Movies Graded

Director: Jim Stenstrum Stars: Scott Innes, Mary Kay Bergman, Frank Welker Runtime: 70 minutes Synopsis:   Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Gang visit Oakhaven, Massachusetts to seek strange goings-on involving a famous horror novelist and his ancestor who is rumored be a witch. Verdict: Mystery Inc. fans rejoice! "Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost" is yet another light, fun, and cozy Scooby-Doo flick that will satisfy your mystery needs while providing you with more than just a few laughs. The premise is simple: The gang must go to Massachusetts to solve an enigma revolving around the ancestor of a famous novelist (who weirdly resembles one Stephen King), rumored to be a witch. There, Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy, and Scoobs meet all sorts of suspects and invite the audience to work out the case with them. The jokes are exactly what you'd expect them to be: cheesy, goofy, and most importantly, funny. The atmosphere is nostalgic and suspenseful as it shou...

Director: Dan Gilroy Stars: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton Runtime: 117 minutes Synopsis:   When Louis Bloom, a con man desperate for work, muscles into the world of L.A. crime journalism, he blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  2/5 Verdict: (+) Serves as a great commentary piece on the lack of empathy of mainstream media nowadays who prioritize good stories over morality. (+) Also serves as a fascinating character study of Lou Bloom, a neurotic, obsessive sociopath who would do anything to achieve his goals, comparable at time to Travis Bickle. (+) Jake Gyllenhaal is one of this generation's best actors. His acting abilities peak in this movie. What a performance! (+) The city of Los Angeles is almost a character by itself. The setting plays an important part in the narrative. (+) Riz Ahmed and ...

Director: Richard Linklater Stars: Kristen Wiig, Cate Blanchett, Judy Greer Runtime: 103 minutes Synopsis:   A loving mom becomes compelled to reconnect with her creative passions after years of sacrificing herself for her family. Her leap of faith takes her on an epic adventure that jump-starts her life and leads to her triumphant rediscovery. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Verdict: A longtime fan of Richard Linklater's work which includes films such as "Dazed and Confused", "Boyhood", or the Before trilogy, I was very much looking forward to his newest flick "Where'd You Go, Bernadette", based on a book by Maria Semple. And while it's certainly far from being his best work, it still contained elements I found enjoyable and rewarding. The character of Bernadette for instance, played by an exceptional Cate Blanchett, was both fascinating and entertaining to w...

Director: Damien Chazelle Stars: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Rosemarie DeWitt Runtime: 128 minutes Synopsis:   While navigating their careers in Los Angeles, a pianist and an actress fall in love while attempting to reconcile their aspirations for the future. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: (+) The opening number is possibly the greatest opening number in any musical ever. (+) It's a love story between movies (Mia) and music (Seb) that resulted in a beautiful, heartwarming love letter to both mediums. (+) Could've easily followed every cliché in the book of cheesy Hollywood romances, but it thankfully doesn't. And I applaud it for that. (+) The music, as expected, is terrific. Both the score and soundtrack written by Justin Herwitz are compositions I still listen to constantly 3 years after the film's release. (+) The traditional sets and moody, seas...

Director: Johannes Roberts Stars: Sophie Nélisse, Corinne Foxx, Brianne Tju Runtime: 90 minutes Synopsis:   Four teen girls diving in a ruined underwater city quickly learn they've entered the territory of the deadliest shark species in the claustrophobic labyrinth of submerged caves. Performances: 2/5 Screenplay: 1/5 Special Effects: 2/5 Costumes/Makeup: 3/5 Editing: 2/5 Cinematography: 2/5 Score/Soundtrack:  1/5 Entertainment Factor: 2/5 Verdict: (+) Ripping the script apart was fun. (+) The characters talk under water with no earpieces, music is played on a stereo under water, and a fish screams. It was hilarious. (-) The film is only 90 minutes long but still manages to waste a lot of time with long boring scenes where nothing happens. (-) Way too many unnecessary slow-motion shots. (-) Loads of disposable characters. Scrap that, all the characters were disposable. (-) The acting was annoying. (-) The jump scares were even mor...

Director: Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, Tyler Gillett Stars: Samara Weaving, Adam Brody, Mark O'Brien Runtime: 95 minutes Synopsis:   A bride's wedding night takes a sinister turn when her eccentric new in-laws force her to take part in a terrifying game. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 4/5 Verdict: Well that was unexpected. "Ready or Not" is one of the biggest, most welcome surprises of the summer, and I'm genuinely shocked at how much fun I had watching it. The 95-minute long movie, directed by a pair of directors who brought us the atrocious "Devil's Due" 5 years ago follows Grace's wedding night in which she has to take part in a deadly hide and seek game set up by her in-laws. The film could be described as a blend between 1985's "Clue" and 2012 "The Cabin in the Woods", and while I slightly pref...

