Movies Graded

Director:  Christopher Nolan Stars: John David Washington, Robert Pattinson, Elizabeth Debicki Runtime:   150   minutes Synopsis:  Armed with only one word, Tenet, and fighting for the survival of the entire world, a Protagonist journeys through a twilight world of international espionage on a mission that will unfold in something beyond real time. Verdict: In a year that saw nearly every blockbuster be delayed due to the ongoing pandemic, Christopher Nolan decided not to give up his spot on the release calendar. "Tenet", his latest effort, opened as scheduled in theaters worldwide (or wherever it was allowed to drop) but, unfortunately for Nolan, ended up flopping as people were not too keen to risk their health in order to watch it. Now when it comes to the British director's work, I'm definitely the type of person who can find enjoyment in them while conceding that they're at times heavily flawed. Despite not loving "The Prestige", "Batman Begins...

Director: Akira Kurosawa Stars:  Toshirô Mif une ,  Takashi Shimura ,  Keiko Tsu shima Runtime:  207 minutes Synopsis:  A poor village under attack by bandits recruits seven unemployed samurai to help them defend themselves. Performances: 9/10 Screenplay: 9/10 Editing: 7/10 Cinematography: 10/10 Score/Soundtrack:  10/10 Verdict: Considered by many to be the greatest action movie of all time, Akira Kurosawa's "Seven Samurai" is a classic of unmatched proportions. Set in Feudal Japan, it tells the story of a poor village's hiring of seven samurai to protect them from menacing bandits. It's an eternal tale of bravery, teamwork, sacrifice, kindness, and resilience that has rightfully made its way into the history books of Cinema. Watching it made me feel like I was reading a book. A book so good and so immersive that its words turned into images. It takes its time, doesn't leave any stone unturned and, most importantly, cares about every single character taking...

Director: Clea DuVall Stars: Kristen Stewart, Mackenzie Davis, Mary Steenburgen Runtime:   102  minutes Synopsis:  A holiday romantic comedy that captures the range of emotions tied to wanting your family's acceptance, being true to yourself, and trying not to ruin Christmas. Verdict: Holiday season is upon us and with it the inevitable influx of Christmas-themed movies. Hulu's "Happiest Season" served as the opening act of the festival to come, and both its cast and premise piqued my interest when I looked it up on IMDb. Even though it seemed like something that wouldn't match my taste, the favorable reviews it received and the mood I was in as a long week came to a close convinced me to give it a try anyway. Within the first 5 minutes of the romantic-comedy, I knew that I was wrong not to trust my gut. While the film is certainly harmless at its core, it also does a remarkably lazy job at establishing the (either annoying or unlikeable) characters and their stru...

Director: Lars von Trier Stars: Nicole Kidman, Paul Bettany, Lauren Bacall Runtime:   178  minutes Synopsis:  A woman on the run from the mob is reluctantly accepted in a small Colorado community in exchange for labor, but when a search visits the town she finds out that their support has a price. Verdict: Lars von Trier is known for his pessimistic views on the human condition, a topic that can be widely viewed in his filmmaking style and the themes he tackles in most of his films. His work is deemed to be provocative, depressing, and divisive, alienating a lot of moviegoers in the process. But I can't help but find a lot of truth, even if exaggerated, in his work, and can't really think of another filmmaker who is able to present similar ideas in such a blunt manner. What will strike you most in "Dogville" is its presentation. The events take place entirely on a simplistic stage-like set supposed to represent the small town in which Grace, played by Nicole Kidman, f...

Director: Ron Howard Stars: Amy Adams, Glenn Close, Gabriel Basso Runtime:   116  minutes Synopsis:  A Yale law student drawn back to his hometown grapples with family history, Appalachian values, and the American dream. Verdict:  Let's face it, when it comes to his directorial efforts, Ron Howard has a pretty hit-and-miss record. Sure, he's made a bunch of great films such as "Apollo 13" or "A Beautiful Mind", but he's also responsible for more than a few flops, such as "Inferno" or "The Dilemma". Despite a trailer that sparked early awards talk, early reviews for "Hillbilly Elegy" quickly buried any chance of future medals for the Netflix original. I was hesitant to even give it a shot following the abysmal 27% score it gathered on Rotten Tomatoes but, to my surprise, the first thing that popped into my head as the movie was ending was "hey, that wasn't so bad". Now I'm not calling J.D.'s inspirationa...

Director: David Fincher Stars: Morgan Freeman, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow Runtime:   127  minutes Synopsis:  Two detectives, a rookie and a veteran, hunt a serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins as his motives. Verdict: Hailed as one of David Fincher's finest works, "Se7en" is a vastly captivating crime thriller that works thanks to the gritty atmosphere it builds, gory scenery it presents, and riveting antagonist whose methodical murders made him a force to be reckoned with. His fascination with the seven deadly sins drives the movie, giving it a more psychological feel than other similar neo-noir thrillers that came out over the years. They say that a hero is only as good as his villain, and Fincher was wise enough to understand that the saying also applies to films. "Se7en" peaks in its final act, but will most certainly keep the audience on the edge of their seats for its entire runtime. However, calling it a perfect film would be an exaggeration as it...

Director: Akira Kurosawa Stars:  Toshirô Mifune, Yutaka Sada, Tatsuya Nakadai Runtime:   143  minutes Synopsis:  An executive of a shoe company becomes a victim of extortion when his chauffeur's son is kidnapped and held for ransom. Verdict: Stuck between a rock and a hard place, Gondo, the executive of a shoe company at odds with his partners and played by the legendary  Toshirô Mifune , is faced with an unimaginable conundrum: pay the ridiculously large ransom demanded by a kidnapper to save his driver's son and become penniless in the process, or call the plan a bluff and hope that no harm comes to the mistakingly taken child who bears no direct relation to him. This may come off as an unpopular opinion, but "High and Low" may be the best Kurosawa film I have seen so far. It feels inspired by Hitchcock's work at times, and the inspiration to Park Chan-Wook's films at others. But make no mistake, Kurosawa's identity is very much present in a movie th...