Sucker Punch (2011) directed by Zack Snyder

Sucker Punch, while universally hated by critics and loathed by moviegoers alike, is one of the most innovative and original films made in years. I will defend this film until the day I die, probably because it will always have a special place in my heart. This movie sparked my love for Zack Snyder and his very unique style of directing, and is one of the main reasons why I wanted to get into film as a career. This film is full of very creative writing, and while 99% of people agree it is a flop, I believe it is simply misconstrued and dismissed as a generic "sexy" action movie.

The many reasons behind why the film community hate this film are the reasons why I believe make it great. So many amazing details and aspects of this movie were overlooked due to their focus on the misconception of sexualization. Believe it or not, this film contains many elements beyond the assumed "schoolgirl fantasy." The best parts of this film include the original writing, focus on female empowerment, and Snyder's beautiful, trademark style of filmmaking. The writing in the film is absolutely fantastic, providing a look into the mind of a young girl after her mother dies, she accidentally kills her sister, and is put into a mental institution. This movie illustrates how the human mind deals with severe trauma in order to survive. If you have a basic understanding of dissociation, then the entire premise is not only plausible but meaningful. Babydoll, played by Emily Browning, is the main character of the entire film, which is quite misleading especially in the final scene, when the audience realizes that Sweet Pea (played by Abbie Cornish) should have been their main focus. This shift of attention makes the audience wonder where their true intentions should have been during the entire film. The writing hid that twist very well, and while confusing, is cleared up in the conclusion. This movie was written at around the same time as Christopher Nolan's Inception, and while they share similar qualities (levels of reality in a hospital, trippy special effects), I believe that Sucker Punch was looked down on because of its inability to express its true message to the audience before its release date. Thanks, Snyder's marketing team.

Other small aspects that I absolutely adored were Snyder's design decisions and one of the best cameos they could have casted. As for the design of this film, Snyder utilized his trademark visionary mind to create some of the best fantasy sequences I have ever seen. There is something so unique about his style that is like none other that I am absolutely in love with. The combination of slow motion techniques and extremely-detailed choreography makes the action scenes so exciting and extraordinary. Another of the elements that made this film so intriguing is the fact that no blood is shown throughout the entire 2 hours of the movie. In the fantasy sequences, blood is represented through light beams, steam, dirt, and electric sparks. This might have been because of its PG-13 rating, but even in the extended, R-rated cut, that element is still present. This is a very clever use of violence, and I loved how it was shown. The final minor part that I loved about this film was Jon Hamm's cameo. If you are able to, watch the extended cut, because it gives so much more depth to his character of the High Roller (in reality, surgeon). While every other performance in this film is very mediocre at best, Jon Hamm really steals every scene he is in, no matter how little he is actually in the film.

The largest criticism that almost all moviegoers had about this film was its use of scantily-clad outfits. Because of this, the film was dismissed as a generic "sexy" action film, but I believe that it is so much more. Many people view this film as misogynistic and sexist, but I see quite the opposite. The main girls in the film are only ever seen in their revealing outfits during the fight scenes. The writing reveals that Babydoll is escaping her awful reality by going into these worlds, and her imagining the outfits is her embracing and utilizing her femininity in the film. Many men are seen ogling over the girls, and while they know this, they use it to their advantage. This happens in a few scenes in the movie, and I think that the writing really did the female characters justice. The only problem is that this film was very ahead of its time. Even though it came out only 7 years ago, the message would be a lot better received in today's culture. In the midst of strong female-led films like Wonder Woman and Atomic Blonde, this film would have boded a lot better. I love almost every aspect of this movie, and I think that everyone should give it a second chance and enjoy its (now critical) empowering feminist values.

Sucker Punch is one of the best action films ever made, as ahead of its time as it was. This hallucinogenic film is one of Snyder's best, and I believe that so much so that I have written multiple papers about it in my film classes:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1k9xhzesAMcpQHoGBE60ahsJAUa29-LRHB9Th2eXgkPY/edit?usp=sharing

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iKFKBGaSmj5XaFEWlakLwmKVyZeBOaqXHmhC5nS2U0Q/edit?usp=sharing

I would absolutely recommend this incredible, mind-bending film to anyone. Just don't fall victim to generic Hollywood marketing techniques, because it will sway you away from seeing it. Watch this film with today's culture in mind, and I promise you will enjoy the hell out of this wild ride.

