I normally don’t review films that left the theater a while ago, but I am making an exception for “Eighth Grade”. It’s currently on Amazon Prime and I loved it! It tells the story of a young, awkward girl finishing eighth grade. Saying that the story and characters are real is an understatement. The filmmaker has captured adolescences perfectly. And the poor father can’t do anything right in the young girl’s eyes. Elsie Fisher is perfect in the starring role; awkward, arrogant, and delusional. Do not miss this one!
Beautiful Boy
I watched “Beautiful Boy” on Amazon Prime. It was only in theaters a short time. The film tells the story of a father and son and their journey through drug addiction and how it affects their family. Steve Carell plays the father and this is the best acting job he has done. He is loving, supportive, torn, frustrated, and fed up. Carell is real. The son is played by Timothee Chalamet and he too is real. The viewer feels the same way that the father does. You feel like you have been through a ringer. It’s too bad that this film was overlooked by the Oscars. Worth seeing.
Aquaman
I know I am a little late the party, but I finally saw “Aquaman”. Jason Mamoa was wonderful as the title character. Like “Wonder Woman” he added a bit of humor to the role, which was a welcome change of pace for a film from the DC universe. The special effects were good, especially the floating when characters were carrying on conversations. The underwater scenes are breathtaking. Like other DC movies the battle scenes were over done. Aquaman took some incredible punches and falls, worthy of Superman. The cast was impressive, with Nicole Kidman, Willem Dafoe, and Patrick Wilson to name a few. This is a film you should see on the big screen.
If Beale Street Could Talk
“If Beale Street Could Talk” is the follow-up film from Barry Jenkins who made “Moonlight”. This film is more mainstream than the one from a few years ago. Based on a novel by James Baldwin, It tells the story of an African American family and their struggles. The two leads are wonderful, but Regina King, as one of the mothers, is very good. She is winning most of the supporting actress awards. My problem with this film is that it was too long. Once again, a talented film maker should have had someone else edit it down. It could have done with twenty minutes less.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
I wasn’t too keen on seeing the new animated version of Spider-Man, “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” figuring it would just be a retelling of the same old story. Well, it was not. This time a young latino kid gets bitten and takes over for Peter Parker. The criminal, Mr. Big, is trying to bring people back from a different dimension and in doing so brings different versions of Spider-Man. Some of it is clever and they manage to incorporate some of the villains from other Spider-Man movies. It was good, especially if you like animation and Spider-Man.
Mary Queen of Scots
I have to admit that I like English history. I am especially interested in Elizabethan England, Elizabeth I that is. The story of her rivalry with her cousin, Mary is compelling. In the past Katherine Hepburn and Vanessa Redgrave are just two of the actresses who have played Mary. Now, Saoirse Ronan has taken on the role in the latest version, “Mary Queen of Scots”. It tells the story of Mary from the time she goes back to Scotland until her death. There is intrigue, power struggles, rivalries, bad marriages, and jealousy. Beautifully mounted, the costumes, make up, and sets are realistic and beautiful. Ronan, once again shows her versatility as an actress by totally submerging herself in the role of Mary. Margot Robbie plays Elizabeth as stubborn, proud, scared and vulnerable. If you like historical dramas, do not miss this one. If you don’t, stay away.
Second Act
I wasn’t looking forward to see Jennifer Lopez’s new film, “Second Act”, but I was pleasantly surprised. Lopez plays a woman who keeps getting passed over for promotions and ends up getting hired by a company because of a false resume. Leah Ramani plays her best friend and steals every scene she is in. This is a romantic comedy that isn’t just for women. An enjoyable couple of hours.
Holmes and Watson
“Holmes and Watson” is the latest Will Ferrell/John C. Reilly comedy. It is their version of Sherlock Holmes in Victorian England. It has a few funny moments, but overall it is mediocre. If you really want to see a movie starring these two, I suggest streaming “Talladega Nights” or “Step Brothers”. Don’t waste your time on this one.
Vice
I was disappointed in Adam McKay’s latest film, “Vice”, which tells the story of Dick Cheney. The acting is very good, especially Christian Bale as Cheney, Amy Adams as Lynne Cheney, and Sam Rockwell as George W. Bush. However the way that the story is told is choppy. Whether you admire the man or not, it just isn’t compelling. The narration is done with an interesting twist and is quite clever. The film is an interesting piece of recent history.
Mary Poppins Returns
When I was eight years old, like everyone else my age, I was obsessed with the movie “Mary Poppins”. My brother and I played the record until it wore out. So when they announced that they were going to make a sequel I was less than enthused. The original was one of those magical, one-of-a-kind event movies. Obviously anything following it could not live up to it. How could anyone but Julie Andrews play the title role? Well I am here to tell you that “Mary Poppins Returns” is an excellent follow up, even if it comes fifty-four years after the original. Emily Blunt is perfect in the title role. From the minute she appears on screen, she owns the role. Lin-Manuel Miranda plays a street lamp lighter, much like Bert the chimney sweep, except his accent is actually pretty good. Speaking of Bert, Dick Van Dyke makes a cameo appearance as the old banker. Besides Blunt nailing the character, the musical numbers and choreography are outstanding. The highest praise I can give this film is that it made me feel like a kid. I loved it! This is not a kid’s movie; it’s for everyone who wants to be entertained for two hours.
Mark's Movie Reviews 