Movies Graded

Director: Danny Boyle Stars: Himesh Patel, Lily James, Kate McKinnon Runtime: 116 minutes Synopsis:   A struggling musician realizes he's the only person on Earth who can remember  The Beatles  after waking up in an alternate timeline where they never existed. Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 2/5 Editing: 2/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Verdict: A cool concept doesn't automatically guarantee a good movie, and "Yesterday" is here to prove exactly that. The film follows Jack Malik, a struggling musician who, after being hit by a bus during a global blackout, wakes up in an alternate timeline in which he's the only person that remembers The Beatles and naturally starts taking advantage of that to boost his career. Directed by Danny Boyle whose signature style is very much present in the movie, the film stars Himesh Patel in the lead alongside the likes of Lily James, Kate McKinnon, and Ed Sheeran. And while none of them did...

Director: Lars Klevberg Stars: Aubrey Plaza, Mark Hamill, Gabriel Bateman Runtime: 90 minutes Synopsis:   A mother gives her son a toy doll for his birthday, unaware of its more sinister nature. Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 2/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 2/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: After watching Lars Klevberg's first feature film "Polaroid", my excitement for the "Child's Play" reboot quickly turned into skepticism. And while the film definitely wasn't as bad as I was expecting it to be, I still walked out of the theater disappointed by its wasted potential. What Klevberg gets completely wrong in his take of the killer doll is its tone. His decision to give what on paper is a rather silly premise the dark and gritty treatment is one that did not sit well with me at all. The original's success is linked to the fact that what is now considered to be a cult classic ...

Director: Gary Dauberman Stars: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Mckenna Grace Runtime: 106 minutes Synopsis:   While babysitting the daughter of Ed and Lorraine Warren, a teenager and her friend unknowingly awaken an evil spirit trapped in a doll. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Special Effects: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 2/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: Before getting into my review of the movie, I need to get something off my chest. I watched the newest entry in the Conjuring Universe on a Thursday afternoon, expecting a relatively not too crowded room. And even though there were slightly more people than I was expecting (about 25-30 moviegoers), I still thought that it was going to be a pleasant watch with not too many distractions. And boy was I wrong. People were taking pictures (with flash), screaming or laughing at every little loud noise in the movie, talking with each other out l...

Director:  Thorbjørn Christoffersen ,  Anders Matthesen Stars:  Anders Matthesen ,  Emma Sehested Høeg ,  Alfred Bjerre Larsen Runtime: 81 minutes Synopsis:   A possessed Ninja doll teams up with a teenage boy to avenge the murder of a poor child factory worker. Animation: 3/5 Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Editing: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Entertainment Factor: 4/5 Verdict: I really didn't know what to expect from "Checkered Ninja", a Danish animated film about a boy who was gifted a possessed Ninja doll on his birthday. The premise seemed interesting and rather weird but truth be told, I wasn't entirely sold on the film's trailer. Luckily, all my doubts disappeared as soon as what was going to be an incredibly delightful movie started. Director Anders Matthesen, who also wrote the book "Checkered Ninja" was based on, immediately makes it clear that the film was aimed at more mature audiences, a decision I admire...

Director: Elia Kazan Stars: Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb Runtime: 108 minutes Synopsis:   An ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: I finally watched "On the Waterfront", a film I've been postponing for God knows how long. And it was as glorious as I was expecting it to be. Elia Kazan's masterpiece is a masterclass in both acting and screenwriting. Every single line of dialogue is delivered in a way that will give you chills all over you body, reaching their pinnacle in two particular scenes that I believe belong in Cinema's archives. The character arc of Terry Malloy, played by a tremendous Marlon Brando (who infamously despised his performance), is one of the most perfectly handled arcs I have ever seen. His story follows a weirdly anti-symmetric route that is handled with so mu...

Director: Kyle Newacheck Stars: Adam Sandler, Jennifer Aniston, Luke Evans Runtime: 97 minutes Synopsis:   A New York cop and his wife go on a European vacation to reinvigorate the spark in their marriage, but end up getting framed and on the run for the death of an elderly billionaire. Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 2/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 4/5 Verdict: I'm a sucker for whodunit movies, but I generally try to stay away from Adam Sandler's work as I find his comedies painfully unfunny. I decided to put on Netflix's "Murder Mystery" at the end of a tiring day where I just wanted to kick back, turn off my brain, and have fun with a silly movie... And the mystery-comedy checked all these boxes pretty efficiently. I could spend an entire day dissecting everything wrong with the film. I mean, a lot of character decisions or plot elements don't make sense, the setting and punchline ...

