Movies Graded

Director: Zack Snyder Stars: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Michael Shannon Runtime:  143 minutes Synopsis:  An alien child is evacuated from his dying world and sent to Earth to live among humans. His peace is threatened, when other survivors of his home planet invade Earth. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  9/10 Visual Effects: 5/10 Entertainment Factor:  7/10 Verdict:  I have sort of a love/hate relationship with "Man of Steel", the film that kicked off the DCEU. I'm a person who will always find a way to defend it while still acknowledging its many flaws. I very much appreciate Zack Snyder's approach to the origin of one of the most iconic superheroes of our times. It takes a deeper, more conflict-centric look at the character's journey to becoming Superman by comparing him to a divine figure living amongst mortals while trying to understand his purpose on Earth. It's a much different approach to the Marvel...

Director: Jean Cocteau Stars:  Jean Marais, François Périer, María Casares Runtime:  95 minutes Synopsis:  A poet in love with Death follows his unhappy wife into the underworld. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict: Jean Cocteau's Orphic trilogy is one I only recently learned about. And by recently, I mean after I've viewed the second installment titled "Orphée", released in 1950. But thankfully, the film works on its own and can be experienced without watching its predecessor, which came out 20 years before it. It acts as a modern retelling of the Ancient Greek myth about a poet bearing the titular name who sees his wife taken by Death and decides to go to the Underworld to retrieve her. Powered by ingenious practical effects and an imposing performance by Jean Marais, the film takes a few detours from the original legend that work for its advantage. Its themes of immortality and rebirth al...

Director: Todd Haynes Stars: Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson Runtime:  118 minutes Synopsis:   An aspiring photographer develops an intimate relationship with an older woman in 1950s New York. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  10/10 Verdict: (+) Rooney Mara is great. Cate Blanchett is phenomenal. (+) The emotionally-heavy score by Carter Burwell is one of the best of the decade. (+) Edward Lachman's cinematography feels and looks authentic. (+) The 1950s are beautifully captured. (+) More than just a love story, it's also a journey of self-discovery and sincerity. (+) Efficiently serves as a commentary on the difficulties faced by LGBTQ+ couples during that time (some of which they are still facing today). (+) The ending is perfect. (-) The dialogue can be cheesy at times. (-) It's such a one-note movie that could've easily been enhanced with bet...

Director: Richard Linklater Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy Runtime:  80 minutes Synopsis:  Nine years after Jesse and Celine first met, they encounter each other again on the French leg of Jesse's book tour. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Verdict: Nine long years after their romantic night in Vienna, Jesse, who has now written a novel about the encounter, and Céline meet again in Paris on the former's book tour. The pair haven't talked in nearly a decade but the chemistry they share hasn't faded away, as shown by Jesse's reaction when he first laid out on Céline while answering questions about his work. In a rush, he asks her out for a cup of coffee before his departure from the city in a few hours and she accepts without hesitation. For the next hour or so, we follow our favorite couple in real time as they walk through the streets of Paris, conversing about different topics ranging from philosophy to art, and most important...

Director: Robert Rodriguez Stars:  Rose McGowan, Freddy Rodríguez, Josh Brolin Runtime:  105 minutes Synopsis:  After an experimental bio-weapon is released, turning thousands into zombie-like creatures, it's up to a rag-tag group of survivors to stop the infected and those behind its release. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Entertainment Factor:  7/10 Verdict: Being the second half of the Grindhouse double feature, it's difficult to watch "Planet Terror" without comparing it to "Death Proof". The two share many similarities as they both pay tribute to exploitation films that were popular back in the 1970s and do a more than efficient job at recreating the over-the-top - almost to a ridiculous extent - tone that used to make them loved by so many people. They serve no other purpose than providing a fun experience to the audience and achieve exactly that. However, I did feel that "Planet Ter...

Director: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson Runtime:  127 minutes Synopsis:   Two separate sets of voluptuous women are stalked at different times by a scarred stuntman who uses his "death proof" cars to execute his murderous plans. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack:  10/10 Entertainment Factor:  10/10 Verdict: Considered by many to be Tarantino's worst work, I kept postponing "Death Proof" for years before I finally gave it a shot. I was in the mood for something fun, that doesn't require a lot of brainpower to take in, and I stumbled upon the first half of the Grindhouse double feature and thought to myself that it was about time to check it off my watchlist. So I sat back, pressed the play button, and... was charmed from beginning to end from what I now consider to be the most entertaining Tarantino flick to date. And if you're familiar with the director's body of ...

