The Shape Of Water Movie Review
The film is set in the early sixties during the days of the Cold War and the look and feel of the sets and costume design envelopes the viewer in a not so distant past that now feels ages ago. The casting is exemplary and Michael Shannon as the creepy government man and Sally Hawkins as the heroine of the piece give very affecting performances. Hawkins sets a high water mark in a rich career as Elisa Esposito, a cleaning lady that has been left mute by a childhood trauma. Her ability to say ...
The Post Movie Review
Tom Hanks has never been better and his visually advancing age and gruff vocal delivery helps one to see him as less of a nice guy and more as a down and dirty fighter. There are great performances everywhere, though. Even the sadly under-utilised Sarah Paulson has a short but very impactful monologue that gives the film even more purpose to the slowly awakening world of women’s rightful place in society. It also highlights Spielberg’s not so hidden agenda.
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If ...
Darkest Hour Movie Review
Churchill is also one of the most discussed and over examined people of the twentieth century. Many of his idiosyncrasies have also become as famous as him, so the fact that Gary Oldman is so riveting and cliche free as the British Bulldog is testament to the amazing level of craft and acting skill he brings to the role. Ben Mendelsohn is also fantastic as King George VI
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The film focuses on the period when he was first selected as PM and one of his first tasks was ...
All the Money in the World Movie Review
The kidnapping of the grandson of the at the time richest man in the world made headlines for all the wrong reasons. The crime of course but also the refusal of said rich man to even consider paying the ransom, it was an insight to a new level of greed and indifference to human suffering that set a new low human standard.
One of the films most surprising elements is how many scenes replacement actor Christopher Plummer is actually in and how well he captures the prickly character of J. ...
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri Movie Review
The screenplay gives them all they need to develop these characters into truly remarkable on screen presences. There is humour of the darkest variety and this makes the pathos even that more effective as this is a film that will stay with you forever. There are no heroes or quick and convenient resolutions here. It is ugly and real.
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In a season where films tend to fall into easy entertainment categories, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is a fiery ...
Pitch Perfect 3 Movie Review
Most all of the female cast members are back and even though it was rumoured to have become a Rebel Wilson vanity project, the end results show a good balance between characters. They also do a bit of globe trotting and the cities they visit add to the visual appeal.
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The script, while firmly set in a world of non-reality still delivers quite a number of very funny one liners and the overriding message of sisterhood is delivered with a surprisingly light touch. ...
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle Movie Review
Carrying the film on his more than broad shoulders, Dwayne Johnson taps into his comic bag of tricks and more than delivers. He has to deliver too because all of the main characters are hilarious as they riff off the differences between hero and geek and even man and woman and then consistently generate laughs.
Updating the storyline from a board game background to a video game brought to life pays dividends as it allows characters to have extra powers and multiple lives. These powers ...
The Disaster Artist Movie Review
Now using one of the most unintentionally funny films of all time as fodder for a film about a film has yielded comic gold. James Franco nails the role of The Room’s creator Tommy Wiseau (minus the middle age creepiness) and has never been more fearless or funny. It’s also a family affair and features his brother Dave as a co-lead actor.
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The Room was beyond bad and feels as if it was alien in origin while The Disaster Artist feels Hollywood through and through. From its ...
Justice League Movie Review
Elsewhere, Jason Momoa is actually able to make the Aquaman character seem cool and fast forwarding Wonder Woman’s arc allows Gal Gadot to act more naturally. It’s still at heart a comic book movie and this finds everything in overdrive, even the final battle is so over the top as to defy description. The CGI graphics are more moody and less photorealistic than other franchises and this gives the film its own look and feel.
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One of the few minor letdowns is in ...
Murder On The Orient Express Movie Review
Ring leader Kenneth Branagh shows incredible stamina with his latest project. He not only directs but stars in it as the world’s greatest deceive Hercule Poirot. But it doesn’t end there, he then appears in almost every scene in the entire film. Few thespians have put in more effort on a single project.
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Agatha Christie’s stories have appeared on the big and little screen with regularity over the years but few have looked as sumptuous or been informed with so ...
