BradySmith

M. Night Shyamalan was lost in what we thought was an inescapable hole of awfulness. Then came the visit and even though it was far from a great movie it showed signs of life, and glimmers of hope for a return to form. Split is Shyamalan's full fledged rebirth. It may not be as deep dramatically or as nuanced or emotionally mature, etc as his first 3 films were but it's such an extreme improvement on such disasters as the Happening and After Earth that it's almost amazing to think about. With an impressive, albeit somewhat campy, turn from McAvoy, another impressive performance from Anya Taylor Joy, creepy atmosphere, disturbing tiwsts, and impressively focused direction overall, Split turns out to be a very satisfying thriller. This is what we've been waiting for from Shyamalan for years and it's his most complete work since Signs. With his talent rediscovered I'm looking forward to what he'll do next and desperately hope he doesn't fall back into that dreaded pit of mediocrity.

I might be being a little generous giving this a 6. It's not a horrible movie but it's definitely the weakest of Craig's movies. The first half or maybe more has almost no depth, no character, and no intrigue. The action scenes aren't horrible but they're mostly too over the top and poorly edited. The story, after meandering through a bunch of chases and not really building to anything, does start to pick up at a point. Apparently someone remembered a movie has to have some sort of depth to maintain interest. From there it goes onto a decent yet mostly uninspired path to the finish. The movie has its moments of character and atmosphere peppered throughout the second half but this is basically the definition of a placeholder movie. A watchable but frustratingly by the numbers and only occasionally engaging movie that's nowhere near Casino Royale or Skyfall.

John Wick is fun and exciting to be sure but it's not without its flaws. As an action movie it delivers with astonishingly choreographed fight scenes, stylish visuals, and a cool main character. If that was everything a movie needed it would be close to perfect but John Wick also has a strange breed of stupidity running through its veins. This manifests itself in cartoonish characters, a last act that goes a little too far over the top and an overplayed song ("killin strangers"). Luckily though the movie knows very well that it's just a fun, well put together B movie. It never takes itself too seriously and this helps it make it past some of its more clichéd and dimwitted aspects. Keanu isn't what any respectable film buff would call a truly good actor but he fits perfectly into this role and even on occasion gets a scarily focused look in his eyes when he's taking out the trash. On a side note, if the last act of the movie would have stayed closer in tone and style to the incredible club scenes it would probably have fared even better. As is it's fun and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

Joy is an overall decent movie that starts out sort of badly. The first portion of the film is lively and well shot but oddly uninteresting. Once the mop comes into the film though, the movie begins to take off. From that point on the movie is almost never less than solid and occasionally more. You really do root for Joy to succeed and become frustrated at the obstacles set in her way. Lawrence gives a decently engaging performance ,although it's not her career best in my opinion. It's not nearly as consistent as American Hustle or Silver Linings Playbook which were both invigorating their entire runtimes and some of the best movies of the past decade but it's still worth watching if you accept that it takes a while to cohere into an interesting story.

An eerie, suspenseful, emotionally touching near masterpiece. With a great cast giving great performances, a witty, brilliant, and extremely detailed script, and some expertly sensitive direction, this may be Shyamalan's best movie. It's such a shame that he had to go into such a downward spiral. I truly hope he gets his mojo back because his first 3 films (this one especially) were just brilliant. Signs will scare you senseless because Shyamalan knew how to build the suspense slowly and effectively, with hints of menacing creatures, not guts and gore. The incredible score by Newton also adds layers of astonishing depth onto the already touching story and nuanced performances. A classic, plain and simple. Its reputation will only grow as time goes on.

Such a tense, emotionally affecting, well acted, and well directed movie, that somewhat cheesy visual effects don't do much to hurt the film. There are moments of terror, moments of heartbreak, and even moments of beauty rarely found in even the best of the zombie and mutant genres. Will Smith's performance is absolutely incredible and really should have attracted more awards attention than it did. I'd definitely say it's Oscar nomination worthy performance. The story throughout is very engaging and the brilliant musical score only heightens the emotion. Sure, the "dark seekers" could have looked more realistic to add to the horror, but this still remains one of the best of its kind.

Eh, it's ok. Pretty predictable but it's never mind numbingly stupid like a Sandler movie, and Hart is always dependably funny. The dialogue never really has any comedic bite but there is a funny recurring joke about how Hart's obsession with a video game actually makes him a weapons expert. Nothing all that memorable or hilarious though.

