Sleight

I recently saw Sleight and it's a film I highly recommend people seeing it if they can. Part of me was delighted the film got made because it's a great premise but there was that other part that wished they didn't make it but to be honest I didn't feel that way until after seeing the movie. That was because I  wished they held off on making it until they had a a larger budget. Sleight was made for a meager $250,000 and this movie deserved at least a million. Directed by J.D. Dillard and written by Dillard and Alex Theurer the premise of Sleight is as original as they come and the performances were equally as impressive.

Sleight stars Jacob Latimore as Bo. A brilliant young man who's in over his head while trying to eek out a life for him and his younger sister as a drug dealer and street magician. His kingpin boss is played by the talented Dule Hill (Charlie on The West Wing). Dule plays the charming and unhinged psychopathic Angelo who keeps Bo on a tight leash. At the same time Bo is working to stay afloat he's  falling for the cute cupcake selling Holly, played by Seychelle Gabriel. Holly is a compassionate young woman  running from her own demons and finds a safe haven in Bo and latches on to that lifeline quickly.

There's mounting pressure on Bo when Angelo has him commit a brutal violent act which prompts Bo to choose to leave that life behind him. He puts himself in a bad situation and when it touches those he loves he decides to use his abilities, his sleight of hand to set things right. Dillard's directing is fantastic, nothing seemed force or heavy handed and all the performances seemed completely natural but the most important thing is you would not believe Sleight was made for a quarter of a million dollars. Hopefully Sleight 2 will have a bigger budget because I'm sure the next act of Bo's story will be amazing.

Fences

Fences is Denzel Washington's passion project and the love he has for the story is clearly evident on the screen. It's Denzel's fourth time behind the camera and he's gotten better every time he's sat in the director's chair and Fences is his best by far. I think that may be due to his overwhelming familiarity with the source material since Denzel played Troy Maxson on Broadway. Originally a play by the genius that is August Wilson, I will be forever grateful to Denzel for putting this in a format I can keep and watch whenever I like once it becomes available because Fences may just be the best film of the year.

As stated earlier, Denzel played the titular role on stage and he wears Troy Maxson as if the character were a comfortable pair of shoes that have been broken in just right. He stomps through the chief set in the film, his house as if he were a giant. Everything about Troy seems larger than life and everything around him appears small and insignificant and that includes his wife, sons, and friends. Troy is a bitter ex-ballplayer who feels he never caught a fair shake because of the color of his skin. His wife Rose Maxson, played by the phenomenally talented Viola Davis, does her best to cut through Troy's anger with compassion and humor but it's not enough to keep Troy from trying to drink his pain away.

Fences is a beautifully shot film by Charlotte Bruus Christensen and with the talented cast assembled she had a lot to work with. Outside of Denzel and Viola the cast also included Stephen McKinley Henderson, Jovan Adepo, Russell Hornsby, Saniyya Sydney, and Mykelti Williamson who does his best to steal every scene he's in. Most will see this film and not get it, I understand that but the clarity this movie offers regarding what Black men deal with in this country is astounding. Fences a film I feel every Black man should see because it just may start the inward and outward healing process we so desperately need and deserve.  That being said I give Fences four and a half buckets of Killer Korn and I'll see you at the theater.

Rogue One (non spoiler review)

This is a spoiler free review for all of you that haven't seen the movie yet. Far be it for little old me to fucking ruin it all for you. That would make me a penis and who wants to be a penis? Not this guy. What I'll do instead is state that Rogue One is a high octane, gritty, and ridiculously entertaining movie. Director Gareth Edwards has helmed the best popcorn movie this year because this movie is unmercifully exciting. It's an actual war film with sacrifices for the greater good and casualties. There are literally bodies scattered on the beach. It's not in the vein of Saving Private Ryan but it easily could have been.

What else helps this movie along is the really nice diversity of the cast. Yes the lead in the movie is a white girl, Felicity Jones playing Jyn Orso, but her surrounding cast does NOT include a white man. Her right hand man, Cassian Andor is played by Diego Luna and the other two key actors in this movie are Asian men. The incredible Donnie Yen plays the blind Chirrut Imwe and Wen Jiang plays Baze Malbus, Chirrut's protector and best friend. And let's not forget the Oscar Award winning Forrest Whitaker who plays the righteous rebel Saw Gerrera. This has to be the most diverse cast ever seen in a Star Wars film.

M biggest beef with this film is not just the lack of any real emotional punch but the horrible score by Oscar winner (still don't know how that shit happened) Michael Giacchino was not just disappointing but upsetting. The music supplied for this film was basically background noise and for the first non John Williams score for a Star Wars film it should have blown the roof off the theater. That didn't happen at all. Now in fairness to him he only had between three and four weeks to score the film due to reshoots and scheduling but for a $200 million dollar budgeted film the music should have been better. That being said I give Rogue One a solid three buckets of Killer Korn out of five. Enjoy this offering and I'll see you at the theater.

 

Doctor Strange

Doctor Strange is the latest film from writer/director Scott Derrickson and honestly it's better than I thought it would be. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the egotistical, know-it-all Dr. Stephen Strange at times this movie telegraphs where it's going. Thankfully that doesn't happen enough to get annoying but there are no real surprises here. That doesn't keep it from being entertaining and the performances are all top notch.

Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Ben Wong, Mads Mikkelesen, and Tilda Swinton all turn in great performances. They do their best to convince a broken Stephen Strange to fight on the side of light while all he wants to do is go back to his previous life as the preeminent neurosurgeon in the country. A vicious car accident (that even a blind person could see coming) takes the doctor's hands from him and the quest begins on trying to get them back.

Along the way there's some witty humor that's sprinkled in certain places and some trippy special effects that take architecture to a level never before seen. My only issue with Doctor Strange is the atrocious score offered up by Oscar award winning composer Michael Giacchino. This movie definitely deserved better music. Since that and a certain casting decision are my biggest issues here I give Doctor Strange three buckets of Killer Korn.

