Tag: overlooked-gem

“The Glass Castle” (2017) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham Starring: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts ‘Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes … More

“Detroit” (2017) – Movie Review

Director: Kathryn Bigelow Writer: Mark Boal Starring: John Boyega, Anthony Mackie and Will Poulter ‘Tense Historical Thriller’ Racism has long … More

“The Big Sick” (2017) – Movie Review

Director: Michael Showalter Writers: Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon Starring: Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan and Holly Hunter ‘A Hilarious … More

“Baby Driver” (2017) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Edgar Wright Starring: Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey ‘A Thrilling Ride’ In a Summer filled with superhero … More

“Star Trek: Beyond” (2016) – Movie Review

Director: Justin Lin Writers: Simon Pegg and Doug Lin Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban ‘Fun but Forgettable’ … More

“Southside With You” (2016) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Richard Tanne Starring: Tika Sumpter and Parker Sawyers ‘Remarkable Romantic Drama’ Let me start off by saying that I’m … More

“The Nice Guys” (2016) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Shane Black Starring: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Angourie Rice ‘Captivating Comedy’ Few actors in Hollywood have built a career … More

“Lion” (2016) – Movie Review

Director: Garth Davis Writer: Luke Davies (based off novel by Saroo Brierley) Starring: Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara … More

“The Light Between Oceans” (2016) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Derek Cianfrance Based on the best-selling novel by M.L. Stedman Starring: Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander and Rachel Weisz ‘Powerful … More

“Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) – Movie Review

Directed by Travis Knight Written by Marc Haimes and Chris ButlerStarring Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey ‘Awe-Inspiring Animation’ … More

“The Jungle Book” (2016) – Movie Review

Director: Jon Favreau Writer: Justin Marks (based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling) Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray and Sir … More

“Steve Jobs” (2015) – Movie Review

Director: Danny Boyle Writer: Aaron Sorkin (based on novel) Starring: Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet and Seth Rogen ‘Brilliant Business Biopic’ … More

“Spy” (2015) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Paul Feig Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Jason Statham and Jude Law ‘A Spy-tacular Comedy’ You rarely ever come across comedies … More

“Southpaw” (2015) – Movie Review

Director: Antoine Fuqua Writer: Kurt Sutter Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker ‘Breathtaking Boxing Drama’ Is it just … More

“The Gift” (2015) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Joel Edgerton Starring: Jason Bateman, Rebecca Hall and Joel Edgerton ‘A Thought-Provoking Thriller’ About halfway through Joel Edgerton’s latest … More

“Ant-Man” (2015) – Movie Review

Director: Peyton Reed Writers: Edgar Wright, Joe Cornish, Adam McKay and Paul Rudd Starring: Paul Rudd, Michael Douglas, and Evangeline … More

“22 Jump Street” (2014) – Movie Review

Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller Writers: Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman Starring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum and … More

“Nightcrawler” (2014) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Dan Gilroy Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo and Riz Ahmed ‘Dazzling Directorial Debut’ A director’s first film is usually … More

“Life Itself” (2014) – Movie Review

Director: Steve James Based on the best-selling novel by Roger Ebert Starring: Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert and Gene Siskel ‘A … More

“The Hundred-Foot Journey” (2014) – Movie Review

Director: Lasse Hallstrom Written by Steven Knight (based off novel by Richard C. Morais) Starring Helen Mirren, Om Puri and … More

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Dean DeBlois Co-writer: Cressida Cowell Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett and Djimon Hounsou ‘A Soaring Sequel’ If there’s any … More

“Captain America: The Winter Soldier” (2014) – Movie Review

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Ed Brubaker Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel … More

“Star Trek: Into Darkness” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: J.J. Abrams Writers: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Benedict Cumberbatch ‘Spectacular … More

“The Wolverine” (2013) – Movie Review

   Director: James Mangold                                 … More

“The World’s End” (2013) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Edgar Wright Co-writer: Simon Pegg Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Martin Freeman ‘Captivating Comedy’ Halfway through Edgar Wright’s … More

“Warm Bodies” (2013) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Jonathan Levine Based on novel by Isaac Marion Starring: Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, and John Malkovich ‘Captivating Zombie Comedy’ … More

“The Spectacular Now” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: James Ponsoldt Writer: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber Starring: Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley and Brie Larson ‘Spectacular Romantic … More

“The Reluctant Fundamentalist” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Mira Nair Writer: William Wheeler (based on Mohsin Hamid’s novel) Starring: Riz Ahmed, Kate Hudson and Liev Schreiber ‘Riveting … More

“The Place Beyond the Pines” (2013) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Derek Cianfrance Co-writers: Ben Coccio and Darius Marder Starring: Ryan Gosling, Eva Mendes and Bradley Cooper ‘A Multi-Generational Masterpiece’ … More

“Pacific Rim” (2013) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Guillermo del Toro Co-writer: Travis Beacham  Starring: Idris Elba, Charlie Hunnam and Rinko Kikuchi ‘Exhilarating Entertainment’ Over the last … More

