The King of Staten Island

Written by Judd Apatow, Pete DAvidson & Dave Sirus

Directed by Judd Apatow

Rating: ⭐️ better than a psl

Scott (Pete Davidson), is a 24-year-old dead beat from Staten Island who is forced to re-evaluate his life when his widowed mother (Marisa Tomei) begins dating a fireman (Bill Burr). The twist is that Scott’s deceased father was a fireman who died on duty and Scott still feels quite traumatized from the event. This trauma has led to an apathetic life of under-achieving and taking out his insecurities and frustration on the people he loves the most.

If you’re a huge fan of Pete Davidson, like me, then you know that IRL Davidson’s father was a FDNY firefighter who died on 9/11. Davidson has been very open about this and even has bits about it in his stand up comedy. His shocking approach to joking about 9/11 has a polarizing affect, but since his connection to the event is so personal and heartbreaking it’s easy to see how these jokes are a coping mechanism to deal with the trauma. The King of Staten Island is a semi-autobiographical film co-written by Davidson, Judd Apatow, and David Sirus and it offers an authentic look inside Davidson’s life and his struggle with trauma, mental health, and addiction. What I enjoyed the most about this movie was the authenticity and the fact that Davidson didn’t try to sugarcoat who he is. We are offered a genuine slice of life movie and I loved every minute of it. Don’t let the cast and director fool you into thinking this is a comedy. It’s more of a slow-burning drama with comedic moments. The King of Staten Island offers heart, quirky comedy, and cathartic healing that tugs at the heartstrings and I can’t recommend it highly enough. 

Review written by Zianna Weston

The Surrogate

Written and directed by Jeremy Hersh

Rating: 🔥 that’s hot

The Surrogate explores the 21st century family in a way that reflects our modern times, and unfortunately isn’t often portrayed in the media. A college best friend agrees to donate her eggs to her gay best friend and his partner so that they can start a family, and she agrees to be their surrogate. But this beautiful act of service becomes complicated when they discover during prenatal testing that the baby has Down syndrome. Is this something that her best friend’s feel adequately prepared for? Can they financially and emotionally provide for this child? And if they decide to terminate the pregnancy, is this eugenics?

These and several other complicated questions are explored throughout the film in a way that has you feeling the pressure that the characters feel, what would you do if you were in there shoes? @jasminelashelle gives a layered and dynamic performance as the titular character and she is an easy protagonist to root for. The film is slow-paced and quiet without distraction, which adds to the feeling of reality that the director @jeremyhersh must have been going for. This is an important film about what it looks like to have a family in the 21st century and I highly recommend renting it on @amazonprimevideo

Review written by Zianna Weston

Uncut Gems

Written by Ronald Bronstein, Josh Safdie, and Benny Safdie

Directed by Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie

Rating: 👌🏼 ok

Howard Ratner (Adam Sandler), owner and operator of a rare gems shop, is always looking to make a deal. Like a caffeine fueled energizer bunny Howard is always running from one place to the next, buying inventory, pawning personal property, leveraging the property of others, placing bets, and forever on the hunt of the next way to make a buck. Desperate to keep it all together, his relationship with his wife Dinah (Idina Menzel) is only a façade of the happy family that the two had originally tried to create together. His career that he is obsessed with is threatened when he finds himself owing money to the wrong person. Can Howard keep it all together, or will the high-pressure life that he has created finally implode?

First of all, let me say that this film is well-made and I can why a lot of people are raving about it. But I am not one of those people. If you are looking for an anxiety inducing plot full of yelling (Sandler, why must you yell EVERY line?), fighting with family, fighting with business partners, and fighting with random people on the street then this is definitely the movie for you! Kudos to the Safdie Brothers for creating a movie where you feel every ounce of Harold’s anxiety and stress. However, as someone who struggles enough with their own anxiety and actively seeks to reduce stress constantly, I didn’t have a good time in Harold’s world. It was loud, it was obnoxious, and I didn’t like any of the people inside of it.  

