Monday, December 30, 2019

Revised Overall Ratings of 2019 Films

1. Jojo Rabbit-100%
2. Judy-100%
3. Avengers: Endgame-99%
4. Knives Out-99%
5. Ready or Not-96%
6. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood-96%
7. Doctor Sleep-95%
8. Frozen II-95%
9. Joker-95%
10. The Lighthouse-92%
11. Toy Story 4-92%
12. Hustlers-91%
13. Shazam!-90%
14. Spider-Man: Far From Home-90%
15. Richard Jewell-90%
16. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker-86%
17. Villains-85%
18. Zombieland: Double Tap-84%
19. Rocketman-84%
20. The Current War-82%
21. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World-82%
22. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum-80%
23. Ad Astra-78%
24. It Chapter 2-78%
25. Godzilla: King of the Monsters-76%
26. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood-76%
27. Hobbs & Shaw-72%
28. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part-71%
29. Us-71%
30. Aladdin 2019-68%
31. Pokemon Detective Pikachu-68%
32. Captain Marvel-67%
33. The Lion King 2019-64%
34. Yesterday-64%
35. Pet Sematary 2019-62%
36. The Upside-62%
37. Dark Phoenix-60%
38. Cold Pursuit-60%
39. Glass-59%

Sunday, December 29, 2019

Most Anticipated 2020 Films

Order of release:
1. The Grudge- Reboot to the franchise that takes place at the same time as the 2004 film.
2. Underwater- Sci-fi horror about underwater researchers who must survive the depths when an earthquake damages their laboratory.
3. Dolittle- Robert Downey Jr. stars as the animal conversing doctor that adapts the second novel from the literary series.
4. Bad Boys for Life- Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reunite for the third installment of the buddy cop series, though without Michael Bay in the helm.
5. The Last Full Measure- A war drama that tells the true story of a soldier from Vietnam who saved over sixty troops but was never recognized.
6. The Turning- A modern day take on The Turn of the Screw.
7. The Gentlemen- Guy Ritchie's latest sees him go back to his gangster comedy roots.
8. The Rhythm Section- Blake Lively stars in this spy thriller from the producers of the James Bond films.
9. Gretel & Hansel- A dark and fantastical take of the classic Grimm story.
10. Bird of Prey- The eighth entry of the DCEU sees Harley Quinn breaking up with Joker and end up fighting Black Mask with other heroes and villains.
11. The Lodge- A horror film about a woman and her step-kids who get stuck in a cabin due to a snow storm.
12. Sonic the Hedgehog- The live action adaptation of the Sega video game franchise.
13. Fantasy Island- A dark and more horror focused take of the 70s fantasy series.
14. Downhill- Will Ferrell stars in this black comedy as a husband and father who must deal with his family after an avalanche.
15. Call of the Wild- Fifth theatrical adaptation of the 1903 novel.
16. Emma- Anya Taylor-Joy stars in this adaptation of the Jane Austen novel.
17. Brahms: The Boy II- Sequel to the 2016 horror film.
18. The Invisible Man- Blumhouse's modern take on the classic H.G. Wells novel.
19. Wendy- A new take of the Peter Pan story.
20. Onward- Pixar's latest animated urban-fantasy comedy about magical creatures in an urban lifestyle.
21. The Way Back- Ben Affleck stars as a high school basketball coach struggling with alcoholism.
22. Bloodshot- The first theatrical adaptation based on Valiant Comics with Vin Diesel in the title role.
23. A Quiet Place: Part II- John Krasinski return to direct the sequel to the 2018 horror film.
24. Mulan- The live action remake of the original '90s Disney animated film.
25. The New Mutants- The last of the Fox-era X-Men films with a much more horror focused spin.
26. The Lovebirds- A couple on the brink of separating get embroiled in a bizarre murder mystery.
27. No Time to Die- The latest Bond film sees Daniel Craig in his last outing as the suave spy with Rami Malek as the main villain.
28. Trolls World Tour- Sequel to the 2016 animated film in which the Trolls learn that there are five other tribes, each with their own genre of music.
29. Monster Problems- Post-apocalyptic comedy about a guy fighting monsters to see the girl he likes.
30. Antlers- A horror film set in a small town in Oregon about a teacher worried that one of her students is harboring a dark secret.
31. The Secret Garden- Fifth theatrical adaptation of the 1911 novel.
32. Promising Young Woman- Carrey Mulligan stars as a woman enacting revenge on those who've wronged her.
33. Antebellum- With one of the producers of Get Out and Us, this thriller deals with different realities and the horrors involved in them.
34. Black Widow- The first entry in the fourth phase of the MCU, this looks at the title character's origins and her adventures between Civil War and Infinity War.
35. Greyhound- Tom Hanks stars and produces this war drama in which an American destroyer must protect merchant ships from German U-boats.
36. The Personal History of David Copperfield- The fifth theatrical adaptation of the 1850 Charles Dickens novel and the first since 1935.
37. Scoob!- An animated reboot that looks at the forming of Mystery Inc. and begins a cinematic universe involving classic Hanna-Barbera characters.
38. The Woman in the Window- A psychological thriller with Amy Adams playing a woman with agoraphobia and is a witness to crime no one else believes.
