Archives for : movies
I am so happy to say, not only is this movie a slam dunk, but it’s one of the best films of the year so far. I know it’s early to say that, but this one is going to stick with audiences all year long.
“Air” is directed by Ben Affleck, who also stars in the film, alongside Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker and Chris Messina. The film is about a sports marketing executive, played by Damon, and how he led Nike in its pursuit of the greatest athlete in the history of basketball: Michael Jordan. The film’s premise is simple and concise, but also, effective and moving thanks to outstanding performances by its all-star cast.
A big part of the reason why “Air” soars is because of the film’s authenticity. Ben Affleck wanted to do this story right, so he met with Michael Jordan and made sure he approved of the facts and what they would be portraying. Jordan’s only request was that Viola Davis play his mom. And who can blame him? She’s fantastic. Ben Affleck continues to prove himself as a skilled director with his brilliant focus and passion for storytelling.
The film is a witty crowd-pleaser that moves quick. It’s hilarious and has a great message about following your instincts and taking risks. “Air” is an inspiring true story everyone should see.
Rating: A+
This week I review DC’s “Shazam! Fury of the Gods”. The film stars Zachary Levi as a young teen who can transform to an adult superhero. The first film was hit, but is this sequel a miss? Watch my full review to find out!
“Shazam! Fury of the Gods” is currently playing in theaters.
Rating: D+
This week I review Michael B. Jordan’s directorial debut, “Creed III”. The film follows Adonis 3 years after his retirement from fighting. He has a seemingly perfect life until his past comes back to haunt him. Was this movie a knockout or bust? Find out in the video below!
“Creed III” opens March 3, 2023.
Rating: B+
This week I review the third installment of the Ant-Man franchise, “Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania”. Was it a hit or a miss? Find out in my ICTN review video below!
“Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania” is currently playing in theaters.
Rating: B-
This week I review the new comedy, “80 for Brady”. The film stars, Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Rita Moreno, and Sally Field as four best friends who are fans of Tom Brady. They make it their mission to go to the Superbowl and watch him play live. Find out if I thought this film was a touchdown or fumble.
“80 for Brady” opens in theater February 3, 2023
Rating: D+
| WINNERS OF THE 28th ANNUAL CRITICS CHOICE AWARDS |
| FILM CATEGORIES BEST PICTURE Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24) BEST ACTOR Brendan Fraser – The Whale (A24) BEST ACTRESS Cate Blanchett – Tár (Focus Features) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR Ke Huy Quan – Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Angela Bassett – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney Studios Motion Pictures) BEST YOUNG ACTOR Gabriel LaBelle – The Fabelmans (Universal Pictures) BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) BEST DIRECTOR Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24) BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY Daniel Kwan & Daniel Scheinert – Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24) BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY Sarah Polley – Women Talking (United Artists Releasing) BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY Claudio Miranda – Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount Pictures) BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN Florencia Martin, Anthony Carlino – Babylon (Paramount Pictures) BEST EDITING Paul Rogers – Everything Everywhere All at Once (A24) BEST COSTUME DESIGN Ruth E. Carter – Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Disney Studios Motion Pictures) BEST HAIR AND MAKEUP Elvis (Warner Bros. Pictures) BEST VISUAL EFFECTS Avatar: The Way of Water (20th Century Studios) BEST COMEDY Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (Netflix) BEST ANIMATED FEATURE Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (Netflix) BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM RRR (Sarigama Cinemas) BEST SONG Naatu Naatu – RRR (Sarigama Cinemas) BEST SCORE Hildur Guðnadóttir – Tár (Focus Features) SERIES CATEGORIES BEST DRAMA SERIES Better Call Saul (AMC) BEST ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Bob Odenkirk – Better Call Saul (AMC) BEST ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Zendaya – Euphoria (HBO Max) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES Giancarlo Esposito – Better Call Saul (AMC) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A DRAMA SERIES Jennifer Coolidge – The White Lotus (HBO Max) BEST COMEDY SERIES Abbott Elementary (ABC) BEST ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Jeremy Allen White – The Bear (FX) BEST ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Jean Smart – Hacks (HBO Max) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES Henry Winkler – Barry (HBO Max) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A COMEDY SERIES Sheryl Lee Ralph – Abbott Elementary (ABC) BEST LIMITED SERIES The Dropout (Hulu) BEST MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (The Roku Channel) BEST ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Daniel Radcliffe – Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (The Roku Channel) BEST ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Amanda Seyfried – The Dropout (Hulu) BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Paul Walter Hauser – Black Bird (Apple TV+) BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A LIMITED SERIES OR MOVIE MADE FOR TELEVISION Niecy Nash-Betts – Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story (Netflix) BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE SERIES Pachinko (Apple TV+) BEST ANIMATED SERIES Harley Quinn (HBO Max) BEST TALK SHOW Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO Max) BEST COMEDY SPECIAL Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special (Netflix) |
After so many heavy award contenders, it’s nice to have a fun palette cleanser like the new sci-fi/thriller, “M3GAN”. January is known to be dump month. So going into this film, I had no expectations but to hopefully have a good time. Luckily, the film turned out to be a whole lot of deadly fun.
