It is not a surprise that a movie could be so technically strong and so emotionally weak. But what is a surprise is that everything that’s wrong with the movie was wrong before the cameras started rolling. That is what I can’t forgive.
All in Reviews
To Old Friends - Halloween
Michael Myers remains the slow-walking, homicidal maniac that sparked a revolution in the genre and he is chasing down a teenage girl with a multi-generational spit. When it comes down to it, what more could you really want?
Divided We Laugh - The Oath
The Oath endeavors to present a credible but outlandish take on where we might be headed if politics keep unfolding the way they have recently. And while I’m not sure the end result is plausible, it’s certainly close enough to possible to be thought-provoking, original and genuinely funny. You will see us in this.
They Got There Eventually - First Man
The original footage of the moon landing is so primitive that seeing this version is jarring and incredible. But it took us almost as long to get to that as it did in real life. The first hour and a half is spent with our feet firmly planted on the Earth and therein lies the problem.
Black+White - The Hate U Give
This is not a bad movie. It is a good one with lots of bad elements mixed in very proudly.
Introducing Stephanie G. - A Star Is Born
The first half is a magical ride to stardom on the back of charm and earnestness. The second half is the juxtaposition of spirals upward and downward that both feel unsatisfying. The end result is a movie that is likely to divide, but unlikely to be forgotten.
Her and Only Her - The Wife
Its revelations are telegraphed like rushed passes from a bad high school quarterback, but it somehow still manages to entertain. That it does so is a testament only to Glenn Close’s talents. Everyone else deserves major side-eye for expecting us to buy that this is their best effort.
One In Particular - Support The Girls
While the movie has its peaks, it functions more as a showcase of what Hall is capable of than some masterfully told story.
When You Don't Know What You Don't Know - Searching
This is not the first time we have seen this technique, of course, as the Unfriended franchise relies on the same method. The difference here is that it never feels like a gimmick.
Nothing There - Slender Man
There is no story here. There are no scares here. There is nothing but the slender outline of a wasted 93 minutes.
The Same, But Different - Crazy Rich Asians
So while it's not quite 'crazy' as suggested by the title, it is rich and it is Asian. So much so that you really do start to wonder where these stories have been all this time.
Hate and a Half - BlacKkKlansman
Misguided musical interludes, lengthy speeches and over-stylized elements have all cropped up in various forms throughout Spike Lee’s career, so any time he is back with a new film, there's always the question of whether we will get the 'Good Spike' or the 'Bad Spike.' It doesn’t take long to realize, this is the former through and through.
It Ain't Easy - Eighth Grade
It's a movie about the hardest of years in the easiest of lives.
For Good Reason - Unfriended: Dark Web
At one point, the software program DaisyDisk is highlighted as the solution to a problem. Right there next to the software's logo is "Best of 2015," which perfectly describes so much of the feel of this movie.
In The Eyes of the Beholder - Blindspotting
Daveed Diggs, of Hamilton fame, goes all-in with the entertainment capital he’s earned thus far to make this passion project that he and his longtime friend, Rafael Casal, started working on almost a decade ago. It is at once timely and timeless, as it tackles issues that have bubbled under the surface for years and are now staples in the nightly news.
It's Not - Sorry To Bother You
The funny thing about Sorry to Bother You is that it's not. It is happy to bother you. Its off-kilter vibe pops like nothing else you'll see this year and if that's not for you, there's nothing that suggests they care.
Stranger Than Fiction - Three Identical Strangers
There strangest part isn’t even the strangest part.
Fizz, With No Juice - Superfly
Choices made along the way leave us with a pretty unremarkable addition to this canon--unlikely to be remembered long after the Future-laden soundtrack is no longer in rotation.
More Than Decent - Won't You Be My Neighbor?
Telling a story about a man who seemingly had no inner demons or notable conflicts leaves you with very little tension, unless you manage to introduce an outside element he fought against. In this case, it was us.
Not Quite - Incredibles 2
While Incredibles 2 manages to be fairly entertaining, it is mid-grade Pixar at best. It is still very good, but a number of confounding decisions left it feeling incomplete even as its runtime approached 2 hours.