The SilverScreen Analysis

My thoughts on the adventurous reboot #KongSkullIsland.

Grade (A-) A fun reboot for the famous ape. “KONG: SKULL ISLAND” stars; Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Corey Hawkins, John Goodman, Samuel L. Jackson, Toby Kebbell, Tian Jing, Jason Mitchell, John C. Reilly and it’s directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts. The story follows a group of explorers in the 1970’s who travel out to a remote island in the Pacific and come face to face with massive monsters and…

A #SilverScreenAnalysis review of #LaLaLand directed by #DamienChazelle

Grade: (A) An inspiring story that gets out shined by the amazing direction of Damien Chazelle.  “LA LA LAND” the film everyone is talking about this Oscar season is directed by Damien Chazelle and stars; Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, J.K. Simmons and Rosemarie DeWitt. The story follows Sebastian an aspiring jazz musician, and Mia and aspiring actress, as they deal with the hardships of coming up in…

#AKindofMurder turned out to be a kind of boredom, check out this #SilverScreenAnalysis review

Grade (D+) A story that goes nowhere, and takes its time doing so. “A KIND OF MURDER” stars; Patrick Wilson, Haley Bennett, Jessica Biel, Vincent Kartheiser, Eddie Marsan and is directed by Andy Goddard. The story is set in 1960’s New York and follows an architect that moonlights as a true-crime writer that becomes obsessed with a unsolved murder. He has a perfect life, he is successful and has a…

A #SilverScreenAnalysis review of #Moonlight my vote for #BestPicture

Grade (A+) Elegantly simple, yet deeply complex. “Moonlight” is directed by Barry Jenkins and stars; Mahershala Ali, Trevante Rhodes, Alex R. Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Naomie Harris and Janelle Monáe. This story follows the life of a man from his childhood, through his middle years, and into adulthood, as he struggles to find his place in the world. Through stages of his life, he comes to grips…

A #SilverScreenAnalysis review of #TheGirlontheTrain starring #EmilyBlunt

Grade (B-) An interesting mystery that entertains despite a third-act drop off. “THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN” was a movie that drew some curiosity. Directed by Tate Taylor, the film stars; Emily Blunt, Haley Bennett, Rebecca Ferguson, Justin Theroux, Luke Evans and Edgar Ramirez. Now this movie looked like one that would have an interesting story, one that could weave a fun mystery, but the negative…

#GetOut was a uniquely fun thriller, check out this #SilverScreenAnalysis review

Grade (B-) A fun blend of thriller, horror and perfectly timed comedy. “Get Out” stars; Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, LilRel Howery and it’s written and directed by Jordan Peele. The story follows Chris, an African-American man who visits his white girlfriend’s parents’ house for the first time and learns not all is as its seems with her family, or the odd…

#SantaClaritaDiet was a great time, check out this #SilverScreenAnalysis review.

Grade (B+) A fun twist on the sitcom formula. “SANTA CLARITA DIET” stars; Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skylar Gisondo and it’s created by Victor Fresco. This story follows Sheila and Joel, a common married suburban family. They have a daughter, they are real-estate agents, seem to live a normal life, but that is not the case. Sheila is actually dead, and begins to exhibit traits…

With #Logan around the corner let's take a look back at 2013's #TheWolverine

Grade (B+) A very entertaining film, despite a couple of flaws later on. This was the second solo outing for Jackman as The Wolverine and after the heavily panned “Origins” film in 2011, there a lot of pressure for this movie to succeed. Based on the limited Wolverine series of 1982 comics, the story took the character to Japan with a completely separate story angle. It took place after the…

#Frontier was a fun first season on #Netflix. Check out this #SilverScreenAnalysis review.

Grade (B-) An entertaining time-period saga. Created by Rob and Peter Blackie, “The Frontier” is headlined by Jason Momoa who plays a half Irish, half native American outlaw who is trying to seek vengeance against a powerful fur trading company in Canada during the late 1700’s. Now I will start by saying I have heard mixed reviews for this series and I will admit I am not a die-hard time-period…

Is #TheGreatWall a case of style over substance? Check out this #SilverScreenAnalysis review.

Grade (C-) An unfortunate case of style of substance. “THE GREAT WALL” stars; Matt Damon, Tian Jing, Pedro Pascal and Willem Defoe, sort of, and it is directed by Zhang Yimou, who also directed 2002’s “House of Flying Daggers” a film that I really enjoyed. The story follows a couple mercenaries who are traveling the countryside and looking to trade for some black powder, also known as gun powder.…

My review of the new comedy #FistFight

Grade (C) Funny at times but far from ambitious. “FIST FIGHT” stars; Ice Cube, Charlie Day, Jillian Bell, Tracy Morgan and is directed by Richie Keen. This story follows two high-school teachers on the last day of school. The kids run rampant, the teachers are outnumbered and one of them will not take any crap. That being the super strict, conveniently named Mr. Strickland played by Ice Cube. On…

My review of the time-period drama #Allied starring #BradPitt and #MarionCotillard

Grade (B-) A fun time-period story that masks some small flaws. “ALLIED” stars; Marion Cotillard, Brad Pitt, Jared Harris, and is directed by Robert Zemeckis. This time-period drama set during WWII follows a Royal Canadian Air Force officer (Pitt) and a member of the French resistance (Cotillard). They are tasked with posing as a couple to assassinate a German Ambassador. They fall in love, start…

#TheFounder was a solid biopic.

Grade (B+) A solid biopic but also an ordinary one at times. “THE FOUNDER” stars; Michael Keaton, John Carrol Lynch, Nick Offerman and is directed by John Lee Hancock. This story follows salesman Ray Kroc, who when he met the McDonald brothers found his life changed forever. The brothers had created an ahead of its time fast-food restaurant in San Bernardino, and Kroc felt he could spread it to…

A powerful story examined through an uplifting biopic #HiddenFigures

Grade (A) An amazing story that was excellently captured in a film filled with great performances.  “HIDDEN FIGURES” is directed by Theodore Melfi and stars; Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner and Jim Parsons. This one follows the true story of three African-American women working at NASA during the height of the space race with Russia in the late 60’s. These women…

A review of #xXxReturnofXanderCage the new sequel from #VinDiesel

Grade (D+) Another sequel that comes out many years later, only to fail in bringing the enjoyment captured in the first. There are tons of over-the-top action movies. Some of them fail, but some of them can deliver the absurdity with a charm and charisma, that make them enjoyable despite the ridiculousness. The recent “Fast and Furious” films are a great example of the genre done with charm, that…

A review of #Rounders one of the classic #MattDamon movies.

Grade (A-) A solid film that displays a couple great performances from Matt Damon and Edward Norton. “Rounders” starred; Matt Damon, as well as Edward Norton, John Malkovich, John Turturro, Martin Landau and was directed by John Dahl. That’s a lot of John’s… This was simple story, you have a former gambler that thrived in the world of underground poker. He’s trying to live a straight-forward…