Cinematic Reviews

47 Meters Down: Uncaged is another movie in the line of tradition that celebrates the venerated big predator of the sea, the shark. The movie is also an unnecessary sequel to 2017’s 47 Meters Down, but that’s not important or relevant to anything in this film. The movie stars Sophie Nelisse and three other young actresses as they all get into shark infested waters on an underwater expedition gone wrong. Unfortunately, the movie doesn’t want you to see any of that as the visuals are for the most part dark and confusing. On the other hand the jumps scares are well timed, don’t feel cheap, and consistent through out the film. This does not justify the film because a few timely jumps don’t make a movie. The films plot is lazy and although it does have some nice Mayan ruins flavor, the rest of it is completely uninteresting. The film lacks great hefts of dialogue and while I think it’s normal to for characters in a shark film to scream, I was hoping more than a script that I imagine was ha...

Good Boys is the story of three 12-year old kids who are on a mission to accomplish the single most important thing of their lives, to get to a kissing party. Good Boys star Keith Williams, Brady Noon, and Jacob Tremblay as the three young protagonists, and believe it or not they all have a decent amount of chemistry with one another. The plot is structured much like how a kid thinks, they all have hyped up this one party to be the single most important thing that they will ever do in their lives. The film brings out surprisingly healthy chunk of nostalgia, not only because of the incredible amount of cursing that is produced by three 12-year olds but because of how a kid's world is so different when they're young. The movie even has a decent conclusion and message on what it means to grow up. Aside from that the real reason anyone would watch this film is because of the comedy and I have to say it delivers as advertised. The trailers serve perfectly as they demonstrate the off...

Blinded by the Light is a heart warming film based on a true story that is about strife, politics, and the incredible Bruce Springsteen. The movie stars Viveik Kalra who plays the tortured, young high school student Javed. In my opinion he nails the role from the way he moves to express how the music makes him feel, to how he expresses the emotions of his character. Viveik is supported by Nell Williams and Aaron Phagura, who both do well in their respective roles as friends of Viveik that serve as his escape from the pressures of his family. The movie plays with a lot of hard hitting themes of racism, familial obligation, and cultural differences. It demonstrates just how hard life can be for people who might stand out, especially in 1987’s Britain which is the year that the movie takes place. Bigotry and expectations weigh heavily on our young protagonists mind, but the movie really starts when he discovers the music of the one an only Bruce Springsteen. Although this movie heavily r...

The kitchen is the tale of three women and their rise to power in a gangster-era world. The movie stars Elisabeth Moss, Melissa McCarthy, and Tiffany Haddish. That's all you really need to know because this movie will without a doubt leave you feeling unsatisfied, like ordering a pizza only to find out that they left off all the sauce and toppings. This movie could have been something decent, but a bad plot and an unfulfilling ending that just makes me regret watching it. I was much happier with just the idea that all three of these actors were going to star in a film about some awesome women taking over the gang industry. Unfortunately, that reality doesn't exist anymore. I highly recommend that you don't waste your time watching this film because it will only leave you feeling like you just licked a rusted tire iron. If you are absolutely determined to give this movie a shot, I will defend the movie. There are some moments of comedy and levity, and a few plot twists that ...

Yesterday is a what-if story that presents a reality that I consider to be incredibly interesting. The idea that a person suddenly jumps from one universe to another in a sudden transition presents a very fun situation, and it fuels the majority of the movie's comedy. The premise of one of the most popular bands in the world never having existed is a fun question. Aside from the brilliance of the movie's concept, Himesh Patel is the main character and he does a perfectly acceptable job as being the tool that brings the music of the Beatles. His chemistry with Lily James is also done well, and it feels very appropriate given the tone of the movie. However, Kate McKinnon definitely stands out in her role as she plays it in a very cartoonish fashion. Whether this is a good or bad thing is up to you, it doesn't bother me in particular but it definitely does stand out in the film. Ed Sheeran also makes an appearance and essentially plays himself, and because I'm a fan of his...

Hobbs & Shaw is without a doubt a Fast & Furious action flick, and to be honest I don't mind that at all. The film stars Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Vanessa Kirby, and Idris Elba and each actor does an incredible job. The plot is nothing novel and barely worth mentioning which means the real reason you are watching this movie is for the role the actors are playing and the comedy they bring with it. It would be a sin to not point out the fun that is generated by the insulting banner of Jason Statham and Dwayne Johnson. They work off each other very well, bring in a lot of comedy while Vanessa Kirby and Idris Elba shine in their own roles of hero on the run and villainous pawn. Vanessa Kirby seems to have solidified her role as an “action girl” after also appearing in a personal favorite film Mission Impossible: Fallout and Idris Elba did a great job giving a conventional villain a cocky arrogance that is somewhat charming in its villainous role. Additionally, the film sta...

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood can best be described as a historical fiction, which is actually implied by the title of the film. The movie is a three-hour marathon, in true Tarantino fashion, but it is saved by two major factors that neatly divide the movie. The first part of the film that comprises a majority of the movie is in all honesty quite slow, which is a curious thing to say about a movie that is already 3 hours long. However, the film doesn’t feel boring because of its stylistic shooting, entertaining characters, and it's well crafted intriguing plot. The plot doesn’t seem intriguing on the surface yet the film gives the audience a desire to keep watching to find out what the movie is really about. The entire first part of the film essentially serves as a Chekhov’s gun for the approximately last 20 minutes of the film. The beauty of this set up is that nothing is wasted. These last 20 minutes are a completely wild and insane ride that calls upon every detail that was pre...