Very original, visually amazing, and occasionally touching, Her for the most part works very well but is still somewhat uneven. The direction and screenplay by Spike Jonze are impressively naturalistic, with everything feeling very free flowing. The set design and cinematography are also pretty impressive. However there are moments when the movie feels ridiculous and you become detached from the experience, not only during some especially strange scenes but occasionally during just conversations between Samantha and Theodore. But overall the very good things about the movie far outweigh the bad and I recommend the movie to anyone looking for something not only incredibly different but beautifully put together.

A very witty, hilarious, and occasionally sad comedy with a great cast. The plot is definitely meta, and it's sometimes nearly ingenious in the way story elements are woven together. And Sam Rockwell needs more roles. Yes, everyone in the cast is great, but they always get work. Somebody give Rockwell some bigger roles, he's hilarious. The movie may be to grim and unconventional for some but it contains some extremely original fun and a boatload of memorable characters and scenes.

The point of Creed is not to have a surprising plot with unpredictable twists, but to wrap you up in the lives of its characters. It does the latter extremely well. The cast is uniformly strong, but Stallone's nuanced performance, arguably the best he's ever given, is the real standout. The movie also has a gritty, real world style in its direction, excellent writing, and an engaging story. One of the best movies to come out of 2015.

This is a well made movie that's well above most YA films, and it starts out extremely well, but at a certain point a decent amount of time in, the story begins to grow tedious. The action scenes are very exciting, and the young actors, especially the lead, give very good performances, but the plot turns generic and loses its sense of mystery. The first movie also deflated in this way but not until the very end. It kept its sense of originality most of the way through. So what we're left with is a passable movie that's not as good as its predecessor. Worth seeing at least once, but hopefully the next one will be better.

A flawed but beautiful, superbly acted, and sprawling movie. Dicaprio is good but the real standout is Tom Hardy. Hardy is always great, but here he gives what may be his career best as a truly devious villain. Lubezki's cinematography is expectedly miraculous, but even more so than Gravity and perhaps even Birdman and Innuaritu also does great directional work once again. The middle section of the film is a little slow however, and the story itself, while powerful and involving, may actually be the weakest element. But with such scope, grandeur, and such a satisfying journey overall, the Revenant nabs the distinction of being one of 2015's best movies. And it is something to see on the big screen.

The visit is far from great, but decency has been even further from M. Night Shyamalan for years. Here he's found decency but it takes a while to get going. The acting, dialogue, and overall plot are better than anything he's done since The Village, but the kids got on my nerves for a fair amount of time and a more standard filming technique would have worked better in this situation than the mocumentary approach which was used. Also, a lot of the scenes intended to be scary were just stupid. But there is a fair amount of actual self depreciating jokes here, the climax of the film is truly unsettling, and I honestly did not see the twist coming. There are definitely things to dislike here, but there is also a fair amount to like, which is a huge step back in the right direction for the once revered Shyamalan. It's not on the same level as The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs, or even the Village, but he's definitely gone up from his last few movies, and I hope he keeps going that way.

This is an expertly crafted movie from the top down but not a perfect one in terms of pacing. There are sections in the movie that drag. This is because, even though the screenplay itself is intelligent, the underlying story is not really anything special. However, when things hit the fan in this movie, they really hit the fan. It starts with a bang and the finale (the whole last half hour +) is really something. Altogether it's a well acted, extremely well shot, smart, and distinctive movie. Plus Benicio Del Toro is just freaking awesome.

This is a good horror movie, one of the few, but it still only shows a small glimpse of the greatness it could have achieved. The performances, sure handed direction, character development, and sense of tension are all well above the average scarefest. It actually has an idea of what is truly frightening, slowly building menace with very few jump scares, strange noises, and unusual things seen out of the corner of our eye. But the last act is fatally flawed, giving in to clichés such as people being flung around a house by an invisible monster and loud screechy music slathered on top of annoying yelling. This greatly diminishes what was for most of its running time a surprisingly creepy movie. The ending also makes very little sense no matter how you look at it. Still, it's definitely worth a look if you're searching for a few chills. "ba ba dook dook dook!"

