Movies Graded

Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo Runtime: 149 minutes Synopsis:  10 years and 18 movies later, the Earth's mightiest heroes finally confront the universe's biggest threat, Thanos. Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: 10/10 Costumes/Makeup: 9/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict:  I loved every second of this two and a half hours epic. What the Russo brothers accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary, as managing to balance literally dozens of superheroes in one movie is a task I thought impossible. The cast, despite not really offering anything new, was brilliant as well, perfectly blending drama and comedy. But the actor who caught my attention the most was Josh Brolin as the pitiless Thanos, who we only saw glimpses of in previous installments, and who without a doubt is Marvel's best and most menacing villain to date. The visual e...

Director: Chris Columbus Stars: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint Runtime: 161 minutes Synopsis: During Harry's second year at Hogwarts, many students are victims of terrible attacks all related to a mysterious room hidden somewhere in the castle known as the Chamber of Secrets.   Performances: 6/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: 6/10 Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 6/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  8/10 Verdict:  "Chamber of Secrets" is Chris Columbus' second and final contribution to the Harry Potter franchise. After setting up the universe in the first entry, he opted for a tonally darker approach for the sequel. A tone that was explored more extensively in future installments. However, "Chambers of Secrets" still feels very much like an extension of "Sorcerer's Stone". It still has quite a bit of cheese and goof in it, the child performances are still not quite there yet, and the special effect...

Director: Jeremy Phillips Stars: Lindsey Shaw, Judd Nelson, Dendrie Taylor Runtime: 85 minutes Synopsis: A look at Lissa's tainted and depressing life, with a focus on her relationship with her parents and her boyfriend.  Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 6/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 8/10 Score/Soundtrack:  4/10 Verdict:  Is "1/1" the best movie of the year? I don't think it is. Is it the most unique one? Yes. I don't think I've ever witnessed a story told the way it was in this film written and directed by Jeremy Phillips. Ambitious films are always a gamble to make, as they could either be viewed as pretentious or genius. And I believe "1/1" is a mix of both. I really enjoyed how the narrative was pieced together in such a way that the audience was able to see what was going on in the protagonist's head, and I liked how every subplot was divided into the same segments. The ...

Director: Alfred Sole Stars: Linda Miller, Mildred Clinton, Paula E. Sheppard Runtime: 98 minutes Synopsis: Alice, a young girl with psychopathic tendencies, is suspected of brutally murdering her sister Karen. Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: N.A.   Costumes/Makeup: 5/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  I was in the mood for a good old horror film since I haven't seen one in a while. I somehow stumbled across "Alice, Sweet Alice", which was originally called "Communion" and which is also Brooke Shields' film debut. I was immediately sold when I learned that the flick was centered around a deranged kid, which is a horror subgenre I really enjoy watching. The fact that it came out during what many consider to be the golden age of horror films was a huge plus as well. However, I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed with the end result. The movie's biggest asset is by f...

Director: Jason Reitman Stars:  Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass Runtime: 95 minutes Synopsis: An exhausted mother hires a night nanny to take care of her newborn.  Performances: 8/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 8/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 6/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  I don't think I ever watched a film directed by Jason Reitman that I didn't at least enjoy. And "Tully" is no exception. The film stars an Oscar-worthy Charlize Theron, along with Mackenzie Davis and Mark Duplass, who are both great as well, and mostly deals with the theme of parenthood and how exhausting it can be. What I loved most about the movie are the characters and how humane they are all portrayed. The journey Theron's character Marlo goes through is one that will scare you from ever having children, and the way that character grows as the movie progresses truly shows the star's acting abilities and emotio...

Director: Christopher McQuarrie Stars: Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Ving Rhames Runtime: 157 minutes Synopsis: Ethan Hunt and his IMF team find themselves once again in the middle of a mission that, if gone wrong, could cause the world to go to chaos.    Performances: 7/10 Screenplay: 5/10 Special Effects: 7/10 Costumes/Makeup: 6/10 Editing: 5/10 Cinematography: 7/10 Score/Soundtrack:  6/10 Verdict:  The "Mission: Impossible" franchise is one I never really got into. I've seen all five previous installments, and I can't honestly say that I loved any of them. Some are better than others for sure, but overall it's pretty much Tom Cruise pulling off impossible stunts that keeps them from being just like every other action/spy thriller out there. Having said that, I went in to watch "Fallout" with fairly reasonable expectations. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, but there was something about the trailer that got me a bit more excited...

Director: Buster Keaton Stars: Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire, Joe Keaton Runtime: 45 minutes Synopsis: A film monitor dreams of becoming a detective. Performances: 10/10 Screenplay: 8/10 Special Effects: N.A. Costumes/Makeup: 7/10 Editing: 10/10 Cinematography: 9/10 Score/Soundtrack: 10/10  Verdict:  If filmmaking was a science, Buster Keaton would've won a Nobel prize for this movie. The classic, made in 1924, aged like fine wine and holds up perfectly to this day, nearly 100 years after its initial release. The film is only 45 minutes long but never stops to breathe for a second. It's hilarious and action-packed since the very first second, and this all thanks to Buster Keaton's incredible stunt work (which nearly got him killed), and marvelous comedic timing. Keaton doesn't only shine in front of the camera but also leaves a mark behind it. The film uses editing and camera handling techniques that revolutionized moviemaking forever. The scor...