Movie Review: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" (2017)

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Movie: "Star Wars: The Last Jedi"

Director: Rian Johnson
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 2 hours, 32 minutes

The First Order attempts to wipe out what is left of the New Republic and the Resistance while Rey uncovers the truth about the pasts of Luke and Kylo Ren.

The "Star Wars" franchise has been around since 1977. What started out as a simple space opera has spun into a cultural phenomenon with devout followers obsessed with all things Jedi and Dark Side. We are huge fans of the series ourselves. When "The Force Awakens" was released, it was a return to form for the franchise, a nostalgia trip that brought back many of the warm and fuzzy feelings we had when we saw the original (now-renamed) "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope." The release of that movie in 2015 spun off fan theories for every single character, no matter how insignificant they were to the overall story. Much like what happened when "The Empire Strikes Back" was released 37 years ago, Rian Johnson's "Star Wars: The Last Jedi" doesn't go how many fans expected it would. Returning to reprise their roles from "The Last Jedi" are Daisy Ridley, Adam Driver, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill. New to the cast are Laura Dern, Benicio Del Toro, and Kelly Marie Tran. The story, or at least the portion we are willing to talk about without spoilers, picks up where "The Force Awakens" left off: Rey meets Luke, The First Order continues their rise to power proceeds to wipe out the New Republic and the Resistance.

After 40 years as a franchise, us fans thought we knew every beat and every possible direction this series could go. Leave it to Rian Johnson to prove us wrong. As a director, Johnson has broken protocol with past endeavors into the Star Wars universe. He did not choose to follow the formulas of his predecessors in previous installments and sends audiences in a completely unexpected direction. While we can understand why some people will be upset with his bold choices, we personally loved this movie and even enjoyed it more the second time around. Johnson has managed to add something that has been lacking in the past, and that is a depth of character and nuance. This story isn't as black and white as other "Star Wars" films have been in the past. What we thought was pure evil can now be seen as somewhat justifiable anger. Some of the characters people thought to be perfect are little more than flawed after all. The film runs multiple converging storylines that allow for a wonderful arc for the four main characters of this new trilogy: Rey, Finn, Poe, and Kylo Ren. None of these four characters are the same at the beginning of the story as they are at the end of it, and we personally can't wait to see how this trilogy concludes in a few years' time.

The acting is great all around and we get to see very layered performances from everyone involved. We absolutely love Daisy Ridley and Adam Driver as Rey and Kylo Ren. Their on-screen dynamic has developed, darkened, and matured a lot since "The Force Awakens." They get some of the best scenes in the film, as do Driver and Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker. Speaking of Luke, one of the scenes we had hoped would happen actually did, and let us tell you, we cried buckets when it occurred. *for those who have seen the movie, think: hair* To us, the narrative felt super gripping and intense. Each portion lends itself to the development of the characters involved. That being said, while some have complained about the overabundance of humor, going back and watching the series as a whole has shown us that "Star Wars" has definitely been a slyly funny set of films all along (ludicrous goofiness of the prequels excluded). We will admit that some of the comedy doesn't always land and some of the jokes do feel forced. Also, a couple minutes here and there could have been shaved off its runtime despite the fact that we found it to be engaging and well paced from start to finish (truncation is a-okay!). One of our favorite aspects of the film is that old characters have been allowed to evolve in ways we never imagined. These characters feel like people who have had lives off-screen for the past 30 years, lives full of successes and failures that have shaped them into the people we see now in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi." This is a wonderful installment in an ever-growing franchise, but don't go in expecting a rehash of the past because you certainly won't get it. Rian Johnson always kept us guessing, and we found ourselves welcoming his vision with open arms.

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My Rating: 9/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.5/10
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

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Movie Review: "All the Money in the World" (2017)

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Movie: "All the Money in the World"

Director: Ridley Scott
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 12 minutes

The grandson and namesake of John Paul Getty, the wealthiest man in the world, is kidnapped and held for a $17 million dollar ransom. Unfortunately for the young John Paul Getty III, his billionaire oil tycoon grandfather has no intention of paying it.

True crime stories are a great source of inspiration for Hollywood. The high profile true-life kidnapping of 16-year-old John Paul Getty III is the inspiration for Ridley Scott's latest film "All the Money in the World." The film is written by David Scarpa, who only has two other writing credits to his name. It is based on the non-fiction book "Painfully Rich: the Outrageous Fortunes and Misfortunes of the Heirs of J. Paul Getty" by John Pearson. The movie stars Michelle Williams as Gail Harris, the mother of the abducted John Paul Getty III, played by Charlie Plummer. Joining them is Mark Wahlberg as Fletcher Chase, a former CIA agent who is hired by the eldest Getty to investigate the abduction. Last but not least is Christopher Plummer, who plays John Paul Getty Sr., the billionaire oil tycoon who never pays full price for anything and squeezes every last cent with an unbreakable grip. When John Paul Getty III is kidnapped, the abductors ask for a ransom of $17 million dollars, which is chump change to multi-billionaire J. Paul Getty Sr. However, he has no intention of paying the ransom, leaving the young John Paul with an uncertain future.

First, we cannot fully review this film without talking about the elephant in the room: the last minute recasting of the character of John Paul Getty, who was originally played by Kevin Spacey. It turns out, director Ridley Scott originally wanted Christopher Plummer to play this all-important role, but the studio told him to find a bigger name for the part. Thus, Kevin Spacey was hired in his stead. After Spacey's scandal broke and shocked Hollywood, Ridley Scott made the bold decision to recast Spacey's role, appointing Christopher Plummer to replace him. In a matter of weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Scott reshot all of J.P. Getty's scenes with Plummer and the rest of the cast and crew just one month before the film's release. This was a staggering, insane, risky decision, and a hefty feat at that. Unsurprisingly (but also very luckily), Christopher Plummer does a fantastic job as J.P. Getty. He is a wonderfully unlikable old son of a bitch who cares far more about dollars and cents than he does about people and relationships. The acting is tremendous not just from Christopher Plummer, but from Michelle Williams as well, who we believe is one of the most capable actresses working in Hollywood today. She puts on a hell of a performance and plays a worthy counterpart to Plummer. Charlie Plummer (no relation to the aforementioned Christopher Plummer) is also very good as the younger Getty, but he mostly has to sit and/or run around and be a hostage. Though Mark Wahlberg is more capable as Fletcher Chase than he has been in several of his more recent roles, we do feel he may be a bit of a miscast in this film.

All this being said, we can't judge a movie as a whole for the tremendous effort put in by Scott, Plummer, and the rest of the cast who swooped in at the zero hour to fix the mess created by one person. "All the Money in the World" is good, but it is not great. It is slowly paced at times and is a bit too long. It is an interesting story, but we don't really get as emotionally invested in the characters as we should for such a high-strung, nail-biting story. Ridley Scott's experience really shines through on screen, not just in the reshoots, but in the overall visual aesthetic of the film. On a technical level, "All the Money in the World" is a well put together piece of cinema, but as we said, it lacks the emotional punch, tension, and excitement we look for from a story like this. We hate to say it, but we left the theater feeling a bit underwhelmed by this movie despite its brilliant performances.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 78%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Pitch Perfect 3" (2017)

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Movie: "Pitch Perfect 3"

Director: Trish Sie
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 33 minutes

The Bellas reunite and go on a USO tour. It turns out, one of the bands competing on tour will be chosen to open for DJ Khaled for a big televised event that could skyrocket their career.