My Rating: ★★★★

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) directed by Stanley Kubrick

AFI Top 100: #15

Aaahhhhhh.

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH.

Considered a classic by any filmmaker's standards, 2001: A Space Odyssey is, in my opinion, the most terrifying film ever made. It is not your typical horror film by any means, as it is classified as science-fiction, but it definitely scared me and brought out many emotions that I have never experienced during a movie before. This film is a must-see for everyone, and while it is painful to sit through, it is necessary for any moviegoer. It is revolutionary for its cinematography and technology used for the time, all thanks to one of, if not THE, most controversial director of all time. With a compelling story and spectacular visual effects, this movie is an exceptional entity in the world of cinema.

I do not believe that there is any room for improvement or alteration in this film, because the infamous and (possibly clinically) insane Stanley Kubrick had a message he wanted to get to his audience, and he definitely accomplished that in the scariest way possible. The writing in this film is truly extraordinary, offering a glimpse into what Kubrick, back in 1968, thought would be the future of human civilization in 2001. While he was not entirely far off, it is still a bit far-fetched for only 33 years in their future. That does not change the effect of this movie, however, as it may be the most thought-provoking and existential film ever created. If you thought Interstellar messed you up, you ain't seen nothing yet. 2001: A Space Odyssey is the grandfather of all mind-blowing films, and was enhanced by the great cinematography and special effects that were utilized. The effects in this film are so attention-grabbing, and they are used extraordinarily well for the 60's. Kubrick believes in "every frame is a painting," and that is no exception in this movie. Each individual shot was gorgeous in its own right, and that trademark Kubrick style was evident throughout the entire film.

The story in the film took many turns and made me feel things that I did not know could be felt during a movie. The film starts out with the dawn of man and focuses on a small tribe of early ape-like humans. Kubrick's goal from this movie was to show how far we have come as a civilization and where we might be headed next, due to evolutionary changes. While the dawn of man scenes only lasted for the first 25 minutes of the film, it was captivating to watch how primitive humans were. And all of a sudden, in one of the most legendary jump-cuts in history, an ape throws a bone into the air and we are suddenly transported into space above Earth in 2001. This sudden jump was so shocking but thrilling, and Kubrick did a great job of hiding when that was going to happen. In the year 2001, we follow the quest of a few astronauts sent to Jupiter to uncover a mysterious object. This object is known only as the monolith. The writing in this film reveals that the monolith had been placed in our universe to advance human evolution. Our first glimpse of this strange, monochrome-black pillar is actually the first shot of the film, a completely black screen, and we see it again throughout the steps of evolution that Kubrick is describing. The song "Requiem" by György Ligeti is also used every time the monolith is seen, which only adds that extra layer of disorientation and queasiness that I now experience seeing the black tower. As villainous as HAL 9000 was in the film, the monolith is what really screwed me up. This movie made me physically uneasy and unsettled, and kept me squirming at the sight and sound of the alien object.

HAL 9000 is often seen as the main antagonist of this film, which in many ways, he is. But I believe he is simply a pawn in the monolith's evolutionary game. I know that I am focusing my review on this tall, spooky column, but I believe that the monolith may be one of the scariest characters ever created, no matter its staleness. One thing that stands out about this film is its use of music and silence. Very few words and full conversations are actually heard, and the silence of it all adds to the eerie tone. Rightfully so, may I add. The aspect that truly makes this film unforgettable, however, is its ending. The final thirty minutes of this movie will, no doubt, leave a first-timer thinking "what the hell just happened?" From the extended shots of the universe passing by the main character Dave to the rapid eye-blinking shot, it gives the audience plenty of time to think about existence and what else could be out there. This is what I loved so much about the writing in this film; there are endless possibilities as to what is occurring, as Kubrick lets the audience bathe in their own self-reflection and existentialism. While there are many varied explanations out there about what was trying to be expressed, I personally concluded that the monolith had been controlling the universe as we know it since the dawn of man. In the final scene, we see Dave aging quickly towards the end of his life, as the monolith towers over his deathbed for one last appearance. Once Dave passes, we see his spectral form turn into that of a star-child, resembling a newborn. The monolith has completed its task and Dave is sent back to Earth to rule as its new version of God, taking over the role of the monolith. This was Kubrick's prediction for the final step of human evolution, and it is so unbelievably scary that it made me shudder. It probably did not help that I was watching it alone in the dark.

