Insomnia (2002)

Insomnia (2002)

7/10

Starring

Al Pacino

Robin Williams

Hilary Swank

Maura Tierney

Directed by Christopher Nolan

This was the first Christopher Nolan movie I saw back in the early 2000s. What drew me to it was Robin Williams playing a non-comedic role, which was rare at the time, and my growing admiration for Al Pacino. Insomnia is a remake of a 1997 Norwegian film of the same name, and this psychological detective thriller pulls you into a gripping battle for integrity.

One of the movie's greatest strengths is its cinematography. Shot in Alaska, it makes full use of the breathtaking scenery. Nolan masterfully conveys the challenges faced by the main character, a detective suffering from insomnia. His struggle with his conscience is made worse by Alaska's 24-hour daylight, which I learned about for the first time while watching this movie. Apparently, parts of Alaska experience continuous daylight for about two months each year! As expected, both Pacino and Williams deliver outstanding performances, making the film captivating and highly enjoyable.

The plot centers on the murder of a seventeen-year-old girl. Detective Will Dormer (played by Pacino) is sent from Los Angeles to assist with the investigation. While Will is renowned for solving high-profile cases, his reassignment to Alaska isn’t due to his expertise. Back in LA, he’s under investigation for allegedly planting evidence in his last case, so he’s been sent far away to avoid interference in the inquiry.

Despite this, Will takes on the case and quickly starts piecing things together. He’s accompanied by his longtime partner, Hap, who joins him in setting a trap for the murderer. However, tension between them builds after a conversation about the ongoing investigation back in LA. The trap they set works, but things take a tragic turn, leaving Will in an even more precarious position. This incident could provide Internal Affairs with more ammunition against him, further complicating his situation.

On top of that, Will is still grappling with his guilt over planting evidence, which exacerbates his insomnia. He must juggle solving the murder case while dealing with his personal demons, all under the relentless Alaskan daylight. You will love the way the predicament of Will gets more and more complicated as the movie grows and how the murderer is a nobody who allowed his passion get ahead of him.

Insomnia performed decently at the box office and received plenty of positive reviews from critics. It’s still an engaging film, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend giving it a watch and crossing it off your list.

Interstellar (2014)

 Interstellar (2014)

7/10

Starring

Matthew McConaughey

Anne Hathaway

Jessica Chastain

Bill Irwin

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Interstellar is a thought-provoking, emotional space opera with stunning visuals and excellent effects. The movie revolves around an ensemble cast, and while the plot can be a bit brainy and sometimes far-fetched, it pulls you into the drama. The idea of science advancing to this level in the future feels like something we can’t entirely debunk until a few decades from now.

The concept of time and its relativity adds a layer of excitement. At first, you observe it from a distance, but a small error in judgment by one of the characters brings its effects up close and personal. However, the movie isn’t without flaws. Some lines lack impact, and there are moments where the pacing drags a little too much.

Written by Jonathan and Christopher Nolan, with the latter directing, Interstellar doesn’t play it safe with its ideas. The story takes place in 2067, where Earth is dying, and humanity suffers from a severe food shortage. Corn is the only crop that grows, and most people have become farmers as jobs like engineers or scientists have essentially disappeared.

We’re introduced to Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a widowed ex-NASA pilot who lives on a farm with his two children: his son, Tom, and his brilliant daughter, Murph. One of the intriguing elements early on is Murph’s claim that there’s a ghost in her room. Eventually, it’s revealed that the disturbances in her room are actually messages leading Cooper to a specific location. Following the coordinates, Cooper arrives at the site, gets arrested, and is separated from Murph. He wakes up in a government facility, where he’s interrogated by a military robot. The questioning is interrupted by Dr. Amelia Brand (Anne Hathaway), whom Cooper recognizes as the daughter of his former boss, Dr. Brand (Michael Caine).

Cooper is shocked to learn that NASA is still operational, even though most resources have been diverted away from space exploration. Dr. Brand explains that there’s hope for humanity beyond Earth—they’ve identified 12 planets near a black hole called Gargantua that might support life. NASA sent 12 explorers, one to each planet, and they’ve received promising data back from three of them. Cooper is asked to pilot a mission to investigate these three planets and determine which one could become humanity’s new home.

Despite Murph’s strong objections, Cooper decides to go. The movie then follows the emotional journey of the crew, the betrayals, lies, and the immense challenges they face along the way. It also explores the profound effects of time dilation on their mission and the people they left behind on Earth.

