Movies Graded

Director: Adam Robitel Stars: Taylor Russell, Logan Miller, Jay Ellis Runtime: 99 minutes Synopsis:   Six strangers find themselves in a maze of deadly mystery rooms, and must use their wits to survive. Performances: 4/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Special Effects: 3/10 Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 4/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10 Verdict: Is "Escape Room" a good movie? Far from it. From bad acting to lazy cinematography, it checks all the boxes of yet another disposable horror film with no depth whatsoever. And yet, I can't help but recommend it. Adam Robitel's movie which follows a group of strangers trying to survive a series of lethally trapped escape rooms is undeniably a lot of fun. It recycles a concept we've seen time and time again, and adds an indescribable charm to it that had me invested since scene one. I had a blast nitpicking all the screenplay inconsistencies and errors and couldn't help but smile every ti...

Director: Neil Jordan Stars: Isabelle Huppert, Chloe Grace Moretz, Maika Monroe Runtime: 98 minutes Synopsis:   A young woman befriends a lonely widow who's harboring a dark and deadly agenda towards her. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10 Verdict: With films such as "Peeping Tom", "Cape Fear", or "One Hour Photo", the stalker genre has offered us some of the best thrillers of all times. Neil Jordan's "Greta", which sees Isabelle Huppert portray a deranged woman obsessed with connecting with a young girl played by Chloe Grace Moretz, doesn't quite offer the thrills provided by the movies mentioned earlier, but still acts as a descent soft horror/thriller that definitely had its moments. The film's strong-point, and one of the main reasons I enjoyed it, is Huppert's chilling portrayal of the title character, matched by...

Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Stars: Lily Franky, Sakura Ando, Kirin Kiki Runtime: 121 minutes Synopsis:   A family of small-time crooks take in a child they find outside in the cold. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict: A heartwarming film about the true meaning of family (yes, better than any entry in the Fast and the Furious franchise), "Shoplifters" also delves deep into the lives and struggles faced by people living in poverty in Tokyo. Centered around an unconventional family that uses shoplifting as a way of coping with their misfortunes, Hirokazu Koreeda's Oscar nominated movie is enhanced by emotional performances and a sense of realism that highlighted the film's main themes. Koreeda's direction makes you care about every single character, and truly immerses the audience into their cruel, unjust world. In a year filled with movies aimed at...

Director: Julian Schnabel Stars: Willem Dafoe, Rupert Friend, Oscar Isaac Runtime: 111 minutes Synopsis:   A look at the life of painter  Vincent van Gogh  during the time he lived in Arles and Auvers-sur-Oise, France. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict: "When I see a flat landscape, I see nothing but eternity." Directed by Julian Schnabel, "At Eternity's Gate" remembers Vincent van Gogh's days in Arles, where he struggled with poverty, mental illness, and artistic loneliness. The film serves as a great character study of van Gogh, brilliantly portrayed by Willem Dafoe who hit all the right notes when it came to displaying all sorts of emotions, whether it was frustration, depression, or happiness. Dafoe's portrayal of the Dutch artist beautifully complimented Benoit Delhomme's cinematography which, through shaky and blurry images, e...

Director: Robert Rodriguez Stars: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly Runtime: 122 minutes Synopsis:   A deactivated female cyborg is revived, but cannot remember anything of her past life and goes on a quest to find out who she is. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Special Effects: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10 Verdict: Based on a manga of the same name, "Alita: Battle Angel" marks Robert Rodriguez and James Cameron's first collaboration as director and producer respectively. Being both titans of the industry that have impressed me more than once with titles such as "Sin City" for the first and "Titanic", "Aliens" or "Terminator 2" for the latter, I was excited to see what that alliance would result in. And I have to say, I walked out of the theater pretty disappointed by what I had witnessed, which was basically yet another boring an...

I have now watched almost every Oscar-nominated movies and feel sort of confident predicting who's going to take each of the big awards. Next to each title will be a percentage that I feel best represents its chances of winning the statue. The nominee I would've personally voted for will be in Italics . The nominated movies I still haven't watched are "If Beale Street Could Talk", "Mirai", "Shoplifters", "Never Look Away" and "Border". Picture: Black Panther - 5% BlacKkKlansman - 10% Bohemian Rhapsody - 5% The Favourite - 20% Green Book - 25% Roma - 20% A Star Is Born - 5% Vice - 10% Actor in a Leading Role: Christian Bale, Vice -  40% Bradley Cooper. A Star Is Born -  10% Willed Dafoe,  At Eternity's Gate -  1% Rami Malek - Bohemian Rhapsody -  45% Viggo Mortensen - Green Book -  4% Actress in a Leading Role: Yalitza Aparicio, Roma - 10% Glenn Close - The Wife - 40% Olivia Colman, The ...

