2018 Releases- Ranked from Best to Worst
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- DirectorWes AndersonStarsBryan CranstonKoyu RankinEdward NortonSet in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his lost dog.
- DirectorKore-eda HirokazuStarsLily FrankySakura AndôKirin KikiOn the margins of Tokyo, a dysfunctional band of outsiders are united by loyalty, a penchant for petty theft and playful grifting. When the young son is arrested, secrets are exposed that upend their tenuous, below-the-radar existence.
- DirectorYorgos LanthimosStarsOlivia ColmanEmma StoneRachel WeiszIn early 18th-century England, the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne.
- DirectorCory FinleyStarsOlivia CookeAnya Taylor-JoyAnton YelchinTwo upper-class teenage girls in suburban Connecticut rekindle their unlikely friendship after years of growing apart. Together, they hatch a plan to solve both of their problems-no matter what the cost.
- DirectorLuca GuadagninoStarsChloë Grace MoretzTilda SwintonDoris HickA darkness swirls at the center of a world-renowned dance company, one that will engulf the artistic director, an ambitious young dancer, and a grieving psychotherapist. Some will succumb to the nightmare. Others will finally wake up.
- DirectorLynne RamsayStarsJoaquin PhoenixJudith RobertsEkaterina SamsonovA traumatized veteran unafraid of violence tracks down missing girls for a living. When a job spins out of control, Joe's nightmares overtake him as a conspiracy is uncovered leading to what could be his death trip or his awakening.You were never really here is one of the darkest and most unsettling films I’ve seen all year. The narrative is incredibly mature, dealing with themes of death, suicide, dependency, political corruption and sexual exploitation. Joaquin Phoenix breathes life into his role as Jo, an ex military man who now works as a hired gun. The way his backstory and history is established is at times chaotic and confusing, but in a poetic sort of way. We get to watch as this deeply troubled character has to deal with some of the most challenging actions imaginable, with some of this years darkest and most gruesome moments of cinema. A stand out aspect is the films almost horror-esque soundtrack that is as powerful as it is electrifying. The soundtrack combined with Joaquin’s Oscar worthy performance makes each scene almost uncomfortable. The maturity of the script, and the reserved yet destructive performance make this film a must see experience, even if it isn’t particularly pleasant. This is Jo’s story, so some of the secondary characters don’t feel as fleshed out as they could, which does remove some of the dramatic tension and emotion, with one character in particular feeling as if they were just established to be disposable. The cinematography is also outstanding, with some incredibly harrowing and memorable moments and shots that I know are going to stick with me long after the credits role. Similar to last years Three Billboards, the ending is abrupt and almost incomplete in the most impactful way. I need to know what happens next, and thanks to the brilliant screenplay, I feel as if the intentionally thought provoking ending is justified.
One of the standout sequences takes place with Joe making his way through a building, seen through the perspective of security cameras, which really added to the intensity of the scene whilst also providing a cool stylistic choice in how the series of events was shown, with the music cutting and jumping between cameras which added to the scenes enjoyability.
This is a perfect example of atmospheric cinema, and I hope this film gets all the awards it deserves.
The two negatives I have with the film are that some of the side characters weren’t as fully developed as I would have liked, as well as SOME of the violence feeling a little fake (certain hits obviously weren’t even close to the stunt persons head yet it wasn’t reshot to make it look better).