Greenland (2020)

Greenland (2020)

7/10

Starring

Gerard Butler

Morena Baccarin

Roger Dale Floyd

Scott Glenn

Directed by Ric Roman Waugh

Greenland may not be racking up awards, but it’s a captivating and fantastic movie to see. It packs enough gripping events—kidnapping, attempted murder, theft, action, and tragedy—all unfolding against the backdrop of a catastrophic, end-of-the-world scenario. In fact, you could easily split some of these elements into separate movies.

One film could focus on a family struggling to survive in a cruel, crumbling world as everything familiar falls apart. Another could follow a family’s desperate journey to reach a safe haven amidst an apocalyptic event. Instead, the director masterfully blends these possibilities into one cohesive story. Over its nearly two-hour runtime, the movie keeps you so engrossed you hardly notice the time passing. It even includes moments of unexpected compassion, giving it the emotional depth and cinematic appeal that resonate particularly well during these challenging COVID times.

The story begins with the introduction of the Garrity family. We meet John (Gerard Butler), who is trying to mend his strained relationship with his wife, Allison. They also have a young son, Nathan, who is diabetic. While preparing for a party with their neighbors to watch a comet pass by, John receives an alert on his phone. It informs him that he and his family have been selected for emergency sheltering.

What was supposed to be a harmless passing comet turns out to be a world-altering event as debris begins falling to Earth. The fragments—and more to come—pose catastrophic threats to the planet. The alert on John’s phone also appears on their TV, sparking curiosity and panic among the neighbors as it becomes clear that the Garrity family has been chosen for evacuation.

From this point, the movie takes a dramatic turn. When the family arrives at the base where they’re supposed to be sheltered, a series of complications arises. Nathan’s insulin is misplaced, and John has to leave his family to retrieve it. Meanwhile, Allison and Nathan are kicked out of the shelter, and chaos erupts as the base is stormed by desperate people. Separated from his family, John finds a message Allison left on their car, which leads him to where she and Nathan might be.

What follows is a harrowing journey for both John and Allison, filled with turmoil, danger, and moments of humanity. Their struggle to reunite and survive is at the heart of this movie and makes it well worth watching. It is an enjoyable experience.

Tenet (2020)

Tenet (2020)

7/10

Starring

John David Washington

Robert Pattinson

Elizabeth Debicki

Dimple Kapadia

Directed by Christoper Nolan

Christopher Nolan has a knack for creating movies that feel like puzzles—designed for film lovers to piece together and debate long after the credits roll. Tenet is like a drug for fans of mind-bending movie thrills. Despite its complex plot, the film keeps your attention for its long runtime and delivers a thrilling, action-packed experience. It’s an action-thriller with a heavy dose of time-travel sci-fi sprinkled throughout. If you’ve seen Memento (2000) or Inception (2010) (both also directed and written by Nolan), you’ll recognize his signature style here. Nolan didn’t hold anything back in this production, though I have to say the sound mixing left a lot to be desired.

From the very beginning, when I saw someone "unshoot" a bullet, I couldn’t help but think this story might have worked better as a TV series. A series format would have given more time to explore the plot in greater depth and deliver more juicy details.

The story follows a CIA operative, who we’ll just call "our man." After witnessing the unshooting of bullets, he’s captured and seemingly kills himself to avoid revealing secrets. However, he survives and is recruited into a secret organization called Tenet. There, he learns about bullets with “inverted entropy,” which allows them to move backward through time.

Our man is tasked with finding the source of these inverted bullets. He soon discovers that the bullets are just regular ones transformed by a machine that alters their entropy. From there, things get even more complicated, diving into a mix of time travel, intricate details, and fast-paced action that demands your full attention.

Even with its two-hour-and-thirty-minute runtime, the movie feels packed to the brim with a complex plot and too many details to fully absorb in one sitting. This is why I think Tenet might have worked better as a series—allowing Nolan more time to build his world and gently flesh out the events unfolding on screen.

The movie’s production cost was a whopping $200 million, and with marketing expenses factored in, it’s been labeled a box office bomb, projected to lose over $100 million. That’s unfortunate because the movie is well-made and deserved to be a bigger hit.

Acting-wise, John David Washington (Denzel Washington’s son) delivers an amazing performance, showing promise of living up to his father’s legacy. The rest of the cast, including Robert Pattinson and Michael Caine, also give stellar performances. Although Caine’s role is brief, his presence feels like a familiar hallmark of Nolan’s films.