This is a film that could be unpacked and analyzed to find the deeper themes, but at the end of the day I just don’t care enough to do so. Harold as the anti-hero left me feeling no emotion for him. There are some pivotal moments of the film where you are called upon to feel compassion for him and to empathize with his heartbreak. But he’s such a piece of sh*t I just can’t. If he had put any effort whatsoever into his relationships, or into bringing any type of positivity into the world then I could have felt for him. As is, he just spends his life walking very quickly through the streets of New York City, yelling on his cell phone, lying, and being a real douche canoe to everyone he encounters. So, do I feel bad for him when people call him out on his sh*t? Not at all. Call me traditional, but I need a hero I can root for.

Review written by Zianna Weston

1917

Written by Sam Mendes and Krysty Wilson-Cairns

Directed by Sam Mendes

Rating: ⭐️ better than a psl

Two young British privates are given the task to deliver a message to call off an attack at the front lines. Their 1,600 British troops are about to fall into a German trap. If they fail, it is sure to be a blood bath. So, what’s the catch? To deliver this message they must leave the “safety” of the British trenches, travel across no man’s land, through (hopefully) deserted German trenches, across miles of open countryside, through a German occupied town, and then into the woods to find the British troops. Who would be crazy enough to carry out such suicidal orders? Cue Private Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman). His brother (Richard Madden) is a Lieutenant at the front and his death is imminent should he and Private Schofield (George MacKay) fail.

Wow. Just wow. This movie took my breath away. 1917 is not a movie about the glories of war, it’s a film about the reality of war. If you are squeamish about blood, dead bodies, and trench foot, then this film will be a tough watch. I have a theory about why films about WWI are only recently becoming popular. As arguably the most grotesque war in history, I think we needed a generation desensitized by Game of Thrones-style violence to be able to handle the gore of this war and be able to effectively tell its stories. As a former history teacher, and a forever history buff, I think it’s incredibly important to tell the stories of the lost generation. This generation was so mutilated by war that it necessitated the invention of plastic surgery in an attempt to enable veterans to go in public without their appearance scaring people. So yes, warning, this film is gory. But it is powerful, intense, beautiful, and in my opinion a must-watch.

Let’s start with the sound. Cue Academy Award nominations! Much like Dunkirk, this is a movie that relies heavily on audio to tell the story. From loud, raging battles, to eerie silence, the sound in this film demands your attention. The score by Thomas Newman is hauntingly beautiful and might be one of my favorite scores of all time. In addition to being an auditory dream, this film is a feast for the eyes as well. The scope of the film starts wide with sweeping shots of the idyllic countryside that transition seamlessly to the claustrophobia-inducing shots in the trenches. The stellar production design is enhanced by powerful performances by the entire cast, most notably by George MacKay. In a film with little dialogue, he communicates so much through his actions. I think this film is going to be an Award’s season powerhouse and I highly recommend seeing it in theaters. 1917 will be playing in theaters on Christmas day.

 Review written by Zianna Weston

The Two Popes

Written by Anthony McCarten

Directed by Fernando Meirelles

Rating: ⭐️ better than a psl

Pope Benedict (Anthony Hopkins) and Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio (Jonathan Pryce) could not be more different. One is focused on preserving the history and values of the Catholic church, and one wants to see the church make changes to help the poor and be more inclusive. Based on the true story of the first Pope to step down in hundreds of years and Pope Francis’s rise to power, Two Popes gives us an inside look into what these dissimilar men’s conversations may have sounded like.

