Movies Graded

Creator: Mike Flanagan   Stars: Kate Siegel, Zach Gilford, Kristin Lehman Synopsis:  An isolated island community experiences miraculous events - and frightening omens - after the arrival of a charismatic, mysterious young priest. Verdict:  Priests, angels, and bad make-up populate Mike Flanagan’s newest demonic Netflix limited series. Set on an isolated island where the population barely reaches 150 locals, it follows the events that unfold when a new, mysterious priest shows up to replace the community's old monsignor. His takeover coincides with a surge in miraculous happenings which result in an almost hysteric increase of faith within the residents. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that what cannot be explained right now shouldn’t immediately be labeled as God’s work. Miracles shouldn’t be treated as proof of the existence of a higher power, but merely as a reminder that no matter how much science progresses, humanity’s knowledge will always remain limited...

Director: Cate Shortland Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, David Harbour Runtime: 133   minutes Synopsis:  A film about Natasha Romanoff in her quests between the films Civil War and Infinity War. Verdict:  Introduced during the early stages of the MCU's inception, Scarlett Johansson's Black Widow quickly grew to become a fan favorite and, for a long time, remained the only female member of The Avengers. Girls all over the world looked up to her as she stood her ground in this exclusive boys’ club, so much so that they had rightfully been campaigning for a solo movie for their heroine for years. Their wish was finally granted 10 years after her big-screen debut in "Iron Man 2" in what unfortunately feels more like an entry in the MCU made more out of obligation than anything else. It was very clear from the get-go that “Black Widow” would be more filler than substance, and that its non-existent personality would turn it into a tedious, forgettable watch. This ...

Director: Prano Bailey-Bond Stars: Niamh Algar, Michael Smiley, Nicholas Burns Runtime: 84   minutes Synopsis:  After viewing a strangely familiar video nasty, Enid, a film censor, sets out to solve the past mystery of her sister's disappearance, embarking on a quest that dissolves the line between fiction and reality. Verdict:  With an unusual style and a unique premise, Prano Bailey-Bond’s directorial debut will most likely leave a mark on anyone brave enough to give it a watch even if, like me, they come out of it with mixed emotions. Taking place during the British video nasty era of the 1980s, the film follows a video censor whose viewing of a mysterious cassette sends her down a sinister path to find her long-lost sister. Elevated by its retro personality reminiscent of the works of Dario Argento or David Cronenberg, the film is an interesting exploration of the effects of losing touch with reality on an individual’s mental health. Without expanding on it as much as...

Director: John Krasinski Stars: Emily Blunt, Millicent Simmonds, Cillian Murphy Runtime: 97   minutes Synopsis:  Following the events at home, the Abbott family now faces the terrors of the outside world. Forced to venture into the unknown, they realize the creatures that hunt by sound are not the only threats lurking beyond the sand path. Verdict:  I don’t usually enjoy ranting about something that doesn’t have to do with the movie I’m talking about in my posts but, this time, I unfortunately feel obliged to. “A Quiet Place 2” marked only the third time I watched a film in theaters during this rocky calendar year. Even though I didn’t fall in love with its predecessor, I won’t deny the fact that its reliance on an atmosphere built around sound – or rather the lack of it – categorized it as a flick that was enhanced by the theatrical experience. So imagine my frustration when I found out that only a couple of rows in front of me sat a pack of insufferable pre-teens who ma...

Director: Zack Snyder Stars: Dave Bautista, Ella Purnell, Ana de la Reguera Runtime: 148   minutes Synopsis:  Following a zombie outbreak in Las Vegas, a group of mercenaries takes the ultimate gamble, venturing into the quarantine zone to pull off the greatest heist ever attempted. Verdict:  The thing that differentiates zombie flicks from other movies that fall in the vast monster subgenre is the fact that, for them to properly work, the focus needs to be turned towards everything surrounding the threat. Undead corpses roaming around are by essence boring to watch, which is why an effort must be made to develop the human characters tasked in confronting them as well as the general tone of the movie. The genre begs for creative input from the people working on them as its traditional horror atmosphere has been recycled into taking a more dramatic or even comedic turn over the years (“Train to Busan” or “Shaun of the Dead” respectively). In old Zack Snyder fashion, “Army ...

Stars: Anthony Mackie, Sebastian Stan, Wyatt Russell Synopsis:  Following the events of 'Avengers: Endgame,' Sam Wilson/Falcon and Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier team up in a global adventure that tests their abilities -- and their patience. Verdict: You just know it's a Marvel project when a little blood on a shield comes as a surprise to a lot of people for being "too gruesome compared to the rest of the universe". I'm just kidding (or am I?), but that was a little funny moment that pretty much summed up my whole experience with the show: it's yet another painfully average Marvel piece of media that knows how to generate hype on the short term but that won't be talked about anymore in a month's time (is anyone still talking about "WandaVision"?). That is not to say that I didn't enjoy a few aspects of it, because I did find its tone to be more appropriate than the other Disney+ show that preceded it. It was as if the creative minds beh...