Filled with great performances, revolutionary effects, and an incomparable storyline, 2001: A Space Odyssey is such a powerful film that will last for ages. Watching it for the first time was an eye-opening experience, and it gave me such pride in knowing that films like this exist. Films that make such an impact on you, that you question everything. And it is even more impressive that it was released in 1968. I would absolutely recommend this film, as it is a necessity for any moviegoer. Just don't let the phrase "I'm sorry Dave, I'm afraid I can't do that" get stuck in your head. Also, pause the movie every now and then to take some breathers. You'll thank me later.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Fight Club (1999) directed by David Fincher

Fight Club may as well be a staple of any filmmaker's roster of movies, as there are limitless moments and aspects of this film that make it the cult classic it has become. This film contains some of the most original storytelling and story techniques of any film I have ever seen, and for that, I praise it highly. While there were multiple moments in the writing that confused me beyond belief, Fight Club is a great film worthy (and necessary) for any cinephile to experience for the first time, as I did.

The most outstanding part of this film was its method of story presentation. This film utilized first-person narration, while not used very much, was very effective for this story. It gave us an up-close view of The Narrator's (played by Edward Norton) role in the film and his experiences with the infamous Tyler Durden (played by Brad Pitt). The performances in this film by Norton and Pitt were fantastic, along with minor roles from Meat Loaf and Jared Leto, which I will get to later as they are not as important, and frankly unnecessary. The roles of the former two are the most captivating part, which was assisted by the offbeat writing and development throughout the story. The big twist towards the end, however, is when we learn that Tyler Durden is really just a figment of The Narrator's imagination, as he really is Tyler Durden in their reality. While this threw me for quite a loop, I was very impressed by the screenplay's ability to hide that critical plot point from the audience. At least for me, as I refused to do any research about the film beforehand. The story was so cleverly written that it made you feel for each character individually, but really screwed me up when it was revealed they were the same person. This is a prime example of a film that needs to be re-watched multiple times in order to really catch the essence of what the hell is going on. So you can bet I'll be watching this film again in order to put all of the loose pieces of story in my brain together. This film does not leave any loose ends and ties every point together very well, but it is simply a lot of story information to take in at once.

Other little things that I noticed throughout the film that made me appreciate it even more was its cinematography and tone. Jeff Cronenweth, the director of photography, did an excellent job on his use of close-ups and quick jump-cuts. There were scenes throughout this film that felt so intensely personal yet frantic, due to the way the camera was utilized. Other scenes that caught my eye involved the use of CGI tunnel-path shots with fast movement. Such shots like going behind the refrigerator and flying through the flights of the building were very skillful. The camera work fit the tone of the film very well, as it smoothly transitioned from an existential workplace comedy to an even darker, malevolent mood. This tone change was supported by the plot advancement, and it felt very natural and not forced. As a writer, this can be tricky to pull off, but it was done excellently.

The only minor problems that I had with this film involved a few moments in the writing, as well as some celebrity cameos. As for the cameos, Jared Leto and Meat Loaf were advertised to be a large part of the film, possibly even as big as Brad Pitt or Edward Norton. This was definitely not the case, as the now-famous Leto uttered barely two lines and was almost unrecognizable after a severe beatdown by Norton's character. Meat Loaf's character appeared in very few scenes and was killed off after a while, and seemed a tad unnecessary for the story to develop. The writing of the film did not do them much justice either, as was the case for a few select scenes. After learning what the twist ending consisted of, the car scene in the rain did not make much sense. The Narrator and Tyler are in the front seats, and the cult members in the back, but they acknowledged the existence of both of them. If Norton's character ended up actually being Tyler the entire time, why did the members accept that there were two presences in front of them? Another problem that I had involved Tyler's malicious plan for the conclusion of the film. In the final shot, we see Tyler and Marla standing in the building while skyscrapers around the city are destroyed. The reasoning behind Tyler's almost terrorist-level attack was either never revealed, or was hidden deep in the often-confusing dialogue. In either case, I was not entirely sure what gave Tyler Durden the motivation to attempt to take down corporate America.