This isn't a movie that's so bad it's funny, nor is it painful to sit through. What it is, is just a dull, boring dud. It has one or two neat elements but it completely under utilizes a somewhat brilliant premise. Earth evolving into a place designed specifically to kill humans? Should be amazing right? Wrong! The effects aren't very good, but that's not the only problem. The main problem is that a handful of somewhat strange creatures and Jaden Smith running through a bunch of woods is all the movie gets out of the idea. What a waste. It felt more like an average science fiction tv show episode than a fully realized film. Shyamalan put no vision or inspiration into this movie. Hopefully The Visit really is better. It'd be nice to see him get back on track.

Despite some noticeable flaws, this is a brilliantly written and surprisingly emotional animated film and Pixar's best in years. The main characters are all memorable, the premise is inventive and unusually cerebral for a kids' movie, and the overall complexity is extremely admirable. At points it reminded me of a children's version of inception or interstellar, delving into heady ideas such as memories, their impact on our lives, and the way we perceive them. I was annoyed at points however when it became clear that certain elements were added to pander to kids, such as the imaginary elephant friend Bing Bong, even though I guess you could argue that it was a kids' movie and that character paid off in the end anyways. It all adds up to a moving and thought provoking finale though that nearly erases any previous missteps. From its first moments it was clear Inside Out would be something special, and I recommend it to anyone who loves movies, not just children.

This is a very, very good movie. For some reason during a second viewing I was so much more absorbed and engaged, especially on an emotional level. The characters, plot, direction, and acting are all so extremely well done. The only complaints I have about this movie now are that the scary scenes really aren't that scary and occasionally a little silly. Also, you're going to have to be in the mood for a slow paced ride. But those are just nitpicks in the face of such an extremely well constructed, written and acted film. I'm so confused now about how Shyamalan made The Happening, but this movie shows that he has undeniable talent in him.

When I first saw this years ago, I just knew Nolan must've been something special, and that he was going to become huge. I couldn't have been more right. Batman Begins isn't perfect. It didn't quite erase all of the silliness inherent in comic book adaptations, which Nolan would later correct to unimaginable lengths in The Dark Knight, but at the time of its release it may still have been the grittiest, most absorbingly realistic superhero movie ever made. This is a dark, atmospheric movie, with real storytelling, and actual dramatic heft. It marks a more than solid beginning to the greatest superhero trilogy ever, even if it's still a good bit short of The Dark Knight, and in some ways The Dark Knight Rises. For Nolan's first time working on a big action movie it's fantastic. By the way, even though Maggie Gylanhaal may technically be a better actress, Katie Holmes is way hotter ;)

Let's get the bad out of the way first. The pacing is pretty ragged with lots of starts and stops, and it could have built to a bigger climactic action scene... But this is still a very good movie, ranking as one of the best franchise enders ever. The action is the most intense and well realized of any Hunger Games movie, the story is smart and takes risks most mainstream movies wouldn't dare to do, at points making even Nolan look like he cops out when things are getting too dark, and it concludes on a satisfyingly poignant note. Sure, it does suffer from Return of the King's 10 endings syndrome, but if that's the worst you can say about a movie with this much to offer then you're just nitpicking. Mockingjay Part 2 secures The Hunger Games as the YA franchise king, and I doubt it will be surpassed by any other YA series soon, if ever.

It's an interesting movie. It's sharp, authentic, and has a intriguing main character... but it can be boring at times. I liked the off kilter tone of the story, and the movie really comes to life in certain moments, but as I stated, it's not always as entertaining as it should be. That being said, Charlize Theron does give a really good performance, and the movie is all the better for it. Seeing as this is another collaboration between Jason Reitman and Diablo Cody, it's inevitable that you're going to compare it to Juno while watching it. It's not nearly as good. It lacks Juno's constant liveliness and its interestingly quirky details. But, it does have enough going for it, including Theron's and Oswalt's chemistry, that I have to call it a solid little movie. It's just not great.

I'm going to get a lot of flack for saying this, but 2001 is probably the most overrated movie of all time. Sure, the effects are serviceable in 2015, the camerawork is stunning, and there are a few moments of transcendent beauty, but that amounts to like 15 good minutes total if I'm being generous. The rest of the movie is a meticulously constructed boredom. There were times when I wanted to scream with boredom. Kubrick seems to think holding shots on absolutely nothing interesting happening makes him a master, and apparently everyone else thinks this too, but it doesn't. I had moral objections to a clockwork orange and the second half was pretty slow, but overall that was a movie that could entertain, shock and fascinate. I also thought The Shining was one of the creepiest movies ever made. But this? As artful and visionary as it occasionally is, I could barely stand to finish it. I know I'm in the minority, but I have to call out pretension when I see it. Interstellar may have taken much inspiration from this movie, but that one was awe inspiring, heartbreaking and exciting. Gravity was also 1000 times more engaging than this while still containing moments of jaw dropping beauty. I love atmosphere and when a film is drenched in it I encourage slow pacing, but 2001 only has glimpses of atmosphere. 2001 may not be the worst movie ever, but it's one of the most boring.