9.5/10 - DirectorAneesh ChagantyStarsJohn ChoDebra MessingJoseph LeeAfter his teenage daughter goes missing, a desperate father tries to find clues on her laptop.Searching is a film that rewards the viewer for paying attention. The movie is filled to the brim with rich amounts of details in the way characters utilise social media and the technologies available to them, the way different aged and gendered characters interact and use the platforms, and the overall authenticity. Searching is one of the years smartest films, as it takes a very conventional mystery thriller, and flips it on it’s head by modernising it in the most fascinating way possible. The way Searching uses technology is smart as it embraces both the opportunities and the shortcomings of these devices and uses them to form a gripping and grounded story. The way everything is shot feels deliberate and real, with the film maintaining that constant level of realism for almost the entire runtime (a few details pulled me out of the moment, such as the way the mouse movements would feel artificial at times). Craftsmanship aside, the performances here are stellar, especially from John Cho as the films lead in the role of the father who is attempting to find his missing daughter. Cho makes this movie, and without his incredibly diverse portrayal of emotions seen through his character, this film might not work as well as it does. Searching is without a doubt one of the years best films, with excellent craftsmanship and animation that really captures the look and feel of the technological world, fantastic and subtle performances from Cho and several of the supporting cast, a script that works well for the most part with some intriguing twists and cleverly hid details whose only negative is that at times the writing was just a tad on the obvious side of things. Overall Searching is one of the must see movies of the year. It takes the foundations that Unfriended formed and builds upon these in literally every way. The film works so well as both a drama and a mystery and I know it’s going to be playing in my head again and again for the foreseeable future.
9.5/10 - DirectorSpike LeeStarsJohn David WashingtonAdam DriverLaura HarrierRon Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, Colorado, successfully infiltrates the local Ku Klux Klan branch aided by a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events.
- DirectorLars von TrierStarsMatt DillonBruno GanzUma ThurmanIn five episodes, failed architect and vicious sociopath Jack recounts his elaborately orchestrated murders -- each, as he views them, a towering work of art that defines his life's work as a serial killer in the Pacific Northwest.
- DirectorAndrew HaighStarsCharlie PlummerAmy SeimetzTravis FimmelA teenager gets a summer job working for a horse trainer and befriends the fading racehorse, Lean on Pete.
- DirectorTim WardleStarsRobert ShafranMichael DomnitzHoward SchneiderIn 1980 New York, three young men who were all adopted meet each other and find out they're triplets who were separated at birth. But their quest to find out why turns into a bizarre and sinister mystery.
- DirectorBjörn RungeStarsGlenn CloseJonathan PryceMax IronsA wife questions her life choices as she travels to Stockholm to see her husband receive the Nobel Prize for Literature.
- DirectorSally PotterStarsTimothy SpallKristin Scott ThomasPatricia ClarksonJanet hosts a party to celebrate her new promotion, but once the guests arrive, it becomes clear that not everything will be going down as smoothly as the red wine.
- DirectorJulie CohenBetsy WestStarsRuth Bader GinsburgAnn KittnerHarryette HelselThe exceptional life and career of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who has developed a breathtaking legal legacy while becoming an unexpected pop culture icon.
- DirectorDesiree AkhavanStarsChloë Grace MoretzSteven HauckQuinn ShephardIn 1993, a teenage girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center by her conservative guardians.
- DirectorCarla SimónStarsLaia ArtigasPaula RoblesBruna CusíAfter her mother's death, six-year-old Frida is sent to her uncle's family to live with them in the countryside. But Frida finds it hard to forget her mother and adapt to her new life.
- DirectorJean-Stéphane SauvaireStarsJoe ColeVithaya PansringarmCherry MikoThe true story of an English boxer incarcerated in one of Thailand's most notorious prisons as he fights in Muay Thai tournaments to earn his freedom.
- DirectorJulius AveryStarsJovan AdepoWyatt RussellMathilde OllivierA small group of American soldiers find horror behind enemy lines on the eve of D-Day.
- DirectorGaspar NoéStarsSofia BoutellaRomain GuillermicSouheila YacoubFrench dancers gather in a remote, empty school building to rehearse on a wintry night. The all-night celebration morphs into a hallucinatory nightmare when they learn their sangria is laced with LSD.
- DirectorJonah HillStarsSunny SuljicKatherine WaterstonLucas HedgesFollows Stevie, a thirteen-year-old in 1990s-era Los Angeles who spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life and a group of new friends that he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop.
- DirectorPanos CosmatosStarsNicolas CageAndrea RiseboroughLinus RoacheThe enchanted lives of a couple in a secluded forest are brutally shattered by a nightmarish hippie cult and their demon-biker henchmen, propelling a man into a spiraling, surreal rampage of vengeance.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleAmy AdamsSteve CarellThe story of Dick Cheney, an unassuming bureaucratic Washington insider, who quietly wielded immense power as Vice President to George W. Bush, reshaping the country and the globe in ways that are still felt today.