Fight Club is a movie full of intense performances and phenomenal moments that define the thoughts and actions of a depressed, middle-aged, office worker to a tee. Picture Office Space with boundless more violence and quirky characters, and you've got a David Fincher classic. This movie is definitely a necessity for any filmmaker's toolbox for its original writing techniques and its renowned use of a camera.

My Rating: ★★★★

John Wick (2014) directed by Chad Stahelski, David Leitch

John Wick may be one of the best action films made in years, creating a character out of nowhere that solidified his presence in action history. This film is riddled with great elements, including original, interesting writing and a spectacular comeback performance by Keanu Reeves. While there were some parts that remain generic and form-fitting of an action film, the majority of this movie was creative and new, which is quite rare, especially in this genre.

The best part of this film was definitely Keanu Reeves' role as the titular character. After he gets married, John Wick retires from the hit-man profession to continue his life. But when his wife dies of an unexpected illness and some thugs break into Wick's home, beat him up, and kill his puppy, Wick decides to return to what he is best at: killing. There were many scenes throughout the film that truly mark this as Reeves' ultimate comeback film. The scene with the dead puppy in the beginning was obviously very emotional and Wick's monologue later on in the film was one of the most powerful and revengeful scenes I have ever watched. Compared to a lot of Reeves' previous roles, this one showed so much emotion and he did an excellent job of portraying that. Reeves really brought out the passion from the script, as the writing was fantastic too. The story in this film was very innovative, as it did not focus on the trope of a dead loved one, but rather the loss of hope. As heard in the confrontation-scene monologue, after Wick's wife had died, the only thing he had left was the puppy, named Daisy. But since that was taken from him, his hope was taken from him too, and nothing would stop him from getting vengeance on the people who emotionally broke him. Another great point that the writing did for the story was establishing Wick as a professional hit-man without too much of a backstory. Throughout the film, it feels as though Reeves has done this role for ages, as he really embodies the character, even though this is his first appearance on screen. It is his confidence and charisma that gives the character that much more grit and personality.

Along with the engaging story, the most pleasing aspect of this movie was its visual effects and choreography. The violence in this film did not aim to satisfy a PG-13 audience, that is for certain. While dozens of headshots and close kills were shown, it really displayed Wick's relentless for justice, while doing it in a beautifully-choreographed and stylized way. The final piece of the puzzle that really glued everything together, though, was the music motif. The song "Every Ending Has a Beginning" by Tyler Bates and Joel J. Richard was utilized very well throughout, as every intense action sequence had this song attached to it in one way or another. This really emphasized the R-rated violence and showed just how grotesque yet professional Wick was.

The writing in this film definitely stood out compared to other action movies, but there were still a few moments that were quite bland and did not match the tone of the rest of this film. The opening scene chronologically occurred at the end of the film, as the story circled around and caught back up to where we left off. I feel that this trope occurs way too often in film, and this movie could have done a bit better with bringing the story together. There were also a few moments in this movie where the dialogue was very weak and did not feel in place. A lot of Willem Dafoe's character's lines were very poorly-written, as his character deserved more justice, considering how integral he was to keeping John alive. Other moments in the film seemed very predictable and generic, and needed better care from the screenwriters.

All in all, John Wick is an original and engaging story about a killer who goes on a rampage after his loss of hope. Keanu Reeves delivered an amazing performance, and really personified his character while the writing, for the most part, was exceptional. This film is very appealing and fun, and I would definitely recommend it to any fan of the genre. However, I would NOT recommend fucking with Keanu Reeves or his puppy, as he will quite literally kill EVERYONE.

My Rating: ★★★★½

Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017) directed by Jake Kasdan

I grew up with the original Jumanji with Robin Williams on VHS, and it has always been one of those films where if it is on, I have to drop everything and watch it. I was excited for this film and expected to be disappointed, but after watching Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, I have to admit that it was very clever and well-written. The humor was hilarious, the action and visual effects were great, and the story was simple but effective. There were many great parts of this film, and I honestly enjoyed it just as much as the original.

