Black Panther Review (2018)

Black Panther

  Black Panther isn't just a movie, Black Panther is a cultural event. People often underestimate the power of representation, but the way this movie has been recieved in black communities is just further proof that Black Panther needed to exist. When it comes to the movie, there were things that I absolutely loved and things that fell into the cliches of the superhero genre. The strongest aspect of the movie wasn't the action or the set or the visuals, although they definetly had strong moments. What made this film great was it's message. It is nuanced in it's delivery, but impactful. It shows how we must take responsibility for the mistakes of our ancestors, and that we must right whatever wrongs we can within our power. It is a film about unity in an unjust world, and it's told through some really great performances.
  The second strongest aspect of the film was how Ryan Coogler infused African Culture into every inch of the film. It's so vibrant and beautiful, and it will make black people proud of their roots.
  Did it have it's cheesy moments? Yes. Was it sometimes predictable? Yes. Was it tonally off sometimes? Yes. Is it on the same level as Logan or Dark Knight? Not at all. But even so, there is so much more to praise about this film then to critique. I give Black Panther a 7 out of 10 Stars (Very Good)
  

Speed Reviews: Darkest Hour, Molly's Game, The Shape of Water, I, Tonya (2018)

Darkest Hour

 Starring Winston Churchill himself, risen from the grave, Darkest Hour gives us an extremely accomplished companion piece to Dunkirk. It's a relevant film that informs, but not exactly in the most entertaining way. This is Gary Oldman's movie, and you watch it for his performance, but you probably won't watch it again. Darkest Hour is a pretty mediocre film with some great moments and the best performance of the year. 5 out of 10 Stars (Rent It)

Molly's Game

  Aaron Sorkin has written some of the best scripts in Hollywood, but can he direct? Yes. Yes, he can. While Molly's Game isn't perfect, it's incredibly riveting. Led by the beautiful and talented Jessica Chastain, we follow the true story of Molly Bloom the Poker Princess. This is a fast-paced, intelligent, high-stakes drama, with a lot of opulent expositional dialogue.
  While Molly's Game could have definitely benefited from a shorter run-time, it's pay off almost makes up for it. The characters are insanely absorbing and by the time we reach the end, it hits us with the emotional equivalent of a cannonball. Keep your eye on Sorkin, folks. He's onto something. 7 out of 10 stars (Very Good)

The Shape of Water

  From the visionary director, Guillermo del Torro,  Shape of Water is a fantasy film for adults. It's a beautifully shot film with a wonderful score by Alexandre Desplat and some FANTASTIC performances. That said, I couldn't really get on board with this story. The fact that this is a love story was something I couldn't get over. Not only is there literally beastiality, but everyone in the story seems to be completely okay with it. I get it's a movie and all, but you weren't even allowed to be gay in the 50s, let alone have sex with a fish-man. Ew. This movie was so conflicting because the execution was so great, but in the end, the relationship made me so uncomfortable that it spoiled whatever other positives the film had.  4 out of 10 Stars (One Time See For Free)

I, Tonya

  Led by the wonderfully strong performance of Margot Robbie, I, Tonya pushes boundaries with its edgy narrative, it's black humor and the way it unashamedly points its finger at society. This is a film not quite like any other in its execution. I thoroughly enjoyed this film and if I were to say anything bad about it at all, I'd say perhaps it was a little long. Outside of that, this is a film with a lot of offer in terms of social commentary. 7 out of 10 Stars (Very Good)