CREED II
4 out of 5 stars
Director Caple Jr. steps in for Coogler to deliver an invigorating sequel w/ the same fighting spirit as its predecessor. Jordan is phenomenal once again, & Stallone is never better as the iconic boxer now mentor. Creed, Balboa, & Drago – these last names are iconic & all of the performances associated w/ them are incredibly immersed within their rich, historical characters that live life battered & bruised. You’ll see every punch coming before they’re even thrown, but each one hits right where it counts.
COLETTE
2.5 out of 5 stars
There’s no difficulty in director Westmoreland making beauty pop, but why can’t the same be done for the tension that swarms in every scene? Or, how about challenging the narrative like our heroine did throughout her life? This period drama feels uninspired & dreary while we watch the French writer blossom as she & her husband do the infidelity dance until their legs fall off. Through the sexism, social gossip, & male entitlement, the movie is at its best when Knightley’s radiant performance comes full circle &, as Colette, will not be deterred in finally breaking free.
BOY ERASED
3.5 out 5 stars
There’s compassion & care where cynicism & hatred could have been in director Edgerton’s sincere portrait of a young man’s struggle w/ his sexuality as he is sent by his parents to conversion therapy. Based on a true story, Hedges, Kidman, & Crowe are all amazing, side-stepping stereotypes to provide the pain & perplexity of what religion teaches them & what life itself throws at them. Within their quiet yet mesmerizing scenes together, there’s no blame to spread around as each one handles this the only way they know how. While mournful, there is hope when acceptance is allowed in to a family’s home & hearts. This sobering, effective film is your proof.
WIDOWS
4 out of 5 stars
If you believe this heist thriller is just about the heist, then you don’t have a clue of what director McQueen is capable of. Sure – it’s the most fun he’s had w/ a film, yet boiling underneath are pertinent issues of gender, race, politics, & class waiting to be unleashed & confronted head-on. The outstanding Davis leads an excellent ensemble through this genre caper of not just finishing what these women’s deceased husbands started – but taking control of their own lives in the process. Their self-worth grows along w/ their demand for respect. It’s powerful storytelling as well as nerve-rattling to watch these characters maneuver through a society happily waiting to chew them up & spit them out.
CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?
4 out of 5 stars
Director Heller’s dramedy about a rough-hewn, bitter author turned literary forger to pay the bills is consummately crafted by exposing the damage of loneliness & insecurity while trying to survive in a world that doesn’t want to get to know you & vice versa. McCarthy is nothing short of magnificent as Israel. She’s got a sharp-tongue, a take-no-shit attitude, & a writing talent that must be put to use – even if it’s not to good use. McCarthy’s portrayal may paint an unpleasant woman, but she provides that right kind of compassion & explicitness to show Israel’s true worth. Playing our balky heroine’s only pal & accomplice, Grant compliments her punch & sass beautifully, & together render a quaint yet phenomenal pair.
BEAUTIFUL BOY
3.5 out of 5 stars
There’s no huge emotional payoff in director Van Groeningen’s true story of addiction & the deep cuts that are made by it. But, it does leave you w/ hope of healing those wounds. The storytelling stays honest about the helplessness felt when attempting to help your son who can’t help himself. There are several wonderful performances, particularly from the two leading men, Carell & Chalamet, whose portrayals give such exceptional restraint & emotion when struggling to make their family whole again. Their tender moments shared on-screen are worth savoring.
SUSPIRIA (2018)
3 out of 5 stars
Swinton & Johnson are stellar as teacher & student, respectively, inside a dark dance school where hideousness is deeply hidden. As a re-imagined remake, director Guadagnino wants no one to take comfort when viewing his desolate, WTF witches tale. His body-butchering, blood-drenched telling of inconceivable evil is cold, beautiful, & brutal. Though, there’s a lot thrown in to this art-horror boiling pot – politics, sinister spells, feminism, fantasy – that do not compliment each other well. It’s a mixed bag of tricks that doesn’t support such an already unique, uncompromising vision blinded by style & shock.
BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
3 out of 5 stars
Malek’s first-rate performance will rock you, but this biopic is more about Queen’s hits than their flamboyant, flashy front-man. Director Singer plays it too safe when depicting Mercury for the man & artist he was – leaving much insight tucked away behind the glitz & glamour. There’s a lot more to be desired in this rock n’ roll story conventionally told for a legend who was the furthest thing from it. Still, w/ all of its shortcomings, the Live Aid concert will leave you speechless w/ chills.
