A weekly look at the movies, both past and present. The name of this blog comes from the fact that I stay until the credits have ended.
Ratings from Best to Worst:
1). I Would Pay to See it Again
2). Full Price
3). Bargain Matinee
4). Cable
5). You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again
My View: Stuber (2019) R Detective Vic (Dave Bautista) has been chasing his partner’s killer for two years without success. Vic gets a tip that the killer is going to be at a drug drop-off but it comes at the worst possible time as Vic has just got laser surgery and can’t see to drive. So gets an Uber driver Stu (Kumail Nanjiani), who is hired to take Vic on an adventure they both will remember for the rest of their lives. Ok, so this is not a great film but it is a lot of fun to watch. Bautista and Narjaiani have great chemistry and play off each other really well. I will tell you that I was a little shocked at how violent the film is with lots of blood and a ton of headshots. I also loved that one of my favorite actresses, Natalie Morales has a fairly big part in the film of playing Vic’s daughter. If you want to just go watch a film that is fun this film is for you. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Stuber Website
Indiefest: The Spy Behind Home Plate (2019) Documentary on baseball catcher Moe Berg, who played during the Golden Years of professional baseball. But Moe Berg led a double life, he was a spy for the US government, gathering intel on both the Japanese and the Germans. This film explores a man who was not just a ballplayer but was one of the smartest men of his time. Berg when he traveled always had an extra suitcase with him filled with books and newspapers. The man also was fearless, during WW II he traveled throughout Europe spying on the Nazi’s and recruiting scientists to come to America to work on the Atom Bomb. This film has incredible footage of Berg playing baseball and has great interviews, including interviews with Berg’s brother. You will be amazed at what this man accomplished. My Rating: Full Price The Spy Behind Home Plate Website
In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray): Shazam! (2019) PG-13 Billy Baston (Asher Angel), a newly foster kid, s picked to become a superhero named Shazam (Zachary Levi). All Billy has to do is say the word ‘Shazam’ and he becomes the world’s greatest superhero. This film is a blast to watch as the makers of the movie decided that they were just going to have fun with these characters. The film is hilarious and you may have to see it twice because you will be laughing so hard you won’t hear some of the dialogue. Zachary Levi is perfect in the role of Shazam, who throughout the film, keeps learning new powers he has. Mark Strong, as the evil Dr. Sivana, makes a good bad guy who wants to take Shazam’s powers for his own. The film is a little slow at first but really gets going once Shazam shows up and then it just takes off for plenty of thrills. The action is fast-paced and the fight sequences are well done. But it’s the humor that makes this film work and boy, does it ever. Be sure to stay through all the credits as there are two bonus scenes. My Rating: Full Price Shazam! Website
Forgotten Film: The Verdict (1982) R A washed-up lawyer (Paul Newman) seeks redemption with taking on a malpractice case to trial rather than settling. Directed by five-time Oscar-nominated Sidney Lumet and written by two time nominated writer David Mamet, the film is an intriguing tale of a case that has plenty of twists and turns. The reason to see this film is the performance of Paul Newman, who starts out as a boozing loser who we begin to root for by the end of the film. It’s a riveting performance by Newman, one of his best (and that is saying a lot). My Rating: Full Price The Verdict Info Weird Credits: From the credits of Stuber: Rain Effect Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw (2019) PG-13Lawman Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson) and outcast Shaw (Jason Statham) form an alliance in order to take on cyber-genetically enhanced villain who threatens the future of humanity. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Furious franchise since they decided to escape reality and make the cast superheroes. This one should be a lot of fun. Hobbs and Shaw Website
My View: Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) PG-13 Peter (Tom Holand) just wants to enjoy his school trip to Europe but Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) has other plans for Spider-Man. I loved this movie, especially the comedic tones that this film uses to bring across Peter’s reaction to things. I enjoyed the action sequences and felt that they were fun to watch. What this makes this film is Jake Gyllenhaal as Mysterio, who gives a commanding performance. Be sure to stay through all the credits due to two bonus scenes that set up the next film in the series. My Rating: Full Price Spider-Man: Far From Home Website