39. The Organ Donor- A continuation of the Saw franchise with a story by Chris Rock.
40. Fast & Furious 9- The ninth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise.
41. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run- The third film based on the Nickelodeon series sees SpongeBob look for Gary when he is taken.
42. Wonder Woman 1984- Sequel to the 2017 hit sees Diana take on Maxwell Lord and Cheetah while reuniting with her lost love.
43. Candyman- Direct sequel to the 1992 horror classic with Tony Todd returning to the role and Jordan Peele writing.
44. Soul- Pixar's second film this year in which a music teacher and jazz musician helps a lost soul find her way.
45. King of Staten Island- A comedy written by Judd Apatow and Pete Davidson, mirroring the SNL alum's life such as his firefighter father's death on 9/11.
46. Top Gun: Maverick- Long awaited sequel to the 1986 classic with Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer reprising their roles.
47. Minions: The Rise of Gru- Sequel to the 2015 prequel centering on the Minions and their first adventures with Gru.
48. Free Guy- Ryan Reynolds plays an NPC of a video game who becomes aware of what and where he is.
49. Ghostbusters: Afterlife- Direct sequel to the original '80s films with Jason Reitman taking on the directing duties his father held.
50. Tenet- Christopher Nolan's latest sees John David Washington playing a secret agent preventing World War III through time travel.
51. Jungle Cruise- Adventure film with Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name.
52. Morbius- Jared Leto stars as the Marvel vampire in Sony's Spider-Man based cinematic universe.
53. Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar- Cowritten by and starring Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo, the two play best friends who go to Florida for vacation and get tangled in a murder plot.
54. Infinite- A man has visions that are actually memories of his past lives.
55. The Empty Man- Based on a Boom! graphic novel, a former cop fights against a group wanting to summon a supernatural entity.
56. The One and Only Ivan- Sam Rockwell voices a gorilla who lives in a cage at a mall and befriends two elephants, a dog, and the custodian's daughter.
57. Malignant- Adapting his own comic book, James Wan tells the story of a man who learns that his tumor is actually a parasite that grants him powers.
58. Bill & Ted Face the Music- The third Bill & Ted film sees the duo needing to create a song that could save not the world, but also the universe.
59. The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard- Sequel to The Hitman's Bodyguard that sees Salma Hayek's character being targeted.
60. Monster Hunter- Loose adaptation of the Capcom video game series.
61. The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It- The third Conjuring film sees the Warrens tackle a case that leads to a murder suspect claiming demonic possession as a defense.
62. The King's Man- Prequel to Kingsman that looks at the formation of the spy agency during World War I.
63. Without Remorse- Adaptation of the 1993 Tom Clancy novel with Michael B. Jordan as John Clark.
64. The Many Saints of Newark- Prequel to The Sopranos.
65. Last Night in Soho- Edgar Wright directs a psychological thriller about a girl who is able to travel back to the '60s and uncovers something shady.
66. The Trial of the Chicago 7- A crime drama telling the story of seven people charged with inciting a riot during the 1968 Democratic National Convention.
67. Venom 2- Eddie Brock returns to deal with Carnage.
68. Bios- The last man on Earth builds an android to keep him and his dog company.
69. Death on the Nile- Kenneth Branagh returns as Hercule Poirot in this Agatha Christie adaptation.
70. The Witches- Previously adapted in 1990, Robert Zemeckis directs this Roald Dahl adaptation about a little boy discovering a conference of witches.
71. Respect- Biopic of Aretha Franklin with Jennifer Hudson as The Queen of Soul.
72. Halloween Kills- Sequel to 2018's Halloween shot back-to-back with Halloween Ends.
73. Snake Eyes- Origin story of the G.I. Joe character.
74. The Eternals- The 25th MCU film that looks at the 7000 year long conflict between the race of the same name against their evil counterparts, the Deviants.
75. Clifford the Big Red Dog- Live action adaptation of the book series about a giant red dog.
76. Deep Water- Adrian Lyne's latest film sees a married couple growing apart whose mind games escalate towards other people.
77. Godzilla vs. Kong- Godzilla and King Kong face off in the fourth MonsterVerse film.
78. Raya and the Last Dragon- Disney's next animated film about a warrior searching for the last dragon.
79. Dune- Denis Villeneuve adapts the first half 1965 Frank Herbert novel in this planned two-parter.
80. West Side Story- Previously adapted in 1961, Steven Spielberg directs his first musical about rival street gangs in '50s New York.
81. Coming 2 America- Sequel to 1988's Coming to America with Eddie Murphy returning.
82. Tom and Jerry- Live action and animation hybrid adaptation of the theatrical cartoon shorts.
83. The Tomorrow War- Humanity fights a war against aliens by drafting soldiers from the past.
84. News of the World- Tom Hanks stars as a man tasked with finding the living relatives of an orphaned girl in the aftermath of the American Civil War.