It is a little hard to imagine what is left for the Bellas. They have already won the collegiate acapella championships and the world acapella championships, so what else is there? Apparently, that's what we are here to find out. "Pitch Perfect 3" is directed by Trish Sie, who has taken over the directorial duties from Elizabeth Banks, who decided to step aside for this installment. Sie has directed "Step Up: All In" and a bunch of music videos, which we guess is a good background for a movie that is basically a bunch of music videos slapped together with a flimsy plot. The main cast returns to reprise their roles as the Bellas including Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Ester Dean, Anna Camp, Chrissie Fit, and Hana Mae Lee. Also returning are Elizabeth Banks and John Michael Higgins as Gail and John, the Bellas own personal commentators and hecklers who are now making a documentary about their rise and fall, emphasis on the fall. Noticeably missing are Fat Amy's former love interest Bumper, played by Adam Devine, and Beca's former love interest Jesse, starring Skylar Astin, who get written off with one quick line early on in the film. Since graduating from college, most of the Bellas have gone on to lead rather unfulfilling careers and lives. Looking for a final hoorah, Aubrey, played by Anna Camp, gets the Bellas a spot on an upcoming USO tour for a reunion. Once they on tour, the women find out one of the groups playing on the tour will get to open for DJ Khaled, turning what was a simple music trip into yet another contest where the Bellas are the underdogs. There is also a subplot about Fat Amy and her fallout with her estranged father, played by John Lithgow with a terrible Australian accent, who may or may not have sinister intentions.

So, aca-fans, what do we get from this third (and wholly unnecessary) installment in the "Pitch Perfect" series? Pretty much the exact same thing we got from the two previous films. We get to hear a lot of cover songs sung by various groups, only this time, the bands in the competition have actual musical instruments. The Bellas also go through some sort of strife with each other until they eventually make up and all is well and right with the group because they aren't just singers, they are ~*a family.~* John Michael Higgins makes a bunch of awful but satirical misogynistic remarks, which can be good for a laugh here but are mostly tired at this point in the series. Elizabeth Bank's Gail gets to go on and on and on about how the Bellas are in way over their heads... until they aren't.

The story as a whole is very basic and is mostly about the Bellas trying to move on with their lives and finding things to do other than singing. It's clear that most of the people in this series are tired of it. They are clearly in it for the paycheck at this point. Anna Kendrick checked out midway through the second installment, so someone else needs to get more time to shine. If you thought there was a big focus on Fat Amy in the second installment, Rebel Wilson gets even more spotlight in this third installment. While we love seeing the representation of larger women on screen, Fat Amy is only funny in small doses. She gets more and more obnoxious as the movie progresses, especially considering there is a subplot about her relationship with her estranged father. There is also another subplot that has one of the girls doing over the top martial arts fighting against an army of armed thugs because why? The only reason these subplots exist is to keep the series feeling new and exciting. It doesn't work, but that's beside the point. It speaks to the nature of the messy story which is clearly just slapped together around a bunch of pop songs.

The best thing about the "Pitch Perfect" series has always been the music and the mashups. The songs are performed well enough that you may be able to enjoy the musical aspects even if the rest of it is a total trash fire. That being said, and we hate to keep picking on her, but Rebel Wilson has gotten more and more off-key over the course of these three movies, and considering the substantial part she plays here, be prepared for a lot of screeching.

In the end, there are a couple of moments here that made us laugh, but a lot of humor falls desperately flat. The story itself is flimsy and contrived, but the music and various over the top adventures may be enough for fans of the "Pitch Perfect" franchise to still have a good time. For us, "Pitch Perfect 3" it winds up being a borderline middle of the road film with some good music, a lot of dumb plot points, and a semi-redeemable ending.

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My Rating: 4.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 31%
Do we recommend this movie: Meh.

Movie Review: "The Greatest Showman" (2017)

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Movie: "The Greatest Showman"

Director: Michael Gracey
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 45 minutes

The story of P.T. Barnum and his rise from poor family man to a wealthy showman and how he created his now world-famous circus.

"The Greatest Showman" is a movie based on real people, but it is a biography only in the loosest sense of the word. It should really be viewed as a fictional musical whose characters happen to share names with real individuals. In all honesty, we doubt anybody went to see this movie looking for a history lesson. We're sure they just wanted flashy lights, memorable songs, and frilly costumes, and who can blame them?! "The Greatest Showman" serves as the directorial debut of Michael Gracey and is written by Jenny Hicks and Bill Condon, who is known for other musicals like "Chicago" and "Dream Girls." The film stars Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, the founder of what would eventually become the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Joining him is Michelle Williams as his wife Charity, Zac Efron as his partner Phillip Carlyle, Rebecca Ferguson as famed singer Jenny Lind, as well as Zendaya, Keala Settle, Sam Humphrey, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, who make up the various performers in Barnum's circus. In the film, Barnum grows up poor and struggles to make ends meet as he tries to take care of his family. After being laid off from his bookkeeping job, he decides to open a museum that will put on display all sorts of natural oddities and probably some unnatural ones to boot. What starts as a shrine to dead odd things quickly turns into a lively and raucous daily show featuring music, dance, acrobatics, and many, many different looking people.

First and foremost, "The Greatest Showman" is a musical. The number one thing a musical needs to have is good music. Luckily, this film contains some terrific toe-tapping tunes, a couple of exposition-heavy serious songs, and a few heartfelt romantic ditties as well. For the most part, the songs are memorable enough that they will stick with you as you leave the theater. As a story, "The Greatest Showman" forgoes an accurate portrayal of historical proportions in order to tell a more socially relevant, grandiose tale, delivering a message of inclusion and acceptance for all people. Hugh Jackman offers a commanding performance, and with his musical theater background and existing experience in theatrical musicals, he was the perfect choice for the lead role of P.T. Barnum. His charisma shines through each and every moment of the movie and allows the audience to forget for a brief moment that the empire P.T. Barnum built was actually pretty damn terrible. Zac Efron gets a chance to remind everyone who forgot that he once starred in "High School Musical" and is an exceptional singer. He has an excellent, authentic romance with Zendaya, who is also a splendid singer and does well in her role. This is not to say that being a great singer was a requirement to be part of this film as Rebecca Ferguson had all of her singing dubbed by "The Voice" contestant Loren Allred. Though all of these performances are wonderful, the best musical moment comes from Keala Settle's performance of "This is Me," a song about not hiding in the shadows and being proud of who you are. Now, on to the negatives. Despite how enjoyable the music is and despite how great the performances are, the narrative of "The Greatest Showman" is very flimsy. It's clear that it is not a tightly written story as it aims to simply fill time in between musical numbers. Also, even though the movie isn't very long, it does start to drag a bit due to this lack of a real story and an absence of anything but surface-level characters.