In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray):Pet Sematary (2019) R A family relocates from Boston to rural Maine. They soon discover that their house is located near a pet cemetery that has a mysterious past. This was a highly disappointing film. Almost all the scary stuff is the jump out of the dark category. It is a very violent movie and there are a couple of gruesome scenes. This film fails as a horror film, in fact, several times, the audience laughed at scenes that were not meant to be funny. It’s sad when the best performance in the film is by the cat, though I will say that I also liked Jete Laurence, who plays the daughter. This is one of those films that after you see it, you wonder why they even bothered to make the movie because it feels like they were just going through the motions. My Rating: Cable Pet Semetery Website
In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've only seen in Trailers but just looks like a bad idea): Trespassers (2018) Two couples are at a rental property when a woman shows up saying she has car trouble, then violence starts. The trailer doesn’t look like something you would want to watch, much less experience. Tres[assers Website
Forgotten Film: The Wanderers (1979) R A gang led by Richie (Ken Wahl) tries to survive in 1963 New York gangland subculture. The reason to see this film is the performance of Ken Whal, who is amazing in the role of the gang leader who wants to lead his gang to prominence. My Rating: Full Price The Wanderers Info Weird Credits: From the credits of Spider-Man: Far From Home: Personal Hair Stylist for Tom Holland Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable (2018) Documentary on Hamilton who lost an arm to a tiger shark and went on to become a world class surfer. Bethany Hamilton: Unstopable Website
My View:Annabelle Comes Home (2019) R Annabelle, the doll that has an evil spirit inside it has been locked in the basement. While babysitting a teenager and her friend Unknowingly awaken the doll. Annabelle isn’t the only thing that has been unleashed and the evil spirits have set their sights on the Warren’s young daughter. Horror fans will enjoy this film though I think it depends a little too much of the ‘jump out of the dark’ scares. Unlike the past Conjuring films, this one does not focus on the husband and wife team of Ed and Lorraine Warren. Instead, this film is about a night when their daughter, Judy (Mckenna Grace), a psychic like her mom, who is being babysat by Mary (Madison Iseman). When Mary’s friend Daniela (Katie Sarife) visits things go to hell, mostly because Daniela has let Annabelle out of her case. I enjoyed Mckenna Grace’s performance which is deep and nuanced. If you want to have some fun and get a few scares in, this film is for you. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Annabelle Comes Home Website
My View: Yesterday (2019) PG-13 A musician, Jack(Himesh Patel) who realizes he’s the only person to remember The Beatles. He then starts performing their songs and becomes a big star. Patel has a fine voice and what I like about this film is Patel puts a new take on some of the Beatles songs. His version of Help near the end of the film is a perfect example of this; it’s full of anger and angst. I loved Lily James, who plays Ellie, Jack’s manager, who at times is the only one that believes that he can succeed as a musician. I enjoyed the music in the film, seventeen songs of The Beatles are sung, showing just how prolific they were. This is a sweet film that doesn’t always work. The film never quite finds its footing and I hated the ending. You get the feeling that screenwriter Richard Curtis didn’t quite know how to get his characters out of the predicament they find themselves at the end of the film. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Yesterday Website
Indiefest: Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am (2019) PG-13 Documentary on the Pulitzer and Nobel prize-winning writer, showcasing her life and her work. I confess I have only read one of Morrison’s books, ‘Beloved’ and knew very little about her. Through this film, I learned that she has lived a very interesting and is incredibly hard working but also she, as an editor at a major publishing house, fostered a number of great writers. When you read a Morrison book you get to really understand the characters and in this documentary, it does the same thing with Morrison. You get to understand her beliefs about writing and life. I also enjoyed her sense of humor that comes through in this film. Watch this film and you will want to explore the catalog of Morrison’s work. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