Top 10 Most Anticipated:
1. No Time to Die- Everyone involved promises that this will be the most surprising and different Bond film.
2. Wonder Woman 1984- The colorfulness of the '80s, Patty Jenkins's direction, and Gal Gadot's performance will no doubt thrill in this sequel.
3. The Eternals- The MCU takes on new territory with this celestial focused entry.
4. Halloween Kills- With how the last film ended, how this one follows it up will be interesting.
5. Respect- Powerful story about one of the most loved singers of all time.
6. Bill & Ted Face the Music- Excellent!
7. Dune- The director of Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 proves why he's a master of his craft.
8. Soul- Pixar's second film of 2020 will no doubt leave an unforgettable impression.
9. King of Staten Island- A very personal story for Pete Davidson that many will relate to.
10. Tenet- Christopher Nolan's new film is kept under wraps with only a few details so far.

Thursday, December 26, 2019

Top 10 Most Anticipated New Shows Of 2020

1. Star Trek: Picard
2. Hunters
3. The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
4. Briarpatch
5. Space Force
6. Avenue 5
7. 9-1-1: Lone Star
8. Dracula
9. The Plot Against America
10. Tooned Out
Honorable Mentions:
Invincible
Helstrom
Selena: The Series
Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector
Monsters at Work
Y
Deputy
Stargirl
Snowpiercer
Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
The Walking Dead: World Beyond
Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens
Messiah
Council of Dads