There's a good chance "The Greatest Showman" will please crowds looking for a few songs to dance to and a couple of flashy outfits to gaze upon for two hours, but it may leave some a little disappointed. It can feel more like a collection of music videos than a more engaging story with deeper meaning.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 6/10
IMDB's Rating: 8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 54%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" (2017)

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Movie: "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle"

Director: Jake Kasdan
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 59 minutes

A group of high school students serving detention discovers a video game called "Jumanji" that, when being played, sucks them into its jungle universe. The only way to get out is to win the game.

It has been 22 years since the release of the original "Jumanji." Despite being critically panned, that movie found great success at the box office. We have to wonder why it took so long for a sequel to be released, and it turns out, it actually didn't. The 2005 film "Zathura" was a spiritual sequel to "Jumanji," and though it received a better response from critics, it was a box office flop. Now, enough time has passed and Hollywood believes it is now able to retool "Jumanji" for a whole new generation. It doesn't hurt that this long-oft sequel has an all-star cast including the likes of Dwayne Johnson, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, Karen Gillan, and even Nick Jonas. The movie picks up right where the original left off with the Jumanji board game washed up on a beach. A man jogging finds it one day and gives it to his son, who promptly asks the question, "who plays board games anymore?" In an effort to survive, the magical board game transforms into a video game which, when being played, sucks the player into the world of Jumanji. Now, decades later, four students who are very different from each other named Spencer, Fridge, Bethany, and Martha, played by Alex Wolff,  Ser'Darius Blain, Madison Iseman, and Morgan Turner, find themselves serving detention at their high school. They discover the Jumanji video game in the basement, play it, and get sucked into the jungle world of Jumanji. Also, instead of being brought to this world as themselves, they have morphed into the bodies of the avatars they selected when starting the game. The only way out of this strange land is to win the game before they each lose all three of their lives.

We weren't exactly huge fans of the original "Jumanji," so it's not surprising that we weren't excited to see this sequel. We are happy to say we wound up enjoying "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle." Director Jake Kasdan manages to create a very fun sequel that is actually better than its predecessor. This is due in large part to its stellar, energetic cast. Each actor does a splendid job in their respective roles. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson may look like a hulking adventurer on the outside (his name is Smolder Bravestone), but on the inside, he is actually the nerdy hypochondriac named Spencer. Johnson is charming as always, and much like the rest of characters gets to play a little against type. Giant football player Fridge gets stuck in the body of Kevin Hart, which allows Hart to really lean into his self-deprecating but arrogant and sometimes obnoxious comedic style that has made him the star he is today. Jack Black gets to play Bethany, the social media-obsessed self-centered teenage girl who is now stuck in the body of a middle-aged overweight man. As cooky as it sounds, it's downright hilarious at times, especially when Jack Black has to teach Karen Gillan how to flirt with all her might to save their butts. And speaking of Karen Gillan, she gets to be the scantily clad stereotypical female video game character on the outside while being Martha, a modest, introverted feminist on the inside. This leaves room for important social commentary in an otherwise lighthearted popcorn flick. Other key figures in the movie include the aforementioned Nick Jonas as in-game character Alex, and Rhys Darby as Nigel, the group's non-player character driver. Bobby Cannavale also stars as the primary antagonist Van Pelt, which brings us to the biggest issue with the film. He's a completely disposable video game villain who is actually easier to defeat than it seems. Cannavale mainly stands around with a weird CGI'ed eye and has bugs crawling in and out of his ears, nose, and mouth manically shouting at his henchmen. He's a pretty boring villain, but hey, at least he was in a movie that was a hit this year, right?

"Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" was a huge surprise for us. The story itself is simple, but Kasdan and his team of five writers manage to integrate elements from video games that play out in a really entertaining way on screen. Add that to the fantastic chemistry of the leads, an excellent selection of music, and a couple of truly memorable scenes and this flick winds up being a whole heck of a lot of fun despite needing to be about 10 minutes shorter.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: 7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 77%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

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Movie Review: "The Shape of Water" (2017)

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Movie: "The Shape of Water"

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 2 hours, 3 minutes

A mute woman working on the custodial staff of a secret government facility falls in love with a fish-man that is imprisoned there. When she discovers he is in danger of being killed, she risks everything to help him escape.

There are a lot of romance movies out there, but there very few are told with the grace, beauty, and imagination seen in director Guillermo del Toro's latest film "The Shape of Water." It stars Sally Hawkins as Elisa Esposito, a mute woman who works as a cleaning lady at a secure government facility. One day, a curious looking creature, played by Doug Jones, is brought to the facility where it is imprisoned and regularly tortured by security officer Richard Strickland, played by Michael Shannon. Elisa befriends this creature, and over a short period of time, they bond with one another over music and eggs. She even begins to fall in love with it. When Elisa discovers this amphibian-man is to be dissected, she makes a plan to free it with the help of her best friend Giles, played by Richard Jenkins. She also gets some surprise help from her co-worker Zelda, played by Octavia Spencer, and a scientist named Dr. Hoffstetler, played by Michael Stuhlbarg.

"The Shape of Water" is the most gorgeous film of 2017. We don't mean this simply from a visual standpoint, but also in the way the story is written by del Toro and Vanessa Taylor. The art direction is fantastic, capturing almost an ethereal version of the 1960's with a color palette that ignites the senses and transports us to this world created by del Toro. The makeup work on Doug Jones is brilliant, and the creature design of the amphibian-man is nothing short of incredible. Jones gives an amazing performance as the amphibian-man, and though he looks like something straight out of a Universal monster movie, we quickly empathize with him and feel connected to him. Sally Hawkins gives her second award-worthy performance in less than a year as Elisa. She is able to convey so much emotion without even speaking. Through the use of expressions and body language, she tells stories and speaks of her isolation, her sadness, her longing, and her want and need to be accepted. Michael Shannon plays a sinister, alarmingly splendid villain. Seriously, he's scary good here. Michael Stuhlbarg never gives a bad performance and more people should know his name. His character has secrets to hide and is forced to choose between what he has been tasked to do and his undying love of science.

This story is juxtaposed against the backdrop of the Cold War and during the Civil Rights movement. People of color and people of different sexual orientations are treated as less than human by those around them in several instances. We see the treatment of the amphibian-man parallelled with the stories of characters like Giles and Zelda, and we come to comprehend him as more than just an animal or an asset. As these disenfranchised individuals come together in the name of love, we see those who have been marginalized rise up and become the heroes of the story, all while we explore our own ideas of what it truly means to be human.