The best part of this film were the performances by Dwayne Johnson, Karen Gillan, and surprisingly Jack Black. I only excluded Kevin Hart because his performance was mediocre and I have never been a huge fan of his. But Johnson and Black definitely stole this entire film. Even though they played their characters with the personalities of various high schoolers, they fit well for each individual character of the video game. The best performance, I would have to say, would be from Jack Black, to much surprise. As annoying as it was in the beginning, his embodiment of the stereotypical high school girl was spot-on. Another part of the acting that I really enjoyed was Karen Gillan's portrayal of the shy, yet clever high schooler. While I would typically have a problem with the only female character wearing skimpy clothing and having dance abilities, it actually helped to further her development very well. Putting that personality into that body contradicted each other, same as the others, but Karen Gillan's body was a great choice because it showed how her real personality changed to give her more confidence. Other aspects of this film that were great were the humor and visual effects. Since this blockbuster obviously features four A-list stars, some might think that would lead to a disaster of a film, especially since they spent all their money on casting. That is not the case however for this film, which had a cast that worked so well together in every scene. Because of the chemistry, none of the dialogue seemed forced or unnatural. The humor throughout this film was used very well, and kept the same borderline adult feel of the original film. While this is a film suited for children, it was still rated PG-13, and there was a plethora of adult humor to keep the entire audience entertained. Another great part of this film that was utilized well was the CGI and design of the jungle. The effects of the jungle animals and explosions were not overused or done in a hurry, which gave the film that extra sense of detail that worked exceptionally. While there was nothing special about the cinematography or editing, the effects and look of the jungle were gorgeous and it was obvious that there was an expert design department behind this movie.

The only thing about this film that I would personally change would be a few elements of the writing. Overall, the story was planned very well and nothing was out-of-the-ordinary. However, some aspects like the forced relationships and pacing were a bit strange. The relationship between Dwayne Johnson's character and Karen Gillan's character was odd, to say the least. This film technically passes the Bechdel test, which is a great plus, but Gillan's character's motivations were solely to impress and get her feelings out about Johnson's character. I feel this was unnecessary, but then again, this is a Hollywood blockbuster that followed some typical standards for making a movie. As for the pacing in the film, it simply felt awkward at times, and the writing in certain scenes did not help that. Some scenes were more focused on appealing to children and others to adults, but the transitions between them were not very smooth.

With great performances, beautiful effects and CGI, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle is a fun addition to this (now) continued franchise. The entire cast was great, including the performance by Nick Jonas as the stranded kid from the '90s. While the writing tended to stray off course and not focus on the main plot from time to time, it still managed to stay held together and provide an entertaining experience for old and new fans alike.

My Rating: ★★★½

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017) directed by Sam Liu

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is an (almost) feature-length animated film that once again proves that DC's animated films highly surpass their live-action Hollywood disappointments. Being only an hour and 15 minutes long, this film covers a lot surprisingly well in that short amount of time. The greatest parts about this film were definitely the character development and relationship subplots throughout the movie. While I wish the titular plot was better integrated, there are still many aspects of this film to rave about.

The absolute best part about this film would have to be its character development and relationships throughout. I always watched Teen Titans as a kid, and seeing these characters brought back to life made me very happy. The same creative team behind the show worked on this film, and I am glad that they matured the characters into a more professional tone while still keeping the humor and childlike fantasy of them all. While this film sadly did not feature Cyborg, seeing the relationships grow with the new additions to the team was great. The older Titans, Nightwing and Starfire, who had returned to the team to be sort-of mentors, were portrayed very well and their dialogue was fantastic. Speaking of the more mature tone, the clashing of the younger Titans' actions and Nightwing and Starfire's adult relationship was hilarious. The writers managed to maintain a good adult relationship (often borderline sexual) with the innocence of the younger members, like Blue Beetle and Beast Boy. All of the subplots and character revelations throughout the film were handled very well, especially with the new recruit Terra, who had sinister undertones.

The plot regarding Terra was tied in to the overall antagonist's plot, as she turned out to be Deathstroke's pawn and lover. The story of Terra infiltrating the Titans was very interesting, but I feel that her relationship to Deathstroke could have been written a bit better. This film is based off of The Judas Contract comic series, which focuses on Deathstroke attempting to kill all the Titans. However, Deathstroke was not the main focus of the villain's plot, rather, Terra was. And for her to be revealed as Deathstroke's lover was not only a bit creepy (she's 18 and he's in his 30's), but a bit demeaning for her character as well. I feel that the antagonist should have been either Terra working on her own or staying true to the comics and having solely Deathstroke. Other than that minor writing issue, there is not much for me to complain about this film. In fact, there are more good things than bad. Some of the smaller aspects of this film that I enjoyed included the DC signature animation style, the humor, and a funny animated cameo. As for the animation, the style was taken from anime, but definitely Americanized. This is DC's typical style, and it is very original and beautiful, which fits the tone of this film well. The humor in the film mostly came from Raven, surprisingly, which worked well for her character in the long run. Finally, the very last scene with Beast Boy getting interviewed by comic fanboy Kevin Smith himself was funny and pleasant to see. I love seeing worlds collide, and it's always fun for the audience as well.