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania Stars: Yahya Mahayni, Dea Liane, Koen De Bouw Runtime:   104  minutes Synopsis: His own body turned into a living work on art and promptly exhibited in a museum, Sam, a Syrian refugee, will soon realize to have sold away more than just his skin. Verdict:  When I randomly stumbled onto Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania’s "Beauty and the Beast" last year on Netflix, I was baffled. I became immediately convinced that I had found a director who would use her voice to illustrate the many human rights violations taking place in most countries in the MENA region to the entire world. Surely enough, her sophomore feature "The Man Who Sold His Skin" made its way to the Oscars where it will be competing in the Best International Feature category, a first for the North-African country and an achievement that instantly skyrocketed my interest in it. There are undeniably many things to appreciate about the film, including Lebanese cinematographer ...

Director: Paul Greengrass Stars: Tom Hanks, Helena Zengel, Tom Astor Runtime: 118  minutes Synopsis:  A Civil War veteran agrees to deliver a girl, taken by the Kiowa people years ago, to her aunt and uncle, against her will. They travel hundreds of miles and face grave dangers as they search for a place that either can call home. Verdict:  When a veteran stumbles across a little girl who doesn’t speak a word of English, he makes it his mission to deliver her to a safe place, even if that means traveling hundreds of miles to reach his destination. No, it’s not the plot of “Logan” I’m describing to you, but Paul Greengrass’ latest western “News of the World”. But while it is very clear that the two share many similarities, there is no denying that Hugh Jackman’s last hoorah as Wolverine is the superior road trip set in a western background. Starring Tom Hanks as Tom Hanks with a southern accent and the young Helena Zengel, whose on-screen presence was an impressive one to ...

Director: Agnieszka Holland Stars: Ivan Trojan, Josef Trojan, Juraj Loj Runtime: 118  minutes Synopsis:  The breathtaking story of a man gifted with exceptional abilities set against the background of the events of the totalitarian fifties. Verdict:  Czech Republic’s official submission for the 93rd Academy Awards, which made the February shortlist, is a biopic of a rather obscure historical figure. “Charlatan” tells the story of Jan Mikolásek, a famous Czech healer who treated his patients by eyeballing a sample of their urine and then prescribing them plant-based medication. His unorthodox methods ultimately irritated the totalitarian Communist Party that was, at the time, ruling the country, and it didn’t take long for them to seize an opportunity to go after him and his assistant. Agnieszka Holland’s feature does a half-decent job at educating viewers about a character I’m certain most haven’t heard of. It doesn’t offer anything too fancy aside from a realistic depict...

Director: Harry Macqueen Stars: Colin Firth, Stanley Tucci, Pippa Haywood Runtime: 95  minutes Synopsis:  Sam and Tusker are traveling across England in their old RV to visit friends, family and places from their past. Since Tusker was diagnosed with dementia two years ago, their time together is the most important thing they have. Verdict:  I can't think of many situations that are more tragic than being conscious of the burden your illness causes on your loved ones. Harry Macqueen's "Supernova" deals with that very topic as it is centered on a couple's attempt to renew their love after being told that one of them suffers from irreparable dementia. Sounds like a recipe for tears, right? So why did it struggle so much to get its emotions across? I greatly admire the acting chops of both Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci, but a clear lack of chemistry between the couple made the watch a much less impactful one than it should've been. It's certainly not their be...

Director: Sergio Leone Stars: Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volontè, Marianne Koch Runtime:  99 minutes Synopsis:  A wandering gunfighter plays two rival families against each other in a town torn apart by greed, pride, and revenge. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  10/10 Entertainment Factor:  5/10 Verdict: Sergio Leone's biggest contribution to Cinema is the Spaghetti Western subgenre. Birthed in the mid-1960s at a time when Western fatigue was starting to be observed amongst moviegoers, he managed to resuscitate it with his signature genre, mostly associated nowadays with the famous Dollar unofficial trilogy. "A Fistful of Dollars" came out in 1964 and, for the first time, gave us Clint Eastwood's man with no name, a charming gunfighter, and the main antihero of that trilogy. With his blond hair, iconic squint, and laid off attitude, he definitely looks the part assigned to him. His cool factor is beyond the roo...

Director: Simon Stone Stars: Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, Lily James Runtime: 112  minutes Synopsis:  An archaeologist embarks on the historically important excavation of Sutton Hoo in 1938. Verdict:  Everything about this movie screamed boring British period piece, one of my least favorite subgenres in the world of Cinema. Directed by Simon Stone and starring Carey Mulligan, Ralph Fiennes, and Lily James, “The Dig” tells the true story of an archeological excavation that took place in 1939. Despite using a visual template that has been used far too many times within the subgenre and a script that wasn’t entirely free of cheesy dialogue, my love of archeology was enough to make the first half of the film at the very least intriguing. I wasn’t blown away by it, but I also wasn’t nearly as bored as I was expecting to be. But then the second half of the movie came along and with it a change in focus that worked against the flow of the narrative. The focus shifted from hist...