Director Fernando Meirelles (who directed the critically acclaimed City of God) has a very unique style that worked in favor of contrasting the rich and extravagant life of the church in the Vatican City, and the life of working-class people in developing countries around the world. The inner conflict of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio is palpable. How can he reconcile his love for God and the corruption that he sees within the Catholic church? As someone who has been doing a lot of soul searching and re-evaluation of their own faith for the past year because of these same reasons, it was really inspiring to see this played out by one of the most influential men in the world. I think the Catholic church still has a long way to go, but it was a nice reminder to see what this faith means to over a billion people. The traditions of the grand cathedrals and the comfort of performing the holy sacraments mean so much to so many. This film causes you to examine how to keep the positive aspects of religion and how to eliminate corruption and outdated policies so that the church can evolve into its intended purpose for the modern world.

This film is beautifully and uniquely shot. Along with outstanding cinematography, editing and music choices also help to tell the story. But what stands out the most are the terrific performances by Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins, both of whom have received Oscar nominations for this film. Most of the movie revolves around conversations between the two, with little outside interaction from other characters. Their performances feel authentic and moving, which is no small task when you are speaking a variety of languages and acting in attention-grabbing locations. Seriously, a conversation between two old, soft-spoken men underneath Michel Angelo’s ethereal paintings in the Sistine Chapel is supposed to hold your attention? Yet it does. I was so captivated by their performances from the beginning to the end of this film. Two Popes is a beautifully moving film and it’s now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston

The Report

Written and Directed by Scott Z. Burn

Rating: 🔥 that’s hot

Daniel J. Jones (Adam Driver) is assigned the task to research the CIA’s enhanced interrogation practices that were implemented amid post-9/11 national security threats. But the information uncovered in this senate-sponsored investigation shocks everyone. How can the United States be cruelly using tactics that it vehemently condemns in foreign countries? And are the methods effective, and/or necessary to keep Americans safe?

This film is a lot. If you are squeamish with blood, guts, torture, etc., just be warned that this movie contains a lot of it. However, it’s use is effective in challenging the viewer to consider the all-important question “How far is too far in the name of national security?”. Adam Driver’s performance, as always, is amazing. He captures the obsessive need to discover and deliver the truth perfectly. The pace of the movie lulls, as one would expect when watching a movie about a small team that spent years in a confined space with no windows pouring over thousands and thousands of CIA documents. When punctuated by flashback scenes to the torture of detained security threats the audience is reminded that these documents are so much more than just paper, they are the real experiences of real people. Regardless of your political views or your opinions on national security I think this movie is an important watch for any American.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Bombshell

Written by Charles Randolph

Directed by Jay Roach 

Rating: 🔥 that’s hot

Bombshell tells the true story of the sexual misconduct charges brought against Fox News employees Roger Ailes (John Lithgow) and Bill O’Reilly (Kevin Dorff). For decades, many female Fox News employees were faced with an impossible ultimatum: at best, put up with sexual harassment, at worst perform sexual favors, to move up the corporate ladder, or choose to accept that their careers would never advance to the place that they had been working towards their entire lives. Some women, such as Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) were fired. Others, such as Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) experienced great success.

In light of the #MeToo movement, the importance of telling victim’s stories cannot be overstated. Regardless of your political beliefs, this movie is a must watch for anyone that stands as an ally against sexual harassment in the workplace. (*cough couch* that should be everyone…). As this is an issue that unfortunately affects women of all political parties, race, socioeconomic class, and career sectors I am happy to see any and all victim’s stories told in a supportive and empowering film. Margot Robbie and John Lithgow steal the show with their stellar performances as Kayla Pospisil and Roger Ailes. But the true stars are the hair and makeup teams that did an incredible job of taking a star-studded and highly recognizable cast and transforming them into star-studded and highly recognizable characters. Bombshell delivers drama, laughs, controversy, and truth wrapped up neatly in an entertaining hour and 49-minute film.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Dark Waters

Written by Mario Correa, based on the article “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” by Nathaniel Rich

Directed by Matthew Michael Carnahan

rating: 🔥 That’s hot

Robert Bilott (Mark Ruffalo) was an attorney at a major firm in Ohio when a new case was quite literally dropped in his lap. Wilbur Tennant (Bill Camp) was a cattle farmer in West Virginia who began to notice health irregularities in his herd after DuPont, a well-known chemical corporation, purchased the property adjacent to his farm and turned it into a landfill. What ensues is a true story of the dangers of forever chemicals, corruption within the Environmental Protection Agency, and how hard and fastidiously you must persist to see justice against a corporate powerhouse.