We were drawn into this slightly twisted adult fairytale from the opening credits. We remained absolutely enthralled and utterly moved by each and every second of "The Shape of Water." It is enchanting, touching, and even horrific at times, yet it is all balanced into a perfectly lovely piece of cinema. Every moment of this film, from its intricate and odd score to its poignant fable, will delight all your senses. Guillermo del Toro has done an exquisite job directing this modern day fantasy romance and reminds us time and time again why he is our favorite director.

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My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 10/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~94%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "The Disaster Artist" (2017)

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Movie: "The Disaster Artist"

Director: James Franco
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 43 minutes

Greg is an aspiring actor who befriends a strange man named Tommy, who also aspires to be a star. After a short while, Greg and Tommy move to Los Angeles together. After a long series of rejections, they decide to go outside the system and make their own movie, which Tommy will fund with his mysterious, unknown source of wealth. Little did they know, they weren't just making a movie, they were making history.

"The Room" is a cult classic and is a perfect example of how doing everything wrong can turn out oh so right. "The Room" is not a 'good' film in the traditional sense, but to us and to many others, it is a masterpiece by being a disasterpiece of epic proportions. "The Disaster Artist" is the story of Tommy Wiseau and Greg Sestero, played in the film by James and Dave Franco, whose chance meeting and friendship ignited a series of events that led to the creation of the best worst movie ever made. It is a story that is so weird you'd call it unbelievable if you didn't know it was true. This film is directed by the aforementioned James Franco and is based on the non-fiction book "The Disaster Artist: My Life Inside The Room, the Greatest Bad Movie Ever Made," written by Greg Sestero. Joining the Franco brothers is an ensemble cast of talent including Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Graynor, Josh Hutcherson, Jacki Weaver, and so many others that have minor cameos throughout the film.

Now, seeing "The Room" may not be required to watch "The Disaster Artist," but it sure would give you a much greater understanding and appreciation of the key players involved and explain just how bad their movie was. We highly recommend seeing "The Room" first before venturing into this newer film. If you're like us, fans of the Tommy Wiseau classic, "The Disaster Artist" is an absolute dream. It really allows the viewer to get an inside look at Wiseau, Sestero, and how "The Room" came to fruition. Franco's flick explains the quirks, the craziness, and the oft-misguided passion that allowed the best worst movie of all time to flop yet somehow thrive after almost 15 years. It still leaves Tommy shrowded in mystery, and apparently, his secrets are still not revealed to this day. Questions like where does he actually come from, how old is he, and where the hell did he get six million dollars to make this movie are never answered, and quite frankly, this is part of it, and his, bizarre charm.

James Franco fully channels Tommy in mind, body, spirit, and essence. He gives a transcendent, Oscar-worthy performance that embodies the living caricature that is Wiseau. There are some moments when the two are indistinguishable. James Franco is also able to capture the outward confidence, the inner insecurity, and the intense jealousy and loneliness that plague Tommy as a person. Dave Franco becomes Greg Sestero. He mimics Greg's timidity and reserved nature perfectly, but is also able to portray Greg in his most frustrated and angry moments as well. The Francos and their supporting cast had us laughing endlessly from the opening interviews to the closing credits, sometimes to the point of tears. This was rarely achieved for us during 2017's slew of unfunny, terrible comedies.

"The Disaster Artist" is equal parts hilarious, tender, adoring, and impactful all at the same time. It's a love letter to a man who gave it his all and still completely failed... or did he? It is abundantly clear that the Franco brothers and producers Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg have enormous amounts of adulation for the infamous man, myth, and legend that is Tommy Wiseau. Their project may mock a little bit, but it never punches down at the making of his now notorious work of cinematic art. Even if you have no outside knowledge of "The Room," it's hard to deny that "The Disaster Artist" is a genuinely fantastic, ironic, and poignant film about pursuing your dreams and never giving up, even if you aren't very talented and especially if you have a weird friend who has a mysterious source of obscene amounts of disposable income. It's an ode to dreamers, to friendship, and to not getting torn apart.

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My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 10/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~93%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "The Man Who Invented Christmas" (2017)

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Movie: "The Man Who Invented Christmas"

Director: Bharat Nalluri
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes

Charles Dickens struggles to write and self-publish one of his most famous books, "A Christmas Carol," just six weeks before the holiday.

"A Christmas Carol" is synonymous with Christmastime. It's a story that has been read and passed down for over a century. It has also been adapted into numerous films and animated specials. Actors like Alastair Sim, Reginald Owen, George C. Scott, Bill Murray, Patrick Stewart, and Jim Carrey have all played some variation of Dickens' main character Scrooge. Heck, even Micky Mouse, Mr. Magoo, and The Muppets all have their own version of this classic story. "The Man Who Invented Christmas" is the tale of how Charles Dickens wrote his famous book that imbues the spirit of Christmas into anyone who has read it. The film is directed by Bharat Nalluri and is written by Susan Coyne, based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Les Standiford. The film stars Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens who, after three flops in a row, is desperate to come up with a new book that is a smash success. His latest idea is a Christmas ghost story about a stingy miser who is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve to warn him of the dangers of greed and selfishness. His publishers aren't all that interested in this type of a novel since "Christmas is only a minor holiday." They don't believe there is a market for it. Frustrated, Dickens decides to publish the story himself at a great personal expense, which could break him if his project fails.

Being a period piece and a biopic, there was a good chance this could have been stodgy and boring. It could have taken a very clinical look at the life of Charles Dickens, but luckily, Nalluri and Coyne do a wonderful job making this a fun and humorous biopic. The film tries to juxtapose a CliffsNotes version of the story of "A Christmas Carol" with Dickens' life itself. It draws parallels between things that happened in his life which inspired the biggest parts of his famous tale. These little bits of fan service will bring fabulous nostalgic joy to the viewer, which is what we are really in search of during Christmastime. Dickens' characters come to life all around him with Christopher Plummer playing the famous role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Plummer is magnificent as this grizzled, cantankerous, obstinate character, and the film left us longing to see Plummer play the full role of Scrooge in someone else's movie. Make it happen, Hollywood! We see how the people in Dickens' life inspired him as well, people like his father John, played by Jonathan Pryce, his wife Kate, played by Morfydd Clark, his friend and agent John Forster, played by Justin Edwards, and even his housekeeper Tara, played by Anna Murphy. All of these individuals bring their own perspective and inspiration for Dickens as he struggles with a six week deadline to complete his book before Christmas day. The acting is great as Stevens plays Dickens a little screwball and Plummer does his grouchy thing with relative ease.

"The Man Who Invented Christmas" does feel a bit schmaltzy at times, but we still had a lot of fun with it and enjoyed the film overall. It does enough different with the material that it doesn't feel like a straight remake of "A Christmas Carol," and it has a lot of wacky and heartstring-tugging moments to keep viewers interested, captivated, and longing for yuletide cheer.

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My Rating: 7.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~80%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" (2017)

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Movie: "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"

Director: Martin McDonagh
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

The mother of a murdered teenage girl puts up three billboards questioning why the police haven't found her daughter's killer. This puts the police on the defensive, and the ensuing drama throws the small town of Ebbing, Missouri into chaos.