Chucky, you’ve met your match. It’s the model 3 generative android, aka M3GAN for short. She is a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. She’s a life-like doll that listens, teaches, and looks after the child she has bonded with. However, when it comes to protecting her owner, M3GAN may go off program and leave a bloody mess behind.
In the film, Allison Williams stars as Gemma, a brilliant roboticist who is obsessed with her job and perfecting the AI for her company’s new toy. Unfortunately, a terrible accident leaves her responsible for her 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw). She rushes her newest project so that M3GAN can take on the responsibilities of a guardian that she doesn’t want to be bothered with. But soon M3GAN takes her role to the extreme, and Gemma must do everything she can to deactivate the AI for good.
This hilarious, campy horror is written by Akela Cooper and James Wan; and directed by Gerald Johnstone. It has all the makings for an instant horror classic. The film provides the similar thrills and humor of “Child’s Play”, while adding its own original spin. “M3GAN” is self-aware and embraces the silliness of its premise. Though, the plot is ridiculous, the film also has a lot of heart by exploring grief and its impact on children, as well as people’s dependency on technology. There is a reason why these AI’s shouldn’t replace parents, and at some point, children need to outgrow their toys.
“M3GAN” is a comical story with some foolish scenes, but man, is it one hell of a good time! From her random dance break to her creepy spider crawl chase, you’ll be laughing and shuddering at the thought of M3GAN as your new best friend.
Rating: B+
10. The Black Phone
At first glance, “The Black Phone” could come off as a “ripped from the headlines” Lifetime movie. In actuality, the film is a familiar story about a child kidnapper/serial killer that unfolds in a completely unnerving and original way! It also features an incredible and disturbingly eerie performance by Ethan Hawke.
9. I Want You Back
When I watched this film back in February, I knew it would be in my top 10. Not just because I love the genre, but because this one felt reminiscent of some of my favorite 90’s romcoms. The film follows Emma (Jenny Slate) and Peter (Charlie Day) after they have both been dumped by their significant others. They bond over their losses and decide to work together to get their exes back. “I Want You Back” has a refreshing and hilarious screenplay that shines even brighter through Slate and Day’s chemistry.
8. Hustle
Less is more when it comes to the brilliance that is “Hustle”. Adam Sandler plays a basketball scout whose goal is to become a coach. In the midst of that journey, he stumbles upon a talented baller in Spain. They connect as two underdogs trying to prove themselves worthy of coming out on top. This is just one of those movies that excels through incredible performances and it’s a feel-good story. It’s easily my favorite performance by Sandler to date. “Hustle” is the hidden gem of 2022 that I hope everyone was able to find.
7. The Woman King
Based on true events, “The Woman King” is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s. The women are fierce warriors with unbelievable fighting skills. From its opening scene, the film hooks you in, and keeps you enthralled with exciting action sequences and a thrilling journey. It’s an inspiring and powerful movie.
6. Bros
Finally, a good romcom was shown in theaters this year! It’s crazy to think that “Bros” is the first romantic comedy about two men falling in love to be produced by a mainstream studio. It’s long overdue. But, if we had to wait this long, I’m glad we put it in the hands of Billy Eichner (Co-Writer) and Nick Stoller (Director/Co-Writer). In addition to the film’s historic romantic storyline, the movie also features and entirely LGBTQ+ cast. And it’s entertaining to watch some of those characters poke fun at their own current political identities. “Bros” goes beyond the surface level romcom with its conversation about the importance of LGBTQ+ historical figures.
