and the way it was shot and told. That film is of course " Stairway to Heaven ", directed by two of cinema's most influential directors: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. So naturally, curiosity got the better of me and I had to check out what other classics they made together. "The Red Shoes" is perhaps one of their most famous projects, and I instantly understood why. It's one of the mos...

Director: Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein Stars: Amy Schumer, Michelle Williams, Emily Ratajkowski Runtime: 110 minutes Synopsis: After suffering an accident at the gym, an insecure woman wakes up with a newfound confidence. Performances: 4/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 4/10 Score/Soundtrack:  2/10  Verdict:  I gave this film a 2/10 and not a 1/10 because it attempted to be something, even though it completely failed to achieve it. Every single character felt like a parody of themselves, making them unlikable, cringy, and hard to relate to. The lazy and predictable jokes did not work at all for me, and I didn't laugh once in the entire 110-minute runtime. The main story, which tried to communicate a message to the audience, was handled really poorly and ended up following the same formula every single Hollywoodian dramedy follows. The soundtrack consisted of a popular pop song being play...

Director: Sebastian Lelio Stars: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola Runtime: 114 minutes Synopsis: When her father suddenly dies, Ronit returns to her family that shunned her in the past for being attracted to another woman, only to find out that she is now married to a childhood friend of hers.  Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict:  Sebastian Lelio directed the Oscar-winning " A Fantastic Woman " earlier in 2017. So I was naturally intrigued by his follow up film about a tale of forbidden love. And boy did it not disappoint. The movie is adapted from a book written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (who also wrote "Ida") and stars Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, and Alessandro Nivola. The three leads were perfect in their roles, bringing to life three extremely believable characters whose emotions were transferred through the scr...

Director: Pascal Laugier Stars: Crystal Reed, Mylène Farmer, Anastasia Phillips Runtime: 91 minutes Synopsis: A family of three is left scarred by a traumatizing event that occurred as soon as they moved into their new home. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 4/10 Editing: 5/10   Cinematography:  6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  It's no secret that the horror industry has been struggling lately with the quality of their movies. And "Ghostland" is no exception. The film starts with one the laziest set up to a horror flick I have ever seen. Beth, an aspiring horror writer, moves into her great aunt's house, which turns out to be a dimly lit manor infested by creepy dolls. It is also revealed that a couple of criminals are on the loose and attacking random families. I mean, could this have been written in a more obvious way? It is also immediately made clear that the film was going to rely on ...

Director: Peyton Reed Stars: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Pena Runtime: 118 minutes Synopsis: Hank Pym, with the help of his daughter Hope (Wasp) and con artist Scott Lang (Ant-Man), tries to find a way to bring his wife back home thirty years after an accident saw her trapped in the quantum realm. But more than one obstacle is standing in the trio's way. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: 8/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 5/10   Score/Soundtrack:  4/10 Verdict:  "Ant-Man and the Wasp" had a lot riding on its shoulder. First of all, it had to follow "Infinity War", which is still Marvel's biggest cinematic event to date. Then, it had to properly introduce the first female superhero who's the lead of her own movie (well, shared with Ant-Man). And finally, it had to prove to the audience that Marvel could still produce fresh and entertaining sequels (like "Ragnarok" or ...

Director: Alfred Hitchcock Stars: John Forsythe, Shirley MacLaine, Edmund Gwenn Runtime: 99 minutes Synopsis: Residents of a small community located in Vermont react differently when the body of a man called Harry is found in the woods. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 4/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10  Verdict:  "The Trouble with Harry" is not exactly the first movie that comes to mind when Alfred Hitchcock's name is mentioned. And while it's certainly not on par with "Psycho", "Rear Window", or "Vertigo" to name a few of his true masterpieces, it's still a really fun movie that worked for me on many levels. First of all, the movie looked amazing from a technical point of view. Robert Burks proved once more why he was Hitchcock's go-to cinematographer, providing both beautiful and intriguing shots that certainly contributed to my enj...

Director: Claire Scanlon Stars: Zoey Deutch, Glen Powell, Lucy Liu Runtime: 105 minutes Synopsis: Two executive assistants get together to plan a way to make their mean bosses fall in love with each other. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10  Verdict:  The best thing about this Netflix original was by far the characters and their chemistry. They were relatable, likable, and well portrayed for the most part. Other than that, I felt like "Set It Up" was pretty similar to every generic rom-com to ever come out. The dialogue was more than once cheesy, the plot predictable from the very first scene, and the jokes average at best. The soundtrack was probably the worst part of the film and the only aspect of it that I genuinely disliked. This is not a movie I'd recommend if you're looking for something original and smart, but if you're searching ...

Director:  Billy Wilder Stars: Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray Runtime: 125 minutes Synopsis: In order to get promoted, a man starts lending his apartment to his superiors. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10  Verdict:  "The Apartment" is Billy Wilder's most famous project for a reason. Not only is it masterfully shot and beautifully acted, but it is also his most relatable film. I personally found the main character of C.C. Baxter portrayed by Jack Lemmon more fascinating than the actual plot, as he perfectly represents the nice, charming man who can't say no to anyone. This Oscar-winning classic is, like most pictures directed by Billy Wilder, a must for cinema lovers. Final Grade:  8/10