When an unthinkable act of violence is committed, it is never isolated to just a perpetrator and a victim. These heinous acts have ripple effects that impact the lives of every person the victim knew as well as those trying to bring the assailant to justice. "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" examines the after-effects of a terrible crime and show how anger and hate cause more anger and hate for one small town. The film stars Frances McDormand as Mildred, the bereaved mother of a young woman who was raped and murdered. Several months have passed since the incident and no suspects have been found. Mildred attempts to put pressure on the local police to try and catch the person/persons responsible. She purchases advertisement space on three billboards on a rural, mostly deserted street outside the main city of Ebbing, right by the scene of her daughter's grizzly murder. These three billboards criticize the police and their efforts (or lack thereof) on the case. Chief Willoughby, played by Woody Harrelson, is specifically targeted, but despite not solving the murder, he is an otherwise respected and loved public official. Mildred's criticism causes a division in the town as they debate what to do about her and her billboards. Also in the movie are Sam Rockwell, Lucas Hedges, Caleb Landry Jones, Kerry Condon, Amanda Warren, Abbie Cornish, and Peter Dinklage.

Writer/director Martin McDonagh has created a provocative film with interesting characters that all hover in a moral gray area. None of the characters in this film are perfect, but we can understand where each individual is coming from and see everyone's particular point of view. We understand where Mildred is coming from, though she certainly crosses the line on more than one occasion. She is not only an anti-heroine but is anti-everything a woman is supposed to be: strong with a clenched jaw and tightened fist, unwavering in her disposition and in her right to seek the truth and obtain vengeance at any cost. She infrequently backs down from a fight and only softens when she feels she has to, particularly around her ex-husband, played by John Hawkes, who has very obviously lulled her into submission for a long time with his own fists and rage so she knows no other way to be around him. Chief Willoughby seems like a good man, but has a fair share of skeletons in his closet and makes his own shocking decisions as a result of them. Rockwell's Officer Dixon is a racist good ol' boy who isn't too bright and for some reason still has a job as a cop, but as his character arc progresses, it's clear he has a change of heart, although what it took to get there was enormous.

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" is full of antiheroes and is steeped in irony and dark humor. It packs a strong emotional punch and is extremely relevant to the dark times we face today. Frances McDormand puts on a fantastic award-worthy performance as this extremely layered character who is tough as nails and abrasive as hell but is also tender and loving. Bottom line is, wouldn't you do everything you thought was possible to get justice for your slain child? Mildred embodies and lives this very question to the nth degree. Rockwell is also the standout for us and we fully feel he deserves a nomination for his performance. He is brilliantly ignorant, content in his racist and sexist ways, and is brutal but also kind in his own twisted way. Rockwell is criminally underlooked as a performer and he is absolutely brilliant here. The movie may be offensive to some, but we feel it is sufficiently tragic, enthralling, brutal, and powerful. You should absolutely see "Three Billboards" because it is one of the best of the year.

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My Rating: 9.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 9/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~93%
Do we recommend this movie: ABSOLUTELY YES!!!

Movie Review: "Coco" (2017)

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Movie: "Coco"

Director: Lee Unkrich & Adrian Molina
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 49 minutes

A young music-loving boy is transported to the land of the dead after he steals a guitar on Dia de Los Muertos. In order to return to the land of the living, he must receive the blessing of his ancestors who hate music and want to forbid him from ever playing it.

Pixar has a *mostly* excellent track record with us. We have at least liked all their films... well, apart from "Cars 2" and "Cars 3." "Coco" is Pixar's first film in about two years that hasn't been a sequel to a previously released feature. When we first saw the trailer for this movie, it looked like it would be very similar to the animated feature "The Book of Life," which came out in 2014. We have to admit, the visual similarities hampered our excitement for this a little bit. Never judge a book by its cover (or in this case, trailer). Despite both features revolving around Dia de Los Muertos, they are each very different films with very different themes. "Coco" is about a young boy named Miguel, voiced by Anthony Gonzales. He loves music and wants to be a musician. However, he learns that many, many years ago, his great-great-grandfather abandoned his family to follow his dream of musical stardom. Because of this, his family now hates music and will not allow it in their home. When Miguel steal his great-great-grandfather's guitar on Dia de Los Muertos to play in a talent show, Miguel is transported to the land of the dead where he needs to obtain the blessing of his music-hating deceased family in order to return to the land of the living. Also providing their voice talents for the film are Gael García Bernal as Héctor, Benjamin Bratt as Miguel's great-great-grandfather Ernesto de la Cruz, Alanna Ubach as Mamá Imelda, and Renee Victor as Miguel's Abuelita, just to name a few.

With each and every release, Pixar's animation gets better and better, and "Coco" is no exception. This film is visually stunning and gorgeous to boot. There are some scenes where the backgrounds are so photo-realistic, it was hard to convince ourselves that it was animated and not shot on location somewhere. The wrinkles on people's skin look real. The marks and scars people bear look like real marks and scars. Their sand looks like real sand. It's insane! Like most Pixar films, "Coco" finds a balance between lighthearted fun that will appeal to a younger crowd and some more mature themes with an emotional punch for the adults in the room. They sure do know how to strike an emotional chord, and while we didn't think we'd get gut-punched by the Pixar machine, sure enough, we both left the theater having cried a good amount. We love that Pixar doesn't treat children like idiots who can't comprehend complex facets of life and we really like how they don't resort to pandering to the lowest common denominators with their comedic elements. That being said, some aspects of this film are a bit predictable and it winds up being a mostly formulaic story about following your dreams and the importance of family. As we've said many times here on this site, just because something is rehashed doesn't inherently make it bad, and this movie just so happens to be really, really, really good. The voiceover work is excellent and it is still a great and entertaining watch despite its familiarity. "Coco" is the frontrunner for the Best Animated Feature category at the Oscars, and rightfully so. None of the other widely released animated films this year stand a chance against Pixar's latest beast unless a limited release indie film upsets their win. "Coco" is one of the few animated films this year that is truly worth your money and time. It's important, powerful, inclusive, vibrant, and fun. It's a fantastic watch for everyone.

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My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~97%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Lady Bird" (2017)

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Movie: "Lady Bird"

Director: Greta Gerwig
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 36 minutes

A year in the life of high school senior Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, who was born and raised in Sacramento, CA, but longs to move to the east coast, preferably New York City. This is much to the chagrin of her mother, who is constantly at odds with Lady Bird.

Like many independent films, "Lady Bird" is a slice of life, coming of age character sketch that covers a year in the life of a high school senior in 2003. This is the first film directed by Greta Gerwig and is every bit as quirky as Gerwig and her past performances. The movie has a semi-autobiographical feel to it as it would appear the story is heavily inspired by Gerwig's own life given that she grew up in Sacramento. It stars Saoirse Ronan as the titular Christine "Lady Bird" McPherson, a high school senior who laments growing up in boring ol' Sacramento and longs for the culture of the east coast, primarily New York City... or at least New Hampshire or Connecticut. She makes everyone call her Lady Bird because it's a name given to herself by herself. She has a loving yet contentious relationship with her mother Marion, played by Laurie Metcalf, who works hard to provide for her family but seems constantly angry with Lady Bird's lack of appreciation for what she has in life. Lady Bird goes to a private Catholic school surrounded by rich kids and resents that her family is middle class. She does typical high school activities like hanging out with her best friend Julie, played by Beanie Feldstein, dating boys, finding work, applying to colleges, and trying new things in order to find her place in this crazy world.