Director: Jake Castorena Stars: Troy Baker, Eric Bauza, Darren Criss Runtime: 87 minutes Synopsis:   Batman, Batgirl and Robin forge an alliance with The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to fight against the Turtles' sworn enemy, The Shredder, who has teamed up with Ra's Al Ghul and The League Of Assassins. Animation: 2/5 Performances: 3/5 Screenplay: 2/5 Editing: 3/5 Score/Soundtrack:  2/5 Entertainment Factor: 3/5 Verdict: Granted, this movie may be an easy target that probably was aimed at younger audiences (it's a Nickelodeon movie). But when I saw that Batman and the Turtles were going to be in the same movie, I just had to check it out. And while I wasn't particularly wowed, it's pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a movie with all these ingredients. The animated film is more of an "and" than a "versus", but you probably knew that already. In it, Bruce Wayne teams up with the Turtles, Batgirl, and Robin to ta...

Director: Billy Wilder Stars: Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon Runtime:  121 minutes Synopsis:  After two male musicians witness a mob hit, they flee the state in an all-female band disguised as women, but further complications set in. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict: Billy Wilder is a filmmaker that needs no introduction. Not only is he one of the best directors of all time with many timeless classics under his belt, but he's also one of the most versatile ones. It's difficult to believe that the same person who made "Witness for the Prosecution", "Double Indemnity", or "Sunset Boulevard" is also behind projects such as "The Apartment" or "The Seven Year Itch". And yet, he always delivers. "Some Like It Hot" is perhaps one of his most well-known and influential (especially in the censorship field) titles, and for good reason. In it, Tony C...

Director: Richard Linklater Stars: Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy Runtime:  101 minutes Synopsis:  A young man and woman meet on a train in Europe, and wind up spending one evening together in Vienna. Unfortunately, both know that this will probably be their only night together. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict: If my memory serves me well, I'd estimate that it's been around 4 or 5 years since I last experienced one of the greatest love stories ever told in movie form (or any other form as far as I'm concerned). It all started with a loud dispute on a train that pushed Céline to change her seat closer to Jesse's. After a brief exchange that sparked a connection between the two protagonists, Céline agrees to spend a night in Vienna to keep Jesse company while he waits for his flight back home the following morning. And that's pretty much it. There's no dramatic fight aimed at creating conflict we kno...

Director: Aaron Schneider Stars: Tom Hanks, Elisabeth Shue, Stephen Graham Runtime:  91 minutes Synopsis:   Early in World War II, an inexperienced U.S. Navy captain must lead an Allied convoy being stalked by Nazi U-boat wolfpacks. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 4/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10 Verdict: "Greyhound" had been on my radar ever since its trailer debuted. Not because it's yet another war movie starring Tom Hanks, but because it's the actor's first screenwriting gig. The Hollywood legend's resume speaks for itself, and I thought that he had surely picked up more than just a few writing tips along the years while working with some of the most talented people in the field. The Apple TV+ original, however, wasn't exactly the ideal debut for his young newfound career. It wasn't a disaster, that I can assure you, but God did it feel stale. The (not true) story of a Navy captain tasked to defend his convoy against e...

Director: Xavier Dolan Stars: Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas, Xavier Dolan, Pier-Luc Funk Runtime:  119 minutes Synopsis:  A drama focusing on a group of friends in their late 20s. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict: Xavier Dolan is in my eyes one of the most underrated directors working today. All of his films emit sort of a film school vibe that I really enjoy as it brings a certain intimacy to them. He often works with themes of mother issues ("Mommy") or sexual identity ("I Killed My Mother") and his latest project is no exception to that rule. Matthias and Maxime are long time friends who find themselves in a tricky situation. While acting on a scene together, they are required to kiss one another, an act that led them to question their friendship and contemplate if there isn't something more to it. Beautifully portrayed by Gabriel D'Almeida Freitas and Dolan himself, the two titular cha...

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood Stars: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts Runtime: 125 minutes Synopsis:  A covert team of immortal mercenaries are suddenly exposed and must now fight to keep their identity a secret just as an unexpected new member is discovered. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 3/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10 Entertainment Factor:  4/10 Verdict: The only reason I decided to give this movie a shot is Charlize Theron's recent work in action-themed projects. "Fury Road" is arguably one of the best films made in the current century that fall in that particular genre and "Atomic Blonde", while not being as spectacular, did provide us with a bunch of extremely satisfyingly choreographed fight scenes. "The Old Guard", unfortunately, falls in an entirely different category than the two previously mentioned flicks. It's the type of movie that feels more like an extension of an idea deemed innova...