This is a movie that every American should see. If you don’t find yourself ransacking your kitchen in a witch hunt to find and dispose of Teflon, I’ll be shocked. The story that is told in this film is one that desperately needs to be told. The film is based on the article The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare, and I highly recommend reading the article for yourself. Too often individuals and small towns struggle to have their voice heard when they are speaking out against powerful companies, many of whom are the lifeblood of the local economy, but I can’t emphasize enough how important it is for these voices to be heard.

While the story told in this film is incredible, I found some of the more technical aspects of the film to be a bit tedious. Anne Hathaway plays the spouse Sarah Bilott and I found her character to be underdeveloped so severely that she came across as a whiney mom who didn’t support her husband, possibly because of some resentment that she gave up her own career as a lawyer to stay home and raise their children. I have a hard time buying the character and found it regrettable that she came across so weak when we know that she had to be incredibly strong to withstand the pressures of such a major case for decades. Hathaway isn’t the only under-cooked character, this under-development struck equally across the board leaving us with shells of people that I wish I could have known more about. Overall, the movie is really good, but I can’t help but wish that it had been great. 

 Review written by Zianna Weston

Honey Boy

Written by Shia LaBeouf

Directed by Alma Har’el

Rating: ⭐️ Better than a psl

This semi-autobiographical film is about a young Hollywood actor named Otis (played by Noah Jupe and Lucas Hedges, based on Shia LaBeouf), and his relationship with his tumultuous father James (played by Shia LaBeouf). James is a recovering alcoholic, a felon, an eccentric rodeo clown, and a deeply flawed human being who has a deep but sometimes inaccessible love for his son. We follow Otis’s upbringing into young adulthood when Otis lands in court-ordered rehab. Otis is forced to examine his demons and learn to cope with his emotions and his past.

This movie is an absolute banger. As Shia LaBeouf’s first screenplay we are treated to an intimate look inside the life of an actor that we all know and love. In case we had any doubts, I can say definitively that Shia is back and he’s not here to play. Since his early days on Disney Channel’s Even Stevens it has been clear that Shia is a comedic talent. His later rolls in films such as Fury and Disturbia proved that he is a dramatic actor as well. But I would like to officially declare 2019 as The Year of Shia LaBeouf. His unbelievably nuanced and raw performances in The Peanut Butter Falcon and Honey Boy, along with the brilliantly crafted screenplay for Honey Boy have proved that Shia LaBeouf is an artist. In Honey Boy he wrote and performed in such a way that you can’t help but feel the unwavering love that Shia has for his father. He doesn’t shy away from showing painful moments, which is an incredibly brave thing to do, but he always finds a way to redeem the character and remind the audience that everyone is broken in their own way.

This film wouldn’t have worked without the brilliant performances by Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges and Noah Jupe. I was blown away by the talent of these young actors and their incredible onscreen chemistry with Shia. The cinematography set a contemplative tone, like one would feel when they reminisce on their memories, and this enables the audience to feel like they are truly inside Otis’s mind. Director Alma Har’el (yay female director!!) steered this film towards authenticity and love and that comes pouring off the screen in every shot. Everything from the camera work to the sound to the set design draws you into Otis’s world and points you towards the heart of this film, which is the real story of a heartbroken man. Honey Boy is powerful, poignant, and a delightful watch that I can’t recommend highly enough.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Marriage Story

Written and directed by Noah Baumbach

Rating: ⭐️ better than a psl

Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) and Charlie (Adam Driver) were once in love. It was a life-altering love, the kind that always leaves a piece of their heart in yours, no matter how messy and complicated things can get later on. After falling out of love, they must navigate the world of divorce and co-parenting and learning who you are independent of your significant other. *Cue relentless lawyers (Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta), and family that complicates new boundaries (Merritt Wever and Julie Hagerty). Marriage Story tells the love story that millions of Americans have experienced, and this incredibly relevant story is one of 2019’s top films.