Forgotten Film: Dogfight (1991) R It’s 1963 and Eddie (River Phoenix) are about to be shipped out to Vietnam. They decide to play a game; they put in fifty dollars each and then go about trying to date the ugliest girl they can find. Eddie meets Rose (Lili Taylor) at a restaurant and convinces her to go to a party. When they get to the party, Rose figures out what is going on but by that time Eddie has figured out that he really likes Rose. What makes this movie works is the great chemistry between Phoenix and Taylor, it’s sweet and warm but it’s also deeply moving. Some people don’t like the ending of the film but I think it works perfectly for what the film is trying to accomplish. My Rating: Full Price Dogfight Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Annabelle Comes Home: German Shepherd Puppet Sculptor
Coming Soon to A Theatre Near You: Once Upon a Time…in Hollywood (2019) The story takes place in Hollywood in 1969. The story centers around a faded star (Leonardo DiCaprio) and his stunt double (Brad Pitt) but the part of the story that I am more interested is about Sharon Tate (Margot Robbie) who was about to become a big star when she was murdered by Charlie Manson’s gang. Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood Website
Familyfaire: Toy Story 4 (2019) G When Woody’s (Tom Hanks) ‘kid’ Bonnie (Madeleine McGraw) goes off unhappily to kindergarten, Woody helps her create a new toy called Forky (Tony Hale). The problem is Forky doesn’t want to be a toy and escapes the RV Bonnie’s family is going on vacation in. Now Woody must go on a mission to find and bring back Forky to Bonnie. I don’t know how Pixar keeps doing it but Toy Story 4 is as good as any other of the Toy Story films. It is probably the funniest of the 4 films, mostly due to the antics of Forky. There is a sequence in the first ten minutes of the film that involve Forky that will have on the floor laughing. There are some great new characters including a motorcycle stuntman named Duke Caboom, voiced by Keanu Reeves and two stuffed caravel prize animals voiced by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele. It is Toy Story, so you are going to shed some tears and hate to break it to you, this is the last Toy Story film but rest assured it has a wonderful ending that is perfect. Stay through all the credits as there are bonus scenes, including a fantastic play on the Pixar logo at the end of the film. I will say this, this might not be a film for very small children. There are some rather scary bad guys that even creeped me out. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Toy Story 4 Website
Indiefest:Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation (2019) Fifty years ago 500,000 people saw three days of magical musical performances. It was more than just a concert and the people that were there tell their stories about the event. Unlike the 1970 Woodstock film, this movie concentrates on the people, both behind the scenes and the people that experienced the concert from the grounds. They do show some of the more iconic performances like Santana and Hendrix. The fascinating facts are numerous as we learn that the land they intended to have the concert on was taken away by a local city council and they had to find and construct everything in just four weeks. Also, the two main investors didn’t know anything about put on a concert much less one that 500,000 people attended. I enjoyed this film, getting to know the people that first hand experienced it. My Rating: Full Price Woodstock Website
In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blu-ray):Five Feet Apart (2019) PG-13 Two teenagers (Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse) with life-threating illnesses meet in the hospital and fall in love, despite the fact that they have to stay at least five feet away from each other. I agree with a fellow critic who said after the screening that this just might be Haley Lu’s break out movie. She is brilliant in the role of the girl with cystic fibrosis who is trying to do everything she can to keep living. Cole Sprouse is good in the role of the rebellious patient who becomes interested in Haley Lu’s character. This isn’t a great film, but it delivers what you want in this genre with all the tugs at the heartstrings. I was happy that there a couple of twists I didn’t see coming. I have trouble with a couple of the plot points but there aren’t too troubling and don’t really interfere with the storyline. If you like a romance with a few tears then this film is for you. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Five Feet Apart Website
In Memory of Ed Wood (A Movie I've only seen in Trailers but just looks like a bad idea):The Angry Birds Movie 2 (2019) PG A second movie based on the game? I hated the first one, so I am guessing this won’t be an improvement. The Angry Birds 2 Movie Website