Teen Titans: The Judas Contract is a fun and great addition to the DC animated universe. While the animation was gorgeous once again, the character development and humor worked quite well for this team of heroes. Despite some minor writing flaws, this is a great and quick film that I would strongly recommend.

My Rating: ★★★½

Split (2016) directed by M. Night Shyamalan

Split is definitely my favorite M. Night Shyamalan piece in years. While this film did not have his trademark twist at the end, there was a clever cameo used that tied in to one of Shyamalan's earlier films. This film began a shared universe of those two works, but that was not even the best part of this movie. The greatest part was the performance by the ever-talented James McAvoy. His performance was absolutely astounding throughout the entire film, and most definitely award-worthy. There are many other aspects that I found fantastic, but I will be focusing on McAvoy, as he stole the show and gave one of the best performances in a thriller in a long time.

James McAvoy is one of the greatest young actors out in Hollywood today, and this film definitely cements that. In this movie, McAvoy plays Kevin, a secluded criminal with dissociative identity disorder. This film revolves around his four main personalities: the extroverted Barry, the intimidating Dennis, the calming Patricia, and the ever-lovable Hedwig. We don't see any more of his personalities until later in the film, but these four were the main roles, and played so excellently as well. These different personas were portrayed amazingly and each had their own distinct charisma. Even if their clothes did not give it away, the audience could tell which persona had taken over solely based on McAvoy's acting. This is truly the mark of a great actor, because he embodied these different roles so well, all in the course of one movie. While editing is a huge part of this as well, assisting McAvoy in separating the roles, it is still extremely impressive to see this actor dedicate himself to the roles this much. In fact, in one of the ending scenes, we see Kevin struggling to switch between his pure and more evil personas in a matter of seconds, and it was the most fascinating scene of the entire film. This entire film was so captivating, and McAvoy's performance just added to that edge-of-the-seat feeling.

The tone throughout this film was very intense and personally made me sweat. That is a good sign for a thriller, though, and it worked so well. The silence and lack of soundtrack in this movie added to the tone, giving more intensity and focus on the characters. The other characters in this film were portrayed great as well, most notably Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey. Casey was the only surviving victim of Kevin's kidnapping spree, and her "sweet-but-innocent" aura was misleading, in a good way. Casey's backstory was included very smoothly throughout the film, and this is due to the great writing. The story of how Casey was raped by her uncle and forced to live with him added to her personality and gave good motivation to her wanting to escape Kevin's secluded basement of the zoo. And the shotgun motif was an excellent touch, may I add.

The biggest "a-ha!" moment of this film was undoubtedly the final scene, where Bruce Willis is seen in a cafe, and die-hard Shyamalan fans realize the connection to his 2000 film Unbreakable. This shared universe trend, obviously popular in today's culture, seems to be an overused trope at this point, so I dearly hope that it is not misused. I trust Shyamalan though, as he is always careful with his films. The only part that I feel could have been improved was the inclusion of the personas. While we saw a quick glimpse of a few more of Kevin's identities on the computer, I would have liked to seen even more. I understand that McAvoy might have only had time to truly master a select few, which he did very well, but I still would have enjoyed experiencing more of them, as there were 24 in total. Just a personal preference I suppose but I think they could have done a bonus feature on the disc, which would have been neat.

Split is one of the best thrillers I have seen in years, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, while continuously drawing me in with new aspects. James McAvoy deserves endless praise for his many roles, and this film proves to be one of Shyamalan's greatest.