Director: Thomas Vinterberg Stars: Mads Mikkelsen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Magnus Millang Runtime:   117  minutes Synopsis:  Four friends, all high school teachers, test a theory that they will improve their lives by maintaining a constant level of alcohol in their blood. Verdict:  With "The Hunt" being one of my favorite movies of the past decade, I was eager to see what Thomas Vinterberg and Mads Mikkelsen had in store for their second collaboration. The fact that it already is considered an awards frontrunner by many only made me more excited to check it out, but I'm sad to report that it didn't meet my expectations. Quite the opposite. Now to be perfectly honest, there's nothing truly wrong with the movie itself. About a group of high school teachers who decide to make their lives more interesting by keeping a constant level of alcohol in their blood, it had a lot to say about the drinking culture of today, highlighting both its advantages and inconveniences. The en...

Director: Wes Craven Stars: Neve Campbell, Courtney Cox, David Arquette Runtime:  111 minutes Synopsis:  A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a new killer, who targets the girl and her friends by using horror films as part of a deadly game. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Entertainment Factor:  6/10 Verdict: It was a Sunday evening. I had the time to squeeze in one last movie to end what was a very cinematically rich weekend. I was in the mood for a horror movie, preferably one I've seen in the past and want to revisit. Wes Craven's "Scream" pops up and, with all the news of a sequel being currently shot, I decided to put it on. Before this rewatch, I had seen "Scream" only once, a very long time ago. Being the cultural event that it is, I vaguely remembered the premise and some scenes here and there, but overall forgot what the experience of watching it felt lik...

Creator: Mike Flanagan Stars: Victoria Pedretti, T'Nia Miller, Amelia Eve Synopsis:   After an au pair’s tragic death, Henry hires a young American nanny to care for his orphaned niece and nephew who reside at Bly Manor with the chef Owen, groundskeeper Jamie and housekeeper, Mrs. Grose. Performances:  6/10 Screenplay:  4/10 Editing:  5/10 Cinematography:  8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Enjoyment Factor:  4/10 Verdict: Full disclosure, I'm not the biggest fan of Mike Flanagan's work. Hailed as one of the most promising filmmakers in the horror genre today by many, his films never spoke to me personally despite them clearly being a step up from what the genre has to offer nowadays. In other words, I wouldn't put him in the same league as Ari Aster, Robert Eggers, or even Jordan Peele, but I also wouldn't consider his projects to be as bad as your "Unfriended", "Rings", or "The Bye Bye Man", However, I did quite enjoy "The Haunting of ...

Director: Antonio Campos Stars: Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland,  Bill Skarsgård   Runtime:  138 minutes Synopsis:  Sinister characters converge around a young man devoted to protecting those he loves in a postwar backwoods town teeming with corruption and brutality. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Enjoyment Factor:  5/10 Verdict:  Four years ago, a relatively unknown director graced us with "Christine", one of the finest and most overlooked films of 2016. Antonio Campos immediately became a name that was constantly on my radar. And I couldn't contain my excitement when, a little over a year ago, it was announced that he was returning to his directing duties by helming a Netflix original starring none other than Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson. As days went by, my anticipation for "The Devil All the Time" grew bigger as more and more of this generation's brightest up-and-comers joined a proj...

Director: Egor Abramenko Stars:  Oksana Akinshina, Fedor Bondarchuk, Pyotr Fyodorov Runtime:  113 minutes Synopsis:  The lone survivor of an enigmatic spaceship incident hasn't returned back home alone-hiding inside his body is a dangerous creature. Performances: 5/10 Screenplay: 4/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  7/10 Entertainment Factor:  6/10 Verdict: John Carpenter's "The Thing" served as the inspiration to many modern sci-fi horror hybrids. Off the top of my head, "Apollo 18" and "Life" are examples of films that very clearly borrowed a few ideas from the classic. Egor Abramenko's "Sputnik" is the latest addition to the alien symbiote hunting people down list and, without being spectacular, achieves what it was aiming to do in a rather effective manner. What I liked most about "Sputnik" is by far the horror element of it all. The scenes involving the mysterious symbiote are intense, and backed b...

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: 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: Mel Gibson Stars:  Gerardo Taracena, Raoul Max Trujillo, Dalia Hernández Runtime:  139 minutes Synopsis:  As the Mayan kingdom faces its decline, a young man is taken on a perilous journey to a world ruled by fear and oppression. Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Editing: 4/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict: This is it, folks. The movie that scarred me as a kid. I was only about 11 years old when I watched Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto" in theaters, and I remember being horrified from the very first scene in which a group of Mayan hunters dissect an animal they freshly captured and devour its organs raw. Things only get worse as the movie progresses, but something about it kept me hooked despite the gruesome imagery. I may have not slept well in the following days, but I was at the very least fascinated by that movie. Being available on Netflix, I decided to give it a rewatch since I haven't seen it i...