Captain America: Civil War

Captain America: Civil War is the latest film from directors Joe and Anthony Russo, the duo behind the highly entertaining Captain America: Winter Soldier. Civil War isn't as good as Winter Soldier in my humble opinion but that doesn't mean it's not epic, which it is in every way. It's another feather in the cap for Marvel and it was an amazing jumping off point for Black Panther. I think I need to see it again but for now I give Captain America: Civil War four buckets of Killer Korn.












To start off, Chadwick Boseman is BADASS as T'Challa aka Black Panther. I just had to get that out. Now you should already know by now who the characters are and who they are to each other unless of course you've been living under a rock since 2011. I have to admit I didn't initially like Winter Soldier but after re-watching it I figure I must have either been in a bad place in my life at the time OR I expected a better plot. Whatever the case I have come to realize just how good Winter Soldier was so I was really looking forward to Civil War (I was really hoping it was going to be better than Batman v. Superman and it was...by a country mile). Chris Evans reprises his role of course as the star spangled super soldier and now the fiercest BFF anyone could ever hope to have, Steve Rogers. Robert Downey Jr. is once again Tony Stark and these two men are on the opposite end of an argument about government oversight on the Avengers after a series of mishaps while they were trying to save the world. This movie could have actually been the third Avengers film since only Nick Fury, the Hulk, and Thor were MIA.

While the USA and at least 17 other countries were seeking to have the Avengers sign the Sokovia Accords, which Rogers felt were unwarranted there was a plot underway to bring the Avengers down from within. The amazingly talented Daniel Bruhl plays Zemo, a determined man with a brilliant plan to end the Avengers. Written by Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely, Civil War had the first plot that didn't feel like it came from a comic book. The plot in this epic movie was all about the very human emotion of revenge. It was about who wanted it, who deserved it, and who passed on it which is something everyone can relate too even if you aren't a comic book fan. In both Avengers films there was building tension between Rogers and Stark and in Civil War that was built up with the use of Cap's old friend Bucky Barns. Zemo's plan almost comes to fruition but he didn't account for awakening Black Panther who tenuously sides with Iron Man and his crew against Cap and his team just so he can get his hands on and claws into Bucky. Ant Man shows up and shows you that he also has the ability to get big, REALLY big. Spider Man shows up as well and his sense of humor and sarcasm was perfect. All in all every character had a great showing of who they are and what they can do.

The reason I say I need to see Civil War again is because where Winter Soldier was a tautly wound film with amazing action sequences, Civil War comparatively felt all over the place. That may be because Winter Soldier took place in one location whereas Civil War globe hopped. My one complaint with Civil War, well two actually are #1: the score. Henry Jackman was brought in again to lend his talents to Civil War and to build upon what he created for Winter Soldier. This time the score was more grandiose but lacking punch. All the same themes were there from Winter Soldier but the poignancy and beauty were missing. Issue #2: this movie could have been twenty to thirty minutes shorter if they had chosen to get into Zemo's plot quicker and didn't drag out what happened to Stark's parents which they repeatedly did (it was almost as bad as watching Bruce Wayne's parents get shot three times in Batman v. Superman, we get it!). I enjoyed Captain America: Civil War and I look forward to the next Marvel installment. I'll see you at the theater.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, the latest film from director Zack Snyder is a film that could have been spectacular if it just had a little "pull back". Batman v. Superman is an over the top extravaganza that after a while tends to grate on your nerves (well MY nerves). The story had holes in the size of a wrecking ball. Because of all this and more I can't give BvS anything more than two buckets of Killer Korn.













Hey look everyone, Zack's found a hammer. It's a nice hammer, and an expensive one no doubt. Looks like he knows how to swing that hammer well too so watch out because Zack is going to beat you all upside your head with it until you scream mercy (and then he'll take one last shot or two just because that hammer cost so much money). That's what Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice was like to me. Now I have defended Zack and his movies in the past because they entertained me (except Sucker Punch). I enjoyed 300, Watchmen, and Man of Steel and that's a pretty solid number as far as directors go in my opinion. BvS however was just bad. My main issue was everything, and I mean EVERYTHING felt like a major event. There were none of those small moments that make a film charming and granted Christopher Nolan's Batman films didn't have many of those either. What Nolan's films did have though were rock solid plots (except the last one but by then he was mentally working on Intersteller). BvS seemed like Snyder threw everything at the wall and used whatever stuck. Written by the guy that wrote Argo, Chris Terrio and the guy that has written or had a hand in some amazing works and who wrote Man of Steel, David S. Goyer, you would think this story would have been sharp. Sadly that is not the case.

BvS is a droll film with a lot of uninspired dialogue and slow motion images (a Snyder crutch apparently) which I'm guessing was supposed to up the dramatic factor. It just became quickly annoying instead. And was there really a need to remind everyone yet again how Bruce Wayne's parents died? I think that moment is firmly cemented in comic book and super hero movie lore but yet not only do we see it once but TWICE in this movie. I cannot in good conscience see any of the upcoming DC slated movies if Snyder is at the helm because he seems lost. I really enjoyed Man of Steel which is why I saw BvS, but the deft touch he showed on MoS is missing here. Here he whacks you over the head time and time again it seemed like he felt the need to justify the $350 million dollar budget (that's production + marketing). The movie could have ended at least five different times instead Snyder continues to whack you in the head with that pretty hammer. The only saving grace in this film is Wonder Woman who is actually badass. She saves both Batman and Superman's bacon and looks like a force to reckon with. I don't know how her stand alone movie will be but if she's as ferocious as she was in BvS then that movie should be a hit.