This movie absolutely wrecked me emotionally. Noah Baumbach did a great job of crafting a story that is birthed in love, so that when a character does something heartbreaking you really feel it. Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson gave career defining performances and proved that they are among some of the best artists currently working in Hollywood. The pace of this film is slow, but I think that helped shape the narrative. You feel like a fly on the wall observing a real marriage. Life is not lived a mile a minute with interesting moments happening all of the time. Life is lived in the ordinary; the family meal, reading with your children, driving and getting lost in a new city, and exploding in anger finally releasing words that have long been unsaid. Authenticity and vulnerability are what make this beautiful movie work so well. The dialogue sounds natural and real. The characters do an incredible job of saying one thing while pretending to be okay, and then later showing their true feelings and falling apart. If you’re in the mood for a very real and raw movie that will probably make you cry, I can’t recommend Marriage Story highly enough. This movie is a Netflix original and it is available now for streaming.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Ford v Ferrari

Written by Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, and Jason Keller

Directed by James Mangold

rating: ⭐️ Better than a psl

Henry Ford II enlists the help of racing legend Carroll Shelby and ruthless driver Ken Miles to dethrone Ferrari’s racing dynasty at Le Mans, the notorious 24-hour race in France. This movie is a ridiculously fun time at the theater. Chippy dialogue, larger-than-life characters, and adrenaline pumping action leaves the audience engrossed in the plot from start to finish. You don’t have to be a racing fan to be entertained by what I think is one of 2019’s best movies.

The onscreen chemistry and performances from Christian Bale and Matt Damon are award worthy. You feel their tension, frustration, competition, and drive. Matt Damon as the even-keeled Carroll Shelby is the anchor of the film, tying together all of the action and the drama. Christian Bale as the eccentric Ken Miles is the icing on top of a well-made film. His performance soars as he adds splashes of humor and drama. The performances by the supporting actors are all spot on as well. Caitriona Balfe plays perfectly opposite Bale as the loving wife. Her character is strong and sassy and stands up to her husband, while still being a loving and supportive person in his life. The father son dynamic between Bale and Noah Jupe is incredible as well. Jupe delivered a performance full of joy, adoration, fear, and fierce protection that was truly impressive for an actor who is only 14 years old. Josh Lucas is a good old-fashioned antagonist. You love to hate him and find yourself rooting for someone to slap him and put him in his place.

It takes a village to make a film and the actors’ performances are able to shine because the village knocked it out of the park. The script is well written and full of honest and engaging dialogue that develops, at least to some extent, every single character in this movie. The set design transports you back in time to the sexy and gritty world of racing in the 1960’s. But what really stands out from the production team is the sound. The complexly layered audio allows you to hear and feel the racing. I highly recommend seeing this film in theaters for the incredible audio experience. Do yourself a favor and go see Ford v Ferrari, now playing in theaters.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Hustlers

written and directed by lorene scafaria

based on the article by jessica pressler

rating: ⭐️ better than a psl

After the recession hit in 2008, a group of NYC strippers get creative and find new ways into Wall Street’s wallet. 

Holy sh*t. This movie. From the trailer it looked like a fun, female-powered sexy comedy that would be high in entertainment and low in substance. If that’s your view of Hustlers, throw it out the window ASAP. This movie has substance, heart, strong performances, and a message that I can get behind. Jennifer Lopez is stirring up Oscar buzz for playing a stripper... Why is that so amazing? Because strippers are real people with real stories and so often all we see of them on screen are caricatures, or worse, just a body. I love that it showed that in the midst of hard times women can be creative entrepreneurs. Another thing that I loved was that while there is a lot of skin in this movie (mostly booties and titties), there are no sex scenes, and the only full frontal nudity shown is a man. Hustlers is written by and directed by a woman so they were able to tell this sexy story without objectification and for that I applaud the filmmakers.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Brittany Runs a Marathon

written and directed by Paul downs colaizzo

rating: ⭐️ better than a psl

Out of shape, unmotivated, and stuck in a depressed rut, Brittany begins running “just one block” at a time until she ultimately decides to run the New York City Marathon.