- DirectorPeter FarrellyStarsViggo MortensenMahershala AliLinda CardelliniA working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.
- DirectorIan BonhôtePeter EttedguiStarsAlexander McQueenJoyce McQueenJohn HitchcockThe life and career of fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen: from his start as a tailor, to launching and overseeing his eponymous line and his untimely death.
- DirectorAndrey ZvyagintsevStarsMaryana SpivakAleksey RozinMatvey NovikovA couple going through a divorce must team up to find their son who has disappeared during one of their bitter arguments.
- DirectorBarry JenkinsStarsKiKi LayneStephan JamesRegina KingA young woman embraces her pregnancy while she and her family set out to prove her childhood friend and lover innocent of a crime he didn't commit.
- DirectorDebra GranikStarsThomasin McKenzieBen FosterJeffery RifflardA father and his seventeen-year-old daughter are living an ideal existence in a vast urban park in Portland, Oregon when a small mistake derails their lives forever.
- DirectorPawel PawlikowskiStarsJoanna KuligTomasz KotBorys SzycIn the 1950s, a music director falls in love with a singer and tries to persuade her to flee communist Poland for France.
- DirectorAlfonso CuarónStarsYalitza AparicioMarina de TaviraDiego Cortina AutreyA year in the life of a middle-class family's maid in Mexico City in the early 1970s.
- DirectorAtsuko HirayanagiStarsShinobu TerajimaSoseki YamatoyaMiyu YagyuA lonely woman living in Tokyo decides to take an English class, where she discovers her alter-ego, Lucy.
- DirectorDrew GoddardStarsJeff BridgesCynthia ErivoDakota Johnson1969. Four strangers check in at the El Royale Hotel. The hotel is deserted, staffed by a single desk clerk. Some of the new guests' reasons for being there are less than innocent and some are not who they appear to be.
- DirectorBob PersichettiPeter RamseyRodney RothmanStarsShameik MooreJake JohnsonHailee SteinfeldTeen Miles Morales becomes the Spider-Man of his universe and must join with five spider-powered individuals from other dimensions to stop a threat for all realities.
- DirectorDamien ChazelleStarsRyan GoslingClaire FoyJason ClarkeA look at the life of the astronaut, Neil Armstrong, and the legendary space mission that led him to become the first man to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseHenry CavillVing RhamesEthan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.
- DirectorArmando IannucciStarsSteve BuscemiSimon Russell BealeJeffrey TamborMoscow, 1953. After being in power for nearly 30 years, Soviet dictator, Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin, takes ill and quickly dies. Now the members of the Council of Ministers scramble for power.
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonHolly HunterSarah VowellThe Incredibles family takes on a new mission which involves a change in family roles: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) must manage the house while his wife Helen (Elastigirl) goes out to save the world.
- DirectorKay CannonStarsLeslie MannJohn CenaIke BarinholtzThree parents try to stop their daughters from losing their virginity on prom night.
- DirectorBart LaytonStarsSpencer ReinhardWarren LipkaEric BorsukFour young men mistake their lives for a movie and attempt one of the most audacious heists in U.S. history.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsClaire FoyJoshua LeonardJay PharoahA young woman is involuntarily committed to a mental institution, where she is confronted by her greatest fear - but is it real or a product of her delusion?
- DirectorBradley CooperStarsLady GagaBradley CooperSam ElliottA musician helps a young singer find fame as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.
- DirectorAri AsterStarsToni ColletteMilly ShapiroGabriel ByrneA grieving family is haunted by tragic and disturbing occurrences.Hereditary is one of the most conflicting films I’ve seen in recent years, with some truly masterful highs accompanied by uninspired, shallow lows. In my mind, this film can be split into three distinct parts, two of which are so well crafted that I would go so far as to call them masterful, and ALMOST flawless.
Parts One and Two take up the entirety of the first act, and a good half of act two. This is where the movie really sets itself apart from the majority of mainstream tent pole horror releases. This first hour or so is a slow burn, but I was completely mesmerised. It was bold, unapologetic, horrific, fascinating, everything you could want in a psychological horror such as this. Everything that took place was very deliberately shown or told, and the development of the characters (Toni Collete being the standout) was done in such a subtle, yet honest manner. These characters had me hooked, and by the time the second act begins (you’ll know the moment it happens), I felt like there was nothing that could be done to have me more invested.