Director: Jeffrey A. Brown Stars: Liana Liberato, Noah Le Gros, Jake Weber Runtime:  88 minutes Synopsis:  A romantic getaway for two troubled college sweethearts turns into a struggle for survival when unexpected guests - and the surrounding environment - exhibit signs of a mysterious infection. Verdict:   Takes a (very) long time to get going and even then never entirely pulled me in. I hate to say it but it also does fall victim to its modest budget. The lead performance by Liana Liberato and the timing of its release are the film's highlights, but otherwise I sadly didn't get much out of it. FINAL GRADE:  4/10

Director: Natalie Erika James Stars: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote Runtime:  89 minutes Synopsis:  A daughter, mother, and grandmother are haunted by a manifestation of dementia that consumes their family's home. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict: I've been longing for a good horror film for quite some time now, and "Relic" finally materialized itself as the answer to my prayers. Calling it one of this year's best movies isn't saying much considering the quality of most 2020 releases, but if a well-executed horror film that focuses on atmosphere rather than cheap jumpscares is your jam, then Natalie Erika James' feature-length debut is the film to see. When Kay is told that her sick mother has not been seen by her neighbors in quite some time, she and her daughter decide to pay her a visit to investigate the weird disappearance. Follows a series of creepy encounters with on...

Director: Max Barbakow Stars: Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, J.K. Simmons Runtime:  90 minutes Synopsis:  When carefree Nyles and reluctant maid of honor Sarah have a chance encounter at a Palm Springs wedding, things get complicated as they are unable to escape the venue, themselves, or each other. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 4/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10 Entertainment Factor:  6/10 Verdict:  I was actually pretty excited to see what "Palm Springs" was all about. As a long time fan of The Lonely Island and Andy Samberg in particular, I knew that it was going to at least provide me with some well needed and clever laughs. But my disappointment was immense when I realized that it was just another time loop film in which the protagonists are doomed to relive the same day over and over again. Conceptually, it's been done to death in the past and I was expecting "Palm Springs" to bring some kind of self-awareness to it, but sadly...

Director: Kelly Reichardt Stars: John Magaro, Alia Shawkat, Rene Auberjonois Runtime:  122 minutes Synopsis:  A skilled cook has traveled west and joined a group of fur trappers in Oregon, though he only finds true connection with a Chinese immigrant also seeking his fortune. Soon the two collaborate on a successful business. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict: A24's latest release was a rare miss for me. "First Cow", despite being praised by critics as its 96% Rotten Tomato score suggests, was a chore to get through. Taking place a couple of centuries ago in Oregon, the film follows a cook known as Cookie as he befriends an Eastern immigrant and starts a successful milk-based business with him. Technically, I can't call any of it bad as it does feature a very modest atmosphere and performances that did the job. The cinematography, while not being jaw-dropping, did match the film's fairly well. Bu...

Director: Shannon Murphy Stars: Eliza Scanlen, Toby Wallace, Ben Mendelsohn Runtime:  118 minutes Synopsis:  Milla, a seriously ill teenager falls in love with a drug dealer, Moses, her parents' worst nightmare. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict: When I randomly put on "Babyteeth" on a calm, peaceful evening, I had no idea what to expect from it. Shannon Murphy's directorial debut had a nice poster and an intriguing cast that includes names such as Eliza Scanlen, Essie Davis, or Ben Mendelsohn. And that's pretty much what convinced me to check it out. What I was not expecting, however, was to stumble on a little gem of a dramedy that takes a concept we've seen a bunch of times before and injects it with so much personality and humanity. Eliza Scanlen stars as Milla, a severely ill teenager who falls for a drug addict to the extreme discomfort of her parents. On the surface, it makes for a com...

Director: Yimou Zhang Stars:  Chao Deng, Li Sun, Ryan Zheng Runtime:   116 minutes Synopsis:  Life and intrigue in an ancient Chinese court. Performances:  6/10 Screenplay:  5/10 Editing:  6/10 Cinematography:  7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict: "Shadow" is a period piece that took the world by storm a couple of years ago and, oddly enough, acts as my introduction to Chinese Cinema. The synopsis is a rather complicated one that requires more than one sentence to properly flesh out, so I'll just say that it follows a man trained to be the shadow of a famous commander who must avenge his master's defeat in battle and regain a city lost to his kingdom. Now there's quite a bit to admire about the film which in my opinion has one of the most beautiful posters I've seen in a while. The production design and grayish color palette adopted, which together built an atmosphere of angst and dread, are the two main elements that ...