The one thing we can say about "Lady Bird" right off the bat is it is one of the most honest and sincere films of 2017. The acting is phenomenal, especially from Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. As mother and daughter, the two of them have many tender moments of undying love and a few heated exchanges that feel very realistic, like the fights you may have had with your very own mother. As Lady Bird experiences growing pains and longs for something different over the span of her senior year, her mother is equal parts scared, heartbroken, and angry with her choices. Metcalf is fantastic as a tough but concerned mother, and Ronan is wonderful as her self-absorbed, blossoming, vulnerable and stubborn daughter. Lady Bird also has many other people in her life, including her down on his luck father Larry, played by Tracy Letts, her first boyfriend Danny, played by Lucas Hedges, and her second boyfriend, the "down with the system" Kyle, played by Timothée Chalamet. These three individuals all offer some great performances. Look out for Hedges and Chalamet, they will most certainly be around for a long while.

Excellent performances and relatability aside, one cannot deny that "Lady Bird" is a fairly formulaic coming of age story. It hits the same notes a dozen other films have hit when it comes to detailing relationships with parents, feuds with friends, finding boyfriends, and discovering one's true self. How much you like this film may have to do with how well you identify with the characters. If you've gone through anything even remotely close to what Lady Bird has gone through, chances are, it will click for you. I was personally quite moved by the film. I saw a lot of my own life playing out on the big screen as if this movie had been hijacked from my diary and written about my own personal experiences. BigJ, on the other hand, didn't get as emotionally invested in the characters as he would have liked. He didn't have much to relate to in terms of the story. It fell way short of his expectations considering the hype-train that has been out there singing this movie's praises.

With a relatable, funny, and honest emotional punch, terrific performances, and a killer (an accurate!) soundtrack, we think "Lady Bird" will resonate with many moviegoers and critics alike. Whether you're an adolescent attempting to chase your dreams or a parent who has had to let go of their child, there's something for everyone in this quirky, charming film.

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My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~100%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "The Star" (2017)

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Movie: "The Star"

Director: Timothy Reckart
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 26 minutes

The story of the Nativity from the point of view of a donkey and other animals present at the birth of Jesus.

We have seen movies about the story of the Nativity many times. Each time we watch one of these films, we can't help but think, "you know what this story really needs?........poop jokes!"

Okay, so maybe we don't need them, but we certainly get them in Sony Pictures Animation/Affirm Film's latest animated feature "The Star." This movie tells the story of the birth of Jesus from the point of view of a donkey named Bo, voiced by Steven Yeun. Bo has always dreamt of pulling the royal carriage but is stuck milling grain for an ungrateful master. His best friend is a dove named Dave, voiced by Keegan-Michael Key, and how the two of them wind up with Mary and Joseph, voiced by Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi, after Bo breaks free from the shackles of his old life. Needing to report to Bethlehem for the census, Mary and Joseph must make the trek to the city even though she is very pregnant. Bo and Dave go along in order to protect her from a hunter and his two dogs who have been tasked by King Herod to kill her so the prophesied Messiah will not be born. Also lending their voice talents to this picture are Aidy Bryant, Christopher Plummer, Ving Rhames, Gabriel Iglesias, Anthony Anderson, Kelly Clarkson, Mariah Carey, Tyler Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, Tracy Morgan, Kris Kristofferson, and Oprah Winfrey. Heck, maybe it would have been easier to list who doesn't lend their voice to this project.

"The Star" wants to be this faith-affirming film about the birth of Jesus, but it also wants to appeal to children and be something they can enjoy. Director Timothy Reckart tries to achieve this by loading the story with a bunch of slapstick and potty humor jokes to keep kids invested. Only about 15% of the jokes actually hit their intended mark. The slapstick physics are wildly inconsistent as Bo is injured severely when tangled in a rope but later falls off a cliff without so much as a scratch. But this is just a movie for kids, right? Who cares, they won't notice this kind of stuff! Our point is, we noticed, so most adults probably will as well. "The Star" also attempts to remove the more unsavory parts of the story of the birth of Jesus, such as the actual slaughter of the innocent, which isn't exactly a kid-friendly topic. C'mon, people, you can't pick and choose what parts of the Bible you want to believe...well, we guess that speaks to a larger probl.....you know what? Nevermind, it's not worth it. Mary is played as this kindhearted, perfect saint of a character, and Joseph is a lovable oaf who often winds up the butt of the joke. Much of the story is a boring 'been there, done that' tale brought to life by the laziest animation possible. There are a couple of intense moments of action, but these moments are offset and hindered by their song choices, which are usually religious Christmas carols that seem wildly out of place when played alongside the action unfolding on screen.

In the end, "The Star" tries to balance faith and fun but fails at both. Christmastime is the one time of year when all things Jesus are a-okay with us, but frankly, we wouldn't really recommend this movie to kids or adults. There are other better faith-based Christmas films out there without farting donkeys, pooping doves, and dozens of failing jokes. Though some of the voice acting is good, it's not enough to bring any real substance to this pedestrian Nativity tale. PS: Cast Steven Yeun in more things, Hollywood.

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My Rating: 4/10
BigJ's Rating: 4.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~5.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~55%
Do we recommend this movie: No.

Movie Review: "Wonder" (2017)

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Movie: "Wonder"

Director: Stephen Chbosky
Year: 2017
Rating: PG
Running Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes

The story of 10-year-old Auggie Pullman and his family. Auggie has Treacher Collins syndrome, which means he has facial differences. He has been homeschooled all his life and is about to start going to a public school with other children for the first time.

Hollywood doesn't often produce great live-action family dramas with universal appeal for kids and adults. Movies like this have to strike a balance between being entertaining enough for children and having more mature issues to captivate an older crowd. They can't be overly sentimental. They can't have too much low-hanging humor that only children will find funny. Some movies that meet these criteria are "My Girl," "Bridge to Terabithia," and "October Sky." "Wonder" is also a movie that falls into this category and is a timely story that deals with being "different," adversity, bullying, and kindness. It is directed by Stephen Chbosky and is based on the best selling novel of the same name by R.J. Palacio. It stars Jacob Tremblay as August "Auggie" Pullman, who looks a bit different because he was born with a genetic defect that has required him to have numerous surgeries in his young life. Joining him are Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as his parents Isabelle and Nate, as well as Izabela Vidovic as his older sister Via. Also in the film are Noah Jupe, Bryce Gheisar, and Millie Davis, who play Auggie's classmates named Will, Julian, and Summer. Auggie is about to attend school with other students for the very first time as he has only been homeschooled up to this point. As we all know, kids aren't always so understanding and are not kind to people who are "different."