The drawbacks on BvS are many and believe me, I didn't go into this movie looking for them. I really wanted this movie to be good. I seriously did, I swear it. But when you see a Batman without the nuance that Nolan's Batman brought to the screen then you see all the mistakes. I like Ben Affleck, but he looked like he was dressed in a costume that was two sizes too small for him. The Batmobile looked like an oversized dune buggy and we never find out what happened to his mansion which is a burned out husk (taking off from Nolan's Batman perhaps?). There is NO humor in this movie whatsoever and nothing endearing that would inspire repeat viewing and Jessie Eisenberg's Lex Luthor was a cross between his Mark Zuckerberg performance from social network and a wannabee Joker. There were some amazing moments in this movie but they were few and far between. The score by Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL was good but I would have loved if Hans used his Batman themes from Nolan's movies here. That would have sent me through the roof but that was missed opportunity. I wished I liked this movie more, I wished it were better but this is one super hero movie I have no desire to ever see again (along with every Fantastic Four and Ghost Rider film). I'll see you at the theater.

10 Cloverfield Lane

10 Cloverfield Lane is the debut feature length film from director Dan Trachtenberg and it was disappointing to put it mildly. Don't waste your money our your time on this two buckets of Killer Korn film, it doesn't titillate at all.













This movie was a big fucking mistake. Let me expound on that. Did you see Clovefield, the gem 'found footage' film directed by Matt Reeves that dropped back in 2008? It was a monster film set in NYC that centered around a break-up/moving away celebration/monster attack and it was highly entertaining. So when I came across the title 10 Cloverfield Lane and found out it was produced by J.J. Abrams production company Bad Robot, the company behind Cloverfield I became excited. That excitement was tempered when I saw the trailer but I still wanted to check it out. Like I said it was a big fucking mistake.


Starring John Goodman, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and John Gallagher Jr. this movie should have been scrapped the second someone opened their mouths and spit out this premise. Three people living in a dated underground bunker where they play board games, finish puzzles, and watch movies on DVD and VHS tapes. Instead of making an all out monster movie that rivaled Godzilla or Pacific Rim where humans fight back against not an alien but monster invasion, it goes in the opposite direction. The movie is boring on so many levels until that last fifteen minutes when the character Michelle, played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead has had enough and wants out. She then becomes a one woman wrecking crew and wants to fight back against the invaders.


Where the original Cloverfield takes place in NYC, in 10 Cloverfield Lane you have no idea where this story is happening at. John Goodman's acting is exceptional and the man proves there's nothing he can't do as far as acting is concerned (except maybe play a Black woman). I am a big fan of The Newsroom's John Gallagher Jr. but he is utterly wasted in this film. The score by Battlestar Galactica's Bear McCreary is almost wall to wall and a bit overdone for the premise of the film. He did his best to add to the atmosphere, to give the film more heft but it fell flat in my opinion. This is the first film of Dan Trachtenberg's career and sadly it's off to a rocky start. Here's hoping his next film, whatever it may be is a better film than this  waste of time. I'll see you at the theater.

The Revenant

The Revenant, the latest film from accomplished director and writer Alejandro G. Inarritu is a breathtaking exhibit of talent and technology. The talent is obvious because the performances were beyond reproach and the technology is clearly visible even if you never noticed the intricacies of  camera work and lighting before. The Revenant is unlike anything I have ever seen before and because of that I give this amazing movie five buckets of Killer Korn.












Revenant - noun: A person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead.


The Revenant is as brutal a film as it is beautiful. Alejandro has shown us a world where everything is either life altering or life threatening. Starring two of the best actors today in Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, The Revenant is a story about loss, revenge, and redemption. It's told in a way that will leave you speechless afterwards as you try to process what it was you just witnessed. Now January has routinely been the month where studios dump there bad movies which still holds true in many respects, The Revenant however is the magnificent exception to that rule this year. I did not see Alejandro's acclaimed Birdman with Michael Keaton because I was not a fan of his previous work. I did not like his 21 Grams and I was frustrated by Babel. So my enthusiasm for The Revenant was tempered but I'm glad I saw it. It was extremely impressive work.

This may be the year people can stop wringing their hands about whether or not Leonardo will get his Oscar. If his performance in this movie doesn't win him the golden statue then nothing will because this is the best work he's ever done. As I stated earlier this movie is brutal and I can't imagine what the shoot was like nor do I want to. Some actors complained about Michael Mann's quest for authenticity in his Last of The Mohican's masterpiece so if no one threatened to walk off set during the making of this movie or was willing to incite mutiny, I would be shocked. The Revenant just looked like a logistical nightmare. Alejandro used natural lighting so that means waiting around until the light was right and the sun was in the right spot in the sky to continue shooting. There was body surfing in what had to be frigid waters along with scaling snow covered mountainous peaks. There was a bear attack that Leo's character Hugh Glass endures and it's relentlessly ferocious. That being said this film is an emotional binding one. The love Hugh has for his son Hawk, played by newcomer Forrest Goodluck is apparent from the start and it's his death along with the death of Hawk's mother that fuels Hugh's fight to live to exact his revenge.

The Revenant was immersive and intimate as it was vast. The vistas were beautiful to look at and served the purpose of showing just how alone Glass was on his journey back to "civilization". Alejandro did an excellent job of showing just who the savages were in this new frontier without stating the obvious and then pitting Glass up against the representation of that savagery. The movie was a marvel to behold and that was thanks to Oscar award winning cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. The filming techniques employed truly put you squarely in the middle of the action and made you part of Glass' journey. I think Emmanuel may have to make room for another award very soon. The score by Alva Noto, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Bryce Dessner was pitch perfect. It filled you with a sense of longing while adding to the isolation of Glass. The three artists involved in crafting the score appeared to have worked seamlessly together to deliver an aural landscape that fit Alejandro's visual one to the letter, it was an exceptional fit. If you are a movie lover then I highly recommend The Revenant because it's unlike anything you've ever seen before and will probably ever see again and I'll see you at the theater.