5. Vengeance
B.J. Novak’s directorial debut is a dark comedy thriller about a podcaster who travels from New York to West Texas to investigate the death of a girl he was hooking up with. I may be bias, being from Texas, but anyone can relate to this story. It’s a hilarious satire about politics, media and technology. Novak is a tour de force, providing a sharp and witty script with a valuable message about how we “connect” with people. “Vengeance” is an original “whodunit” with a shocking and unforgettable ending.
4. Fresh
Mimi Cave’s debut feature goes from rom-com to a dark, provocative horror. Audiences may think they’ve seen this story before, but it hasn’t been told quite like this. For starters, the film features a Grade-A cast. Sebastian Stan’s character is unlike anything he’s played before. And Daisy Edgar-Jones gives an unforgettable performance, as she brings a whole new level to the “damsel turns badass” story arc. The film’s images range from picturesque to beautifully grotesque. “Fresh” delivers the whole package. It’s a deliciously, twisted horror/comedy that leaves you craving more.
3. The Menu
The best original screenplay award should go to “The Menu”. Talk about a brilliant script! This was one that audiences didn’t really know what they were walking into, but should have left very satisfied. In the film, a couple (Anya Taylor-Joy and Nicholas Hoult) travels to a coastal island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef (Ralph Fiennes) has prepared a lavish menu, with some shocking surprises. As the story unfolds, we find this is an exploration of the toxic relationship between art, artist and consumer. Are we still making the art that we were passionate about for ourselves or have we become sell outs? “The Menu” is a clever and delectable story.
2. The Batman
“The Batman” is one of the best Batman movies since “The Dark Knight”. I was hesitant when Robert Pattinson was cast, but he nails it with a brooding Bruce Wayne in his 20’s. The entire cast is fantastic, especially, the quick-witted Zoe Kravitz as probably the most realistic Cat woman, and a stunning, unrecognizable Colin Farrell as Penguin, and of course, a chilling Paul Dano as The Riddler. In this story, citizens know Batman’s name, but don’t quite know his full potential. However, when The Riddler, sadistically begins to murder key political figures and dirty cops in Gotham, Batman is pulled into the investigation to uncover the city’s hidden corruption and his family’s involvement. The film’s dark and gritty atmosphere paired with Matt Reeves’ alluring shots heightens the thrills and suspense during this enthralling murder mystery.
1. Top Gun: Maverick
My number one had to go to my favorite cinematic experience this year. This film had no business being as good as it was. But I am so happy to say it pulled off a sequel rarity in being better than the original. In “Top Gun: Maverick”, Pete Mitchell aka Maverick (Tom Cruise), has been serving as one the Navy’s top aviators for more than 30 years. He is ordered to return to “Top Gun” and instruct the new class of fighter pilots. Only problem, that class includes his late best friend, Goose’s son, Bradley (Miles Teller), who has unresolved issues with Maverick. What director Joseph Kosinski did here is no easy feat. He managed to take the good of the original film and elevate the story and special effects to new heights. The script is sharp, with a perfect combination of nostalgia and modern day. The acting is top notch, as these characters are portrayed with more emotion and vulnerability, and the flight sequences are heart pounding thrills.
The Rest of the Best:
11. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
12. Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
13. The Good Nurse
14. Women Talking
15. Bodies, Bodies, Bodies
16. Bullet Train
17. Everything Everywhere All at Once
18. The Whale
19. The Fabelmans
20. Senior Year
Top 5 Worst Films of 2022
5. Jurassic World: Dominon – You bring everyone back for a messy story about giant locusts?
4. Firestarter (2022) – Not even Zac Efron could make this reboot worth it.
3. They/Them – Such a great idea with poor delivery and some of the worst acting.
2. Pinocchio (2022) – A lazy remake with poor graphics and the most annoying Pinocchio.
1. Halloween Ends – I didn’t think it could get any worse than the last film, but then this monstrosity was made. Barely any Michael Myers and too much unwanted romance.
Trevor’s Top 10
10. Thor: Love and Thunder
9. The Black Phone
8. Fresh
7. Bullet Train
6. The Whale
5. Everything Everywhere All At Once
4. The Menu
3. Vengeance
2. The Batman
1. Top Gun: Maverick