Saturday, December 21, 2019

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

While, obviously, not the last film in the franchise, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is considered the last chapter in the nine-part Skywalker saga that introduced audiences to the Star Wars films back in 1977. J.J. Abrams returns as cowriter and director after having done The Force Awakens, the first in the sequel trilogy that this entry ends. After the whole galaxy learns that Darth Sidious is still alive, Kylo Ren initially wants to kill him until the powerful Sith Lord reveals he has an entire fleet of powerful Star Destroyers that he will give to him. Tasked with finding Rey, who is being trained by Leia as the young Jedi and her friends go on a mission to find where Sidious is hiding and finally put an end to the First Order. Along the way, Rey learns a dark truth about her past as she grown stronger with the Force as Kylo begins to doubt his path in the Dark Side. Being guided by the Jedis of the past, Rey alongside her friends, the Resistance, and the rest of the galaxy finally put an end to the terrors of the Sith. Whether or not the film succeeds in perfectly completing a decades long, much loved, and inspiring story, you can't deny just how epic and entertaining Rise of Skywalker is even if it feels short. The biggest issue to befall this film, even before it was made, was the death of Carrie Fisher before it was even written. While Abrams does a great job at getting around this through a mixture of deleted scenes from the 2015 film, body doubles, and some CGI, Carrie's absence is still very obvious due to Leia's minimal appearance but still making her role big. One of its biggest accomplishments is definitely with the cast, especially the chemistry between Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac. The performances are powerful, whether it comes from the newer actors or veterans of the franchise. Mixing both practical and computer generated effects, this entry perfectly captures the magnificence of the universe that Star Wars is set in with the many worlds we see and the different aliens we meet. This is especially apparent with the action scenes as they are fresh, powerful, and continue to impress. One action scene that especially stands out, not just for this entry but for the franchise as a whole, is the ending battle set in Exegol. The performances, direction, writing, effects, music, and the cinematography all work together to give us an awe-inspiring sight. However, it's not without flaws, and unfortunately this film has such huge flaws that it's hard not to ignore. While the ending is good for this movie, an ending for this entire saga could have gone way better than what we got. Most of the time, the movie focuses on making references to the Original Trilogy that it's clear that the filmmakers involved wanted to capture that spirit rather than trying something new or even daring. Throughout the first few minutes, many of the scenes feel like they're trying to end as soon as soon as they start and just get to the next one. The film also fails to answer the many questions Force Awakens and The Last Jedi raised and either leads to even more or even give us answers that don't feel earned or even forced. While you do believe that Abrams truly loved the franchise, it doesn't help in realizing how too close it is to past films that it's less of an original film and more of a recreation of the best parts of the other entries. Many of the crew have admitted that they never had a plan since the new trilogy started and that each director would give their own idea, and that really shows with this film. There are numerous aspects throughout not only this, but the other new films as well, that tends to feel like extreme cases of fan fiction. The best example of this is how they show the Force, as it can sometimes border too such an extreme that it makes you question anything that has happened in the either the films, shows, or any other media. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is by no means a horrible end, but could have had a better one if one weren't trying to rely on nostalgia and had a clear plan. Over all: 100%
2019 top list so far:
1. Jojo Rabbit
2. Judy
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Knives Out
5. Ready or Not
6. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
7. Doctor Sleep
8. Frozen II
9. Joker
10. The Lighthouse
11. Toy Story 4
12. Hustlers
13. Shazam!
14. Spider-Man: Far From Home
15. Richard Jewell
16. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
17. Villains
18. Zombieland: Double Tap
19. Rocketman
20. The Current War
21. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
22. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
23. Ad Astra
24. It Chapter 2
25. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
26. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
27. Hobbs & Shaw
28. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
29. Us
30. Aladdin 2019
31. Pokemon Detective Pikachu
32. Captain Marvel
33. The Lion King 2019
34. Yesterday
35. Pet Sematary 2019
36. The Upside
37. Dark Phoenix
38. Cold Pursuit
39. Glass