This movie's even worse then I remembered. Granted, there is one cool scene where Edward stops the car, but that's about it. The acting's terrible, the dialogue is ridiculous, and the effects are laughable. Plus, it just oozes that dumb high-school melodrama vibe. It's not the most painful movie to watch out there. There are parts sprinkled throughout that are ok and it's very well shot, but with such a poor script, direction, and acting it ends up just feeling boring and sappy. And couldn't they have made Edward's hair look less ridiculous? It may not be the worst movie ever made, but it's also nowhere near good.

It's a witty, original, funny, and very stylish movie... but it's very overrated. The things to like are the performances, memorable characters, and it's unique style, which is most apparent in the scenes inside of Mia Wallace's house. But there are patches that I didn't much care for and I've seen better crime movies. I'm sure it's not quite possible to review it objectively after 20 years of imitators and movies influenced by it without it feeling a little watered down, but I didn't quite see why so many people are in love with this movie. But I'll give it original and entertaining which are anything but undesirable traits.

A poignant, funny, moving, unique, and expertly created movie. It does occasionally cover some well tread ground but its wit, quirky style, and unbridled emotion overwhelm any complaints. To call the characters 3-dimensional is an understatement, and the performances are all just about perfect. It's without a doubt a movie everyone should watch. One of my favorite of the year so far without a doubt.

It is definitely only for mature viewers, but Ex Machina is a stunning experience, maybe even a masterpiece. Visually perfect. It has the coolest production design I have ever seen and some of the cleanest, appealing camera work in recent memory. The atmosphere is beyond thick, creating a hypnotic mood that just completely envelops you. Alicia Vikander and Oscar Isaac give Oscar worthy performances, but Gleeson isn't a slouch either. The plot is thought provoking, creepy, surprising, and buoyed by intelligent dialogue. It was the best movie I've seen in a long time, and one of the best I've ever seen for that matter.

This is a pretty decent reboot for Godzilla. It's eerie, well acted, and has amazing special effects. If only its story was half as good as these elements. The plot basically boils down to giant monsters traveling to a meeting point to fight. The plot starts out more emotionally and character driven than you would expect, but eventually you begin to realize that these characters are not very well written and sorta boring. The filmmaking and acting elevates the movie into good territory and it has a handful of jaw dropping moments so I'd still recommend it. But it's still not what the filmmakers or trailer promised. That would have been The Dark Knight of monster movies, but settling for a decently entertaining diversion isn't the worst thing considering that it could have been a disaster.

This is an undeniably breathtaking movie. It's visually spectacular, stunningly atmospheric, which has a lot to do with Hanz Zimmer's score, and anchored by a dramatically weighty story. The actors are all first rate, especially Michael Shannon as the perpetually bitter villain Zod, and Caville makes a pretty decent Superman. The one thing I object to though is that in the third act the action does begin to go on for far too long. The action scenes are all amazingly well done so I won't complain too much but they're too much **** thing after a while. Nonetheless, this is on a level way above most superhero movies, filled with smart storytelling, and moments that can't be described as anything but awe inspiring.

The Martian is just such a fun movie. It's a light toned, clever, visually impressive, well acted movie. It's always engaging and you'll never be bored with the outside the box ways Matt Damon adapts to his situation. It's perfectly paced, has a great cast, and is unusually fun for Scott. It really didn't even feel like a Ridley Scott movie, because in terms of mood and tone it's the antithesis of the darkness from Alien, Blade Runner, Gladiator... to almost any Scott movie. I don't think it's as good as Alien. I don't think it's as good as the rapturous, and profound Interstellar, but it is one of the best and most enjoyable movies of the year and will go down as another Ridley Scott sci-fi classic.

Despite some truly cool scenes, there is just too much that's bland, generic, and boring about this movie. For starters, it's not as good as Divergent. Yes, that movie had some problems but it was more exciting, more stylish, more emotional, more cerebral, more... well, everything. This one is so uninspired and boring for so much of its running time. As a result of the blandness it becomes much easier to realize how much is borrowed from the Hunger Games and The Matrix. Sure, the first one did this too but at least it did it entertainingly and with more intelligence than this one does. The simulation scenes are cool and there is a decent amount of them, but almost everything else is badly written, blandly executed and just uninteresting.

