Hollywood Movie Reviews

Thanks to Matt Damon's compelling performance, Stillwater is an evocative look at the lengths a father would go to help his daughter.

Directed by Tom McCarthy, this film sees Damon return to the big screen with a bang. As the lead character, you never want to take your eyes off him because he gives you different reasons to hang on till the end credits begin rolling in.

Damon plays Bill Baker, a father who learns that there may be a way to prove his daughter's innocence after she has spent a few years behind bars for a crime she says she never committed.

Bill stumbles on a lead in the closed case and pursues it relentlessly. Along the way, he tries to make up for being the shitty father to his estranged daughter while forging a new bond with a single mother and her little daughter.

I won't give more than the above information so that I will not end up revealing too much about the plot. I will just urge movie fans to see this because it is worth watching.

Even though it's a thriller, Stillwater leans more on its dramatic side, bringing out convincing performances from all the actors. 

Abigail Breslin who plays the convicted daughter doesn't disappoint. Her character learns to embrace her imperfections and slowly the bond between her and her dad grows, giving them a chance to mend old wounds from their traumatic past.

In the end, this film is a triumph as its shows life in its truest forms; messy, tragic, pleasant, and unpredictable. A mystery creeps up in the end that leaves the viewer using his or her imagination to solve the riddle. 

The director and everyone involved did a fine job with this one (I especially laud Damon again because the dude makes almost every film he appears in good).

A truly compelling drama.

Chase Palmer's dark comedy has its moments but ends up being underwhelming even though lead star John Boyega is fun to watch.

Boyega plays Casi, a burned-out lawyer who accepts a proposition from his friend (Bill Skarsgard) to rob a Mexican cartel and finally have the means to make something of their mundane lives.

Casi and Dane's robbery plan also involves getting Lea (Olivia Cooke) from the clutches of the bad guys as she is neck-deep in something she doesn't want to be in.

As is expected, the plan doesn't go according to plan and along the way, everyone involved has to improvise, leading to a chaotic but satisfying ending for the good guys.

The above pretty much sums up the movie. The plot was a bit confusing at times and I couldn't get where the dialogue of some of the characters was heading.

As a fan of John Boyega, I have looked forward to him flexing his acting muscles and thought this might be it but that is not the case here as he is limited by a script that switches between realistic events, bizarre comedy, and mumbo jumbo science talk.

Bill Skarsgard and Olivia Cooke make good work of being memorable supporting characters but the viewer forgets about them once the end credits begin rolling in.

I sat through the film because I was eager to see how it would end. Having done that, I would say Naked Singularity is one of those films that attempt to soar beyond a mediocre script. While it fails to do that, it still manages to make for a pretty decent watch.

John David Washington drives this pulse-pounding thriller with a sublime performance. Starting at a slow pace, Beckett picks up just in time, and from that moment on the viewer is hooked until the very end.

The lead actor plays the titular character; a man who is on vacation with his girlfriend (Alicia Vikander) in Greece. A car accident at night leads to her death and him injured.

Beckett is rescued by the authorities and goes back to the crash site; a costly mistake as some cops try to kill him. He goes on the run, not knowing why he is being hunted down.

As events unfold, the protagonist learns that he saw what he was not supposed to see and those who know about it will go to any length to end his life.

A haunting soundtrack, excellent camera work, and superb acting by all the actors involved make this film very engaging. As the hero, Beckett's dilemma is one that the viewer understands, and empathy is easily evoked.

Washington plays the hunted hero to perfection; his inner conflict and the range of emotions are shown in every scene. The plot structure is excellent as it gives the viewer some time to guess before the mystery is slowly unraveled.

Beckett is a taut thriller, one with heart and a stupendous lead star. With a compelling story and a remarkable protagonist, the director creates a film that will leaves a major impression.

For me, this is one of the year's best. Two thumbs up!

Vivo is entertaining enough, thanks to its unique array of musical numbers. What it lacks in story and depth, it makes up for in the wonderful songs and dazzling visuals.

Helmed by Kirk DeMicco, this animated musical stars Lin-Manuel Miranda as a mammalian creature named Vivo who is gifted in music. When his longtime pal unexpectedly passes away, he takes it on himself to fulfill his dying wish and go to Miami, Florida where he must deliver a song to a famous singer.