Watching this movie in a cinema might have been a challenge, as even watching at home required me to rewind multiple times to keep up. Despite that, Tenet earns its place on the shelf of wonderful Nolan movies, even if it’s one of his most challenging works to follow.

Vanguard (2020)

Vanguard (2020)

5/10

Starring

Jackie Chan

Ai Lun

Yang Yang

Miya Muqi

Directed by Stanley Tong

Fair warning before you watch this movie: the plot is flawed, and it’s no surprise it received poor ratings from critics. One of the most frustrating things about this film is the dialogue. Think “cheesy,” then multiply that by ten—that’s what you’re dealing with here. Also, don’t expect to see much of Jackie Chan’s signature fighting in this movie. He’s mostly relegated to overseeing things and leaves most of the action to the new generation of actors.

Honestly, I’d say don’t go out of your way to see this one; just wait for it to come to you. The movie feels like an attempt to create a Chinese version of Kingsman, given the excessive use of gadgets. The CGI, however, is atrocious. There’s nothing worse than bad CGI trying to fool you, and this movie is full of it. The lion scenes are poorly executed, and there’s a magic-like sequence near a waterfall involving Jackie Chan that also suffers from terrible CGI.

The movie starts off fast, leaving no room to breathe. Right from the beginning, we’re introduced to a group called the Arctic Wolves, hired to capture a wealthy man named Qin. After their initial attempt to kidnap Qin and his wife is thwarted by his security team, the bad guys shift their focus to Qin’s daughter.

The security team, known as Vanguard, is led by none other than Jackie Chan. Anticipating the move on Qin’s daughter, the team goes to rescue her, which leads to some bad acting from the actress playing Qin’s daughter. In the end, the villains manage to capture both her and one of Jackie’s men. This sets up the classic trade-off scenario: Qin for the captives, with Jackie determined to save everyone.

For a Jackie Chan movie, the body count is unusually high, and it’s jarring to see him using guns frequently to take down bad guys.

There is one standout scene within the first 25 minutes: Jackie performs an incredible stunt, jumping onto the hood of a moving car and sliding into the passenger seat. It’s a "wow" moment, but the excitement quickly fades as the plot goes flat again.

The movie is relentless with its fast pace and intense shooting scenes, refusing to slow down even when the team is planning their rescue mission. While I laughed at some of the cheesy lines, I can’t in good conscience recommend this film. It’s not the worst watch, but it’s definitely not one of Jackie Chan’s finest works.

Superintelligence (2020)

Superintelligence (2020)

3/10

Starring

Melissa McCarthy

Bobby Cannavale

Brian Tyree Henry

James Corden

Directed by Ben Falcone

If you haven’t seen the movie Superintelligence, I envy you. I genuinely wish I could trade places with you and be spared from the embarrassment this movie brings to the art of filmmaking. I wish I hadn’t wasted my time listening to long, drawn-out lines that redefined boredom. These lines were meant to entertain but felt more like endless monologues straight out of a cliché graveyard.

I’m familiar with the Ben Falcone and Melissa McCarthy dynamic. As a married couple, they often collaborate on movies, with McCarthy usually in the lead. While some of their projects have been okay, this one ranks among their worst.

The movie is supposed to be a rom-com with a splash of sci-fi. It follows Carol Peters (McCarthy), an average woman chosen by an AI to be studied for three days.

The AI, voiced primarily by James Corden, started as a rogue children’s learning app that somehow evolved into a superintelligence with knowledge of everything and everyone. How that transformation happened is a question for the writer—though, unfortunately, I can’t grill them for an explanation. Carol, understandably, informs a friend at Microsoft, who then alerts the government, making this AI the top priority for destruction.

Meanwhile, the AI treats Carol like a pet, studying her to learn more about humanity. Its primary focus is love, and it decides to help her rekindle things with her ex-boyfriend. From Carol’s perspective, she blames herself for the breakup, and the AI goes to great lengths to get them back together.

Why the three-day timeline? Well, the AI hasn’t decided whether it wants to annihilate humanity or help save the planet. I do not know if this movie is meant to have an undertone of what AI can become, or it is just wrapped up in its own nonsense that it believes it is worth seeing.

Streaming platforms seem to have an insatiable need for content these days, and as a result, we’re constantly bombarded with subpar movies. Nobody seems interested in creating classics anymore, and these platforms appear to have too much money to throw around. Watching this movie did have one silver lining: a scene reminded me to take out my trash. Ironically, I had a better time dealing with my garbage than enduring this film.