Director: Stephen Merchant Stars: Florence Pugh, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn Runtime: 108 minutes Synopsis:   A former wrestler and his family make a living performing at small venues around the country while his kids dream of joining World Wrestling Entertainment. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 5/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10 Verdict: Directed by Stephen Merchant and produced by none other than Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, "Fighting with My Family" tells the true story of Saraya Knight, an ambitious wrestler who started her career in a modest family-owned ring in Norwich, only to become today the WWE superstar known as Paige. I found the film to be a surprisingly charming one. Held together by mostly great performances, especially by lead Florence Pugh and Vince Vaughn (whose role is similar to the one he had in "Hacksaw Ridge"), it does a great job at depicting Paige's roa...

Director: Diederik Van Rooijen Stars: Shay Mitchell, Grey Damon, Kirby Johnson Runtime: 86 minutes Synopsis:   When a cop who is just out of rehab takes the graveyard shift in a city hospital morgue, she faces a series of bizarre, violent events caused by an evil entity in one of the corpses. Performances: 2/10 Screenplay: 1/10 Special Effects: 2/10 Costumes/Makeup: 3/10 Editing: 3/10 Cinematography: 3/10 Score/Soundtrack:  1/10 Verdict: You immediately recognize a failure when the only aspect you enjoy about it is its short runtime. "The Possession of Hannah Grace" is nothing we've not seen a million times before and serves as yet another disposable horror flick that uses the exact same blueprint as every other forgettable exorcism movie out there. From cheap, misplaced jumpscares to an unlikable lead with laughable character development, the movie never even bothers to try to be its own thing. It's a safe, generic horror film that was on...

Director: Christopher Landon Stars: Jessica Rothe, Israel Broussard, Phi Vu Runtime: 100 minutes Synopsis:   Tree Gelbman discovers that dying over and over was surprisingly easier than the dangers that lie ahead. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 2/10 Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 3/10 Cinematography: 4/10 Score/Soundtrack:  3/10 Verdict: Yet another soulless and forgettable sequel that recycles the same plot as its predecessor in order to reciprocate its box office success. "Happy Death Day 2U" represents everything wrong with the industry's constant lack of originality as it feels like a giant déjà vu that almost passes as a parody of itself. Yes, the movie follows once again Tree, played by Jessica Rothe, as she is doomed to relive the same day over and over again until she identifies her murderer and end the endless loop she's stuck in. In other words, it's a complete rehash of the first entry of what I'm sure will become a big, p...

Director: Yorgos Lanthimos Stars: Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, Rachel Weisz Runtime: 119 minutes Synopsis:   In early 18th century England, a frail Queen Anne occupies the throne and her close friend, Lady Sarah, governs the country in her stead. When a new servant, Abigail, arrives, her charm endears her to Sarah. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 10/10 Costumes/Makeup: 10/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10 Verdict: With 10 Oscar nominations to its name, "The Favourite" is by far one of the most well-received movies of last year. And deservedly so. Yorgos Lanthimos' period piece, which uses real characters as protagonists and real events as its backbone, explores Queen Anne's relationship with Sarah Churchill and Abigail Hill, two rivaling cousins who will go to extreme lengths to charm their elder and gain her trust and friendship. Fuelled by three of last year's very best performances by Olivia Colman, Emma ...

Director: Lee Cronin Stars: Seana Kerslake, James Quinn Markey, Simone Kirby Runtime: 90 minutes Synopsis:   Trying to escape her broken past, Sarah O'Neill is building a new life on the fringes of a backwood rural town with her young son Chris. A terrifying encounter with a mysterious neighbor shatters her fragile security, throwing Sarah into a spiraling nightmare of paranoia and mistrust, as she tries to uncover if the disturbing changes in her little boy are connected to an ominous sinkhole buried deep in the forest that borders their home. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict: A24 has blessed us with some of the greatest horror films to come out in recent times with instant classics such as "Hereditary" or "The Witch". Their most recent release, which also serves as Lee Cronin's directorial debut, may not be as absorbing as its predecessors...

Director: Matteo Garrone Stars: Marcello Fonte, Edoardo Pesce, Nunzia Schiano Runtime: 103 minutes Synopsis:   Marcello, a small and gentle dog groomer, finds himself involved in a dangerous relationship of subjugation with Simone, a former violent boxer who terrorizes the entire neighborhood. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Verdict: Matteo Garrone's latest addition to an evergrowing Italian Cinema is proof that simple storytelling goes a long way when handled properly. His film, which follows a well-liked dog groomer's unlikely relationship with a menacing brute of a boxer, was deservedly rewarded in more than one award ceremony, barely missing out on a nomination at the Oscars. Garrone, helped by a stellar performance by Marcello Fonte who was perfectly cast as the small and shy lead who goes through a roller coaster of emotions, elevates the film by working out an appropriate tone that ...