“Monster’s University” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Dan Scanlon Writers: Daniel Gerson, Robert L. Baird and Dan Scanlon Starring: Billy Crytal, John Goodman and Helen Mirren … More

“Man of Steel” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Zack Snyder Writer: David S. Goyer (based off story by Christopher Nolan) Starring: Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and Michael … More

“Jobs” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Joshua Michael Stern Writer: Matt Whiteley Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Josh Gad and J.K. Simmons ‘Brilliant Business Biopic’ One of … More

“Iron Man 3” (2013) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Shane Black Co-writer: Drew Pearce Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley ‘Starkly Superior Sequel’ Twists are … More

“The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” (2013) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Peter Jackson Co-writers: Fran Walsh, Phillipa Boyens and Guillermo Del Toro Starring: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, and Richard Armitage … More

“The Butler” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Lee Daniels Writer: Danny Strong (based on article by Wil Haygood) Starring: Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey and Alex Pettyfer … More

“About Time” (2013) – Movie Review

                 Writer/Director: Richard Curtis Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy ‘Remarkable … More

“Wreck it Ralph” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: Rich Moore Writer: Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer ‘Astonishing Animation’ Animated … More

“Snow White and the Hunstman” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: Rupert Sanders Starring: Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth and Charlize Theron ‘Enjoyable Entertainment’ “Snow White and the Huntsman” is directed … More

“Silver Linings Playbook” (2012) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: David O. Russell Based on novel by Matthew Quick Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro ‘Magnificent Masterpiece’ It’s … More

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Stephen Chbosky Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller ‘Meaningful Masterpiece’ “Why do nice people choose the wrong people … More

“Lawless” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: John Hillcoat Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Jessica Chastain ‘Powerful Period Piece’ “Lawless” is directed by John Hillcoat. Its … More

“The Hunger Games” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: Gary Ross Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth ‘Astonishing Adaptation’ “The Hunger Games” is directed by Gary Ross. … More

“Hitchcock” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: Sacha Gervasi Writer: John J. McLaughlin (based off book by Stephen Rebello) Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Helen Mirren, Scarlett Johansson … More

“Frankenweenie” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: Tim Burton Starring: Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Martin Landau ‘Spectacular Stop-Motion’ “Frankenweenie” is a black-and-white stop motion film directed … More

“Flight” (2012) – Movie Review

Directed by Robert ZemeckisWritten by John GatinsStarring Denzel Washington, Bruce Greenwood, Don Cheadle ‘Astonishing Alcoholism Drama’ It’s not often that … More

“My Week with Marilyn” (2011) – Movie Review

Director: Simon Curtis Starring Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne, Kenneth Branagh ‘Magnificent Monroe Biopic’ “My Week with Marilyn” is directed by … More

“Margin Call” (2011) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: J.C. Chandor Starring: Kevin Spacey, Zachary Quinto and Paul Bettany ‘Filmmaking at its Finest’ It’s one thing for a financial … More

“George Harrison: Living in the Material World” (2011)- Documentary Review

Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr “George Harrison: Living in the Material World” is directed by … More

“Arthur Christmas” (2011) – Movie Review

Directors: Sarah Smith and Barry Cook Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Billy Nighy ‘Astonishing Animation’ “Arthur Christmas” is directed by … More

“Challengers” (2024) – A Sports Classic

Director: Luca Guadagnino Starring: Zendaya, Mike Faist, Josh O’ Connor                     … More

“Wonka” (2023) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Paul King Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Sally Hawkins, Hugh Grant                     … More

“House of Gucci” (2021) – Movie Review

Director: Ridley Scott Starring: Lady Gaga, Adam Driver and Al Pacino ‘Giorgio-eus Biopic’ Versace fashion-designer families Scarfaced by Goodfellas criminal … More

“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Joe Talbot Co-writer: Rob Richert Starring: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors and Rob Morgan ‘Powerful Gentrification Drama’ Gentrification is a … More

“The Lighthouse” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Robert Eggers Co-writer: Max Eggers Starring: Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe ‘Incredible Isolation Thriller’ Imagine being stranded on an … More

“Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018) – Movie Review

Director: J.A. Bayona Writers: Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow Starring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard and Jeff Goldblum ‘An Enjoyable … More

“Kubo and the Two Strings” (2016) – Movie Review

Directed by Travis Knight Written by Marc Haimes and Chris Butler Starring Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey ‘Awe-Inspiring … More

“Jurassic World” (2015) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Colin TrevorrowCo-writers: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, and Derek ConnollyStarring: Chris Pratt, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Irrfan Khan ‘Enjoyable Entertainment’ … More

“Captain America: The Winter Solider” (2014) – Movie Review

Directors: Anthony and Joe Russo Writers: Christopher Markus, Stephen McFeely and Ed Brubaker Starring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson and Samuel … More

“Star Trek: Into Darkness” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: J.J. Abrams Writers: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Benedict Cumberbatch ‘Spectacular … More