Holy sh*t y’all, this movie spoke to me. As someone who always hated their body, and never identified as being athletic, I signed up for a half marathon in 2015 and it was one of the most empowering things that I have ever done. I may not have ran the whole thing (I think I ran about 7-8 miles of it), but I FINISHED. Before I began training I had never ran more than one straight mile in my life. So while I was training it was so damn inspiring to run 2 miles, 3 miles, etc. all for the first time. It was like I was making history every time I worked out and it forever changed the way I viewed myself and my body. To see that story told in a movie meant everything to me. 

But enough about me, let’s get to the movie. Jillian Bell gave an incredible performance proving that she’s capable of more than just providing a few moments of comedic relief as a bit character. Of course she was funny in this film, but she was also both lovable and detestable, and that’s a hard line to balance within the same role. The script is well written, and every character feels authentic. A complaint that I heard while leaving the theater is that the film was too long. While I disagree, the film moves pretty slowly in places and it’s not an action packed comedy that you may have expected from a Workaholics cast member. Brittany Runs a Marathon is a must-watch, especially if you’re looking for a little boost of inspiration.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Thelma & Louise

written by Callie Khouri

Directed by Ridley Scott

Rating: ⭐️ better than a psl

What starts as an innocent girls trip ends as a fugitive crime spree after Thelma and Louise kill a man who attacked them. Who doesn’t love a movie WRITTEN by a woman, starring TWO FEMALE LEADS, about bad*ss female characters?!

This movie has it all. Incredible score from the legendary Hans Zimmer, authentic performances by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, and a very HOT young Brad Pitt. From the set design, to the cinematography, to the character arcs, I have nothing but praise for this movie! And Geena Davis is my Hollywood professional crush, check out all the amazing work that her foundation, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, is doing to amplify female representation.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Joker

written by todd phillips and scott silver

directed by todd phillips

rating:  ⭐️ Better than a psl

A gritty origin story of Gotham’s most notorious villain, Joker examines mental health and poses an interesting question. Are psychopathic killers born or are they created?

I loved this movie with all of my heart. Joaquin Phoenix played a lovable, twisted villain that challenged our simplistic binary thinking when it comes to “good” vs “evil”. His physical transformation for the role was extreme and he perfectly embodies the character. This film opens up a necessary dialogue for how we treat mental health issues in our society, and the social commentary provided by a clever and provocative script is something that I would like to see more of. This movie is intense so I don’t think it will be everyone’s cup of tea, but I can’t recommend it highly enough. The production design, cinematography, writing, directing, and acting are all exemplary. Joker is sure to be a powerhouse this award’s season.

Review written by Zianna Weston

The King

Directed by David Michod

Written by Joel Edgerton and David Michod

Rating: 🔥 That’s hot

Prince Hal is the black sheep of the family who is not supposed to inherit his father’s crown. But when his younger brother is killed in battle, Prince Hal becomes Henry King of England. When his goal to unite the kingdoms under the English crown becomes threatened by outside forces, King Henry leads his men into battle against the King of France. Throughout the ups and downs of the beginning of his reign King Henry’s character is tested at every turn. What kind of king will he become?

This movie had many strong points, most notably the outstanding performances by Ben Mendelsohn, Timothee Chalamet, and Robert Pattinson. I very much so respected the decision to include the French language with subtitles, rather than have the entire film be in English. I also respected that the French characters had French accents, rather than the all-too-common British accent for all foreign characters. The storyline was compelling and I found myself engrossed in a period of history that I know very little about. The costumes and set design were perfect and allowed the audience to be sucked in wholeheartedly to this period piece.    