With all the talent involved, Superintelligence somehow manages to squander every bit of it. It feels more like a cash grabbed for the producers and I fail to believe that any thought to entertain, went into the production of this movie.

Fatman (2020)

Fatman (2020)

 

3/10

Starring

Mel Gibson

Walton Goggins

Marianne Jean-Baptiste

Directed by Eshom Nelms and Ian Nelms

What’s the point of making Santa (Mel Gibson, whose character in this movie is Chris) collaborate with the government to exploit its citizens when that storyline isn’t even developed?

I felt like this movie was a complete waste of my time. It seemed to be filled with so much potential, offering various directions it could have taken, especially in terms of comedy. But instead, it got bogged down in what I can only assume was an overreliance on the cast to carry a half-baked script. Most of the comedy misses the mark, and the only thing the director managed to accomplish was maintaining a consistent pace of boredom from start to finish.

The acting itself wasn’t bad—all the actors delivered solid performances. But what a waste of talent on a script that does nothing for them.

The film neglects potentially powerful subplots in favor of focusing on a young boy and a ludicrously obsessed character who wants to kill Santa for not giving them the gifts they wanted. By the time it was over, I couldn’t help but think about all the missed opportunities. It would have been interesting to see Santa making toys or showcasing his ability to travel around the world in one night. Instead, we’re stuck with a storyline where a man hunts Santa with a gun, and because this is supposed to be a dark comedy, Santa isn’t a nice guy either—he uses a gun to defend himself.

The movie introduces us to two sets of characters: Chris (Santa) and his wife, Ruth, and on the other side, Billy and Jonathan. Billy is a spoiled kid who’s used to always getting his way, and the movie goes to great lengths to show just how entitled he is. Jonathan, on the other hand, is a hired killer and an adult who’s obsessed with hunting Santa because he once received a lump of coal as a Christmas gift.

Chris, meanwhile, is dealing with issues of his own. He’s at odds with the government due to the increasing number of bad children in the world, which has forced him to give out more lumps of coal than presents. The government pressures him to divert his resources into a new business venture for them. While Chris and Ruth are contemplating this, Christmas rolls around, and Billy receives a lump of coal. Outraged, Billy hires Jonathan to find and kill Santa.

It’s frustrating to see how much this movie cost to make ($20 million) only to end up as a nonsensical mess with minimal entertainment value. The only redeeming quality is that it’s short, but even that can’t save it. I wouldn’t recommend anyone waste their time on this.

Boss Level (2020)

Boss Level (2020)

6/10

Starring

Frank Grillo

Mel Gibson

Naomi Watts

 

Directed by Joe Carnahan

 

Boss Level starts off just as its name suggests—a video game. We see the main character, Roy (Frank Grillo), wake up and effortlessly deal with an assassin. He gets out of bed, gets dressed, makes coffee—all while dodging punches and knife slashes like it’s second nature.

Right away, you get the sense that Roy knows exactly what’s coming. As the scene unfolds, he gives us a little background on his predicament: he’s stuck in a time loop. He can’t get through a single day without being killed, and as the movie begins, we’re told it’s his seventy-ninth attempt at surviving.

One of the things I liked about Boss Level is its mix of mystery and action. You’re left to piece things together as you watch, and sometimes, you’ll figure things out before Roy does. This adds a layer of predictability at times, but it doesn’t ruin the experience. That said, there are moments where the movie feels like it’s dragging, especially in the second half.

The pacing is solid in the beginning but starts to falter as the story progresses. The cinematography, unfortunately, doesn’t stand out—it felt like it could’ve been sharper, more visually engaging. And some of the dialogue? Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly memorable.

After witnessing Roy’s seventy-ninth death, we get more insight into his life. He’s far from a perfect character. When we meet his ex-wife, we learn she’s involved in a groundbreaking scientific project. Fearing for her life and their son’s safety, she sends Roy cryptic clues to figure out how to save her. By the time Roy starts piecing things together, he discovers she’s already dead, just before the time loop begins.

From the moment Roy wakes up, he’s on the run, dodging assassins until he’s inevitably killed—only to start over again. The movie takes the time-loop concept on an interesting ride, reminiscent of Edge of Tomorrow (2014), where the protagonist resets the day by dying. And yes, there are times when things don’t go Roy’s way, so he takes the easy way out by killing himself.