"Wonder" is an endearing and charming drama with a lot of heart, a good amount of humor, and a fantastic message. Jacob Tremblay is quite the actor and puts on a wonderful performance as Auggie Pullman. He shows a great, wide range of emotion well beyond his years. We can't say we are really surprised by this considering his past work in the film "Room." Beyond Tremblay's performance, the rest of the acting is also really good as Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, and Izabela Vidovic are all excellent supporting cast members. Each of them gives moving performances in different ways. The other child actors are all fantastic as well. Noah Jupe was one of the best things about the movie "Suburbicon," and here, he plays Auggie's reluctant-at-first friend Will who comes to realize Auggie is more than someone to be pitied. Millie Davis gives a splendid performance as Summer, who says she wants to have nice friends for a change instead of means ones, so she starts hanging out with Auggie one day at lunch. Finally, Bryce Gheisar plays Julian, Auggie's biggest schoolyard antagonist. Gheisar plays this part tremendously, and even though we absolutely hate his character, we become a little sympathetic to him as facts about him are revealed.

Dramatic films like this are often hokey, forced, and disingenuous. "Wonder" is the exact opposite and feels completely sincere. It is a total tearjerker, one that really earns each of its sentimental moments. The story has a wonderful, topical message that's extremely relevant to our current social climate. Bullying and treating people unkindly have been problems for centuries and these issues still persist today. We went into this film not expecting much. We didn't enjoy the trailer and thought it was very maudlin. We left the theater elated with what we had just watched. "Wonder" is an important movie for kids and adults of all ages. It teaches the importance of kindness not just to those who are perceived as "different," but to everyone at all times because we are all going through things each and every day. It has brilliant acting, great makeup work, and will hit you right in the feels.

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My Rating: 8.5/10
BigJ's Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~8.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~86%
Do we recommend this movie: Yes!

Movie Review: "Justice League" (2017)

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Movie: "Justice League"

Director: Zack Snyder
Year: 2017
Rating: NR
Running Time: 2 hours, 0 minutes

Bruce Wayne and Diana Prince must gather a team of people with superpowers in order to stop Steppenwolf from using the three 'mother boxes' to transform Earth into an environment closer to that of his home planet, which will destroy Earth and of its inhabitants in the process.

It's hard to believe we are now on the fifth film in the DC extended universe. Of the previous four entries, it is really only "Wonder Woman" that has given us hope for the future of the franchise. "Man of Steel" was okay, but it was a bit too dull and didn't quite capture the spirit of the character. "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice" was too bleak and convoluted. "Suicide Squad" is a movie that is better not discussed, and "Wonder Woman" was, well, wonderful.

The question for "Justice League" is where will director Zack Snyder's latest entry in the DCEU fall? For us, it doesn't quite reach "Wonder Woman" levels, but it is definitely a lot more fun and much more entertaining than "Man of Steel," "BvS," and "Suicide Squad." This film teams up Batman (Ben Affleck), Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), Cyborg (Ray Fisher), The Flash (Ezra Miller), and Aquaman (Jason Momoa) to take on an invading alien army led by Steppenwolf (Ciarán Hinds), a very powerful God-like entity. He wants to obtain three objects called 'Martha boxes,' oops, we mean 'mother boxes,' which when combined possess the power to transform Earth into a planet similar to that of Steppenwolf's homeworld. Of course, this will destroy the earth and all of its inhabitants, but that sort of thing doesn't seem to bother Steppenwolf very much. It will take the entire Justice League combining their powers and risking their lives to defeat him.

Past problems with other DCEU pictures include overly messy plots and massive lack of focus, which have often caused pacing predicaments. This film, however, may actually be a bit too simple, and as a result, the villain is left underdeveloped. Underdeveloped and mostly disposable villains are a problem in many comic book movies in general. That being said, "Justice League" is more about the heroes and finding a reason for them to come together. Steppenwolf and the 'Martha boxes' simply facilitate this happening. This movie is definitely flawed. The CGI is too busy and too chaotic at times, the dialogue is sometimes overly cheesy, it's a bit tonally inconsistent, and some of the jokes don't land. However, "Justice League" is still a ridiculously fun movie despite all of its problems. It is an exciting ride and we never found ourselves bored or annoyed at what we were watching. We really like the way the cast works together as a group. The highlight of the film for us is Ezra Miller's The Flash, who had us laughing time and time again and really got us invested in him as an integral part of the team. Jason Momoa is also an excellent new addition and he fits the part of Aquaman very well. His beefcake stature and rugged, tattooed appearance help make an often mocked character really badass. We can't wait for his solo movie. As for Ray Fisher, he is good as Cyborg, but his character is mostly relegated to delivering exposition. Luckily, he is a key element to the overall story, and we enjoyed his performance and hope to see more of his character in the future. Gal Gadot is still as charming as ever as Wonder Woman/Diana Prince and continues to be an awesome beacon of hope and righteousness. Ben Affleck is an entirely different story. Though he played the part of an aging Batman very well in "BvS," it is apparent that he doesn't want to be involved in this role any longer, and this painfully comes through on screen. We don't think we'll be seeing much more of Batfleck in the DCEU.

In the end, despite its flaws, we enjoyed "Justice League." We will admit, we had all but given up on this incarnation of our beloved DC heroes and villains, so we're glad we enjoyed this film. We think it is definitely worth watching on the big screen and is a major step in the right direction for the DCEU. We left the theater excited for the future of this universe and look forward to seeing what's to come (although we won't necessarily be angry if Zack Snyder decided to step down).

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~7.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~40%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Murder on the Orient Express" (2017)

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Movie: "Murder on the Orient Express"

Director: Kenneth Branagh
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 54 minutes

In need of a last minute ride, detective Hercule Poirot hops aboard the Orient Express. One evening, a person is murdered aboard the train. Now, it's up to Poirot to solve the case when every passenger is a suspect.

Remakes are an age-old tradition in Hollywood. If a movie or title is even the slightest bit notable, there's a good chance a remake will eventually be greenlit. Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express" is one of the latest films to be remade, this time with Kenneth Branagh at the helm as director. Branagh also fills the lead role of detective Hercule Poirot, though the real star of the show is his fabulous, outrageous mustache. Joining Branagh and his mustache is an all-star cast including the likes of Johnny Depp, Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., Josh Gad, Michelle Pfeiffer, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Willem Dafoe, and Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, just to name a few. The film has a rather self-explanatory title as there has been a "Murder of the Orient Express" and now, it is up to the world's greatest detective Hercule Poirot to find the culprit.