Killer Korn's Worst Ten Movies of 2015

Okay, I gave you my 'best of' list, so it only stands to reason that I bestow upon you the "best of" the worst fucking movies of 2015. These movies get the dreaded "Burnt Kernel" because they either failed to live up to expectations or were just so amazingly stupid I had to include them. So without further ado and no additional fanfare, let's get to the garbage.

#10 - Fantastic Four

Josh Trank's Fantastic Four was anything but. It started off with a lot of promise, but it quickly fell apart. Now there are rumors about how the studio took the film from Trank and edited it to Trank showing up on the set drunk out of his mind. Again just rumors but what isn't a rumor was just how bad this film was, and believe it or not, it is the worst preforming Fantastic Four film at the box office which is why I didn't bother to review it.

#9 - Jupiter Ascending

This cornball, ham-fisted of a movie flies in at number nine. Jupiter Ascending made little sense and what little sense it did make was just ridiculous. All of the performances seemed mailed in. Though visually the movie was impressive which is a Wachowski trademark. Too bad this is a fail on their resume. It was so bad I chose to not even review this movie either.

#8 - Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

Mockingjay Part 2 held plenty of promise after the brilliance of Part 1. Too bad it didn't even come close to delivering. This movie was a boring, schizophrenic waste of time that couldn't decide if it wanted to be an action film or a drama. Francis Lawrence and his Mockingjay missed the target on this one. A sad way to bow out.
Full review.

#7 - Southpaw

Antione Fuqua's boxing film Southpaw charged its way into the theaters with such hype that it seemed like a can't miss. It had a great director, great cast, and it was written by Kurt Sutter (the man behind Sons of Anarchy). Sadly this film was a melodramatic mess with a really stupid title which is why it's number seven on the list.
Full review.

#6 - Entourage

The tag line in Doug Ellin's Entourage was The Ride Ain't Over, and it really should have been. The number six film based off the HBO series that follows around a bunch of entitled knuckleheads in Hollywood was both a massive waste of time and money. My biggest beef was this should have been aired on HBO, not something released in theaters because it was just a longer episode of the show (and the show was garbage).
Full review.

#5 - Jurassic World

Forget for a second the dumb chick running from a Tyrannosaurus Rex in heels, and forget for a sec the "zookeeper" keeping prehistoric creatures from jumping on him and tearing him apart with just his hands (if you can). The top grossing movie of 2015 was also one of the worst (in my opinion). Colin Trevorrow's Jurassic World was just stupid and unexciting because you knew who would live and who would die in the jaws of the genetically modified dinosaur. Remember that.
Full review.

#4 - Tomorrowland

If you want to talk about a movie that made no sense and where the trailer was ten times better than the movie then you'd be talking about Brad Bird's big budgeted Tomorrowland. The trailer was a bait and switch of the highest order, and I'm still a tad bitter about it. They got me once, but I'll always look at any Brad Bird film in the future with a suspicious eye.
Full review.

#3 - Child 44

Tom Hardy has had one phenomenal 2015, but even he is not immune from clunkers, and director Daniel Espinosa's Child 44 was one of the worst clunkers of the year. A period film about a man seeking out a pedophile serial killer during the time of WWII sounds like it would make a pretty good movie. Well they tried and failed spectacularly.
Full review.

#2 - Terminator: Genisys

Alan Taylor's Terminator: Genisys was just bad on so many levels. Besides there being no chemistry between the two main actors and the story calling for turning John Connor into a terminator hybrid, whenever Arnold Schwarzenegger is the best thing about your film then you're in trouble. This was so bad that the proposed trilogy has been nixed which I think was a brilliant fucking idea.
Full review.






And the absolute worst movie of 2015 was...


#1 - 50 Shades of Grey

Sam Taylor-Johnson's film adaptation of E.L. James' novel was without a doubt worse piece of garbage of last year. There was NOTHING good about this film. There was no chemistry between anyone in the movie, there was no passion, and there wasn't a good story. I never read the book, but if it was as bad as this film then that was an excellent call on my part. As with Terminator: Genisys, the other two movies that were in the works for Jame's other two books in her series have been reconsidered. All I can say to that is thank the GODS!
Full review.

There are other atrocious movies that were released in 2015 that deserve honorable mention, but you know what. Why even bother? LOL

Killer Korn's Top Ten Movies of 2015

Welcome friends. Here it is, the list of all lists and the list I know you've all been chomping at the bit for. I've felt your angst as you wondered how I ranked the movies of the past year. Well these are the flicks that get the coveted "Golden Kernel" so wait no longer my devoted fans (or my casual, don't really give a fuck fans). Now whether you agree or disagree you have to admit one thing...I have awesome taste in movies :) Anyway, ON TO THE LIST!

10 - Star Wars

Star Wars comes in at #10. It was a fun spectacle and JJ Abrams did his best to deliver an entertaining popcorn movie. It just fell short on the storytelling and it seemed more like a reboot with a few modern touches than something truly original. But because it brought out my inner twelve year old, it cracks the top ten.

Full review...

9 - Avengers: Age of Ultron

Avengers: Age of Ulton clocks in at #9. This over the top comic book movie ushered into the theaters by Joss Whedon was a good time for all. Not to mention, in my opinion it's a far better movie than it's predecessor...HANDS DOWN!

Full review...

8 - The Martian

The Martian, a Ridley Scott production flies in at #8. The Martian had one of the most engaging stories to come down the pike in a long time thanks to writer Andy Weir. When you add Ridley's iconic eye to the mix you're going to get a very entertaining movie and The Martian was just that.

Full review...