Director: Gaspar Noé Stars: Sofia Boutella, Romain Guillermic, Souheila Yacoub Runtime: 95 minutes Synopsis:   French dancers gather in a remote, empty school building to rehearse on a wintry night. The all-night celebration morphs into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn their sangria is laced with LSD. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 10/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10 Verdict:  Consider yourself warned. If you're unfamiliar with Gaspar Noé's filmography, you need to understand that he's by far one of the most controversial filmmakers working in the industry right now. His movies are never easy to digest and are considered by many to be shocking and offensive. "Climax" is no exception to this rule, despite it probably being the best anti-drug film made since "Requiem for a Dream". Coming from a script that's only 5 pages long, Noé's newest film is a psychologic...

Director: Marielle Heller Stars: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells Runtime: 106 minutes Synopsis:   When Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict: Nominated for 3 Academy Awards, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?" was mainly praised for the performances of its two leads: Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant. And while I do agree that they both did a fantastic job portraying respectively Lee Israel, a forgotten writer who turned her career into a criminal one when faced with financial problems, and her friend and partner in crime, Jack Hock, I found the real star of this film to be its story. Beautifully directed by Marielle Heller, the movie, which is based on Israel's own memoir of the same name, does a great job at introducing us to a fascinating character not many p...

Director: Hans Petter Moland Stars: Liam Neeson, Laura Dern, Micheal Richardson Runtime: 118 minutes Synopsis:   A snowplow driver seeks revenge against the drug dealers he thinks killed his son. Based on the 2014 Norwegian film 'In Order of Disappearance'. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict: Expecting your traditional forgettable action flick starring Liam Neeson à la "The Commuter" or "Unknown"? You're going to be disappointed. Itching to watch yet another revenge story with the Irish actor in the lead? You're going to be... well... pretty satisfied. I'm glad to say that "Cold Pursuit" is the first true surprise of the year, and serves as a great dark comedy reminiscent of the Coen Brothers' work. Director Hans Petter Moland, who also helmed the Norwegian film which served as this one's inspiration, did a grea...

Director: Jon S. Baird Stars: John C. Reilly, Steve Coogan, Shirley Henderson Runtime: 98 minutes Synopsis:   Laurel and Hardy, the world's most famous comedy duo, attempt to reignite their film careers as they embark on what becomes their swan song - a grueling theatre tour of post-war Britain.   Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict: Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd. All these names come to mind when one mentions Hollywood's Golden Age of Comedy, which spanned decades from the 1920s to the 1940s. Laurel and Hardy are two other names that come up frequently when this era is brought up. The duo, who made countless films together, is nowadays known to be one of the most successful duos to ever appear on screen. However, not a lot of people are familiar with the couple's struggling last few years together, which saw them face many obstacles that included health problems,...

Director: Chang-dong Lee Stars: Ah-in Yoo, Steven Yeun, Jong-seo Jun Runtime: 148 minutes Synopsis:   Jong-su bumps into a girl who used to live in the same neighborhood as him, who asks him to look after her cat while on a trip to Africa. When back, she introduces Ben, a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 10/10 Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10 Verdict:  A pure display of raw and elegant storytelling, "Burning" acts as yet another argument as to why Korean cinema is one that should be looked at more often. The movie, which follows three protagonists played by Ah-in Yoo, Jong-seo Jun, and Steven Yeun (of "Walking Dead" fame), who give three of the best performances I've seen in a while and truly make their characters, with the help of a script that continuously contributes to their development, ones I won't get over anytime ...

Director: Dan Gilroy Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Zawe Ashton Runtime:  112 minutes Synopsis:  Mysterious events start happening after the death of an unknown painter. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict: The first association between Dan Gilroy and Jake Gyllenhaal resulted in the making of "Nightcrawler", arguably one of the best movies released in 2014. The pair's second project, which follows a group of art critics and exhibitors haunted by the work of a deceased artist, didn't quite work as well as the first. The film felt like a less fun and more pretentious entry in the Final Destination franchise. It tried to present itself as this giant metaphor for greed but is ultimately let down by the overwhelmingly large number of underdeveloped characters and chaotic script that leaves you with the feeling that there's always a lot of things ha...

Director: Mike Mitchell Stars: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett Runtime: 106 minutes Synopsis:  Emmett and his friends are back to save the world from a new threat. Animation: 10/10 Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10 Verdict: The much-awaited sequel to one of this decade's best animated films is finally here, and once again, everything in it is awesome! Directed by Mike Mitchell and written by Lord and Miller, a duo that apparently turns to gold anything they touch, "The Lego Movie 2" checks all the boxes of a feature that will entertain people of all ages. The sequel sees Emmett, once again voiced by a phenomenal Chris Pratt, take on the villainous Queen Watevra Wa'Nabi with the help of his friends Wyldstyle and Batman. Brilliantly animated and exceptionally written, "The Lego Movie 2" will not only make you constantly laugh with its self aware, smoothly integrated humor, but will lea...