My Rating: ★★★★½

Logan Lucky (2017) directed by Steven Soderbergh

Being such a massive fan of Edgar Wright's Baby Driver, I really did not want to like Logan Lucky. They both were released in summer of 2017 and both centered about criminal heists and car chases. I saw some of the marketing from this film that subtly poked fun at and discredited Wright's film, and since I obviously did not appreciate that, I refused to see this movie. However, since awards season is in full swing and seeing how many people loved it, I gave in. And I must say, I was really not disappointed. This is a very original and interesting film that I would definitely recommend to any fan of heist movies and especially if you're into NASCAR.

This film, while I still do not believe it is nearly as re-watchable or enjoyable as Baby Driver, is still very good in many aspects. Some of these include the writing of the film, performances, and unexpected cameos. The writing of this film was definitely its outstanding quality, as the story was very original and took many different turns that I wasn't quite expecting. The story revolved around a pair of brothers (Channing Tatum and Adam Driver) who, low on money, decide to set up a heist to rob a motor speedway on the weekend of a huge NASCAR race. The writing throughout the entire film seemed very dry and emotionless, but I feel like that strangely worked for the tone of many of the characters and the setting. While there were no emotions present, it fit the personalities and actions of the varied cast of people, including Daniel Craig as a veteran criminal and Seth MacFarlane as a showy English racecar driver, complete with an 80's porn 'stache. I have to admit, though, that the writing appears very confusing and pointless for the majority of the film, up until the very end of the third act. This is when a lot of the plot points are resolved and things become a lot clearer. I was not expecting this kind of "twist" ending, but it absolutely fit the story.

Other things that I feel worked very well for the story include the use of soundtrack and the cleverly-utilized cameos. This was a very quiet film for the most part, with the only music appearing in a few select scenes. This film did not have much of an original score, but the music that it did use was placed at key scenes throughout the film, emphasizing certain aspects. The music almost appeared loud compared to the rest of the movie, which was overall very quiet. Audio editing is an amazing skill to master, so I give that team major props for making it work. The final, small element that I thought was a nice touch throughout the film were the cameos. I grew up in an automotive family, so NASCAR has always been a priority for my parents. Any fan of the automobile racing organization would recognize the countless number of drivers that made cameos, such as Joey Logano, Brad Keselowski, and Ryan Blaney. They all played the roles of either security guards or police officers, so this move was very clever on their part, incorporating actual drivers from the world of what this film revolves around.

Logan Lucky is a very good film that has many great aspects, but also a few missed opportunities. This film had excellent performances, awesome use of audio and cameos, but I believe it missed the mark in some spots. For example, I think that Sebastian Stan and Seth MacFarlane's characters' subplot could have been utilized for the overall story better and that they could have had more screen time. It is understandable that Tatum and Driver are huge stars by themselves, but better incorporation of the entire cast would have helped, as the two lead stars could not seem to hold up a few scenes by themselves. Overall, this is a great movie that I would recommend to anyone looking for a fun night in. Don't buy it though, rent it on Redbox or something and save yourself a bit of money.

My Rating: ★★★

The Big Sick (2017) directed by Michael Showalter

I have a tendency to dismiss romantic comedies as simple and money-grabbing movies, but there are definitely some extraordinary exceptions. The Big Sick is one of these exceptions, as this film was an expertly-crafted masterpiece of storytelling that I would recommend to anyone. The story was very original and the themes were excellent. There are a few things that I would have personally liked to seen, but this film handled everything very well regardless.

The greatest part of this film was definitely the writing and story. This film was written by Kumail Nanjiani and his wife Emily Gordon, and was about how they met and how their relationship was built. Emily got quite sick after she met Kumail, and it was fascinating to see the story grow from there. As Kumail met her parents, the biggest aspect of the film that was revealed was the secondhand-embarrassment and awkward comedy. This signature Apatow-level humor was done very well for a romantic comedy, and it worked especially well for this story. As Kumail got to know Emily's parents, played by Ray Romano and Holly Hunter, his relationship to them developed as well, which was something new to this genre of film. Rarely does a rom-com feature the main characters as the boyfriend and girlfriend's parents, but this one did it very well. While it is a different type of experience, it brings different aspects of relationships that I feel everyone can relate to, in a strange way. The writing in this film was amazing, and even brought in many different subtle societal aspects that needed to be addressed. Some of these included race and class issues, which were handled well. Kumail is a Pakistani living in America who falls in love with Emily, a white woman from a rural area. This film did not address the race issue directly, but rather indirectly because of its inability to mention it. While one of the main plot points revolved around Kumail's parents wanting an arranged marriage, the fact that Emily was white never came up. This was very clever on their part, and the two did a great job handling that.