7 - Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation was without a doubt one of the best summer films this year which is why it's #7 on my list. It's far more entertaining than any of the previous Mission Impossible incarnations. That may have something to do with the talented Christopher McQuarrie helming this film. It was good enough to see twice...which is just what I did.

Full review...

6 - Sicario

Sicario rolls in at #6. This intense film by director Denis Villeneuve told a tale woven in lies, conspiracies, and littered with bodies. It was a moody slow burn but the payoff was well worth it in the end. It could have been slightly edgier but for my buck it was a very satisfying time at the movies.

Full review...

5 - Creed

Ryan Coogler's amazing film Creed punches its way to #5 on my list. It's a scintillating follow-up to his breathtaking breakout film Fruitvale Station. The story of Apollo Creed's illegitimate son wanting to become a professional fight and seeking out his father's biggest rival and best friend to help him accomplish that was fascinating on absolutely every level.

Full review...

4 - Beasts of No Nation

The only film on the list that I didn't see in the theater (thanks to Netflix) is Cary Joji Fukunaga's powerful and heartbreaking film Beasts of No Nation. If you wanted to see a movie that would stay with you long after it ended, something truly unforgettable, Beasts was that movie.

Full review...

3 - Black Mass

Scott Cooper's frightening biopic Black Mass makes #3 on my list. Johnny Depp's portrayal of gangster Whitey Bulger was nomination worthy in my opinion. I loved this movie and found it almost flawless.

Full review...

2 - Legend

If you haven't seen Brain Hegeland's film Legend then you must not like yourself very much. You deprived yourself of one of the best films and performances of the year. Tom Hardy romps and stomps through this movie playing both the Kray twins in this crackling biopic and carries Legend into the #2 spot on my list.

Full review...




And the most entertaining film of 2015 in my opinion is....

1 - Mad Max: Fury Road

How could George Miller's fiery, adrenaline fueled Mad Max: Fury Road NOT be the #1 film? Not only does this movie entertain you it will also leave you exhausted. It possesses the simplest story of all the films on this list but not one of them blew me away like the orchestrated madness of Miller's explosive pursuit movie. I've seen it multiple times and it never fails to delight me. Because of that Max takes first place on my 2015 top ten list.

Full review >>


Here's hoping 2016 is as entertaining as 2015. I'll be seeing you at the theater.

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2, the long awaited sequel to Part 1 from last winter by director Francis Lawrence was nowhere near as good as Part 1 in my opinion. In fact Part 2 felt like it was a movie those involved in it or with it were just going through the motions. It was boring and uninspired. Because of that I can barely give Mockingjay 2 two buckets of Killer Korn.












So I finally saw this movie over the holidays, and I am glad I did not rush out and pay NYC movie theater ticket prices to see it. I would have truly been displeased had I done so. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 is a flat out boring film. That's not to say there isn't any action sequences because there are, but even those were tired and weak (mainly because of all the nothing that surrounds the sequences). I read all the books in the series by Suzanne Collins, and I remember the third book distinctly because it contained the attack on the Capitol, and it worked for the most part. The problem with this movie is that it stuck far too close to the book. I get it, You want to do that as much as possible as to not upset the fan base, but the way the book was written in my opinion wasn't going to translate well visually. This was supposed to be the culmination of the series, the all out attack on the Capitol. It was supposed to be this major confrontation and battle. Instead what we got was a movie that couldn't decide if it wanted to be an action film or a dramatic one. Instead we got a movie devoid of both.

This was one movie where a little thing known as "creative license" would have worked wonders. Instead of following the book almost to the letter and giving us wasted characters with no backstory why not give us an exciting action packed culmination with the ending of the book? Mockingjay Part 2 was a sorry way for this franchise to bow out. I don't know about anyone else, but I hate a bad ending to anything, and this was just horrid. We saw nothing new or different from Katniss this time around while heading into the Capitol on a mission to kill Snow. No ferocity or determination whatsoever. No frustration on her part to being used for propaganda purposes, and no real drive to get the job done as soon as possible to end all the bloodshed. What Francis Lawrence instead gave us was a suicide mission with characters we know NOTHING about, basically making them cannon fodder.

This film was filmed at the same time as Mockingjay Part 1 which is probably why everyone looked exhausted. They either seemed drained or completely disinterested, and believe me that showed onscreen. Visually the film looked the part, same camera work, same tone and look as the previous two, and that's thanks to Jo Willems who shot them. The music by James Newton Howard was great work, and he tried to give this placid movie some kind of movement. It was a valiant attempt, and I tip my hat to his effort, but honestly nothing was going to save this movie from itself. All I'll say is this. If you haven't seen this movie yet then save your money, buy the soundtrack, and read the last book as you listen. That's a better way to spend your money and your time. I'll see you at the theater.

Concussion

Concussion, the latest film from writer/director Peter Landesman is an intelligent and gripping tale about the brain trauma concussions cause in professional football players. It also speaks on the cover-up by the NFL regarding this information. It's a well crafted and timely movie when considering how football is the most popular sport in the country right now. For that reason and many more I am giving Concussion four and a half buckets of Killer Korn.












When you see Concussion it'll be hard to believe that it's only Peter Landesman's second feature film. It's rare that a director's second film is as good as Concussion is. Peter's first film was a movie entitled  Parkland which I missed unfortunately, but after seeing Concussion I am looking forward to seeing Parkland even more. Concussion tells the story of Dr. Bennett Omalu who is a forensic pathologist living in Pittsburgh during the time Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Fame football player Mike Webster committed suicide. As a die hard football fan I remembered hearing that news and thought something didn't make sense. Dr. Omalu was tasked to do the autopsy and he thought the same thing apparently. Mike Webster abandoned his family, became homeless, pawned his Super Bowl rings, and lost all of his money. During the autopsy the doctor couldn't understand why a seemingly healthy man with a brain that showed no signs of outward distress would live the way Mike Webster lived before his death. Dr. Omalu chose to run tests on Mike's brain and saw something that started the NFL down a path that organization never wanted to travel down.