This is the second Mel Gibson movie I’ve seen this week. I didn’t enjoy the first one (Fatman), but this one was much better. While it’s not the best time-loop movie out there, it’s entertaining and takes a slightly different approach to the genre. The final showdown, where Roy faces the “boss,” gave me major Equilibrium (2002) vibes.

You can watch Boss Level on Hulu. It may not be the pinnacle of time-loop films, but it’s decent entertainment and worth a watch if you’re into action-packed sci-fi.

The Blind Side (2009)

The Blind Side (2009)

 

7/10

Starring

Quinton Aaron

Sandra Bullock

Tim McGraw

Kathy Bates

Directed by John Lee Hancock

There aren’t many Sandra Bullock movies where not only does she deliver a fantastic performance, but the plot supporting her character is equally compelling. The Blind Side checks both boxes.

This biographical sports drama, written and directed by John Lee Hancock, is based on Michael Lewis's 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game. It tells the story of Michael Oher's adoption by Sean (played by Tim McGraw) and Leigh Anne Tuohy (Bullock).

What truly stands out in this movie, aside from the engaging plot, direction, and cast, is Bullock’s exceptional performance. She goes above and beyond, pulling you into every emotional moment. Even though I’ve never met the real Leigh Anne Tuohy, Bullock’s portrayal made me feel like I’ve come to know, respect, and love her.

Hancock’s direction gives the film a steady, unhurried pace, allowing us to absorb the Tuohys’ parenting style and the challenges they face in helping an adopted child feel at home.

The movie introduces us to Michael (Quinton Aaron), a tall, big young man who clearly doesn’t fit in anywhere. Aaron’s portrayal of Michael is almost on par with Bullock’s performance, so be prepared to be thoroughly impressed. Michael starts out sleeping on the couch at a friend’s house, but due to some issues, he’s eventually forced to leave. Once again, he finds himself struggling to navigate life.

Meanwhile, the Tuohys are a wealthy family who seem to have it all. Although they’ve seen Michael around, they’ve never interacted with him—until one cold night. After attending their son’s school play, they spot Michael walking alone. Leigh Anne stops and asks where he’s going, and he explains that he’s headed to the gym to stay warm. Moved by his situation, she takes him home, makes up the couch for him, and lets him sleep there.

From that point, the story unfolds gently. Michael becomes part of the Tuohy family, but not without challenges. He struggles with learning difficulties and is shy, avoiding most interactions. Encouraged by the Tuohys, he joins the high school football team. After some comedic coaching moments, Michael starts to shine on the field. The movie continues to explore his journey of growth, self-confidence, and belonging.

The Blind Side grossed over $300 million at the box office on a $29 million budget. Bullock’s performance earned her both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for Best Actress, and it’s easy to see why.

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)

Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005)

5/10

Starring

Sandra Bullock

Regina King

Enrique Murciano

William Shatner

Ernie Hudson

Heather Burns

Directed by John Pasquin

Once again, Sandra Bullock was ahead of everyone in this movie and made the jokes work. It was funny, I have to say, but the script shifted from a pageant tale to a buddy cop movie. I think the movie might have done better with a different name, instead of being a sequel to Miss Congeniality. You can feel it—the whole attempt to tie the present kidnapping case to her role from the first film felt forced. The moment the movie stopped trying to make her the face of the bureau, connecting it to the first film, it became somewhat more bearable.

Keep in mind that making a second Miss Congeniality was totally unnecessary. Bullock is also a producer on this film, which, like the first one, is way too long. At almost two hours, you can see the movie lose its appeal as the case drags on. Instead of making the best of some interesting moments, the movie opted to introduce secondary plots that were either left unresolved or had nothing to do with the main story.

The plot kicks off with Gracie (Bullock) getting dumped by her love interest from the first film. Trust me, based on his performance in the first film, I was happy he wasn’t in this one. Then we meet Fuller (Regina King), an over-hyped character who’s always angry and thinks with her fists first. I’ve seen Regina King perform in many movies, but this is not one of her best performances. The blame for that falls squarely on the weak script and stereotypical characterization of her character. The writers and director seemed intent on playing out the typical buddy cop movie pairing, where one partner is calm and the other is a loose cannon.

Gracie’s friend and winner of the pageant from the first film gets kidnapped, and Gracie is sent with Fuller to Las Vegas to be the calm face of the press while the FBI tries to reassure everyone that they’ve got the situation under control. While there, Gracie realizes the case isn’t going as well as planned, so she starts getting involved, much to the annoyance of the FBI in Vegas. Eventually, Gracie and Fuller work through their differences and decide to team up, despite their boss’s orders, to solve the case.