This film works best when its focus is on being a family based character drama, with truly powerful moments fuelled by grief, trust, and loss. Unfortunately, there is a strange tonal shift after about 70 minutes, and the focus is removed from the grounded story to become more supernatural and generic. The second half of the film felt so incredibly by-the-numbers and lacklustre that it was jarring in comparison to its predecessor. It felt like two very different films of very different calibres, with the second being comparable to lacklustre, mainstream horror films (ala The Conjuring franchise). The scares simply weren’t here, and in moments that felt like true attempts at horror, the film was laughable.
Hereditary is a rollercoaster of various genres and quality levels. Ranging from a psychologically fuelled character study, to a mix of generic horror and overplayed horror tropes, ending on bizarre, quasi symbolic arthouse nonsense. I’m very excited to revisit the first half of the film again tomorrow, and remaining cautiously optimistic that maybe, with tempered expectations, I can enjoy the second more for what it is.
7.5/10 - DirectorXavier LegrandStarsLéa DruckerDenis MénochetThomas GioriaA broken marriage leads to a bitter custody battle with an embattled son at the centre.
- DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsYoo Ah-inSteven YeunJeon Jong-seoJong-su bumps into a girl who used to live in the same neighborhood, who asks him to look after her cat while she's on a trip to Africa. When back, she introduces Ben, a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby.
- DirectorMichael MooreStarsJim AcostaRoger AilesBrooke BaldwinFilmmaker Michael Moore examines the current state of American politics, particularly the Donald Trump presidency and gun violence, while highlighting the power of grassroots democratic movements.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodPatrick L. ReyesCesar De LeónA ninety-year-old horticulturist and Korean War veteran turns drug mule for a Mexican cartel.
- DirectorGreg BerlantiStarsNick RobinsonJennifer GarnerJosh DuhamelSimon Spier keeps a huge secret from his family, his friends and all of his classmates: he's gay. When that secret is threatened, Simon must face everyone and come to terms with his identity.
- DirectorBo BurnhamStarsElsie FisherJosh HamiltonEmily RobinsonAn introverted teenage girl tries to survive the last week of her disastrous eighth grade year before leaving to start high school.
- DirectorFelix van GroeningenStarsSteve CarellMaura TierneyJack Dylan GrazerBased on the best-selling pair of memoirs from father and son David and Nic Sheff, Beautiful Boy chronicles the heartbreaking and inspiring experience of survival, relapse and recovery in a family coping with addiction over many years.
- DirectorJeremiah ZagarStarsEvan RosadoRaúl CastilloSheila VandManny, Joel, and Jonah tear their way through childhood and push against the volatile love of their parents. As Manny and Joel grow into versions of their father and Ma dreams of escape, Jonah embraces an imagined world all on his own.
- DirectorGary RossStarsSandra BullockCate BlanchettAnne HathawayDebbie Ocean gathers an all-female crew to attempt an impossible heist at New York City's annual Met Gala.
- DirectorGus Van SantStarsJoaquin PhoenixJonah HillRooney MaraOn the rocky path to sobriety after a life-changing accident, John Callahan discovers the healing power of art, willing his injured hands into drawing hilarious, often controversial cartoons, which bring him a new lease on life.
- DirectorJason ReitmanStarsCharlize TheronMackenzie DavisRon LivingstonA struggling mother of three forms an unexpected bond with the night nanny hired to help with her newborn baby.
- DirectorMarielle HellerStarsMelissa McCarthyRichard E. GrantDolly WellsWhen Lee Israel falls out of step with current tastes, she turns her art form to deception.
- DirectorJohn KrasinskiStarsEmily BluntJohn KrasinskiMillicent SimmondsA family struggles for survival in a world where most humans have been killed by blind but noise-sensitive creatures. They are forced to communicate in sign language to keep the creatures at bay.