Director: Joe Talbot Stars: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Danny Glover Runtime: 121 minutes Synopsis:   A young man searches for a home in the changing city that seems to have left him behind. Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: I wouldn't call "The Last Black Man in San Francisco" a style-over-substance movie, but I personally was much more impressed with its technical aspects than its narrative. Joe Talbot's imposing directorial debut stars Jimmie Fails as a version of himself (the character he plays even holds the same name as him) who's trying to reclaim his childhood home in, you guessed it, San Francisco. I was honestly baffled at how much style and personality this movie had from a technical point of view. Each frame, much like the film's poster, resembles a very lively and colorful painting where every little detail is perfectly placed wher...

Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie Stars: Robert Pattinson, Benny Safdie, Jennifer Jason Leigh Runtime: 101 minutes Synopsis:   After a botched bank robbery lands his younger brother in prison, Connie Nikas embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City's underworld to get his brother Nick out of jail. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict:  (+) Definitely one of A24's most accessible movies. Critics and audiences alike responded positively to it as shown by its Rotten Tomatoes scores (92% for critics and 80% for audiences). (+) The pacing leaves you in a state of exhilaration for most of its runtime. The editing and soundtrack contribute strongly to that feeling. (+) This is the movie that definitely cemented Robert Pattinson as one of today's most underrated actors for me. He's absolutely terrific in the lead. (+) Benny Safdie, who also serves as one...

Director: Noah Baumbach Stars: Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner, Adam Driver Runtime: 86 minutes Synopsis:   A New York woman (who doesn't really have an apartment) apprentices for a dance company (though she's not really a dancer) and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: Directed by Noah Baumbach, "Frances Ha" follows the title character, played by a tremendous Greta Gerwig, in a journey of dream-chasing, love, and self-discovery. The film, which is shot in black and white, is light, funny, quirky and very easy to fall in love with. Frances is an immensely relatable character that will most definitely put a smile on your face, and it becomes quickly apparent that no other actress could've played her better than Gerwig, who in addition to starring, co-wrote the script with Baumbach. The di...

Director: Spike Jonze Stars: Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Scarlett Johansson Runtime: 126 minutes Synopsis:   In a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Special Effects: 5/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: (+) The supporting cast, which consists of talents such as Amy Adams, Olivia Wilde or Chris Pratt, does a fantastic job, but Joaquin Phoenix's acting was on an entirely different level. What a beast of an actor. (+) Scarlett Johansson only provides the voice of an operating system, but her performance was so perfect that she felt like a fully fleshed character. Best voice acting of the decade? I'd say yes. (+) It may take place in a futuristic world where technology is more advanced than it is in ours, but the setting was so incredibly grounded and never feels as such. K...

Director: James Bobin Stars: Isabela Moner, Eugenio Derbez, Michael Peña Runtime: 102 minutes Synopsis:   Dora, a teenage explorer, leads her friends on an adventure to save her parents and solve the mystery behind a lost city of gold. Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Special Effects: 2/5 Costumes/Makeup: 3/5 Editing: 2/5 Cinematography: 2/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: I am not a child. I don't know what children like nowadays, and I sure as hell don't know if they'll enjoy "Dora and the Lost City of Gold". I watched it as an adult and I will review it from that perspective. And yes, I'm a full-grown adult who willingly went out of his way to watch a live-action Dora movie... and I don't regret it one bit. Is the movie a masterpiece? You know it's not. I mean, it does follow a certain formula filled with clichés typically found in movies aimed at a younger demographic, the CGI was atrocious, ...

Director: Andrey Zvyaginstev Stars: Aleksey Serebryakov, Elena Lyadova, Roman Madyanov Runtime: 140 minutes Synopsis:   In a Russian coastal town, Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. He recruits a lawyer friend to help, but the man's arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Verdict: Andrey Zvyaginstev is slowly but surely becoming one of my favorite working directors. Prior to "Leviathan", I had only seen one movie of his, "Loveless", which I consider to be one of my favorites of 2017. "Leviathan" came out 3 years earlier, and is equally captivating. What I love about Zvyaginstev is the fact that he understands that a story is only as good as the characters taking part in it. He makes sure to flesh out every single one of them organically and without the help of poorly incorporated ex...