Forgotten Film: Pushing Tin (1999) R Nick (John Cusack) is the number one air traffic controller, always getting his planes safely to their destinations. All this changes when the cocky and reckless Russell (Billy Bob Thornton) comes into the control tower. Will this rivalry endanger the lives of passengers? The reason to see this film is the preferences of Cusack, Thornton and Angelina Jolie, who plays Russell’s wife that Nick has an affair with. It is also interesting to see how air traffic controllers do their high-stress jobs. You are little let down by the ending but overall this is worth watching. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Pushing Tin Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Toy Story 4: Sets Shading Artist
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Farewell (2019) PG A Chinese family discover that their grandmother has only a short time to live. They decide not to tell her and stage a wedding as an excuse to gather the family together to say goodbye. This film made a big impact with audiences at the 2019 Atlanta Film Festival. The Farewell Website
My View: Men in Black: International (2019) PG-13 Agent M (Tessa Thompson) has just joined the Men in Black to protect Earth from the scum of the universe. Teamed up with Agent H (Chris Hemsworth), Agent M learns something thought impossible, there is a mole inside the MIB organization and she and Agent H must find the mole or the Earth is doomed. I was very disappointed in this film that wasted the comedic talents of Chris Hemsworth. The film is dull and seems much longer than its almost two hour run time. The only redeeming quality of this film is the character of Pawny (voiced by Kumail Nanjiani), a small little creature who becomes the sidekick to Agent M. Pawny is hilarious, always voicing his opinion on everything. For most of the film, I was bored and the action sequences aren’t well done. My Rating: Cable MIB: International Website
My View: Late Night (2019) R Molly (Mindy Kaling) is a quality control worker at a chemical plant that dreams of working as a writer on a late night talk show. Due to being in the right spot at the right time, Molly gets a job on the writing staff of a talk show hosted by the legendary Katherine Newbury (Emma Thompson). Katharine is about to lose her job and it is up to Molly to save it. Absolutely brilliant writing from Mindy Kaling. The film is filled with witty dialogue and Kaling kills it on the screen as the writer desperate to succeed. Emma Thompson is a delight as the embattled talk show host that slowly warms up to Kaling’s character and her ideas to improve the show. This was such a fun film to watch and I enjoyed it immensely. My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again Late Night Website
Indiefest: The Dead Don’t Die (2019) R The small, peaceful town of Centerville is suddenly turned into a killing zone as a horde of zombies invades the town. Now it’s up to its Police Chief (Bill Murray) and his deputies (Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny) to save the town with a little help of the new funeral home director (Tilda Swinton). How writer/director Jim Jarmusch swung and missed with such a great cast is a mystery. The film has its moments, mostly due to Bill Murray but the film never finds its tone or footing and just isn’t funny enough to be called a comedy. Also, while funny, the film breaks the fourth wall which takes you out of the movie, almost grinding the film to a halt. The film had such promise but never delivers, making it a great disappointment. My Rating: Cable The Dead Don't Die Website
Indiefest: The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019) R Two best friends (Jimmie Falls, Jonathan Majors) try to decide if they stay in their hometown of San Francisco which has drastically changed since their childhood. This is a wonderful film about the importance of friendship and how inter-cites landscapes are changing, not always for the best. This is also a love letter to the city of San Franciso, a city that director Joe Talbot and his lead actor Jimmie Fails absolutely adore. I loved the chemistry between Fails and Majors, who work well with each other on the screen. In a climate where a bunch of blockbuster films are duds, this small film deserves to be seen and treasured. My Rating: Full Price The Last Black Man in San Fransisco Facebook Page
My View: Shaft (2019) R After his best friend mysteriously dies, john Shat Jr. (Jessie T. Usher) enlists the help of his father (Samuel L. Jackson) and his grandfather (Richard Roundtree) to find out what happened. This film just can’t figure out what it is: is it a buddy film? A gritty action film? A comedy? The only thing this movie knows what it is, a vehicle for Samuel L. Jackson to say as many F-bombs as he can. Some of the dialogue is downright laughable and the villains are so cut and dried that they could be from a 70s TV crime drama and the plot has holes as big as the muscle car that Shaft drives. I will say this, the small audience that I saw the film with laughed at all the jokes that Jackson made but that might be some hometown cooking (Jackson lives in Atlanta). My Rating: Cable Shaft Website