Director: Josh Cooley Stars: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Annie Potts Runtime: 100 minutes Synopsis:   When a new toy called "Forky" joins Woody and the gang, a road trip alongside old and new friends reveals how big the world can be for a toy. Animation: 5/5 Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 2/5 Editing: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: Like almost every 90s kid out there, I grew up watching Woody and Buzz's adventures. I used to love the Toy Story franchise and considered it to be the Holy Grail of animated films. However, its many flaws (especially in the third installment) started to appear to me when I rewatched the trilogy a couple of years ago for the first time as an adult. And just as fast as I fell in love with it, I started to pull away from the franchise. I wasn't excited when I heard that a fourth entry was in the works, and none of its trailers grabbed my attention and made me rethink my devotion to the series...

Director: Henri-Georges Clouzot Stars: Simone Signoret, Véra Clouzot, Paul Meurisse Runtime: 117 minutes Synopsis:   The wife and mistress of a loathed school principal hatch a plan to murder him while having the perfect alibi. They carry out the plan...but then his body disappears. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Verdict: Not long ago, I was introduced to French filmmaker Henri-Georges Clouzot's enticing "La Vérité", a movie I thoroughly enjoyed. I just knew that I had to follow it with "Diabolique" (or "Les Diaboliques"), perhaps the director's most known and acclaimed project. And boy is it deserving of all the praise it's still receiving to this day. In both films of his that I watched, Clouzot does a fantastic job of making the characters ones that the audience will immediately understand and relate to. He does so through exceptionally smooth development that never feels neither...

Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre Stars: Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Mitchell, Bruce Dern Runtime: 96 minutes Synopsis:   The story of Roman Coleman, a violent convict, who is given the chance to participate in a rehabilitation therapy program involving the training of wild mustangs. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict: I've never been a fan of movies revolving around horses. And Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre's directorial debut "The Mustang", while being impressive on a technical level, didn't really change my opinion on them. About a convict's integration in a rehabilitation program in which he has to train wild mustangs, the film features a great performance by Bruce Dern and another good one by Matthias Schoenaerts, who despite lacking a bit of emotion in certain scenes, still managed to show the softer side of the large, violent convict he was cast to play. Ruben Impe...

Director: Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck Stars: Tom Schilling, Sebastian Koch, Paula Beer Runtime: 189 minutes Synopsis:   German artist Kurt Barnert has escaped East Germany and now lives in West Germany, but is tormented by his childhood under the Nazis and the GDR-regime. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict: Nominated for 2 Oscars, "Never Look Away" is a historical piece about a German artist trying to cope with his difficult childhood and artistic struggles during and after World War 2. Technically speaking, the film is absolutely beautiful to look at and fully deserved its Oscar nomination in the Cinematography category. Caleb Deschanel (who's also the DP for the upcoming "Lion King") did a wonderful job at making almost every single frame look like a painting, which not only made the film aesthetically pleasing for the eyes but also enhanced th...

Director: Rob Letterman Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton Runtime: 104 minutes Synopsis:   In a world where people collect Pokémon to do battle, a boy comes across an intelligent talking Pikachu who seeks to be a detective. Performances: 2/5 Screenplay: 1/5 Special Effects: 3/5 Editing: 2/5 Cinematography: 2/5 Score/Soundtrack:  2/5 Entertainment Factor: 1/5 Verdict: I love Pokemon. I grew up watching the show, collecting the cards, and playing the games. I revisited the first movie not long ago and still found it entertaining for what it is. I, unfortunately, cannot say the same about "Detective Pikachu" at all. The film, directed by Rob Letterman, doesn't have a single redeemable quality. Sure, it contains creepy-looking, averagely animated Pokémon (what the hell was that Gengar?), but it never felt like a Pokémon movie. It never even felt like a movie, but rather an opportunity to shamelessly cash in on a franchise loved ...

Director: Sebastian Lelio Stars: Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Caren Pistorius Runtime: 102 minutes Synopsis:   A free-spirited woman in her 50s seeks out love at L.A. dance clubs. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict: Julianne Moore plays titular character Gloria Bell, a middle-aged woman seeking out love in Los Angeles, in this remake of a 2013 movie of (almost) the same name, both of which were directed by the talented Sebastian Lelio, also responsible for 2017's "A Fantastic Woman". The beauty of this movie resides in its simplicity. It's not quite a character study, but the people in it, flawlessly portrayed by Moore and Turturro among others, are definitely what carry what can only be described as a very relatable plot. I sincerely believe that most people who watch it will find at least one element to relate to, and most of these elements were pretty well handled in my opi...