We weren't too familiar with the original 1974 version of this film or the book on which it is based. We had seen the '74 version once many, many years ago, but had all but forgotten it. For us, this story and its mystery are relatively new. We didn't know the ending before watching this new incarnation, so we had that going for us. Overall, this is a gorgeous period piece with beautiful scenery, sets, and lavish costumes. It's a very glossy, sharp looking feature. We also think the acting is mostly excellent, and with a cast like this one, how could it not be? A couple of the characters don't get lots of screen time, but the ones who do (Ridley, Pfeiffer, Gad) are great. Being an old school story, it does have a bit of a stuffy feel to it, but the pristine look and some new humorous elements give it a bit more accessibility. There's a lot of really interesting camera work and a few truly beautiful shots that help keep it visually engaging. Kenneth Branagh's "Murder on the Orient Express" is a fine adaptation. That being said, it does feel like there is something missing, especially in the ending which was underwhelming for BigJ, though that may have been the fault of the Agatha Christie and her source material rather than Branagh's rendition itself. In the end, we enjoyed this movie overall and think it is certainly worth a watch.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 6.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~58%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Conor McGregor: Notorious" (2017)

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Movie: "Conor McGregor: Notorious"

Director: Gavin Fitzgerald
Year: 2017
Rating: R
Running Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

A documentary chronicling the rise of mixed martial arts superstar "Notorious" Conor McGregor.

Even if you don't follow the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA), chances are, you've heard the name 'Conor McGregor.' He is one of the biggest names in MMA. Hell, he's probably one of the all-time biggest names in combat sports period, but that wasn't always the case. Director Gavin Fitzgerald began filming his documentary, "Conor McGregor: Notorious," back in 2012 before Conor was signed by the UFC, the premier, cream of the crop organization in the sport of MMA. When filming began, Conor was fighting for a regional European promotion called Cage Warriors. Back then, he and his girlfriend Dee Devlin were steeped in bills and living with Conor's mother with only a dream of stardom. After winning the Cage Warriors lightweight championship, Conor finally got the call to fight in the UFC. He made his debut in the UFC on the preliminary card of the "UFC on FUEL TV 9: Mousasi vs. Latifi" event in 2013, making the league minimum of about $8,000 to show and $8,000 to win. He knocked out his opponent Marcus Brimage in just over one minute. From there, "Mystic Mac" began his meteoric rise to the top and quickly became the biggest money earner in UFC and in all of MMA history.

It must have been a serendipitous stroke of luck that Gavin Fitzgerald started making "Notorious" back before Conor McGregor was the Conor McGregor. This is a rather uplifting rags-to-riches story, and by far the most compelling part of the film is the deep dive into McGregor's early years when he was a struggling fighter with only an aspiration to be the best. The hope, the determination, and the drive Conor had to make it in MMA is inspiring. Everything McGregor said he was going to do he eventually accomplished, and he did it with his loving, loyal girlfriend Dee by his side, pushing him and supporting him every step of the way. Fitzgerald traveled all over the world to chronicle Conor's rise to the top from countless training sessions to endless weight cutting, from his humbling defeats to his record-breaking wins. To see McGregor go from being on the dole and living with his mom to being able to provide for himself, his friends, and his family is absolutely insane and awe-inspiring. His life now is a lavish one as he owns multiple homes in the United States and Ireland, has a car for every day of the week, and now even has his own production company. One would think that a young man in his mid-20's would blow through that money as fast as he got it, but McGregor just keeps making more and more dough, and if you know anything about Conor, you know he has expensive taste. The big drawback to "Notorious" is once Conor enters the UFC, the rest of the story is mostly common knowledge if you're an MMA fan (the target demographic). The only thing we weren't aware of is that Conor fought with a partial ACL tear when he faced Chad "Money" Mendes in July 2015, something only his training partners and family were aware of at the time. That being said, this documentary is still quite entertaining, mainly because Conor McGregor himself is so damn charismatic. He is a flashy, magnetic personality, and we had a good time watching this because of that showiness.

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My Rating: 7/10
BigJ's Rating: 7/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.6/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~55%
Do we recommend this movie: Sure, why not?

Movie Review: "Daddy's Home 2" (2017)

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Movie: "Daddy's Home 2"

Director: Sean Anders
Year: 2017
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

After Brad and Dusty decide to have a "together Christmas" so the kids can have a "normal" day, Dusty gets word his estranged father is coming into town which threatens to throw a wrench into their happy co-parenting plans.

The original "Daddy's Home" was not a good movie, but it made $242 million dollars at the worldwide box office, so a sequel was inevitable. "Daddy's Home 2" is once again directed by Sean Anders, who besides directing the original installment has also directed films like "Sex Drive" and "That's My Boy." Stellar resume. The vast majority of the original cast returns, including Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg who reprise their roles as Brad and Dusty, two feuding stepfathers who have become friends since bonding in the climax of the original movie. Also returning are Linda Cardellini, Owen Vaccaro and Scarlett Estevez as the wife/ex-wife and children of the two male leads. New to the series are John Lithgow and Mel Gibson, who play Brad and Dusty's respective fathers. Brad's dad Don is an amplified version of his highly emotional, highly talkative "kindness is the best policy" character, and Dusty's dad Kurt is an over-exaggerated version of the loner tough guy with an extra helping of womanizing, drinking, and absence thrown in for good measure.

As you can see, we weren't fans of the original "Daddy's Home," which we felt was a mean-spirited comedy elevated solely by a solid climatic ending, even though it had not earned it. As for part two of this "series that never needed a sequel," go in expecting the exact same formula from the first installment. It's one punch shy of a beat-for-beat remake of the first movie, but with more Christmas decorations and mistletoe jokes. "Haha, Brad is bad at sports and gives bad relationship advice." "Hahaha, Dusty doesn't like showing emotion soo0o0o0o it's funny whenever he does." "Oh look, Pepe randomly appeared at the airport." "OMG! One of their cars got totaled again!" "Uh oh, are they going to have a fistfight?"

The saving grace of this installment is John Lithgow, who has a couple of genuinely funny moments. Unfortunately, the 'overly affectionate old man who talks too much and kisses his adult son on the mouth' routine gets old pretty quickly. As for Mel Gibson, he literally just stands around raspily laughing like he's about to have a heart attack any second and scoffs anytime someone shows any smidgen of emotion or a slight appreciation for parenting with an open mind or sensitivity. He also buys his sociopath-in-training granddaughter a rifle and teaches his grandson how to sexually assault girls. But hey, the kid is only 8 years old, so it's cute when he does it...right?! He urges his grandson to "go up and kiss" the girl he likes because "she wants it," then instructs him to "smack her on the caboose" and yell some inappropriate phrase we cannot remember because we were too busy being disgusted. This is the wrong damn time for this movie. The adult female characters have absolutely nothing to do and their presence offers nothing. They get a couple of throwaway gags and that's it.

"Daddy's Home 2" is barely saved by its silly, ridiculous ending with a climactic scene that did make us smile, but a good ending does not excuse the previous hour and a half 's worth of mostly unfunny garbage. It's a cynical trainwreck and you should not give it your money.

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My Rating: 3/10
BigJ's Rating: 3.5/10
IMDB's Rating: ~6.4/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: ~15%
Do we recommend this movie: AVOID LIKE THE PLAGUE!!!