Annihilation (2018)

Director: Alex Garland

Cast:

Natalie Portman – Lena

Jennifer Jason Leigh – Dr. Ventress

Gina Rodriguez – Anya

Tessa Thompson – Josie

Oscar Isaac – Kane

Summary:

“Annihilation” comes from Alex Garland, the writer/director of the acclaimed sci-fi hit “Ex Machina.” Natalie Portman plays Lena, a biologist who is informed that her husband has been infected with some sort of contagion. The source had come from an unknown entity dubbed ‘The Shimmer.’ As a means to understand, Dr. Ventress (Leigh) leads a team of scientific women into the Shimmer to discover its purpose. Alex Garland has once again crafted a gorgeous intellectual sci-fi film. The story paces itself along well enough and it’s not until the third act where you piece the puzzle together. Portman and Gina Rodriguez are the two that shine throughout. The cast as an ensemble works well together with the added talent of Tessa Thompson. Along the way, the group comes face to face with creatures that have been changed as the entire landscape has been altered physically. Crocodiles with shark teeth as well as plantlike people. As with his last film, the visuals in “Annihilation” are so lifelike and real that they become mesmerizing. The visual effects don’t just shine with dazzling color, they create the looks of a crocodile to a bear. Garland directs this film remarkably well as he captures spectacle and creates that great tension throughout. The score is eerily great as well that when played at the right time, exhibits a tense presence. “Annihilation” is a visually striking film that boasts a great cast and director that will challenge the viewer and begs the question of life and existence.

Score: 5/5

Early Man (2018)

Director: Nick Park

Cast:

Tom Hiddleston – Lord Nooth

Eddie Redmayne – Dug

Maisie Williams – Goona

Timothy Spall – Chief Bobnar

Summary:

From the studio that brought us “Chicken Run” and “Wallace & Gromit” comes “Early Man.” The story takes place during the dawn of man as the Stone Age comes face to face with a new civilization more advanced, the Bronze Age. Led by Lord Nooth (Hiddleston), the Bronze have pushed Dug (Redmayne) and his village out of the valley. Dug challenges Nooth and the Bronze to a soccer game and the winner gets the valley. Along the way, secrets to their past will be told and its executed with a tremendous voice cast. Eddie Redmayne voices Dug, one of the villagers who leads the expedition. Tom Hiddleston displays a unique accent to Lord Nooth and Timothy Spall lends his voice to the Chief of the village. The movie is cookie-cutter dry in the fact that there is no story. The film spends its time training the villagers at soccer until the eventual game. Dug eventually meets Goona (Williams), a Bronze girl who dreams of playing soccer and there chemistry worked when present together. The animation is pristine with the valley looking photo realistic. Nick Park has crafted an elegant looking claymation film. Other than that the film is dull. The story is basic and has no common knowledge to it. This movie is perfectly serviceable to kids and might even make for an effective nap film. “Early Man” is a well crafted claymation film that suitably targets kids while excusing the adults.

Score: 2.1/5

Black Panther (2018)

Director: Ryan Coogler

Cast:

Chadwick Boseman – T’Challa

Michael B. Jordan – Erik Killmonger

Lupita Nyong’O – Nakia

Danai Gurira – Okoye

Letitia Wright – Shuri

Summary:

“Black Panther” comes to us from Marvel Studios and is directed by Ryan Coogler. Returning in the titular role is Chadwick Boseman who we saw don the outfit for the first time in “Captain America: Civil War.” In this film, T’Challa (Boseman) returns home to Wakanda to receive the Black Panther title but an outside presence threatens to overthrow Wakanda and expose its self to the modern world. This film has tremendous hype behind it and the movie lives up to it. I was mesmerized by how incredibly shot Wakanda was and how the D.P. Rachel Morrison turned the grainy colors into mirages of beauty. Ludwig Goransson’s score coupled with Kendrick Lamar’s soundtrack create the existential sound of “Black Panther.” Ruth E. Carter’s costume design was one of the standouts as each frame of Wakanda had an extra pop of color. The cast of “Black Panther” was one of the most incredible casts assembled in a film. Chadwick Boseman of course did a good job as T’Challa but even more impressive was Michael B. Jordan as Erik Killmonger. His character has a reason for what he’s doing and his arc is heartbreaking. The ladies of Wakanda also shine. Danai Gurira and Lupita Nyong’O kick a ton of ass and maintain a strong presence in the eyes of men. That’s what this film does so well is it adds an extra layer to each character and that elevated the film to another degree. My favorite character was Shuri played by newcomer Letitia Wright. She is the sister of T’Challa and is in many ways the Q of Wakanda. The James Bond element to the film was great as it showcased the tech savvy side of Wakanda. Ryan Coogler’s direction on this film was great as he once again captures the heart of his characters as well as shoot great action. My only gripes with the film was the undercutting of Serkis’ character and Killmonger’s plan at a large scale didn’t suffice with me as there wouldn’t be any through line finish. These are minor flaws that shouldn’t take away the fact that “Black Panther” is a cultural phenomenon that gets its political points across and establishes a social relevance in today’s society.