Creator: Craig Mazin Stars: Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgard, Emily Watson Synopsis:   In April 1986, an explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics becomes one of the world's worst man-made catastrophes. Verdict: "Chernobyl" is an HBO miniseries depicting the 1986 disaster that resulted in the death of thousands of people and repercussions still felt to this day. The very well shot historical drama does a great job at explaining how the catastrophe happened and the steps taken to limit the damages of the explosion. It also serves as a tribute to Valery Legasov, a Soviet scientist and unsung hero who played a huge role in minimizing the harm that disaster could've potentially resulted in. The topic of governments meddling with science projects was also an interesting one to look at. In other words, the show pretty much nailed its historical part and I'd recommend it for that alone. The dramatic aspect...

Director: Brandon Vietti Stars: Frank Welker, Mindy Cohn, Grey Griffin Runtime: 84 minutes Synopsis:   When Shaggy and Scooby win tickets to WrestleMania, the entire gang travels in the Mystery Machine to WWE City to attend the epic event. However, when a mysterious ghostly bear appears and threatens to ruin the show, Scooby, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, and Fred work with WWE Superstars to solve the case. Animation: 4/5 Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Editing: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: I'm sorry but no, "Infinity War" is not the most ambitious crossover event in history. Nor is that weird Star Wars/Muppets crossover (although it's a close second). That recognition has to go to "WrestleMania Mystery", which sees the Mystery Inc. gang team up with icons in the wrestling world such as John Cena, Triple H, Kane, AJ Lee, Sin Cara, and Vinnie Mac (!) to take down a mysterious ghostly bear who will stop at...

Director: Chad Stahelski Stars: Keanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Ian McShane Runtime: 131 minutes Synopsis:   Super-assassin John Wick is on the run after killing a member of the international assassin's guild, and with a $14 million price tag on his head - he is the target of hit men and women everywhere. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Choreography: 5/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 4/5 Verdict: Parabellum is Latin for "Prepare for war". And boy was John Wick prepared for his. The third chapter in what is shaping up to be one of the best action franchises of all time sees the skilled assassin on the run as a tasty $14 million is put on his head, making him the target of hit men around the world. The choreography and stunt work featured in "John Wick 3" may be the best I've ever seen on the big screen. Every single fight scene was creative, extremely well-execut...

Director: Simon Kinberg Stars: Sophie Turner, Jennifer Lawrence, James McAvoy Runtime: 113 minutes Synopsis:   Jean Grey begins to develop incredible powers that corrupt and turn her into a Dark Phoenix. Now the X-Men will have to decide if the life of a team member is worth more than all the people living in the world. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 2/5 Special Effects: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 3 / 5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: The last installment in Fox's X-Men franchise is currently sitting at an 22% on the Tomatometer, making it the series' worst reviewed movie by quite a bit. And while it certainly is no masterpiece, I wouldn't describe as the worst thing to happen to cinema, or even the worst X-Men movie to ever come out for that matter, either. "Dark Phoenix" is filled with cheese, exposition, convenient character decisions, and unnecessary flashbacks. But aren'...

Director: Pascal Laugier Stars: Morjana Alaoui, Mylène Jampanoï, Catherine Bégin Runtime: 99 minutes Synopsis:   A young woman's quest for revenge against the people who kidnapped and tormented her as a child leads her and a friend, who is also a victim of child abuse, on a terrifying journey into a living hell of depravity. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 2/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict: Unsettling, unnerving, and upsetting. "Martyrs", directed by Pascal Laugier, is the story of two girls seeking revenge against the people who kidnapped and abused one of them when she was just a child. I don't consider myself a fan of torture porn at all, but it's not something that bothers me when used properly in a movie. But if gruesome and bloody imagery is something that you don't like featured in the movies you watch, then this film is DEFINITELY not for you. "Martyrs" contains...

Director: Wayne Roberts Stars: Johnny Depp, Rosemarie DeWitt, Odessa Young Runtime: 90 minutes Synopsis:   A college professor lives his life with reckless abandon after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 1/5 Editing: 2/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Verdict: I don't even know what I was expecting from Wayne Roberts' "The Professor".  Centered around a college academic's last days of his life after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, the movie stars Johnny Depp in the lead as Richard, as well as names such as Danny Huston, Zoey Deutch, and Ron Livingston among others. Despite being only 90 minutes long, the film felt like a 3-hour slow ride that led to nowhere. Everything in it, from the acting to the cinematography, felt incredibly unspecial and emotionless, a feeling that instantly ruins a movie whose protagonist is a dying man trying to enjoy life before his inevitable passing. ...