Based on an article in GQ magazine by Jeanne Marie Laskas was the foundation on which this movie was built on and that article pulled no punches. It was far more damaging to the NFL than Concussion could ever be. I think in order to get any cooperation from the NFL though a more light handed approach was probably negotiated. There were a few names of other players that were in this movie of that I watched play like Andre Waters, Junior Seau, and Dave Duerson who suffered with CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy and committed suicide. And to know that it was all unnecessary was heartbreaking and Peter captured that as best he could. It wasn't overly maudlin or emotional nor was it glossed over. He walked that fine line with showing the downward spirals of these players while telling the compelling story of Dr Omalu and his life. There was a moment where Will Smith who plays Dr. Omalu brings a two by four to a wall in his newly constructed house tearing it down which to me represented the NFL tearing him and his work down when he honestly couldn't understand why he was being vilified when he was just trying to help the players and the league.

Will Smith was excellent as the talented and tormented Nigerian born Dr. Omalu and he was surrounded by an equally talented cast but that stand out in my opinion was David Morse. He played the tragic Mike Webster so well that there should be some kind of recognition for his portrayal. David is a chameleon and can bring any role to vivd life convincingly. To me he'll forever be Brutal from Shawshank. Concussion was easy on the eyes and a lot of that had to do with cinematographer Salvatore Totino. There was nothing special about the camera work but there was also nothing about it that took you out of the movie. It was good work. James Newton Howard did the score and it was a light touch to such a heavy topic. I think the music could have been more impactful but that's not in Howard's wheel house. Concussion may change the way you look at football but if you're a fan it probably won't. What it WILL do though is make you look ay the NFL differently and I think that's what they're frightened of more than anything. Concussion is definitely worth the price of admission so check it out and I'll see you at the theater.

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens

Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens, the newest offering from writer/director JJ. Abrams is a spectacular spectacle. It's chock full of adventure, humor, and heroics. That's not to say it's perfect because it's not. There are far too many holes and old ideas passed off as new. What it is though is what Star Wars has always been synonymous with (well the original trilogy anyway) and that's FUN! It's that fun factor that earns Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens four buckets of Killer Korn.












I am warning you now before you read any further, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS in this review. If you haven't seen the movie yet and don't want it spoiled in any way then STOP READING!!!

Now back to our regularly scheduled review.


There are some juicy tidbits regarding the movie to discuss but they'll be brought up later. What can be discussed now is how JJ Abrams masterfully delivered the shits and giggles. The story is somewhat convoluted and we have no real idea who the movie is about (is it about Rey, Finn, Luke?), but JJ and  co-writers Lawrence Kasdan (the writer of Empire and Jedi), and Michael Arndt (with Hunger Games: Catching Fire and Oblivion to his credit) delivered characters that are interesting, funny, heroic, and human. JJ the director just did what he does, deliver a visual feast for the eyes (without his trademark lens flare). He's no Irvin Kershner but Awakens had similarities of Kershner's Empire, at least stylistically. Thematically however, Awakens is more in line with Star Wars and Jedi as Empire was the only Star Wars movie without a weapon of planetary destruction as the center piece. This time around the dark side is represented by Kylo Ren, The First Order, and their planetary system destroying weapon, the Starkiller Base.

Luke Skywalker is missing. His sister, General Organa wants to find her brother and bring him home. The  Resistance she is in commanding needs him because the dark side is becoming more powerful and he is the last known Jedi. The entire movie is all about finding Luke but the Starkiller Base needs to be dealt with since it's next target is the planet that the resistance is using for it's home base. If that sounds familiar then you are not new to the Star Wars game. I'm personally beginning to wonder when the Empire/First Order is going to learn from their past mistakes. They've already lost two planet destroying battle stations so who knows what made them think this one would last but that's not my biggest beef with this movie as Starkiller Base almost seems like an afterthought (that is until Han Solo get's killed by his son). My biggest beef is that this movie doesn't focus on one character. We the viewer don't know who we should be emotionally invested in. In Star Wars we met Luke and it was through Luke that we met Obi-Wan, Han, and Leia. In Awakens we meet Finn, a Stormtrooper from the First Order who wants out and Rey, a scavenger from the planet Jakku who's waiting on her family to return. The two wind up running from the First Order together and going on a life changing adventure with BB-8 in tow.

As I stated earlier, Awakens is a great feast for the eyes and that's due in large part to cinematographer Daniel Mindel. He's worked with JJ on his Star Trek films so they both have a good idea what each other wants. JJ also usually works with Oscar award winning composer Michael Giacchino but how can there be a Star Wars movie without the maestro John Williams behind the score? That idea is inconceivable so John did his best to craft a score befitting a Star Wars movie. Sadly in my opinion John's score was more reminiscent of his Harry Potter compositions than his earlier Star Wars works. It's my hope that the next film has a more dynamic, thematic, and potentially iconic score. I left the theater definitely wanting more which is what the producers and the director wants because as of this writing they are currently filming the follow up. I personally can't wait and I'm sure when you see Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens you will feel the same and I'll see you at the theater.

Creed

Creed, the latest film from writer/director Ryan Coogler is a force of nature.  It's a highly preceptive film with a whirlwind of blistering moments that conjure up a torrent full of raw uncapped emotions that come at you like fighters fists. Coogler's Creed is not a perfect film at all, but it's well crafted and better executed. Because of that I give Creed four solid buckets of Killer Korn.