The movie wasn’t much of a commercial or critical success, and it’s safe to say that there won’t be a third one.

Miss Congeniality (2000)

Miss Congeniality (2000)

5/10

Starring

Sandra Bullock

Michael Caine

Benjamin Bratt

Candice Bergen

William Shatner

Ernie Hudson

Directed by Donald Petrie

This movie was much better when I saw it back in 2000. Seeing it now, I can only say that it seems like it was made for people who have nothing better to do on a Sunday. The whole plot feels like you're watching an unaired TV series. It's disjointed, and the movie seems unsure of its pace. There are times when things are all fired up and moving, and then there are times when it feels like nothing much is happening. I don’t know if the problem is that, I took the movie too seriously, and expect it to live up to the feeling I had seeing it back in the 2000s.

The romance was so obvious. The pair didn’t fit in my view, and their story—leading to them falling for one another—felt like a rejected, bad draft of a romance novel.

I won’t deny that the movie has its funny moments, but if you want to sit through it again, just know it’s ten minutes shy of two hours. It’s so long that I can see plenty of areas that could have been cut, and the movie would still deliver the same message.

With such a bad script, Sandra Bullock (who solely produced this film) did very well in her role. She plays Gracie, a tomboy working for the FBI, who has some issues following orders, which lands her on desk duty at the Bureau.

The agency is alerted by a letter from a known terrorist called "The Citizen" that a bomb will be placed at the upcoming Miss U.S.A. beauty pageant. Gracie's partner is put in charge, and based on Gracie’s suggestion to plant an undercover agent at the event, Gracie happens to be the agent. She is arranged to replace Miss New Jersey, who is to be disqualified.

So, Gracie is prepped to be the new Miss New Jersey, and soon we discover there’s more going on at the pageant than what meets the eye. Gracie has to go against orders to uncover the person behind the letters and stop them.

Other than Bullock, everyone else in the movie gave an average performance, as expected. Even Michael Caine, who initially portrayed a gay character, seemed to forget about that aspect as the movie went on.

The movie was a financial hit, which led to a sequel five years later called Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous. Bullock’s performance even earned her a Golden Globe Award nomination.

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

While You Were Sleeping (1995)

6/10

Starring

Sandra Bullock

Bill Pullman

Peter Gallagher

Peter Boyle

Glynis Johns

Jack Warden

Directed by Jon Turtletaub

Sandra Bullock has had a string of successes way back when, and While You Were Sleeping is one of them. If you watch the movie now, you may not get the same thrill you did when it first came out in 1995. Well, I didn’t get the same thrill. I guess some movies just don’t fit the “watch anytime” mold.

This romantic comedy is a feel-good movie that strings together some of the most unlikely events and uses the same cheesy formula that you can find in many others. But it makes it all better with a fantastic cast. Bullock, on her own, carried the bouquet, giving us a performance worth commending.

The movie’s plot introduces us to a lonely lady named Lucy (Sandra Bullock), who lost her mother when she was young and her father a year before the events we see unfold. She works as a teller at a train station and has developed a crush on one of the passengers, Peter (played by Peter Gallagher). She dreams of him regularly, and to her, he’s her prince charming.

While working during the festive period, Lucy sees Peter being mugged. The muggers push him, and he falls onto the tracks, hitting his head and passing out. With a train coming, Lucy runs onto the tracks and saves Peter. While at the hospital, she’s not allowed to be near him, and a miscommunication leads the doctor to think that Lucy is Peter’s fiancée. When Peter’s family comes to visit him at the hospital, they’re told he was saved by his fiancée, and they’re surprised to find out it’s someone they don’t know.

But the fact that she saved their son makes them warm up to her, and soon, she’s invited to the family’s holiday celebrations. It’s there that she meets Jack (Bill Pullman).

She and Jack start spending more time together because Jack doesn’t believe Lucy is engaged to Peter. Soon, they begin developing feelings for each other.

Peter wakes up, and that’s where the shit hits the fan.

The movie was a huge financial hit and earned Bullock a Golden Globe nomination. For a not-so-spectacular plot, I can say that one thing will guarantee you enjoy this movie: the cast. The characters will surprise you with their views, and the actors did an excellent job in their portrayals.

You should be able to catch this movie now on Disney+, it is worth seeing.