Forgotten Film: Ryan’s Daughter (1970) PG During the 1916 IRA rebellion a British officer (Christopher Jones) has a torrid affair with a married woman (Sarah Miles. Two reasons to see this movie; the performance of Robert Mitchum who is terrific and a storm sequence that is spectacular. The movie lacks some of the drama that director David Lean’s earlier movies such as The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) or Doctor Zhivago (1965) but is still worth watching. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Ryan's Daughter Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Men In Black: International: Crowd Hair Junior
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: Yesterday (2019) PG-13 A musician (Himesh Patel) realizes he’s the only person to remember The Beatles. He then starts performing their songs and becomes a big star. The film is directed by Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, 127 Hours) so I have high hopes for this film. Yesterday Website
My View: Dark Phoenix (2019) PG-13 Due to a freak accident in space during a rescue, Jean Grey (Sophie Turner) starts developing powers far beyond she can control. If Jean doesn't get a hold of these powers it could be the end of what the X-Men have worked so hard to build. What horrible ending for a franchise that never quite hit their mark. How Simon Kinberg screwed up with a cast that includes James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Jennifer Lawrence and Nicholas Hoult I’ll never know. The plot makes no sense, the battle sequences are boring and there are actual moments where the film is trying to be serious but instead brings laughter from the audience. I have never seen a film where I noticed how much makeup everyone was wearing. I guess eyeshadow helps you fight. Skip this film and go see End Game again. My Rating: You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again Dark Phoenix Website
Familyfaire: The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019) PG The continuing adventures of Max (Patton Oswalt), Snowball (Kevin Hart) and Duke (Eric Stonestreet), I mildly liked the first film. This film is much better than the first film mostly due to the addition of Harrison Ford as a stoic working dog named Rooster and a fast-talking dog named Daisy voiced by Tiffany Haddish. I also thought that Patton Oswalt was a big improvement as Max, replacing Louis C.K. from the first film playing the small dog with the heart of a lion in Max. The big scene stealer is, of course, Kevin Hart who plays Snowball, a bunny rabbit that thinks he is a superhero. The film is aided by some excellent action sequences that are thrilling and funny at the same time. I was shocked that they used ZZ Top’s ‘La Grange” as the music in one scene since the song is about a notorious ‘Cat House’ in Texas. Take the kids, you and they will enjoy the movie, just don’t tell them about what the song is about. Oh, and stay through the first section of closing credits where you see youtube videos of pets doing stupid things to humans because there is a very funny rap song that Snowball performs. My Rating: Full Price The Secret Life of Pets 2 Website
Indiefest: The Tomorrow Man (2019) PG-13 Ed (John Lithgow) is retired and spends all his time and money on preparing for a disaster that he is convinced is coming. Ed meets Ronnie (Blythe Danner) at a chance meeting. Ed becomes enamored with Ronnie and to his delight, they begin dating. Ronnie is hiding a secret that may cause them to break up. This a moving and beautiful film about two lonely, quirky people finding love again in their 60s. Lithgow and Danner give a multilayered performance and their chemistry on the screen is breathtaking. What I love about this film is that these are two very unique characters that find a common ground to fall in love. I will warn you that the ending is a little strange but I think it perfectly ties the film up. My Rating: Full Price The Tomorrow Man Website
Indiefest: Walking on Water (2018) An uncensored look at controversial artist Christo who is known for creating large-scale installations, most of which only lasts for days. This film chronicles the building of a series of floating piers that measured 1.9 miles long. The event took place in Italy with the Swiss Alps in the background. The project was fraught with problems, including crowds that were never anticipated. The film is a fascinating look at a man who has a giant ego, loves to have tantrums and likes being the center of attention. But Christo is also a remarkable artist and engineer and to pull off this feat is almost unbelievable. The filmmaker took over 700 hours of footage that gives us an inside look at a man some have called mad and other’s have called genius. The film does have some tense moments, like when a young girl goes missing in a massive crowd and when Christo threatens to shut down the project only two days into the event when crowds become too big. The film does a great job of giving us the perspective of just how big the project was and how hard the crews had to work to complete the project. It’s a rare thing to get to see this sort of look at a legendary, controversial artist. My Rating: Full Price Walking on Water Website