While the writing of this film was fantastic, I wish the performances could have been a bit better. Kumail Nanjiani is known for his stand-up comedy, and has not done many feature films. His acting was great, but didn't quite sell the romantic comedy effect. I do not blame him for being mediocre at this element of acting, since he is relatively new, but he did good regardless. The performances from Holly Hunter as the crazy (future) mother-in-law and Ray Romano as the (future) father-in-law were great, per usual. Those two have such solid reputations as artists themselves, and did excellent as well. It was interesting to see the relationship development, especially Hunter's character to Kumail. Going from standoffish to understanding and loving is always a great thing to see in film. As for Emily, I personally wish that she would have played herself instead of Zoe Kazan. Kazan was fantastic in her role, but since this story is about the two of them falling in love, I feel that both of them should have starred in it. This is obviously just a personal preference, but I still believe it.

This awkward true story makes a fantastic and hilarious film from stand-up comic Nanjiani. The writing and story development was awesome, and many of the performances were great. There are a few minor things that I wish would have been changed, but other than those, this film was astounding. I would recommend this film for everyone to see, as it addressed many important issues, including race, class, and of course, love.

My Rating: ★★★★½

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) directed by Ron Howard

In what may be the best performance in a fantasy role in the past few decades, Jim Carrey absolutely kills it as the evil, Christmas-hating monster known as the Grinch. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a fantastic film that is marked by its leading role and especially the set and costume design. While the story is simple and unoriginal, every other visual aspect of this film is astounding.

The only criticisms that I have regarding this film is its writing, editing, and direction. The writing of this film was very unoriginal, as it copied the story from Dr. Seuss's classic book, almost scene-by-scene. This can be seen as both a good and bad thing, depending on who you ask. For the majority of people, staying true to the original piece of work is very important, which I agree with as well. However, given that this is a live-action remake, I would have liked to seen some minor changes to truly make it feel like something new. It was as good as a Dr. Seuss book can be, I suppose. As for the editing and direction, I was very unimpressed with all of it. For how wacky and goofy this film and its respective tone are, I feel that more work could have been put in these two elements: especially the editing. I feel that more jump-cuts and higher angles would have worked better for certain scenes, truly displaying the Grinch's evilness and craziness. I watched this film countless times as a kid, and watching it again now, I was surprised to see it was directed by Ron Howard. For being such a legendary director, it was interesting to see his take on this film, even though his career is definitely not marked by a Dr. Seuss adaptation. Honestly, this is the equivalent of George Miller directing one of the Care Bears films.

This movie might not be the best in terms of writing and directing, but one team that stands out more than any other is definitely production. The level of work that the production team put into quite literally every aspect of this film is amazing. The set design, costume design, and makeup in the movie are one-of-a-kind. No other film that I know of has spent this much time and detail into perfecting the world of Whoville and the Grinch's lair than this production team. Knowing that the set was built well enough for Universal Studios to want to keep it on display in their amusement park is honestly fantastic, and it shows the level of effort that the crew had to make the world really come alive. The makeup team was amazing as well, as Jim Carrey is almost unrecognizable as himself, more than he is the hairy, green monster that he plays. His makeup alone took 3 months total during filming to do, and for the sake of an hour-and-a-half feature is crazy. Although Jim Carrey does not sport his usual elastic face, his performance and antics are still very present. Carrey was casted absolutely perfectly for this film, as his silly facial expressions and voices boded well for this character. Seeing how his character transitioned from the heartless monster into the loving creature was a great development, and Carrey executed it flawlessly.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas is one of my favorite holiday films of all time, and even has my favorite Christmas song of all time (Better Do It Right by Smash Mouth). This movie is marked by its exceptional portrayal of the monster by the ever-talented Jim Carrey and its design, in all aspects of the word. No other film that I know of has taken this much time to perfect its world than this whimsical Dr. Seuss adaptation. I would recommend this film, especially during the holiday season, as it puts you in the mood for Christmas while simultaneously making you appreciate Carrey much more. And one more thing: the live-action Cat in the Hat has NOTHING on the Grinch, no matter what any Mike Myers fan says.

My Rating: ★★★½