- DirectorKenji NagasakiStarsDaiki YamashitaKenta MiyakeMirai ShidaAll Might and Deku accept an invitation to visit I Island where they battle against a villain who takes the island hostage.
- DirectorKarey KirkpatrickJason ReisigStarsChanning TatumJames CordenZendayaHigh up on a mountain peak surrounded by clouds, a secret Yeti society lives in peace and harmony. One day, a Yeti witnesses an airplane crash; Inside lies "Smallfoot", a legendary creature that will rock the society to its core.
- DirectorLeigh WhannellStarsLogan Marshall-GreenMelanie VallejoSteve DanielsenSet in the near-future, technology controls nearly all aspects of life. But when the world of Grey, a self-labeled technophobe, is turned upside down, his only hope for revenge is an experimental computer chip implant.Upgrade's biggest downfall is it's lack of focus, due to the inconsistency of the narrative quality vs the level of violence and goofiness found in the action set-pieces. The initial set up and establishment of Upgrade's world and it's characters is done really well. The characters are grounded, and have believable motivations, the world itself if fascinating and technologically interesting. The narrative works really well until about halfway through the second act, when it feels almost like the screenwriters ran out of original concepts and resorted to using many overplayed, and frankly uninteresting cliches to finish the story (featuring one of the most obvious villain reveals of the year). Upgrade also features some very gratuitous violence, which takes away from the dramatic weight of the narrative as it is so over the top that it becomes comical. I believe that if this movie doubled down on it's story, and kept the violence more realistic OR went all out for a dumb, action bloodiest (Ala Hardcore Henry), the film would have benefited greatly. Unfortunately, the lack of focus and focus on cliches really detracts from an otherwise fantastic first hour.
6.5/10 - DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael PeñaAs Scott Lang balances being both a superhero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.
- DirectorWill GluckStarsJames CordenFayssal BazziDomhnall GleesonA rabbit sneaks into a garden to steal food, and they get a new challenge with a new owner.
- DirectorMamoru HosodaStarsRebecca HallDaniel Dae KimJohn ChoA young boy encounters a magical garden which enables him to travel through time and meet his relatives from different eras, with guidance by his younger sister from the future.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris HemsworthMark RuffaloThe Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.
- DirectorPaul FeigStarsAnna KendrickBlake LivelyHenry GoldingStephanie is a single mother with a parenting vlog who befriends Emily, a secretive upper-class woman who has a child at the same elementary school. When Emily goes missing, Stephanie takes it upon herself to investigate.
- DirectorKaryn KusamaStarsNicole KidmanToby KebbellTatiana MaslanyA police detective reconnects with people from an undercover assignment in her distant past in order to make peace.
- DirectorKevin KerslakeStarsJoan JettDavid BowieEvelyn McDonnellDocumentary about rock star Joan Jett.Competently made documentary that was obviously made by people with a passion. The overall style and format is nothing new, and unfortunately the lack of a consistent narrative structure makes the film uneven at times, however there are many moments when it does a great job to capture both the feel of the music, and the energy of it's star.
6.5/10 - DirectorJoel EdgertonStarsLucas HedgesNicole KidmanJoel EdgertonThe son of a Baptist preacher unwillingly participates in a church-supported gay conversion program after being forcibly outed to his parents.
- DirectorBoots RileyStarsLaKeith StanfieldTessa ThompsonJermaine FowlerIn an alternate present-day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a universe of greed.
- DirectorAlbert HughesStarsKodi Smit-McPheeJóhannes Haukur JóhannessonMarcin KowalczykIn the prehistoric past, a young man struggles to return home after being separated from his tribe during a buffalo hunt. He finds a similarly lost wolf companion and starts a friendship that would change humanity.
- DirectorMike NewellStarsJessica Brown FindlayTom CourtenayMichiel HuismanIn the aftermath of World War II, a writer forms an unexpected bond with the residents of Guernsey Island when she decides to write a book about their experiences during the war. Then she learns the secret they are afraid to reveal.
- DirectorMadeleine SamiJackie van BeekStarsMadeleine SamiJackie van BeekJames RollestonFor the right price, BFFs Jen and Mel will ruthlessly end any romance. But when one grows a conscience, it threatens to derail their relationship.