Vivo hides in the backpack of a girl named Gabi (she is the grand-niece of his late friend). Though musically inclined, she lacks the finesse that the art form needs.

Together, Vivo and Gabi go on a journey of adventure, friendship, and musical renditions, learning some valuable lessons along the way.

The plot is cliche and the story is more or less a rip-off of most musicals and animated movies. The character designs are a little disappointing, with the first 20 minutes of the film almost unbearable to watch.

Thankfully, the pace picks up and things become interesting when Gabi and Vivo begin their musical journey. 

The voice acting is not bad and the best part of the movie is the songs and the bright and colourful visual illustrations that go with them. 

Lin-Manuel Miranda may not be an outstanding voice actor but the dude sure knows music and how to compose memorable songs.

In all, Vivo isn't on par with some of Disney's best animated movies but it carries with it the basic elements that make for a fun and entertaining encounter.

James Gunn has finally given us a movie that shows the ragtag team as it should be. His interpretation is everything it should be and so much more!

Let me just state that The Suicide Squad is one of the best comic book movies ever made. With it, David Ayer's terrible original is easily forgotten as this one puts it to shame.

Despite being impressed by what James Gunn did with Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, I watched the trailer of this film with indifference, thinking, 'Oh yeah, James Gunn has hopped on board. What kind of mess are we in for now?' Well, his film truly is a mess, one that is bold and beautiful, artistic and violent, wonderful and daring.

Idris Elba leads the ensemble cast here, playing Robert DuBois/Bloodsport, a criminal chosen to lead the members of the Suicide Squad on a mission to a South American nation.

Viola Davis plays Amanda Waller, the cold and calculating individual coordinating the mission from far away. Her job is to make sure the team succeeds, no matter the cost.

From the moment the Suicide Squad reaches the island, everything that could possibly go wrong begins to and as they begin to drop one by one, it's up to those left to finish the job or die trying.

I commend the efforts of all the actors; I can't quite single out anyone because they are all astonishing in their different portrayals of the messed-up individuals.

The action is bloody and beautiful, the cinematography is a work of art, and the special effects are out of this world. Also, there are some twists that you'll never see coming.

Despite the craziness that goes on throughout this movie, there is definitely a method to the onscreen madness and a lot of heart as well. 

I had a swell time seeing The Suicide Squad and comic book lovers will too. I will definitely give it a second watch because it is so worth it!

Two thumbs way up for director James Gunn and the cast and crew for making this exceptionally creative masterpiece!

If there is one that works for Jungle Cruise, it's the entertainment it brings. Besides that, it really offers nothing.

Jaume Collet-Serra's film employs all the typical elements you would expect from a Disney movie. This is not always a bad thing when it's done right but when in this age and technology, you can't add something new to the table, then your movie is more or less a disappointment.

Jungle Cruise is watchable, thanks to the remarkable duo of Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt; their onscreen chemistry is undeniable and their constant squabbles make the plot engaging.

Apart from the above, the film has nothing major to offer. One thing I don't like is the fact that instead of shooting on location, some scenes were done in the studio (that's quite easy to see even though CGI tries to make you believe otherwise).

The action is disappointing and the effects used for leopard made me cringe. Even a child will know that the creature isn't real and isn't really there.

I didn't understand some of the choices the characters make and even though they face precarious situations throughout, there was never truly this sense of danger.

Dwayne Johnson always steals the show in most of the movies he appears in but that isn't the case here. Emily Blunt matches his charismatic performance with her scene-stealing scenes. Both of them appear to be an onscreen match made in heaven.

Even though I was interested in the story, there were times when I lost interest and didn't care what happened to whoever. That shows that in terms of pacing and consistency, the film wavers.

In all, Jungle Cruise is another entertaining but forgettable Disney film.

Jolt is a mediocre movie that is anything but electrifying. Despite Kate Beckinsale's presence, it fails to leave any lasting impression.

Starring as a woman with a medical condition that makes her basically act like the Hulk, Beckinsale plays Lindy Lewis, a lady who decides to have a social life by going on a date with Justin (Jai Courtney).

After meeting with him twice, Lindy starts to develop strong feelings for Justin. Their romance comes to an abrupt end when he is unexpectedly murdered.