WILDLIFE
3.5 out of 5 stars
The frailty of a family as seen through the eyes of a teenage boy is beautifully crafted & quietly potent in Dano’s splendid directorial debut. Oxenbould is wonderful as an unfortunate witness who watches his parents’ confusion emerge & attempts to make sense of it all. But Mulligan is the fuel to this film’s fire by playing a wife/mother screaming for something more. She takes her household hostage as she searches for a new identity that could hand over her independence from expectations she never approved of. This is an intricate familial drama where tough questions have no easy answers.
THE SISTERS BROTHERS
3.5 out of 5 stars
A rough & tough western w/ a dark sense of humor is the perfect blend for Phoenix & Reilly – portraying two brothers w/ quite the reputation of swiftly shooting ya down. They’re terrific together, saddling up for a one-of-a-kind adventure that’s not interested in going down the same old dusty trail. Director Audiard’s unique vision takes aim at the cowboy genre – piled knee-high in violence, greed, & gold – & unexpectedly unloads an intimate brotherly love drama in the ungodliest of places.
FANTASTIC BEASTS:
THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD
2 out of 5 stars
The latest Fantastic Beasts installment might have connections to Harry Potter, but it’s certainly no match to recoup its magic. While there’s plenty of wizards & wands, there’s nothing fantastic about it. Redmayne, along w/ the rest of the cast, are kept grounded in a movie that centers entirely around one mystery & draaaags it out for over 2 hours; consequently, making it severely less impactful than those that came before it. The kind of enchantment expected from this fantasyland is non-existent way before sides are chosen.
GREEN BOOK
4.5 out of 5 stars
Director Farrelly cruises through a terribly cruel time in America w/ hilarity & heart in this sensational true story of an unlikely friendship formed by understanding & acceptance – two things that seem to be difficult to find. This eloquent road trip may not dive head first into the complexities of race & class; but, it undeniably shows how two very different men play the cards they’re dealt w/ confidence & courage. Mortensen & Ali are a terrific team, their chemistry is magnetic as each actor graces us w/ a riveting, touching performance. As one represents respect & the other dignity, together they see from a fresh viewpoint & find help they never would’ve known they needed before their bumpy, life-altering ride through the Deep South.
A PRIVATE WAR
3.5 out of 5 stars
As a war correspondent, Colvin put herself in the most dangerous situations imaginable while witnessing first-hand the unimaginable devastation that war rains down on the innocent. Director Heineman’s stirring biopic spotlights the importance of journalism & their fearless effort of getting the truth out to the world. As Colvin, Pike gives an extraordinary performance of grit & grief – portraying a headstrong reporter who has seen enough death, but risked her life to make those deaths mean something.
FREE SOLO
4.5 out of 5 stars
Be prepared to have your legs tingling & your palms sweaty. Filmmakers Vasarhelyi & Chin make you a nervous wreck through the entirety of their extraordinary doc about free soloist climber Honnold as he tries to conquer his dream of climbing El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. With no rope & scaling up 3,000 feet, it’s clearly not for the faint of heart. By having laser focus & unflinching dedication, Honnold knows what’s at stake on & off the mountain, but the risk is heavily outweighed by the reward. The jaw-dropping beauty that surrounds his death-defying moves is just one of many ways this viewing experience is exhilarating & fucking unreal.
THE FRONT RUNNER
3 out of 5 stars
Jackman is stellar as Hart, a handsome, charismatic Presidential candidate, whose fall from grace came from an affair that he thought was no one else’s business. He thought wrong. Director Reitman’s polished political movie lets 1988 be the year when politics lost its use of privacy. The power that’s at play, along w/ those who are left to endure the aftermath of one man’s decision, brings a lot of issues to the forefront concerning morals, public knowledge, & the role of journalists. Unfortunately, none of these are given much thought on how to effectively be addressed. Still, its relevance certainly resonates &, for many reasons, is a tragic tale that forever changed the political landscape & has been on repeat ever since. Think what you will of the players in this poisonous game – but Farmiga is as elegant as can be playing Hart’s wife who shows the personal cost of a husband’s dirty deeds.
THE GUILTY
3.5 out of 5 stars
A simple, yet tightly-wound thriller w/ a solid solo performance by Cedergren – essentially the only actor you’ll see. Director Moller crafts a dynamite detective story through brilliantly gripping & intense phone conversations, leaving the audience hanging on every word.
STUDIO 54
3.5 out of 5 stars
The disco phenomenon opens its doors in this seductive, intoxicating doc to relish in its golden days & recall the end of an era. Director Tyrnauer gives us the full scoop w/ Schrager, part-owner & man behind the scenes, finally opening up about his & Rubell’s friendship & what their dance club built-up only to tear down. There are still more stories to tell & it feels like we may never get full access. However, there’s comfort in seeing a place thrive where acceptance was key & all who partied the night away felt free & safe. While short-lived, there’s a lifetime of memories left on that dance floor that we finally get let in to enjoy.
“Nature Boy” 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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