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

6/10

Starring the voices of

George Clooney

Meryl Streep

Jason Schwartzman

Bill Murray

Owen Wilson

Directed by Wes Anderson

I guess I’m one of the few who didn’t get to see Fantastic Mr. Fox in 2009. I knew of its popularity as a nice stop-motion animation, but I always seemed to miss it. Seeing it now, I can see why many liked it. Other than being true to the adaptation it’s based on, the animation added more scenes to the main plot, giving the movie a new beginning and a fleshed-out ending. There was also an upgrade to the dialogue to cater to mature viewers. Additionally, some backstory was added, and some characters were given their own side stories or more to do in this movie.

If you’ve read the 1970 Roald Dahl children’s book Fantastic Mr. Fox, you can tell in this film where the book’s original plot starts and ends.

The story of Mr. Fox starts with a promise to be a better person, then takes us through him falling back into his old ways. He steals from the three main farmers in his area: Boggis (a chicken farmer), Bunce (a duck and goose farmer), and Bean (a turkey and apple farmer). The farmers aren’t having it and decide to catch Fox. They follow him to his home and shoot at it. When they see he’s escaped, they dig him out, hell-bent on catching him.

Now trapped, Fox doesn’t let the situation get him down, and he gets back at the trio. From then on, we watch the two parties trying to get one over on each other.

Wes Anderson (the director and co-writer of the screenplay) decided to add some scenes before the book’s main plot starts. These scenes focus on the relationship between Mr. Fox (George Clooney) and Mrs. Fox (Meryl Streep), plus how they came to be living in the tree.

Where the book ends is not where the movie ends. We do get to the final scene of the book, but Anderson decided to flesh it out a lot more (compared to the beginning of the film). We still get the same ending with the farmers waiting to catch Mr. Fox, but the movie made them meaner and smarter.

What I really enjoyed in the movie was the way Anderson made Fox appeal to me as a viewer. I enjoyed seeing him struggle, think on his feet, and always refuse to let his circumstances overwhelm him.

Although the movie was a critical success, it wasn’t a financial one. It also had a bad run at the Academy Awards. It was nominated for Best Animated Feature and Best Original Score but lost both to Disney's Up.

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey (2020)

6/10

Starring

Forest Whitaker

Keegan-Michael Key

Anika Noni Rose

Madalen Mills

Ricky Martin

Directed by David E. Talbert

Jingle Jangle is a musical fantasy movie set during the festive period, telling the tale of a toymaker who falls into hard times and needs that tiny spark of hope to get back on his feet. That spark comes from his beautiful granddaughter.

The movie has some fantastic musical numbers, and the acting from all the cast is inviting, making you want to sit through the movie. The characters are memorable, and the movie is well-suited for the family, offering plenty of entertainment.

The film is both written and directed by filmmaker David E. Talbert. I’d like to think he made this magical Christmas movie to stand alongside the old classics that didn't feature Black characters in the forefront. The movie isn't perfect—there are some pacing problems, and it takes quite a while to finally get going—but regardless, it's a nice movie.

Talbert’s movie starts in the toy shop of an inventor named Jeronicus. Jeronicus’s whole world consists of his inventions and his family. In this nice intro to his life, we meet his young apprentice, Gustafson, who also wants to be as good as Jeronicus.

We see Gustafson fail in one of his inventions, and the store occupants laugh at him as they all crave the toys made by Jeronicus. A parcel arrives, and we’re drawn deeper into Jeronicus’s world as we watch him open the parcel, which contains the missing part for his new invention—a robot toy that can talk and move by itself. The invention produces a toy called Diego (voiced by Ricky Martin). Diego is immediately self-absorbed, vain, and wants all the attention. When he finds out that Jeronicus plans to make more of him, he becomes angry and jealous. He manages to poison and persuade the young, naive Gustafson to steal Jeronicus’s book of inventions and the plans to make more of him.

That singular act ruins Jeronicus, as it plunges him into a world where he wants to get back on top. The reason? Gustafson (Keegan-Michael Key) starts spinning out toys that Jeronicus (Forest Whitaker) has not yet made. Soon, Jeronicus is no longer popular, losing everything—even his family.

His daughter leaves him, and we see Jeronicus at the mercy of the bank, about to lose everything. One day, he gets a visit from his granddaughter, Journey (Madalen Mills), who is curious to meet her grandfather. Journey is like her grandfather—smart, inventive, and full of life (just like Jeronicus used to be).

Soon, the pair are working together, and against them are Gustafson and Diego, still after anything new Jeronicus comes up with.