Pacing was a bit of a problem with this film. It drags at points and leaves you yearning for the action to pick back up again. It might just be my own personal bias against violence and gore, but I found some of the battle scenes to be long and drawn out. Another issue I had with this film was the lack of female characters. There are only three female characters and their dialogue was limited. However, all three female characters were strong and opinionated, so I guess if you’re only going to have three women with limited screen time, these three characters were wonderfully crafted. Overall, this film is well-written, well-acted, and well-directed. The King is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston

The Peanut Butter Falcon

written and directed by Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz

Rating: ⭐️ Better than a psl

A broken hearted outlaw, a runaway with Down syndrome, and a worried care taker all end up on the adventure of a lifetime that leads to a rundown wrestling academy in Aden, North Carolina. 

I LOVED THIS MOVIE! First of all, the cinematography is gorgeous and will have you wanting to hit east coast barrier islands immediately (or after hurricane season😬). The characters are tragic and complex and they restored my faith in humanity. Shia LeBeouf reminded me why he’s one of my favorite actors with his very raw performance, and amazing on screen chemistry with co-stars Dakota Johnson and Zack Gottsagen. A theme of the film is how to treat differently abled people. There’s the obvious, don’t be an *sshole, but there’s also a beautiful questioning of how much you should do for them, and how much you should empower them to take care of themselves. At its essence this film portrays that kindhearted people come in all shapes and sizes and true friendships can form between unlikely pairings when compassion and authenticity are valued. 

Review written by Zianna Weston

Judy

written by Tom Edge, based on the stageplay “End of the rainbow” by peter quilter

directed by rupert goold

rating: 👌🏼 ok

A biopic about the incomparable Judy Garland that focuses on her haunted past and how that affected her adult life. For a film that begins with “Judy” sparkling like ruby red slippers, this film didn’t deliver much sparkle at all. Renee Zellwegger’s performance was incredible and I have nothing but awe for the way that she was able to such a well known legend. But the story arc didn’t really go anywhere, and the dialogue was bland and at points was incredibly on the nose. Overall, the film was fine, but I wouldn’t pay to go see it in theaters.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Downton Abbey

written by julian fellowes

directed by Michael Engler

rating: 👌🏼 ok

If you’re a Downton fan, I think it’s worth it to go to the movie and you’ll probably enjoy it. If you’ve never seen the show, SKIP IT. I had some serious issues with this movie. 1) So many shots are not in focus! They also pull focus in the middle of shots way too much. A lot of shots feel like an amateur with an iPhone 10 that thinks portrait mode is always the way to go. 2) Pacing. This movie drags on and on and on. There are an insane amount of b-roll shots showing the staff preparing for the royal visit where literally nothing important is happening. There are also a lot of shots whose only purpose is to show how historically accurate the set design was. *insert telephone and trolley shot here* 3) I get it, you wanted Downton Abbey the building to be the main character of the movie. I got that by the 4th sweeping drone shot of the impressive grounds. By the 27th I was dizzy and bored... 4) They relied entirely too much on Dame Maggie Smith and Dame Penelope Alice Wilton’s pithy banter. Was it the best part of the movie? Of course. But was it enough to carry an entire film? Not even close. If you’re a Downton fan you’ll probably be able to look past the flaws and enjoy the story, I know I did. But if you’re expecting this to be the best of Downton you will be underwhelmed.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Laggies

Written by Andrea Seigel

Directed by Lynn Shelton

 rating: 🔥 That’s hot

Megan is in her late 20’s and is floating through life without direction or purpose. With an unused master’s degree in her back pocket, a long-term relationship that she fell into at a young age, and the same group of friends from high school, Megan is confronted head on with her inability to make decisions for herself when she finds herself engaged to be married. The pressure from her friends and family to “grow up” stresses Megan out to the point that she decides to give herself a week of alone time to get her life together. She tells everyone that she will be attending an out of town seminar to make career decisions, but instead ends up crashing at a new friend’s house for a week. The catch? Her new friend Annika, played by Chloe Grace Moretz, is in high school. Through spending a week with high schoolers Megan is able to reconnect with herself and learn some valuable lessons about growing up.