- DirectorTravis KnightStarsHailee SteinfeldJorge Lendeborg Jr.John CenaOn the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small California beach town. On the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, Charlie Watson discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.
- DirectorGeorge Tillman Jr.StarsAmandla StenbergRegina HallRussell HornsbyStarr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Now, facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and stand up for what's right.
- DirectorPeter HedgesStarsJulia RobertsLucas HedgesCourtney B. VanceA drug addicted teenage boy shows up unexpectedly at his family's home on Christmas Eve.
- DirectorRoar UthaugStarsAlicia VikanderDominic WestWalton GogginsLara Croft, the fiercely independent daughter of a missing adventurer, must push herself beyond her limits when she discovers the island where her father, Lord Richard Croft disappeared.There is a lot to like about Tomb Raider... Alicia Vikander does a fantastic job as Lara Croft, bringing a great deal of energy and charisma to the role. Without her show stealing performance, I don't believe this movie would have worked as well as it did. The action sequences are also thoroughly enjoyable, with a 15 minute sequence in the second act being a particular standout. The actual tomb raiding sequence was also very enthralling. Apart from these elements which all work exceptionally well, the rest of the film is very flat, with long sequences of poorly written dialogue, a painfully obvious plot, and an unbelievable relationship between Lara and her father which is relied upon heavily to carry the narrative, but never felt earned. Tomb Raider is probably the best video game adaptation to date, but that's not saying much. It takes a lot of inspiration from the 2013 video game which frankly did a far better job. This is a popcorn flick for sure, and if you go in expecting that, there is fun to be had here. Unfortunately it can never maintain it's occasional high points. 6.5/10
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsTye SheridanOlivia CookeBen MendelsohnWhen the creator of a virtual reality called the OASIS dies, he makes a posthumous challenge to all OASIS users to find his Easter Egg, which will give the finder his fortune and control of his world.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.Black Panther ranges from okay to great. There are some truly great moments in here, and T'challa as a character is really interesting, some of the action set pieces are really great (whilst others are too CG heavy and boring), and the city of Wakanda is incredible (it's the best part of the movie since it's so well developed and fascinating on its own). Every character is very well acted, but none of them every really stand out which is a recurring issue in this movie. Everything we have here is good, but it very rarely goes beyond that. The plot feels very safe and not particularly original, the villains are okay at best (nothing really new about them), and the humour feels really off here (references to vines...? come on guys.). This is a good movie, don't get me wrong, but like Doctor Strange or Ant-Man, there's just nothing particularly special to make it stand out. It's worth seeing at least once but I honestly can't see me rewatching it anytime soon. 6/10
- DirectorDavid SladeStarsFionn WhiteheadCraig ParkinsonAlice LoweA young programmer starts to question reality when he adapts a mad writer's fantasy novel into a video game.
- DirectorJulius OnahStarsGugu Mbatha-RawDavid OyelowoDaniel BrühlOrbiting a planet on the brink of war, scientists test a device to solve an energy crisis, and end up face-to-face with a dark alternate reality.As someone who hasn't seen the previous two Cloverfield films, The Cloverfield Paradox really does stand on its own. The premise and initial set up are fantastic, but after about the halfway mark, this movie begins to fall apart. The characters become very one dimensional, the story forgets its original potential and instead chooses to follow a very safe and uninteresting route. There are also a lot of tonal inconsistencies with some of the characters thanks to some truly terrible writing. The first 40 minutes are truly great, but the remaining hour sadly can't continue that momentum. This is by no means a bad movie, it's just very inconsistent. 6/10
- DirectorRon HowardStarsAlden EhrenreichWoody HarrelsonEmilia ClarkeDuring an adventure in the criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future co-pilot Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebel Alliance.
