Lions for Lambs (2007)
Lions is a great set of stories that all interact to give a critical review of the U.S.’s foreign wars in recent years (before 2007) as well as the media’s role in them. Tom Cruise, Robert Redford, Meryl Streep & Andrew Garfield are all brilliant in this. This one is often overlooked when it comes to Tom Cruise performances but he is really good. The film moves along swiftly and is just under the golden run time of 90 minutes. It will provoke thought, emotion and critical thinking. I give this movie 90/100 potatoes. Excellent and well made film.
Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017)
Brawl in Cell Block 99 was nothing like I expected. It follows a man’s dissent into a downward spiral after making the terrible decision to be a drug runner (and stay with his cheating wife). The prisons he ends up in are not very realistic but they are the way they need to be for this fantasy story. Don Johnson is the prison warden. Vince Vaughn was excellent. The violence is so gory and over the top I laughed out loud at times. However, if you have a weak constitution in regards to movie violence I definitely recommend you skip this one. It started as a slow burn but heated up and got very crazy. I enjoyed it. I give this movie 85/100 potatoes.
State and Main
Amazing cast: Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Alec Baldwin, William H. Macy, Sarah Jessica Parker. Written and directed by David Mamet. Much of the humor wouldn’t make it to the screen today. Funny and charming yet edgy.
74/100
The Little Things
Solid movie with solid acting. Fell a little flat at times but definitely worth the watch. Jared Leto is great at playing the psycho/creep. There are some parts that seem wholly unbelievable but overall it was decent.
73/100
Bullet Train
Fun story line, over-the-top Tarrantino-esque violence with solid and sometimes funny performances by the cast. Sandra Bullock threw me off at the end when they revealed her character. She looks like Michael Jackson these days. Off-putting. 82/100
The Beekeeper
Was a little disappointed in this one. Jason Statham playing his usual unstoppable badass character, but maybe just a little too unstoppable. Seriously, this could have been a comic book super hero movie and made more sense with the way he went through gaggles of tier 1 soldiers. The lead actress was annoying and unlikeable. The main villain, a 28 year old cyber-punk rich kid, was loathsome and the actor did a great job playing that role. Multiple movie flubs and mediocre CGI took me out of it at times. 71/100