The movie is about how this pair of grandfather and granddaughter go up against the other pair of Gustafson and Diego.

The movie is very colorful and filled with a cast that delivers grand performances of their own.

You can catch this on Netflix.

The New Mutant (2020)

The New Mutant (2020)

3/10

Starring

Maisie Williams

Anya Taylor-Joy

Charlie Heaton

Alice Braga

Blu Hunt

Henry Zaga

Directed by Josh Boone

I don’t understand why this movie is so badly written. The director didn’t do a good job with the pacing – there were moments when it felt like I was being dragged along, waiting for what was “really happening.”

I can’t understand how the director got so caught up in the mystery and the whole incident/hunting of the facility that he forgot the movie was meant to entertain. The film even goes so far as to change the role of Dr. Cecilia Reyes from her comic character, turning her into a mess of what originally seemed like something with potential.

I also didn’t feel the cast members, except for Maisie Williams (who plays Wolfsbane) and Alice Braga (as Dr. Reyes). The rest didn’t give their best performances—maybe it’s due to the script or the director, but I wasn’t impressed. After seeing Anya Taylor-Joy (who plays Magik) in The Queen's Gambit, if not for her fantastic acting in that series, I would have written her off as someone who still has a lot to learn.

The movie starts with a devastating event at a reservation during a tornado. The destruction leaves young Dani an orphan. She passes out during the ordeal and wakes up at a facility, where we meet Dr. Reyes. We learn that she’s not only keeping Dani there but also four other young mutants. Dani is told that she’s a mutant and that the facility is meant to help her learn to control her powers before she’s moved up to join the X-Men. Dani’s main challenge is that she’s unaware of her powers and how they work.

The other people in the facility are Rahne/Wolfsbane, Illyana/Magik, Sam/Cannonball, and Bobby/Sunspot.

While there, we discover their different character traits and attributes, and soon the facility becomes a place of terror. The young mutants are struggling to control their powers and their rage. We begin to see them having dreams about their pasts, and those dreams start to manifest, becoming real and haunting them in the facility. Dr. Reyes has little to no power to stop or control what’s happening.

I guess Disney just wanted this movie out of the way as they launched their new world of mutants. We should note that this movie was made by Fox before the Disney acquisition.

The movie is boring and wastes the talents on screen. I don’t think the writers and directors had a firm grip on what they were supposed to be launching, because this was a bad film.

Phenomenon (1996)

Phenomenon (1996)

7/10

 

Starring

John Travolta

Kyra Sedgwick

Forest Whitaker

Robert Duvall

Directed by Jon Turteltaub

Here’s a movie I totally forgot I loved when I saw it way back in 1996. Flipping through channels on TV, and there it is—Phenomenon, the fantastic Travolta film. Phenomenon’s genre falls into many categories: romance, drama, sci-fi, and fantasy.

The movie doesn’t follow the typical structure of most films in this range. When we think of movies that deal with superpowers in the present decade, we expect fantastic CGI and lots of action. This movie, however, focuses on the life of a rural man who doesn’t have much aspiration. Imagine such a person developing psychokinesis after being hit in the head by a ball of light from the sky. The movie has a fun cast, and it’s directed by long-time Disney collaborator Jon Turteltaub, although it was made under Disney’s Touchstone banner.

George (Travolta) is an average guy. He’s a mechanic in a small town in California, and on this memorable day, we find him drunk, celebrating his birthday at the local bar. He steps outside for a bit, and we see a light come down fast and hit him, knocking him out. That single incident changes his life forever. He starts to get new ideas and becomes psychokinetic. He also becomes a genius, suffering from insomnia, unable to sleep, and always reading. His constant reading leads him to come up with new ideas, learn new languages, move objects with his mind, and crack secret government codes.

George has a thing for a lady in his town, Lace (Kyra Sedgwick), a single mom with two children. He does everything he can to get close to her, which works initially, until he discovers that an earthquake is going to happen. He makes the necessary calls to warn the officials but is dismissed. When the earthquake does happen, everyone comes looking for him. Soon, the government discovers that he cracked their code, and he’s arrested. George’s new powers don’t help him much with the people of his town, as they see him as a freak.

The movie soon shifts from a gentle drama to something more chaotic and sad, as George’s world turns upside down.

The movie was a big financial hit, and Travolta’s acting is worth seeing. He was fantastic in the film, and so were the supporting cast. It’s a pity that movies like this aren’t made anymore—everyone seems so focused on movies with the same Marvel or DC feel.