- DirectorBaltasar KormákurStarsShailene WoodleySam ClaflinJeffrey ThomasA true story of survival, as a young couple's chance encounter leads them first to love, and then on the adventure of a lifetime as they face one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in recorded history.Adrift is a very safe and very by the numbers biopic that never really tries anything new to make it stand above the rest. Adrift is at it's strongest when its charismatic leads are placed in moment of normality, here their chemistry is really strong and the movie is a breeze to watch. Unfortunately, neither are very strong in the more dramatic moments, so their peril comes across as disingenuous. The narrative structure jumps between events playing out before and after the storm, which was probably the best fit for this film, as many of the post-storm scenes become tedious and repetitive, however from an emotional standpoint, all dramatic tension is removed. Another negative to note is the abysmal use of green screen, it's constant, it's distracting, and it's laughably bad. There is a big reveal in the third act that could have worked in the right circumstances, but it seemingly happens unprovoked, which makes it both confusing and cheesy. Overall Adrift isn't a bad movie by any means, but sadly it doesn't do much to make it truly memorable.
5.5/10 - DirectorBill HoldermanStarsDiane KeatonJane FondaCandice BergenFour lifelong friends have their lives forever changed after reading 50 Shades of Grey in their monthly book club.
- DirectorDavid LeitchStarsRyan ReynoldsJosh BrolinMorena BaccarinFoul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (a.k.a. Deadpool) assembles a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg Cable.
- DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsDenzel WashingtonPedro PascalAshton SandersRobert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?
- DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsJamie Lee CurtisJudy GreerAndi MatichakLaurie Strode confronts her long-time foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
- DirectorDominic CookeStarsBilly HowleSaoirse RonanAndy BurseIn 1962 England, a young couple find their idyllic romance colliding with issues of sexual freedom and societal pressure, leading to an awkward and fateful wedding night.
- DirectorBrian TaylorStarsNicolas CageSelma BlairAnne WintersA teenage girl and her younger brother must survive a wild 24 hours during which a mass hysteria of unknown origin causes parents to turn violently on their own kids.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsEwan McGregorHayley AtwellBronte CarmichaelA working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.
- DirectorBrian HensonStarsMelissa McCarthyElizabeth BanksMaya RudolphWhen the puppet cast of a '90s children's TV show begin to get murdered one by one, a disgraced LAPD detective-turned-private eye puppet takes on the case.
- DirectorBruce BeresfordStarsJulia OrmondAngourie RiceRachael TaylorThe lives of a group of department store employees in 1959 Sydney.
- DirectorAaron HorvathPeter Rida MichailStarsGreg CipesScott MenvilleKhary PaytonA villain's maniacal plan for world domination sidetracks five teenage superheroes who dream of Hollywood stardom.
- DirectorMarja-Lewis RyanStarsAbbi JacobsonDave FrancoCharlotte CarelA woman (Jacobson) learns her brother (Franco) has relapsed on heroin.
- DirectorYarrow CheneyScott MosierStarsBenedict CumberbatchCameron SeelyRashida JonesA grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.
- DirectorRob MarshallStarsEmily BluntLin-Manuel MirandaBen WhishawA few decades after her original visit, Mary Poppins, the magical nanny, returns to help the Banks siblings and Michael's children through a difficult time in their lives.
