Heathers

Never has being sour looked so sweet. From the pitch-perfect screenplay to the daring performances, Heathers is a blast.

4/4

Short Term 12

An unforgettable and inspiring movie about youth in foster care lead by a firecracker performance from Brie Larson.

4/4

Fruitvale Station

Feels so meticulously authentic you feel like you're in the real Oscar Grant's shoes. And Michael Jordan, Octavia Spencer, and Melonie Diaz will break your heart. 

3/4

Best in Show

There's writing and characterization so sharp it drew blood. And I could watch a miniseries of Parker Posey as Meg Swan all day long.

4/4

Non-Stop

I could have done without such a silly, overworked motive but Non-Stop is a pretty exhilarating thrill ride from beginning to end. Liam Nelson and Julliane Moore make terrorism in the air look so badass.

3/4

Saving Mr. Banks

Despite the sappy and tedious flashbacks, Saving Mr. Banks has an undeniable charm and Emma Thompson is a total pistol as Nancy Travers.

3/4

Oldboy

For a movie whose original was deemed as so controversial and outrageous, this version of Oldboy just has no kick or bite to it. The previews mislead me thinking it would take risks and include surprises instead what we're watching feels sub-standard and watered down.

The problems start out in the beginning. Josh Brolin's character; Joe, is instantly unlikeable, it's hard to give two shits about anything that happens so the following scenes of isolation and quarantine just tend to drag considering they're happening to someone that they should be happening to.

Once he gets out things don't improve. I was shocked at how tedious and poorly visualized the action scenes were. Half of the time you can't tell what is going on and when you are able to see it....you wish you wouldn't have; straight-up Mortal Kombat shit graphics.

I mentioned that Brolin's character is unlikeable and this seems to be the guideline for the rest of the characters; make you care as little about them as possible. Marie played by Elizabeth Olsen is just there for a love interest for the lead without being given any personality or impact into the plot herself. Even Samuel Jackson's antagonist character comes off as incredibly silly and not the least bit threatening. It's a fucked up day when you can make Samuel Jackson lame but damn it, that is one of the few challenges that Oldboy rises up to defeat and conquer.

1/4