Lindy decides to take matters into her hands by going after whoever killed Justin, making the decision to unleash her long-repressed anger on her trail of vengeance.

The story is not bad but Jolt suffers from poor execution. Beckinsale is a joy to watch any day but she can't save this film from being a drab and predictable affair.

The action scenes are terrible despite the slow motion used and the visual effects look cheap. The villain (when he does reveal himself) turned out to be exactly who I predicted.

This is a film that disappoints on almost every level and it's a shame that an action star of Beckinsale's caliber got a starring role in it.

This is a film that feels rushed and should have been made into a miniseries. Despite that, it doesn't disappoint in terms of spectacle, visuals, and action.

Jim and the rest of the heroes from the series on Arcadia rally together to stop the Arcane Order after their attempt to prevent them from raising the Titans fails.

Still struggling to come to terms with the fact that his powers as the Trollhunter are no longer with him since the destruction of the magical amulet, Jim must find a way to save earth from certain doom.

This film doesn't play safe when it comes to the damage of the epic battles and by the time some of the major characters begin dying, you get a feeling of dread because you never know who is next.

Three different directors helmed this and at some point, their efforts to unite their visions don't quite merge into a unifying whole. 

The pacing is really fast and those who haven't watched the series before will have a hard time trying to keep up as events unfold.

The action, though, enjoyable, can't be compared to that of some of the best fights in the previous series but the emotions this time make the plot all the more relatable and satisfying.

The themes of friendship. heroism and sacrifice shine through, and even though this film isn't as monumental and remarkable as the trailer shows, it ends up being as entertaining as one would expect.

Without mincing words, I would say that this is one of the worst movies of 2021. It's a waste of the ensemble cast of talented female stars who put a lot of effort into this visual garbage.

Trying to imitate John Wick and some of the most outstanding action films ever made, Gunpowder Milkshake ends up being a failure of epic proportions.

Let's start with the protagonist; a female assassin who is recruited by The Firm to kill someone who has stolen from them. For whatever reason, she hesitates before pulling the trigger only to find out that he was only going to use the cash to pay as a ransom for his kidnapped 8-year-old daughter.

From there on out, the film falls into ludicrous territory, with Sam (the name of the heroine) making the most unrealistic choices (one of which is deciding to be a mummy to the orphaned girl).

As for the girl, she doesn't even react to her dad being killed and is dry-eyed as she stares at his bloodied corpse (seriously!!??).

Another thing to note about Sam is that she has mummy issues herself (her absentee mum who is also a killer-for-hire disappeared years ago and since then poor Sam has held a grudge).

So, it only made sense when the killer mother (played by Lena Headey) suddenly reappears to lend a helping hand when Sam is hunted down by the same organization she works for after killing the son of a mob boss.

From one ridiculous action sequence to the next, everything about this film sucks big time. I feel so sorry for the lead star, Karen Gillan as I wanted this to work for her. Too bad it didn't.

The director, Navot Papushado, needs to go back to the drawing board and learn from those who have successfully helmed action movies because Gunpowder Milkshake is just plain terrible from start to finish. 

Till Death manages to shake off some pacing issues in its first thirty minutes, grip the attention of the viewer and explode into a nail-biting finale.

Starring Megan Fox in the lead role, the film sees her character Emma grudgingly agree to go with her husband on a getaway trip during their marriage anniversary.

Emma is hiding a secret and unknown to her, her spouse knows and has hatched the perfect plan to make sure she really suffers for it. He shoots handcuffs himself to her and shoots himself in the head, opening the door to a long day in which Emma must battle the surviving cold and the determined men who come after her.

I had issues with Fox's acting early as it seemed like she was forcing herself to play the part. The actor who plays her husband can't quite decide if he wants to use an English accent or an American one.

After being bored for more than 30 minutes following the start of the film, things finally got interesting close to the forty-minute nark and from then onwards, it was full-throttle fun.

The suspense works well enough to sustain the interest of the viewer, and the antagonist has a really menacing presence that makes him compelling. His accomplice however makes some irrational choices in the course of the film, suddenly growing a conscience and deciding to protest when things begin to get out of hand.

The conclusion is predictable but thrilling and by the end of it, the main character would have earned your respect.

Till death is a pretty decent film that offers the needed entertainment. It isn't anything close to spectacular but movie lovers without high hopes will find it worth watching.