Score: 4.7/5

Fifty Shades Freed (2018)

Director: James Foley

Cast:

Jamie Dornan – Christian Grey

Dakota Johnson – Anastasia Steele

Eric Johnson – Jack Hyde

Luke Grimes – Elliot Grey

Summary:

“Fifty Shades Freed” is the third and final film in the “Fifty Shades” franchise and it brings back Jamie Dornan and Dakota Johnson in their hated roles of Christian Grey and Anastasia Steele. Having just been married, Christian and Ana embark on a trip that will take them to exotic places and nude beaches that add to nothing. That’s exactly what this film amounts to, nothing. James Foley directs many scenes showing Christian and Ana having sex and peeking into Ana’s work life. Dornan and Johnson once again are terrible as they continue to despise each other and Niall Leonard’s script can’t add any flavor to the mix. The film doesn’t take itself seriously until the last 20 minutes and it started to breath a bit of life but of course was upended by a dumb ending. If for anything else, “Fifty Shades Freed” stays faithful to its core audience and continues to make the perfect sex mixtape.

Score: 0.9/5

Peter Rabbit (2018)

Director: Will Gluck

Cast:

James Corden – Peter Rabbit

Domhnall Gleeson – Thomas McGregor

Margot Robbie – Flopsy

Elizabeth Debicki – Mopsy

Daisy Ridley – Cotton-Tail

Rose Byrne – Bea

Summary:

“Peter Rabbit” is the live action telling of Beatrix Potter’s classic tale Peter Rabbit from Sony Pictures Animation. Directed by Will Gluck, the story follows Peter and his family of rabbits as they are at war with the mean farmer over the vegetables in the garden. Fortunately for Peter, Mr. McGregor died and this makes Peter excited as he invites the entire countryside of animals for a buffet party. Meanwhile in London, a young toy store employee by the name of Thomas McGregor (Gleeson) is alerted that his great uncle had passed and that he is the heir to the McGregor countryside home. This sparks a war between the two as they battle for control of the garden. This film boasts a great voice cast that includes James Corden as Peter Rabbit as well as Daisy Ridley, Margot Robbie and Elizabeth Debicki. What I appreciated the most about this film is how it appeals to both kids and adults alike. The movie is self-aware and they integrate song in a comedic way. James Corden brings charisma and charm to Peter and he matches wit with the equally talented Domhnall Gleeson. He plays the perfect grown up child and his relationship with the neighbor Bea (Byrne) causes even more problems for Peter. Will Gluck directs this film well and handles the more explosive scenes with care. It’s not to say that “Peter Rabbit” isn’t without its flaws. The movie is chalk full with gags that go on more than once. “Peter Rabbit” is a surprisingly funny family film that has heart.

Score: 3/5

The 15:17 to Paris (2018)

Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast:

Anthony Sadler – Himself

Spencer Stone – Himself

Alek Skarlatos – Himself

Judy Greer – Joyce

Jenna Fischer – Heidi

Summary:

“The 15:17 to Paris” is directed by Clint Eastwood and tells the true story of three Americans traveling Europe and how they thwarted a terrorist attack aboard a train to Paris. The film stars the real life heroes; Anthony Sadler, Spencer Stone and Alek Skarlatos. Eastwood’s decision to cast these three as themselves turned many heads and it worked for me. The authenticity really came into play when the train sequence occurs. The raw and visceral action that Eastwood shoots captivates the real heroes true courage. Besides those 10 minutes of breathtaking heroism, “The 15:17 to Paris” lacks depth and story. Eastwood was able to make a film about the Hudson landing in “Sully” two years ago and it worked. This story fails to make a movie. The remainder of the film includes childhood flashbacks, military bases and traveling Europe until the eventual incident on the 15:17. “The 15:17 to Paris” is a disappointing movie that expands a short incident into a feature length film and showcased bravery and heroism from the real heroes.

Score: 1.7/5

Winchester (2018)

Directors: Peter & Michael Spierig

Cast:

Helen Mirren – Sarah Winchester

Sarah Snook – Marian Marriott

Jason Clarke – Eric Price

Summary:

“Winchester” is the latest horror film to hit theatres and it stars Jason Clarke and Helen Mirren. Jason Clarke is a scientist who is sent to investigate the health and status of Mary Winchester (Mirren), owner of the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Mrs. Winchester claims that the dead souls from the rifles are haunting her estate. Clarke’s character doesn’t buy it even when he sees people that aren’t there. He claims it is all in his head due to the hallucinogens and endless amounts of alcohol. The Spierig brothers directed this film well enough but all of the scares come at a false pretense as they add sound to elevate the effect and it comes off as cheap. This movie was a wasted opportunity as they decided to make the Winchester house a basis for a generic ghost story. Clarke and Mirren do their best to entertain but in reality “Winchester” is a bland ghost story that gains recognition because of its name.

Score: 2/5