Director: Drew Goddard Cinematography: Seamus McGarvey Writers: Drew Goddard Stars: Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Cynthia Ervio, Dakota Johnson, Chris Hemsworth, Lewis Pullman Rating: 66 The dazzling opening scene of “Bad Times at the El Royale” is wild, stylish, and a great tone-setter for the rest of the film. However, the rest of the film fails … More “Bad Times At The El Royale” by Drew Goddard
Director: Paul Greengrass Cinematography: Pal Ulvik Rokseth Writers: Paul Greengrass (screenplay), Asne Seierstand (Novel) Stars: Anders Danielsen Lie, Jonas Stan Gravli, Jan Oigarden, Maria Brock Rating: 80 Paul Greengrass films envoke many emotions, but the most prevalent will always be his ability to anger and shock. “22 July” is his latest experience film portraying the 2011 Norway attacks. It’s … More “22 July” by Paul Greengrass
Director: David Lowery Cinematography: Joe Anderson Writers: David Lowery, David Gran Stars: Robert Redford, Casey Affleck, Sissy Spacek, Danny Glover Rating: 70 In “Old Man & the Gun,” Robert Redford (Forrest Tucker) delivers a meaningful sendoff to his career with a performance that sums up his career with the perfect type of character. This is … More “Old Man & The Gun” by David Lowery
Director: Orson Welles Cinematographer: Russell Metty Writers: Orson Welles (screenplay), Whit Matherson (novel), Franklin Coen, Paul Moneth Stars: Charlton Heston, Janet Leigh, Orson Welles, Joseph Calleia, Akim Tamiroff Rating: 95 Starting the Orson Welles’ classic “Touch of Evil” with an unbelievably dramatic opening long-shot is a perfect start to this dark journey into law accompanied … More “Touch Of Evil” (1958) by Orson Welles
Director: Bradley Cooper Cinematography: Matthew Libatique Writers: Eric Roth, Bradley Cooper, Will Fetters, William A. Wellman (original story), Joan Didion (original 1976 screenplay), Frank Pierson (1976 screenplay), Moss Heart (1954 screenplay), John Gregory Dunn Stars: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliot, Andrew Dice Clay Rating: 92 “A Star Is Born” completely captured me in the … More “A Star Is Born” by Bradley Cooper
Director: David Cronenberg Cinematography: Mark Irwin Writers: Charles Edward Pogue (Screenplay), David Cronenberg (screenplay), George Langelaan (short story) Stars: Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis Rating: 83 Cronenberg’s “The Fly” combines the zaniness of his previous film with the practical effects glory of “The Thing” and what comes out is wild. Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) is a burgeoning young scientist sitting on … More “The Fly” (1986) by David Cronenberg
Director: Drew Godard Cinematography: Peter Deming Writers: Josh Whedon, Drew Godard Stars: Kristen Connolly, Chris Hemsworth, Bradley Whitford, Richard Jenkins, Fran Kanz Rating: 86 The first visual of “The Cabin in the Woods” throws Steve Hadley (Bradley Whitford) and Gary Sitterson (Richard Jenkins), two cutthroat corporate type characters plastered in a holy white button-down, seemingly ramping up for a big … More “The Cabin in the Woods” (2012) by Drew Godard
Director: Damien Chazelle Cinematography: Sharone Meir Writers: Damien Chazelle Stars: Miles Teller, J.K Simmons Rating: 96 Damien Chazelle’s “Whiplash” lives up to the same brutal, unrealistic expectations the characters in the story put on themselves. The incessant need to be great is fueled by the same obsessive, insane drive that J.K.Simmons character pounds into Andrew (Miles Teller) and it demands … More “Whiplash” (2014) by Damien Chazelle
Directors: Paul Feig Cinematography: John Schwartzman Writers: Jessica Sharzer, Darcy Bell (novel) Stars: Anna Kendricks, Blake Lively, Henry Golding Rating: 56 Here’s a film that attempted to be nine different films and genres at once. “A Simple Favor” is sometimes a light, funny experience that gets trampled on by jarring tonal shifts, odd story decisions, … More “A Simple Favor” by Paul Feig
Director: Sam Levinson Cinematographer: Marcell Rev Writers: Sam Levinson Stars: Odessa Young, Hari Nef, Suki Waterhouse, Abra Rating: 85 Assassination Nation enters a lucid, dream-like state, as the small town of Salem “loses its fucking minds.” In the most unsettling film of 2018, four high school girls trying to deal with the problems in their … More “Assassination Nation” by Sam Levinson
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