This film really hit me in my late-twenties-feels. It’s such a strange age to be. Some of my friends are married with families, and some of my friends (okay, maybe it’s just me) are spending our days off drinking wine from a box and playing Mario Kart. What I really enjoyed about this film was the overall theme that life doesn’t always go according to plan, and that is okay. Sometimes you marry the love of your life and it ends in divorce. Sometimes you grow apart from your lifelong friends. And sometimes it takes a new friend or a new experience to shake things up and allow you to learn something new about yourself that can alter the trajectory of your life. This film points these things out in a way that is fun to watch. Our protagonist, played by Keira Knightley, is still carrying her teenage apathy into adulthood and we see how that hinders her friendships with adults and allows her to relate so well to teens. But we also see that, when given the chance, she is also able to form a meaningful connection with Annika’s father Craig, played by Sam Rockwell. Megan is able to connect with both of them because they all share something in common, they’re all feeling a bit lost. Annika is trying to navigate the confusing world of adolescence and growing up. Megan is trying to decide whether she wants to get married or not, and if she should use her MFT degree or continue to be a sign-shaker for her father’s law firm. Craig is a single father trying desperately to provide a stable and loving home for his teenage daughter. They are all different ages and in different stages of life, but their confusion unifies them and shows the audience that there is no magical age that suddenly allows you to have everything all figured out.

Some highlights of this film include; Keira Knightley’s spot on American accent that conveys a sense of bored apathy that I’ve never felt from her before in any of her other roles, Sam Rockwell and Keira Knightley’s sexual chemistry, Chloe Grace Moretz’s performance as an awkwardly relatable teen, and complex characters that wrestle with deep moral issues without making the film too dark or dramatic. Some less desirable aspects of the film include; slow pacing that works for a majority of the film but at times seems to be slow for no reason other than to assure you that you’re watching an indie flick, and an ending that felt half-baked. Overall, I highly recommend this film. Laggies is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston

Eat Pray Love

Directed by Ryan Murphy

Written by Ryan Murphy and Jennifer Salt

Based on the memoir by Elizabeth Gilbert

Rating: 🔥 That’s hot

Liz Gilbert is divorced, confused, and on a quest for inner peace. After realizing that she has always been in a relationship or overcoming a breakup she decides that she needs to get to know herself independently. Despite the concerns raised by friends and family, Liz decides to leave her home in New York City for one whole year to find herself in Rome, India, and Bali. Throughout this year she challenges herself and seeks to cultivate a stronger and more enlightened self.

This movie is relatable on many levels. I think everyone, regardless of age, has had a life crisis that has left you wondering, who am I? Everyone is going to answer that question in different ways, not all involving traveling the world, but I am a fan of Liz’s style and would probably opt for a similar post-divorce experience. The film is structured chronologically which works well for telling the story because she learns such vastly different lessons in each place that she visits.   

Because of the stunning filming locations, the movie is visually gorgeous. The filmmakers did a great job of capturing the essence of each location; the grandeur of Rome, the chaos of India, and the natural beauty of Bali. There were some abrupt moments in the editing choices that I didn’t care for when a song would end immediately, and the next shot would be coupled with silence. This didn’t fit with the vibe of the film and that would be my biggest critique. Another critique I have is that the film fell on the cheesy side. Every life lesson was wrapped up tidily with a bow on top, and I don’t feel like that necessarily reflects the complexity of our world. But overall, I really enjoyed this movie and will be booking a trip to Bali ASAP. Eat Pray Love is now streaming on Netflix.

Review written by Zianna Weston