Wow. What an incredible movie is Whiplash. It's just so engrossing, so well written, so intense, so good on every level. It's also one of the best shot movies I've ever seen. J.K. Simmons is absolutely amazing, and I can see why he swept all the supporting actor awards. Miles Teller is also very, very good. You're put right into his spot the entire movie, not literally, but through the direction and writing, you can feel every ounce of his character's anger and ambition. Out of all the best picture nominees from last year, I think this was the best. See it as soon as possible.

I feel bad for overwriting my very first review on this site, but I needed to raise my score. This is a very satisfying and well made old school action thriller. Tom Cruise is great (as always), and it's directed with good attention to detail. The action is exhilarating and unusually well staged. Plot wise it's nothing revolutionary but it's still written well enough to remain engaging. Sure, there are ways in which it could have been better. It's not going to rewrite cinema as we know it, but it's definitely fun, and it's a lot less generic than you'd probably expect.

Functional as light entertainment, with some scary scenes and a few interesting new twists, but not anywhere near as exhilarating or intelligently put together as the original Jurassic Park, this has to be seen as a disappointment. The indominus rex is probably the best thing about this movie and is the cause of almost all the scenes that work. So much of the script however feels like it was written by ten year olds that you're consistently taken out of the experience. (The raptors for the military sub-plot is absolutely ridiculous.) There's no sort of dramatic depth to be found anywhere and the actors are all playing pretty flat characters. This movie has the assembly line produced feel to its core. The original Jurassic Park felt like something that craft went into, a movie designed to leave an impression. It also seemed to take place in a more realistic, less goofy cinematic universe. Here you're kept entertained enough but you never really get the sense that there's any more reason to this movie than to grab people's cash. And half of the special effects aren't even very impressive. It's an average, generic blockbuster through and through.

Like many reviews have already said, is a sports movie that, despite an ultimately formulaic structure, never feels cheesy or forced. This true story still has the power to engage you, and the characters all feel real. You feel their emotions and emphasize with their problems. The performances all fit in perfectly with no weak links among the cast: though Costner is still the best of them. The other thing that really makes the movie still work despite the fact that you know where it's headed is the mood and texture of it. It never feels contrived or forced, it allows in different shades of emotion besides "woo hoo!" which it does very well too, and that makes a huge difference.

To quote Tropic Thunder, I think Shamalan has gone "full ****." And as far as we know, you don't come back from "full ****." Was this movie supposed to be funny? Cause it contained some of the funniest moments I've ever seen. Whalberg thinking a doll is a person: "Mrs. Jones?", the roof jumper scene at the beginning, the... nah, there's too many to list. How do you go from making The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs to something like this? Granted, there are some atmospheric and emotionally effecting scenes here, but the movie's even more tragic due to them because you see glimpses of what could have been. The dialogue is awkward, half the time the performances are awkward, I laughed at half of the lines and all the death scenes... What the heck Shamalan? Did you write and direct this thing drunk? I just don't understand ****??

I watched this movie again to reevaluate it and I did enjoy it more this time around. There are a decent amount of funny moments here, and it undoubtedly stands out from the high-school comedy crowd. That's not the same as saying that it's a great comedy. There are some sections that are truly boring and a lot of the jokes fall flat. It's most successful moments occur fairly early on as well. But its quirkiness, strange lead character, and free roaming structure make it entertaining and memorable, and that's a lot more than you can usually say about teen centered comedies.

A very functional letdown. The action scenes and effects are top notch, and the characters are all still competently **** it does not add up to a thrilling movie. Sure, some individual scenes are exciting but the movie drags. The plot is extremely predictable, which is of course true of nearly all superhero movies, but the story doesn't even engage in the moment. Talky scenes are added in which do nothing to enhance the story and end up feeling like mere time wasters. It did start out well, and did entertain me for a good deal of its running time so I can't say it was bad... but the finale is the same old, same old. You never feel like any of the characters are in danger and none of it is as fun as it should have been. A big comedown from the exciting first Avengers movie.