Director: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie Runtime: 161 minutes Synopsis:   A faded television actor and his stunt double strive to achieve fame and success in the film industry during the final years of Hollywood's Golden Age in 1969 Los Angeles. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict:  Quentin Tarantino's 9th and supposedly next to last film is finally here. And while I certainly found aspects of it enjoyable and entertaining, I have to admit that it may be my least favorite film of his that I have seen (which is all of them apart from "Death Proof" and "Jackie Brown"). I'm definitely not saying that it's a bad movie. Far from it. The performances and dynamic between the characters, notably Leo's and Brad's, were excellent and even at times hilarious. Tarantino also states that "Once Upon a Ti...

Director: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh Runtime: 168 minutes Synopsis:   In the dead of a Wyoming winter, a bounty hunter and his prisoner find shelter in a cabin currently inhabited by a collection of nefarious characters. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: (+) Pretty much "Reservoir Dogs" in a western setting. And it's as engaging as it sounds. (+) Every single character is engaging, fleshed out, and entertaining to watch. The tension in the room is almost palpable. (+) The performances, and especially Jennifer Jason Leigh's, are mesmerizing. (+) The dialogue is nothing short of absorbing. Pure Tarantino magic. (+) The costume design and especially production design are on point. Perfectly fit the era in which the story takes place. (+) Ennio Morricone's score is possibly my favorite in any Ta...

Director: Damien Chazelle Stars: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Melissa Benoist Runtime: 106 minutes Synopsis:   A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student's potential. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: You've all seen "Whiplash". You all know what it's about. And if you haven't, I urge you to stop whatever you're doing and go watch it because I've never met anyone who didn't love it. It's that good. It's that engaging. It's an instant classic. The film, as you know it, follows Andrew's dedication to becoming one of the best drummers of his generation. And to achieve that goal, he will have to go through a drill-sergeant type of conductor, Fletcher, who will not only exhaust him physically but also and more importa...

Director: Darren Aronofsky Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel Runtime: 108 minutes Synopsis:   A committed dancer struggles to maintain her sanity after winning the lead role in a production of Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake". Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Special Effects: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: When it comes to psychological thrillers, Darren Aronofsky has proven time and time again with movies such as "Requiem for a Dream", "Pi", or "The Fountain" that he has become a reference in the genre. A lot of people consider "Black Swan" to be his masterpiece, and while there's certainly a lot to appreciate about it, a recent rewatch shined a light on a few flaws that refrain it from being perfect, which is ironic considering the fact that the film's main theme is the heavy cost of perfection.  Now don't get me wrong, ...

Director: Dexter Fletcher Stars: Taron Egerton, Jamie Bell, Richard Madden Runtime: 121 minutes Synopsis:   A musical fantasy about the fantastical human story of  Elton John 's breakthrough years. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: As I'm writing this review, "Rocketman" sits at the top of my list of best movies of the year. It may not be a huge achievement given the quality of this year's blockbusters, but it's an achievement nonetheless. An achievement that is the fruit of a second collaboration between director Dexter Fletcher and star Taron Egerton, after the very pleasant surprise that was "Eddie the Eagle". This time, the pair teamed up to tell the story of Elton John, an eccentric man who was not only a musical genius, but also one of the biggest showmen of his generation. The result, despite following a formulaic narrative we...

Director: André Ovredal Stars: Zoe Margaret Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush Runtime: 111   minutes Synopsis:   A group of teens face their fears in order to save their lives. Performances: 2/5 Screenplay: 3/5 Special Effects: 3/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: Based on a book series of the same name (that, full disclosure, I haven't read), "Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark" is a perfectly fine horror flick that will keep any horror fan entertained for a couple of hours despite suffering from many, many flaws.  What I loved most about the movie is the creative way it uses its source material to basically tell a bunch of short stories within a larger narrative. Each of these stories is written on a malicious book found by the protagonists, who then have to face them as they become threatening realities. I found that concept, as well as the creepy vibes g...

Director: Lars von Trier Stars: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland Runtime:   minutes Synopsis:   Two sisters find their already strained relationship challenged as a mysterious new planet threatens to collide with Earth. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict: "Melancholia" is the second chapter in Lars von Trier's Trilogy of Depression, following "Antichrist" and preceding "Nymphomaniac". Interestingly enough, it's the one that deals with the illness in the most forward way, with the other two rather focusing on its causes and consequences. The film, much like every other entry in the trilogy, is divided into parts. Two to be exact. The first one focuses on Justine, a newlywed that suffers from depression and played by an unrecognizable Kirsten Dunst, while the second focuses on her sister, Claire, portrayed by the always great Charlotte Gai...