Forgotten Film: Open Water (2003) R Two scuba divers (Blanchard Ryan, Daniel Travis) come to the surface after an ocean dive to discover that the tour boat has left them behind. They have to decide how to handle this situation when it becomes very aware that the tour boat isn’t coming back. Now they are going to have to deal with exhaustion but also sharks. This is a horrifying film, make even more chilling by the fact that this is based on a true story. Plus, just to add to the horror, both the jellyfish and the sharks were real. The film was shot on an incredibly small budget but is so well done and scary that you wouldn’t know it. My Rating: Bargain Matinee Open Water Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Dark Phoenix: Estimator
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You: The Dead Don’t Die (2019) R The small, peaceful town of Centerville is suddenly turned into killing zone as a horde of zombies invades the town. Now it’s up to its Police Chief (Bill Murray) and his deputies (Adam Driver, Chloe Sevigny) to save the town with a little help of the new funeral home director (Tilda Swinton). The trailer looks just crazy and it has a great cast including Steve Buscemi, Sara Driver, Danny Glover, Selena Gomez, Carol Kane, and Caleb Landry Jones. The Dead Don't Die Website
My View: Godzilla: King of the Monsters (2019) PG-13 The Titans have awakened and the three-headed King Ghidorah is taking over. It’s up to Godzilla to save the world from Ghidorah and the army of titans. So the fights between Godzilla and the Titans are cool but there is just too little fighting and too much human talking. The film feels longer that it’s two hours and eleven minutes in length. The film wastes the talents of Vera Farmiga and Sally Hawkins. Millie Bobby Grown is given almost nothing to do in the film other than hug people and scream. The plot has holes as big as Godzilla himself and much of it doesn’t make sense. Do stay through all the credits as there is a clue for the next Godzilla film. My Rating; Cable Godzilla Website
My View: Rocketman (2019) R The life and music of Elton John (Taron Egerton). This is one of the best films of the year and Egerton gives one of the great performances I’ve ever seen. Egerton perfectly captures the magic of Elton John’s performances and you get to see John and lyric writer Bernie Taupin create their greatest songs. This is a different type of biopic as the music tells most of the story. My only complaint about this film is the last third of the film lags a bit as Elton John goes down a dark hole of drugs and alcohol, cutting off everybody he was close to. All your favorite Elton John songs are in this film making it a trip down memory lane. If you are an Elton John fan this film is a must but really it is a must for any film lover. My Rating: Full Price Rocketman Website
Indiefest: All is True (2019) PG-13 William Shakespeare (Kenneth Branagh) retires from writing and goes home to his family. I liked this film because I felt that I got to know the man behind the legend. Branagh is perfect in the role of Shakespeare, bring the man to life in front of our eyes. I loved the look of this film, as all the interior scenes were shot only using candlelight. Fans of the bard are going to love this movie. My Rating: Full Price All is True Website
Forgotten Film: Collateral (2004) R Max (Jamie Foxx) is a cab driver who picks up a passenger, Vincent (Tom Cruise) who gives Max 600 dollars to take him to five stops. What Max soon learns is that Vincent is a contract killer and is going to kill someone at each stop. What I enjoy about this movie is not the action sequences, it’s the conversations that Max and Vincent have in the cab and at a nightclub that Vincent makes Max go to. Their conversations are interesting and meaningful, as Vincent is constantly thinking about the meaning of life, even though his occupation is taking life away. My Rating: Full Price Collateral Info
Weird Credits: From the credits of Rocketman: Facial Hair
Coming Soon to a Theatre Near Your: Late Night (2019) R Molly (Mindy Kaling) joins the staff of a late night talk show hosted by Katherine (Emma Thompson) who is told that her show is in its last year. Could Molly be the one to save the show? The trailer looks amazing and I love Mindy Kaling, so I’m really looking forward to this one. Late Night Website