Wow! What an exhilarating, crazy movie! This is a vivid, strange, at times breathtaking action film with surprisingly strong character development and performances. The plot is pretty straightforward but you do get involved anyways. This over straightforwardness and relatively short length however stops this ride from being able to become the odyssey of redemption it could have been. But it's still undoubtedly one of the most vibrant, visceral, and intense action films ever created. You never feel like the characters are safe, which is an uncertainty lacking in almost all action films. It's the type of cinematic experience that needs to be seen on the big screen despite its minor flaws. This will almost certainly be the best film of the summer, and one the best of the year.

A more than passable and entertaining action movie. It's not quite as good as the first but it does still have some memorable moments and a sense of adventure to it. I like the cast a lot, even if there's not much time for moments carrying any great depth. They still come off as human enough. The plot could have been better though. The ending in San Diego seemed a little desperate, and not much that happens, aside from the pushed off the cliff scene, is all that surprising. But for a sequel it still moves along swiftly and entertainingly enough so I'm giving it a pass.

Birdman is an energetic, original, and very entertaining movie. There is creativity in spades here. From the clever screenplay and the way it was edited to all look like one take to the vibrant cinematography and outstanding performances, this may very well be many movie buffs' dream film. Keaton, Stone, and Norton all give great, perhaps career best performances. It's absolutely crazy but it's also very buzzy and the characters are all extremely well written. It's one of the best movies of 2014, but it does lack a certain lasting resonance. I had to drop it to an 8 from a 9 because of this. It just isn't quite as good a movie as American Hustle or Her, or in my own opinion which I know is in the minority, Interstellar. But if you're looking for something different, fun, funny, and sometimes emotional, go for Birdman without hesitation.

It had the chance to be hilarious. But it seems that the writers went for the lazy tired gags instead of actually being creative or adding any sort of cleverness to the **** the most part. The opening, although completely inappropriate and messed up, is actually pretty funny. Also, when Sandburgh and Sandler start to argue the movie does gain some comic momentum. There was some promise here in moments like these, moments where I started to think "Hey, this might actually be pretty funny." But they don't last. Most of the movie is just a bunch of jokes that seem like they were concocted by a 9 year old. The jokes are just so unbelievably lazy and off putting. It has some edge to it, but this only helps in small bursts.

Ok, so it's not anywhere near a masterpiece. I'll also admit that it's at times cheesy, and it does really, really overuse c.g.i. But it's also undeniably fun. Jackman is awesome as Van Helsing and the movie is super energetic. Those are its two main strengths but it has more. I liked its imaginative take on some of the classic monsters. Frankenstein's monster is usually depicted as dim witted, but here he's basically a genius. The action is indeed ludicrous but it can also be exhilarating at times. I thought the plot was pretty interesting to be honest, especially how it depicts Van Helsing as professional monster killer. If you don't take it too seriously I'm sure the movie will give you a good time too. I think the main reason the critics didn't like this movie was because they were expecting an actual horror movie. It's not. If they were expecting the fantasy adventure that it is, I think it would have gone down a little more smoothly. If anything, it's a thousand times better than Hansel & Gretel.

Make no mistake. Interstellar is an amazing, emotionally resonant, and thought provoking movie. I just didn't find it as perfect as the first time I watched it. The acting is all Oscar worthy. The great cast performs all of the deeply emotional moments with absolute perfection. You may definitely cry. This is also one of the most visually stunning movies ever made, containing breathtaking sequences of pure awe and wonder, the best of which is a cerebral and heartbreaking trip into a black hole near the end, but I'm not going to spoil anything for you. Upon my second viewing however, I realized that there could have been a couple more of these types of moments placed into certain parts of the film. The drama is all very well executed, but sometimes the movie does go a little too long without any action. But this is still a film that hits you on much deeper levels than any action scene ever could. Its ambition, imagination, and humanity are nearly unmatched. It's also one of the few blockbusters that actually ends on a high, make that extremely, high note. A sci-fi movie for the ages.

Foxcatcher is an engrossing, sometimes off-putting, but extremely well acted, memorable, and atmospheric movie. With 3 great actors playing fully fleshed out and three dimensional characters, impeccable direction, and a compelling true story, I'm sure it will go down in movie history. Many movies that tell a true story simply go through the motions, relying on everyone's recognition of the events to do the heavy lifting, but not Foxcatcher. Bennett Miller directs it with tension, detail and cinematic flourish. Steve Carrel proves to be a more than solid dramatic actor. He's creepy, strange, and yet somehow still garners sympathy. I'm not sure what his performance would seem like without all that makeup, although I'm sure it would still be more than adequate. Ruffalo and Tatum are also great, and maybe even better than Carrel, but he does stand out more due to his odd and sometimes villainous behavior. I also have to give props to the writers for creating a script layered with psychological intricacies. All in all, a great movie, a great story, and a great showcase for its actors.