With Creed Ryan Coogler has perhaps put himself on the cusp of greatness with just his second feature length film. That's something rare for any director, but for a Black director it's unheard of. I think only Spike Lee and Matty Rich garnered such buzz after their first two films. People were curious to see what their third projects were going to be, and other than myself I am sure there are quite a few people waiting with baited breath to see what Coogler will do next. (As of this post he is rumored to direct Marvel's Black Panther.) Creed should do what the disappointing Southpaw didn't, resurrect the boxing film. Make no mistake, where Southpaw fell short Creed excelled. Both movies were gripping, and like Southpaw, Creed had a scintillating leading man. Where Creed separates itself is with all the wonderful nuances like HBO's 24/7 segment or the touches of boxing realism. The biggest advantage though is the name of the movie. It's grandfathered in so to speak and every fan of the Rocky movies knows the name Creed. That added to the gravitas and the true beauty of this movie is that you don't have to be a fan of the Rocky franchise to enjoy Creed. You don't even have to be a fan of boxing to appreciate Creed because the characters are so rich.

Michael B. Jordan who plays Adonis Creed is definitely on his way to being a household name. His portrayal of the forgotten son of Apollo Creed was transcendent. Jordan has been a phenomenal actor since his days on The Wire as Wallace, but his physical transformation is reminiscent of DeNiro's Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull. He carries this movie like he carried Fruitvale Station and seems to have a symbiotic relationship with Coogler. Adonis is a hot head when we meet him as a pre-teen in juvenile detention and headed nowhere fast until Mary Anne Creed comes to his rescue. She's not his mother, and yet takes him in as her son since he is Apollo's son from an affair. His father died before Adonis was born, but fighting is what Adonis knows best.  He compelled to follow in his father's footsteps, but wants to make his own name so he uses his mother's last name instead. He's an angry Black man with a warped sense of manhood and looking for direction. He moves from L.A. to Philadelphia and seeks out Rocky in the hopes that Rocky will train the son of his one time nemesis and best friend. What follows is movie gold.

Creed is beautiful to watch. There is one fight that is one continuous shot, no cuts, no breaks, and it's amazing. You feel like you are in the middle of the fight ducking punches and moving from side to side. There are incredibly intimate moments between Adonis and his lady, Bianca, played by the beautiful Tessa Thompson that are shot with minimal camera movement putting you bedside or in the booth with them as they eat and share. It's excellent work by cinematographer Maryse Alberti who by the way also shot Mickey Rourke in his Oscar nominated performance in The Wrestler. The score by Ludwig Goransson was magnificent. He embellished on Bill Conti's magic while at the same time crafting a theme for Creed that stands alone. Only time will tell however if it will become iconic. Coogler has the perfect set up for Creed 2 should he want to turn this into a franchise. After the cheering I did and the goosebumps I got, I hope he does because Creed is absolutely worth the price of admission. See it and I'll see you at the theater.

Legend

Legend, the latest film from writer/director Brian Helgeland is a highly entertaining biopic on the notorious Kray twins from the East side of England. There are moments of utter hilarity, violence, an heartbreak during the unfolding of the story and when you have those three ingredients along with fascinating subject matter and amazing acting, then that usually adds up to hit movie. That's what Brian Helgeland may just have on his hands and that's one of the reasons I'm giving Legend four and half buckets of Killer Korn.










The first time I really noticed Tom Hardy was in a crackling film entitled Bronson. He was so convincing in that movie, so magnetic that I went back and found him in previous movies that I had seen already and had no idea he was in like Star Trek: Nemesis and Black Hawk Down. His range was dynamic and his talents were so undeniable that I became a Hardy fan. I didn't think he'd be able to top himself after seeing this years Mad Max: Fury Road but it was his performance in that film that compelled me to see Legend. The movie is about the Kray twins, Ronald and Reginald who were gangsters back in 60's England. Reggie was the somewhat more level headed of the two, who saw himself initially as a businessman rather than a gangster. Ronald was the beast, a man prone to sudden acts of violence and anger so profound that you never knew what might set him off, a man who embraced the word gangster. Hardy captured these two distinct personalities in such grand ways that you cease to see him and instead you see the twins. It was, without any subterfuge an epic performance and one that will be talked about for years to come. That's not to say the movie was perfect, there were some holes in the story and a lot of underdeveloped characters buzzed around the twins but since Hardy dominates the screen in a myriad of ways (even his walk is a character) then you may find yourself not really caring about the Krays crew.

Now believe it or not there was some serious talent in this movie alongside Tom. Emily Browning plays Frances, the wife of Reggie, David Thewlis plays Leslie Payne, the Krays business advisor and money launderer, Chazz Palminteri plays Angelo Bruno, the middle man between the Krays and Meyer Lanski. Paul Bettany makes a frightening and funny appearance as does Sam Spruell who plays Jack "The Hat" McVitie. Taron Egerton, fresh off his turn as Eggsy in Kingsman also makes as much of his secondary character Mad Teddy Smith as possible. It's a talented lot to put it mildly but they all take a backseat to the man. If you are not a Tom Hardy fan, first I ave to ask,  what in the hell is wrong with you? Secondly do NOT see this movie as he's in virtually every shot being smug and menacing. I won't give any of the plot away (especially since you can read up on the Krays on their Wikipedia page for yourself) but Brian Helgeland's screenplay was adapted from John Pearson's book The Profession of Violence and if it's anything like the movie, it's a must read.

I've never been to London but I doubt any sets had to be built for Legend. Shot entirely in the UK I would imagine the hardest thing to come by production wise were the cars. The costume designers did an excellent job of dressing one man two different ways in order for him to portray two different personlities. I'm sure some pieces had to be made but it wouldn't surprise me if most of the clothes were purchased from second hand shops. Legend's look was also crafted by Oscar nominated cinematographer Dick Pope. The framing, the camera movement and placement were perfect and made you feel like you were very much a part of the action. The score by Carter Burwell was a jazzy soundtrack which surprisingly fit perfectly alongside the pop songs of the day. It was a nice light touch. I highly recommend Legend to everyone. It will convert you into a Tom Hardy fan if you aren't one by now and if you are a Hardy fan, than this is your early Christmas gift. Enjoy and I'll see you at the theater.

