Captain Fantastic Review (2016)

Captain Fantastic

  So this one is a hard film to review, because I'm not exactly sure what I think. I watched Captain Fantastic last night and, to be honest, there were a lot of things that bugged me. Before I get to those things, I am going to talk about Viggo Mortensen's Oscar nomination. While he was solid in the role, there were actors that were far more deserving. Jake Gyllenhaal for instance in Nocturnal Animals, or Paul Dano for Swiss Army Man. Again, not taking away from his good performance, but it just didn't live up to the hype from critics.
  What really bothered me about this movie was the script. It felt very tumblr-esq. Instead of coming up with actual good dialogue, they just quoted authors or philosophers in a way that felt clunky and too formal. Thankfully the acting was solid, so they managed to pull it off more than average actors would have been able to. The other thing that bothered me about the script, was its politics. It felt very agenda driven in ways, and borderline discriminatory of Christians and conservatives. I understand that the point of the film is supposed to raise thought-provoking moral questions. Captain Fantastic does that, but it does it in a way that's annoying and not always even entertaining. To put it simply, Captain Fantastic is Little Miss Sunshine, but without any of the humor or charm that made Little Miss Sunshine enjoyable. Did some of the more emotional scenes work? Yes. But there was mostly stuff that didn't. 4 out of 10 (One Time See For Free)

John Wick: Chapter 2 Review (2017)

John Wick: Chapter 2

  So amongst the awful piles of crappy film that grace the big screen in the month of January, there is always that one movie that shocks everyone. This year, that film is John Wick: Chapter 2.
  I just recently saw the first John Wick. I thought the story, while simplistic, was extremely effective. It had amazing cinematography, choreography, and action. Everything about it just really worked.
  When I heard they were making a sequel, I was worried. Part of what made people like the first one so much, was the shock of how good it ended up being. Nobody had any expectations for it. Now, with the first being such a hit, we're expecting this awesome action film. And that is exactly what John Wick: Chapter 2 is. It's awesome. Everything that worked so well for the first film, worked well here as well.
  It was by far one of the most enjoyable theater experiences I've had in a long while. The crowd "oohing" and "aahing" with every fight scene, people laughing at all of the right moments. It was just such a fun experience, and really embodied what makes the action genre great.
  John Wick: Chapter 2 keeps the same tone as the first movie, fun and mostly fluffy, but giving us just enough depth that it's not uninteresting from a storytelling standpoint. While Keanu Reeves acting won't ever be something worth noting in a review, his ability to carry these elaborate action sequences, while doing most of his stunts, is beyond impressive. It just makes me want a stuntman category at the Oscars even more.
  Another thing I loved was how they focused on building this world of hitmen and the mythology of John Wick himself.
  This movie is definitely one you should see in theaters if you're a fan of action films. 8 out of 10 stars. (I'd Buy It)

Florence Foster Jenkins Review (2016)

Florence Foster Jenkins

  You know those people that go on American Idol and try really hard to give this epic audition, but they really can't sing at all? Yet for some reason nobody in their family wanted to save them from being embarrassed on national television, so they just encourage it. That is basically what Florence Foster Jenkins is about.
  Meryl Steep plays an opera singer who can't sing, yet her husband (Hugh Grant) doesn't want to crush her dreams. Sooooo instead of saving her from national embarrassment, he instead gets a bunch of people who don't know anything about music, are partially deaf, or are too old to care, to sit in the audience.
  I liked a lot about this movie. To state the obvious, the acting is top notch. I especially liked Simon Helberg as Cosme Mcmoon, Steep's pianist. He was so endearing and his comedic timing was perfect.
  The comedy was actually something that really surprised me. It had some brilliant moments of laugh out loud humor as well as some really dramatic scenes. This is a film with a lot of heart, and somehow gets you rooting for Streep's character, even though you think she's awful.
Florence Foster Jenkins is an extremely satisfying drama, with amazing performances. It's entertaining, it's tender, and it's getting a 7 out of 10 stars from me. (Very Good)

The Founder Review (2017)

The Founder

  The Founder is the story of how McDonalds, a small local hamburger shop, turned into the billion dollar franchise it is today. It's a story of persistence and of selling your soul to Satan (aka B.J. Novak). Kidding. Well, half kidding. But BOY is Michael Keaton's character, Ray Kroc, a jerk. 

  When this movie first started off, I felt like I was watching a really long advertisement for Mcdonalds, but as it kept going, I came to realize that this film isn't about Mcdonalds at all. It's about the American dream, and what it takes to get it. 

  Michael Keaton is brilliant in this, really selling Ray Kroc's obvious ENTP personality type (if you're into Myers Briggs). I liked that the film doesn't try to get you to sympathize with this character, it simply tells you what happened in an extremely entertaining way. It poses the question, "Do you have to step on toes to make it big?" and "Can you be a nice person and a revolutionary one?"

  Is this the kind of movie you watch over and over again? Not necessarily, but it's definitely a movie you should watch! 8 out of 10 (I'd Buy It)