DOCTOR STRANGE
4.5 out of 5 stars
The latest from Marvel is awesomely ambitious & psychedelic. Cumberbatch is sensational in a mind-blowing movie that’s a game-changer for superheroes. It enchants w/ breathtaking VFX & masterful storytelling.
BIRTH OF A NATION
4 out of 5 stars
A powerful, searing film about Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. It’s harsh & unapologetic, just like our bloody history being depicted. Parker’s gripping performance & confident direction fuels the passion of his convictions & justifiable anger.
KEVIN HART: WHAT NOW?
3.5 out of 5 stars
For better or worse, Hart can’t help but be his exaggerated self. But on stage, he’s in his element, spreading his energy & jokes through 50,000 strong. His brash perspective is entertaining & the laughs are constant.
AMERICAN HONEY
3 out of 5 stars
A gritty, sexually charged coming of age drama w/ powerful performances from Lane & LaBeouf. A rebellion of lost youth that feels authentic, but its repetition drives the story into the ground. It pulls you along for too long.
OUIJA: ORIGINS OF EVIL
3.5 out of 5 stars
Flowing w/ true scares,this well-crafted prequel cleverly applies the precise amount of chills from scene to scene to give you a real treat this #halloween.
HACKSAW RIDGE
3.5 out of 5 stars
This war drama puts a new kind of hero on notice & deservedly so. Gibson mercilessly tells a story of a peaceful man battling in the most violent of times. Garfield is phenomenal as a soldier standing strong in his faith & convictions, being brave w/ no ammo.
THE ACCOUNTANT
4 out of 5 stars
Don’t let the mindless action & some throwaway characters turn you away. This cleverly charged film is a gilt-edged study of an inimitable individual. Playing like an inscrutable puzzle, every piece has its purpose & rewards w/ each new discovery. Affleck displays more dominance in a character than perhaps ever before.
TROLLS
3.5 out of 5 stars
The spectacular colors give life to a bright fairy tale that’s mainly for kids. Yet everyone will have a blast w/ the singing, dancing & hugging. Happiness is what it’s about & that’s what it provides.
DENIAL
3 out of 5 stars
Barely stirring & perhaps more powerful on paper than on screen. But the drama is fully aware of the importance of its subject, allowing it to still be impactful. Weisz, Wilkinson & Spall bring brilliance in subtle ways.
BOO! A MADEA HALLOWEEN
1 out of 5 stars
Perry takes his audience for granted, & now maybe taking advantage of them. Laughs are traded in for stupidity while Madea’s gibberish is obnoxiously on repeat.
ARRIVAL
4.5 out of 5 stars
Director Villeneuve keeps you in absolute wonderment w/ this brilliant sci-fi epic that’s inwardly thoughtful. Adams gives a boffo performance where her grit & quiet strength bonnily blooms right in front of your eyes. All of it is an extraordinary sight to see.
CERTAIN WOMEN
2 out of 5 stars
A film w/ some intimate & affectionate moments about common struggles we all encounter. Yet it has more time than it knows what to do with. The short stories are shredded, leaving terrific actresses barely getting a chance to dive into their roles.
THE IVORY GAME
3.5 out of 5 stars
A harrowing, investigative doc about African Elephants imminent extinction that plays out like a suspenseful spy movie. The slaughtering of these majestic animals for their tusks is horrific; but there’s hope within committed, passionate people for their survival. We all need to get on board.
THE HANDMAIDEN
4.5 out of 5 stars
A lavish & sexual thriller where underestimating is the fatal flaw.Director Park beautifully places love inside violent hands w/stunning results. The sensational cast cleverly seduces you in a film where romance & betrayal gloriously devours everything in sight.
MOONLIGHT
4 out of 5 stars
Paths that life takes you down are defied in a poetic, explosive film about a boy becoming a man. Sensational performances all around, this achingly personal story is of a staggering transformation rarely told.
BILLY LYNN’S LONG HALFTIME WALK
2 out of 5 stars
Lee’s artfulness flees in a flat film about those who go to war & the bogus patriotism that awaits them back home. Alwyn gives the story some much needed feeling; however, the dialogue & pacing discharges a weak, lopsided walk.
Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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