Director: Thurop Van Orman Stars: Dove Cameron, Awkwafina, Maya Rudolph Runtime: 96 minutes Synopsis:   The flightless birds and scheming green pigs take their feud to the next level. Animation: 3/5 Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 2/5 Editing: 2/5 Score/Soundtrack:  2/5 Entertainment Factor: 2/5 Verdict: This is it folks, Cinema as an art form has peaked.  Forget about "Aliens", "Terminator 2", "Before Sunset", or "Shrek 2",  the sequel everyone should be talking about is "The Angry Birds Movie 2", the follow-up of the masterfully crafted "Angry Birds Movie" that came out back in 2016, an eternity ago. To be perfectly honest, I had my doubts going in to watch the movie. I mean, how can you top a movie that's perfect in every way? But all these doubts completely flew away as soon as Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero" started playing in the opening scene. Because, and Hollywood e...

Director: Robert Eggers Stars: Anya Taylor-Joy, Ralph Ineson, Kate Dickie Runtime: 92 minutes Synopsis:   A family in 1630s New England is torn apart by the forces of witchcraft, black magic, and possession. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 5/5 Costumes/Makeup: 5/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict: "The Witch" (or "The VVitch") is possibly my favorite horror movie of the decade, surpassing by a hair "Hereditary". The similarities between the two are evident, as both of them were distributed by A24 and act as the directorial debuts of extremely talented filmmakers (Robert Eggers for the first and Ari Aster for the second). The film follows a New-England family who, after being exiled to the woods over a religious dispute, start experiencing forces of evil initiated by a neighboring witch. What set "The Witch" apart from other similarly themed movies is how immersive and atmospheric it was. T...

Director: Joanna Hogg Stars: Honor Swinton Byrne, Tom Burke, Tilda Swinton Runtime: 120 minutes Synopsis:   A young film student in the early '80s becomes romantically involved with a complicated and untrustworthy man. Performances: 4/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Costumes/Makeup: 4/5 Editing: 3/5 Cinematography: 4/5 Score/Soundtrack:  3/5 Verdict: Based on writer/director Joanna Hogg's real-life romantic relationship with a complicated man in the early '80s while she was a still a young film student, "The Souvenir" is a touching, deeply personal tale that succeeds at being as grounded and real as possible. Hogg's character, fictionalized as Julie, is portrayed by Honor Swinton Byrne, daughter of childhood friend Tilda Swinton who also makes a small appearance in the film as her mother. Prior to that movie, Honor didn't really have any experience in the acting field, only briefly appearing in "I Am Love" 10 years ago. Hogg's ...

Director: Krzysztof Kieslowski Stars: Irène Jacob, Wladyslaw Kowalski, Halina Gryglaszewska Runtime: 98 minutes Synopsis:   Two parallel stories about two identical women; one living in Poland, the other in France. They don't know each other, but their lives are nevertheless profoundly connected. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Editing: 5/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  5/5 Verdict: You can always count on Krzysztof Kieslowski to take you on a journey of spiritualism and self-discovery. The Polish director, whose most known projects are "Dekalog" and the Three Colors trilogy, has proved time and time again that his talents as both director and writer are undeniably colossal. Every single one of his projects will leave you in a state of reflection that will last for many days, pushing you to research many aspects of it even when you don't entirely relate to the story, which was honestly the case for me while watching "The Double...

Director: Harmony Korine Stars: James Franco,   Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens Runtime: 94 minutes Synopsis:   Four college girls hold up a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation. While partying, drinking, and taking drugs, they are arrested, only to be bailed out by a drug and arms dealer. Performances: 5/5 Screenplay: 4/5 Editing: 4/5 Cinematography: 5/5 Score/Soundtrack:  4/5 Verdict: Looking for a fun, wild movie about teens partying? Then look away, "Spring Breakers" is definitely not the film you're looking for. That is not saying that Harmony Korine's flick doesn't contain that, because it does, but it's fundamentally about something completely different. It's about the very thin line that separates dreams for reality. A recurrent theme that was explored both sequentially and visually. Cinematographer Benoit Debie ("Climax". "Enter the Void") does an excellent shot highlighting that by ...