A gritty, thrilling, intense, and intricately woven crime thriller. Want to see what the big deal about Scorcesse is? Watch this movie, arguably one of the best gangster dramas of all time. The direction is so tight and laser beam precise that I can't do it justice in writing. The acting is all great, even though Nicholson does admittedly go a little too over the top in some scenes, and the story is engrossing and filled with consuming paranoia. This is also a very excitingly violent movie. Some will argue that there are too many Scorcesse-isms that we've seen too many times before, but I never felt like the story was just going through the motions or being anything other than authentic. A great movie.

Without a doubt one of the most original and clever movies I have ever seen. Now, the idea actually came from Christopher Nolan's brother Jonathan, but he elaborates upon that short story with striking skill and intelligence. It's an extremely stylish and memorable noir, and I can see why it launched Nolan's career to the next level. Guy Pierce's performance was also excellent. I do have some problems with it though. After about an hour there came moments for me where I was starting to be turned off by the extreme complexity of the narrative. I was starting to get a headache. However, the movie does recover quickly. The ending is really good and I doubt that most people will see it coming. I highly recommend this movie to anyone interested in complex murder mysteries and film noir. Good job again Christopher Nolan.

It's not a bad movie. It's pleasant enough, but so much of it is just completely flat. There are a couple funny moments, and a couple emotionally affecting ones, but the cast is wasted. I didn't mind the characters so much as the way they're used. Wilson's and Stiller's characters are funny, but they almost never get a chance to steal the show. I also had a problem with the one character falling in love with his adopted sister. Maybe not actual incest but still weird and uncomfortable. It could have been so much better but Anderson's need for meticulousness completely distracts from the story and not in a good way. I wouldn't call myself either a Wes Anderson fan or hater. Some of his work, like The Grand Budapest Hotel, I really like, and other times it just doesn't. This was one of those times it just didn't do anything for me. I'll eventually re-watch this, and maybe I'll come back with a different opinion, but for now it's a meh for me.

A creepy, at times horrific movie with incredible performances. Meticulously directed, and written with searing intelligence, this is very likely the best horror film ever devised. Of course, Hopkins as Hannibal Lector is simply amazing. He's still the gold standard for the movie villain (even though he's kind of the hero), and I doubt he'll ever be surpassed. There are so many fascinating, creepy, and even disturbing aspects about the relationship between Starling and Lector, but I'll let you find this out for yourself. The characters here are as nuanced as I've ever seen. Foster's performance is also excellent. I must warn you, it's a graphic, disturbing, and at times even disgusting film, and on a different note some of the technical aspects of the movie haven't aged so well, but all in all, it's so memorable and haunting that I have to call it an absolute horror/crime classic. I'll admit, I've had nightmares where I was in a building with Hannibal on the loose. Those were some scary dreams.

I really like this movie, but I think I slightly overrated it the first time I wrote a review. It is a very impressive piece of work, from the production design, to the smart script, and the very visceral action scenes. It's well acted for the most part, but I can't help but feel like Chris Evans is a little stiff in his first few scenes. He eventually delivers a very impressive performance, but it starts out a little bit clunky. It's very visually impressive. Most of the effects shots are top notch, although a few aren't quite up to par with the rest. Snowpiercer's world is a fascinating and grim one, and the movie will thrill you and engage you completely while you're watching it. It's fast paced, unique, and exceptionally well made, but it ends with more of a whimper than a bang, and it doesn't stay with you especially long. Still though, it's well worth any movie lover's time.

This is a very effective, tense, extremely well acted, and ultimately moving film. Now, I don't think it's a masterpiece. There's a bit of bluntness to the filmmaking, and I think Eastwood has directed movies with more sophistication and nuance before, but this is still a very exciting and well made war film. The battles are very intense and engrossing. The characters also felt extremely well brought to life. The human drama here is very well done. A lot of it's power comes from the completely convincing performances. This is almost certainly the best acting Cooper has ever done. He adds layers of depth to Chris and you're sympathetic for his character every step of the way. Sienna Miller also delivers a very good performance, and her character never feels underwritten or like a cliché. Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper have put together an exceptionally entertaining and moving tribute to a true hero, and they deserve major props for doing so.