Spotlight

Spotlight, the latest film from writer/director Tom McCarthy is an intense, intelligent, and heartbreaking film that can leave you feeling a couple of ways, and none of them are good. The performances were stellar if not a bit cold and while the subject matter feels like it's ten years too late, Spotlight was good enough for me to give it three and a half buckets of Killer Korn.















I am just going to lay this out here, I am not a fan of Tom McCarthy's last film. The actor/writer/director's last work was the horrible Adam Sandler racist piece of crap entitled The Cobbler. After seeing the trailer for Spotlight however, I had no qualms about doctoring my popcorn just right and heading into the theater. I am not Catholic but I have known people who were and who hasn't heard of the scandal of the Catholic church and their priests and the child molestation accusations? Spotlight chose to discuss that madness in a way never approached in a film before. This film shines a spotlight (see what I did there?) on a team of reporters from the Boston Globe who investigated the Catholic priests and the abuse allegations in the predominantly Catholic population. They unearthed such rampant cases of abuse that while they initially buried the news when it came to light years before, it was just too much to keep hidden a second time around. Spotlight is a taught drama that highlights the overwhelming disbelief that this kind of sexual abuse was happening in parishes all over the city of Boston and the state of Massachusetts. It was like the reporters themselves had a hard time wrapping their brains around it.

Those Spotlight reporters were Mark Ruffalo, who was incredible as Mike Rezendes, Michael Keaton as Walter Robinson, Rachel McAdams as Sacha Pfeiffer, and Brian d'Arcy James as Matt Carroll. Alongside them was Liev Schreiber as Marty Baron, John Slattery as Ben Bradlee Jr. Stanley Tucci as Mitchell Garabedian, and Billy Crudup as Eric Macleish. It's a talented cast and they were all good but the stand out was Ruffalo. His portrayal of Rezendes was electrifying and he was the one I'm sure most viewers will gravitate to. He voices his anger in such an impactful and profound way about this story that it inspires others of his team to get off their hands and to even fall on their swords. I've always thought Mark was a solid to good actor, thanks to Spotlight he just became great in my opinion.

The movie eschewed any nice aerial shots of Boston, the camera work was nothing special, it wasn't a pretty film to look at. In fact it was almost drab but with this particular subject matter making this movie something visually interesting would have almost been inappropriate. Cinematographer Masayobu Takayanagi kept Spotlight visually close to the vest when you compare it to his previous film, Black Mass which visually arresting. The piano heavy score by Howard Shore was disappointing. This was a chance for a really dark melodic score considering the subject and instead what we received something that seemed rudderless. There was nothing memorable here and I know this Oscar award winning composer is better than this. As I said earlier the subject matter for Spotlight feels like it's ten years too late but when it comes to molested children at the hands of some of the most trusted men in the communities, stories like this never get old. That's one of the issues I have with recommending Spotlight, but if you do see it...brace yourself and I'll see you at the theater.

Spectre

Spectre, the latest film from acclaimed director Sam Mendes is a twisting, turning, action packed film filled with covert actions and flashes of violence. Spectre spans the world putting Bond in the harshest environments and pitting him against some of the most ferocious villains seen in Bond film is a very long time. If you're a fan of the Bond films then Spectre will most assuredly entertain and because of that I give it four buckets of Killer Korn.













I'm just going to put it out there, I thought Skyfall was a decent Bond film but I wasn't head over heels in love with it. It had some truly magical moments but I thought it could have been better in a lot of ways. It seems Sam Mendes felt the same way because he improved on the good things he did and discarded all the things that didn't work in Skyfall. Spectre is a throwback to Bond films of the Connery/Moore days and that was refreshing. Instead of going over the top with the villains and the toys from Q, Spectre brings a sense of brutal realism to the world of Bond. There's a menacing, hulking villain in Spectre that rivals the likes of Odd Job and Jaws that honestly makes you question what would happen to Bond if the two went toe to toe. I have been looking for  a weakness in this film since I saw it and I can't find one which is surprising after I read about all the major rewrites and reshoots of the third act. That's a testament to the skills of Sam Mendes as a director and his editing team but that may also be the reason why Spectre may be Daniel Craig's last ride as 007.

Starring alongside Daniel are the normal cast of talented actors from Skyfall. Ralph Fiennes as M, Naomi Harris as Moneypenny, Ben Winslow as Q, and Rory Kinnear as Tanner. This time around Christoph Wentz is the big bad guy who in typical Bond fashion for it's bad guys talks WAY too much. He plays Oberhauser and is the leader of the underground all powerful Spectre organization. Lea Seydoux plays the latest "Bond girl" Madeleine Swan who captures the dichotomy of fragility and fearlessness better than most Bond girls before her. At first she got on my nerves but eventually she won me over. Andrew Scott plays C, the man who seeks to shut down the double 0 program, Dave Bautista who plays the dangerous Hinx, and Jesper Christensen who plays the tragic Mr. White.
The chases were gripping, particularly the one in the Alps that made me absolutely giddy because it brought me back those incredulous Bond chases of the past. The fights were physical, frenetic, and just flat out awesome (yeah, I said it).

Spectre was a gorgeous film to watch. The sets, the mountains, and the framing of the shots were impressive. The cinematographer on this Bond film was the award winning Hoyte Van Hoytema who's last project was the Christopher Nolan space odyssey Interstellar. Thomas Newman was once again tasked to score his second Bond film and I have to say in my opinion, he did a vastly better job of it this time around. I was disappointed in his score for Skyfall but he hit all the right notes here. It was a job well done. I vociferously recommend this film for those looking to be entertained at the movies and even more so for Bond fans. Spectre will not disappoint in any way. I'll see you at the theater.