- DirectorJon M. ChuStarsConstance WuHenry GoldingMichelle YeohThis contemporary romantic comedy based on a global bestseller follows native New Yorker Rachel Chu to Singapore to meet her boyfriend's family.Crazy Rich Asians has been getting a lot of attention for it’s representation of asian actors in leading roles, taking up a vast majority of the cast as a whole. Diversity is so important within film, but unfortunately much like Black panther it seems as if the fact that the cast is Asian is being held in a much higher regard then the movie itself. This has been praised as being a reinvention of the romantic comedy genre, when in reality, I thought the film as a whole was stale. This movie feels more like a two hour long commercial for tourism in Singapore, with countless sequences where characters are secondary to the location, or moments where characters are shown in cool locations or participating in fun activities that don’t forward the story in any way. The film feels like a commercial first, and a story telling medium second. The narrative that is here, is very weak due to its over reliance on romantic comedy tropes and cliches that have been done a million times before but in a more interesting way, either with a more likeable cast or visual style. During the early moments of the film, there are a few glimpses of visual flair (a text message being sent across the world is particularly flashy and memorable), however cool moments like this are too infrequent to have any meaningful affect apart from me now wishing the film had continued to maintain this style. The cast here ranges from passable (the two leads who do a fine job, but never really feel like they have any true chemistry onscreen), to painfully bad (Awkwafina’s character especially was particularly painful as she would often scream, over act or talk using cringe inducing dialogue). The biggest issues with Crazy Rich Asians span from the fact that it seemingly has no new ideas or direction, everything presented here has been done in more engaging ways, so what’s left is a flimsy movie that feels half baked and out of ideas, almost comparable to the Fifty Shades films. The most positive aspects of the film come through the way in which they seem to truly embrace the Asian cultures, especially through the soundtrack. But apart from that, there is very little that the movie has to offer. 5/10
- DirectorStallone Vaiaoga-IoasaStarsSuivai AutagavaiaAnna-Maree ThomasLafitaga Mafaufau"No Going Out and No Boyfriends" - Hibiscus' obedience towards her Mum's rules is put to the test in her final year of University. As guys start to impress Hibiscus, she asks her childhood friend Ruth, to help keep her focused.Hibiscus and Ruthless is an independent film from New Zealand, so I hadn't really heard anything about it before going in. If I had to use one word to describe the film, I would say "messy". There were certainly good intentions here, and it's obvious that the cast was having a good time whilst making this, but the fun premise is overshadowed by some very glaring issues such as bizarre tonal shifts (almost to the point that I was weirdly uncomfortable), the titular character of 'Ruthless' is so painfully unfunny and obnoxious for the first half and then is completely unused in the second, the mother's intentions didn't even come close to justifying her downright menacing behaviour, and the movie feels a little rushed in parts. There is certainly some enjoyment to be had with this, but oftentimes it feels like the director was attempting to make a Taikia Waititi film, and frankly he doesn't come close. 5/10
- DirectorStephan ElliottStarsGuy PearceKylie MinogueJesse DenyerA teenager comes of age in a small Australian town during the 1970s when a 200-ton blue whale gets washed up on a local beach.Swinging Safari has a really distinct visual flair that is consistently enjoyable to watch. The direction is very strong also, but unfortunately the rest of the movie.... not so much. The main protagonist is pretty okay, but his intentions never really made sense due to his lack of deep development. The rest of the ensemble cast is obviously having a great time here, and that energy rubs of to a certain extent, but where this movie really fails is in its comedy. The jokes are so off here, I didn't laugh once. They come across as lazy and predictable, and in most cases the joke is "hey heres this product from the 70s". If you're a fan of these actors then thats probably reason enough to come and see this, but apart from that I can't really recommend this to anyone since it never really escapes the realm of "meh". 5/10
- DirectorStefano SollimaStarsBenicio Del ToroJosh BrolinIsabela MercedThe drug war on the U.S.-Mexico border has escalated as the cartels have begun trafficking terrorists across the US border. To fight the war, federal agent Matt Graver re-teams with the mercurial Alejandro.
- DirectorSusan JohnsonStarsLana CondorNoah CentineoJanel ParrishA teenage girl's secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life.
- DirectorDavid WainStarsFrank GingerichMorgan GingerichAnnette O'TooleIn the 1970s and '80s, National Lampoon's success and influence creates a new media empire overseen in part by the brilliant and troubled Douglas Kenney.A Futile and Stupid Gesture is a perfectly serviceable ode to its source material that never takes any risks. The two leads are likeable enough, with somewhat developed personalities, but the rest of its very talented cast is wasted by being shoved out of the spotlight, and it's not terribly funny (which is pretty ironic based on its source material). It's a Netflix Original, so it won't cost you anything to sit through, this is perfectly passable entertainment that never really impressed or offended me. 5/10
- DirectorJohn HillcoatStarsAna de ArmasDemián BichirRoger WassermanElena Ramirez (Ana De Armas) is a disadvantaged prostitute who learns that she has a life threatening medical condition, and must make attempts to earn a visa in order to gain access to the necessary treatment.
- DirectorRawson Marshall ThurberStarsDwayne JohnsonNeve CampbellChin HanA security expert must infiltrate a burning skyscraper, 225 stories above ground, when his family is trapped inside by criminals.