Director: Christopher Nolan Stars:  Jeremy Theobald, Alex Haw, Lucy Russell Runtime:  69 minutes Synopsis:  A young writer who follows strangers for material meets a thief who takes him under his wing. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  5/10 Verdict: Christopher Nolan's directorial debut may not be his most ambitious project, but certainly qualifies as an inspiring one for young filmmakers. Made with an astonishingly low budget of $6,000 and endless rehearsals in order to save on expensive 16mm film reels, the black and white movie (I'm guessing due to budgetary reasons that wouldn't allow Nolan to have proper lighting on set) is here to prove that the journey to success begins with a single step. "Following" is ambitious, but it's also a very clever neo-noir thriller that is almost reminiscent of Wilder or Hitchcock's work. It's filled with unexpected twists, all of which are set up in a pretty ef...

Director: Thomas Kail Stars:  Lin-Manuel Miranda, Phillipa Soo, Leslie Odom Jr. Runtime:  160 minutes Synopsis:  The real life of one of America's foremost founding fathers and first Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. Captured live on Broadway from the Richard Rodgers Theater with the original Broadway cast. Verdict: My knowledge of on-stage musicals not being as developed as I want it to be, I'm not entirely sure how to approach this review of what is perhaps one of the biggest cultural phenomenons of the current century. Unless you've been living under a rock (or away from social media), odds are that you've heard of Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton" and at least listened to a couple of songs featured in it. I personally never was a theater guy, and have probably only seen a couple of plays, both musicals, in my entire life ("Les Misérables" and  "Notre-Dame de Paris"). I'm not even sure how to approach it from a critica...

Director: Agnès Varda Stars:  Sandrine Bonnaire, Macha Méril, Stéphane Freiss Runtime:  105 minutes Synopsis:   A young woman's body is found frozen in a ditch. Through flashbacks and interviews, we see the events that led to her inevitable death. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 7/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Verdict:  The late Agnès Varda is a pioneer of the French New Wave movement that started in the 1950s. And despite thoroughly enjoying "Cléo From 5 to 7", I'm ashamed to say that I'm not as familiar as I want to be with the Belgian-born director's undoubtedly rich filmography. As a way to finally start righting that wrong, I put on "Sans toi ni loi", otherwise known as "Vagabond", which was met back in 1985 with universal acclaim, gathering a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie stars an excellent Sandrine Bonnaire as Mona, a young woman found dead in a ditch during the opening moments of ...

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn Stars: Tom Hardy, Kelly Adams, Luing Andrews Runtime:  92 minutes Synopsis:   A young man who was sentenced to seven years in prison for robbing a post office ends up spending three decades in solitary confinement. During this time, his own personality is supplanted by his alter-ego, Charles Bronson. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Editing: 9/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Entertainment Factor:  9/10 Verdict: (+) Fascinating character exploration of a man with near animalistic behavioral patterns who views violence as an art form and who would go to extreme lengths to make a name for himself. The world is his stage, and he will stop at nothing to be the center of attention. (+) Tom Hardy's best and most entertaining performance to date by a mile. Seriously, his portrayal of Charles Bronson (or Michael Peterson) deserves all the praise in the world. (+) Nicolas Winding Refn is nowadays known for his style over subst...

Director: Francis Lee Stars: Josh O'Connor, Alec Secareanu, Gemma Jones Runtime:  104 minutes Synopsis:  Spring. Yorkshire. Young farmer Johnny Saxby numbs his daily frustrations with binge drinking and casual sex until the arrival of a Romanian migrant worker for lambing season ignites an intense relationship that sets Johnny on a new path. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Editing: 8/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Verdict: I have heard nothing but praise for Francis Lee's roughly autobiographical directorial debut. And it was while browsing Netflix for something to watch that I surprisingly stumbled on it and convinced myself to finally give it a shot. I had no idea why I never did beforehand, but boy am I glad to have crossed it off my watchlist. The narrative is pretty straightforward as we follow Johnny, a young farmer who, instead of facing his repressed sentiments, drowns them in alcohol and casual sex with random men that never lead anywhere. That is until his family hires ...