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Richard Jewell

Inspired by the real story of Richard Jewell, the movie named after him is all about how the security guard was accused of bombing the 1996 Atlanta Olympics due to being the one who found the bomb. Hounded by both the FBI and the media, Jewell must prove his innocence despite his odd behavior and certain things from his past. With Clint Eastwood taking on directing duties from a long gestating project that Jonah Hill and Leonardo DiCaprio first began in 2014, Richard Jewell is a tragic look at how someone who can be overconfident and wanting to help may end up accused due to how they're perceived. The film has a bit of a slow pace, especially in the beginning, but as it keeps going you get drawn in by Billy Ray's writing and the cast's performance. Paul Walter Hauser, known mostly for supporting and bit roles in movies and television, gives both an astounding lead and break out performance. One of the biggest draws is the relationship Jewell has with his mother, played by Kathy Bates, and his lawyer, played by Sam Rockwell. The chemistry between the three is perfect, though that's not to say that the rest of the cast isn't just as powerful. Though one huge flaw that is hard to ignore is the treatment of the reporter who wrote the initial paper that accused Jewell of the bombing. Olivia Wilde's performance as Kathy Scruggs is good, especially as we see how devoted to her job she is and then her guilt she feels once realizing Jewell's innocence. However, being depicted as agreeing to have sex to get stories is a really unsettling and downright disgusting aspect that even Wilde agreed shouldn't have been done. Besides that, the moments leading up to the bombing are great due to the tension of not knowing when exactly or how large the explosion will be. The music, performances, cinematography, and editing all help in creating enough tension to get your heart rising until it finally happens. Richard Jewell may have a huge and controversial flaw stacked against it, but it is still a powerful and tragic biopic that makes you think that this can, and probably has, happened to anyone. Over all: 100%
2019 top list so far:
1. Jojo Rabbit
2. Judy
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Knives Out
5. Ready or Not
6. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
7. Doctor Sleep
8. Frozen II
9. Joker
10. The Lighthouse
11. Toy Story 4
12. Hustlers
13. Shazam!
14. Spider-Man: Far From Home
15. Richard Jewell
16. Villains
17. Zombieland: Double Tap
18. Rocketman
19. The Current War
20. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
21. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
22. Ad Astra
23. It Chapter 2
24. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
25. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
26. Hobbs & Shaw
27. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
28. Us
29. Aladdin 2019
30. Pokemon Detective Pikachu
31. Captain Marvel
32. The Lion King 2019
33. Yesterday
34. Pet Sematary 2019
35. The Upside
36. Dark Phoenix
37. Cold Pursuit
38. Glass

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

DC Comics Presents: Shazam! #1

Collecting the 38th to the 41st issue of the late '90s The Power of Shazam! series, DC Comics Presents: Shazam! #1 is my first comic focused on the DC version of Captain Marvel and one of two downloaded from the Shazam! movie. The four issues deal with Captain Marvel, Mary Marvel, and other DC heroes taking on Mister Mind, a small worm with powerful psychic abilities. Mind plans on taking over the minds of numerous American government and military officials with the help of other similar worms so as to activate nuclear weapons and unleash destruction all over the world. The story by Jerry Ordway is well told and is filled with not only well done drama, but groundbreaking moments that change Billy Batson's life. Though even with so much drama, there's still really fun moment with some of the cheesiness we expect from the character. Ordway's writing also does a good job at mostly keeping you up to speed on what was going on in the DC Universe. Pete Krause's artwork has a lot of great detail and is a good combination of the early days of Marvel in the '40s and the then '90s style. There are really well done fight scenes, though certain panels and character designs could have been done a lot better. While there is a lot of action, the four issues mainly focus on drama and searching for Mind, which is unique and well done for such a big storyline. DC Comics Presents: Shazam! #1 is a good collection of well written and well crafted issues starring the Big Red Cheese. Over all: 100%
Top list so far for 2nd set of comics:
1. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #6
2. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #5
3. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #4
4. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #3
5. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #1
6. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III: Crisis in a Half Shell #2
7. Howard the Duck Vol. 1 #1
8. Deadpool Kills Deadpool
9. DC Comics Presents: Shazam! #1
10. Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness
11. Wonder Woman: Rebirth (2016) #1
12. The Tick: Free Comic Book Day 2018
13. Free Comic Book Day 2018: James Bond 007-VARGR
14. Free Comic Book Day 2018 Invader Zim: Floopsy Bloops Shmoopsy
15. The Legend of Wonder Woman (2015-2016) #1
16. Free Comic Book Day: The Legend of Korra & Nintendo ARMS 2018
17. Ant-Man (2015) Vol. 1 #1: Second-Chance Man Part 1
18. Batman/The Flash: The Button
19. The Adventures of Superman Vol. 1 #500
20. The Unworthy Thor (2016-2017) #1
21. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #5
22. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #6
23. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #4
24. Thor: God of Thunder Vol. 1 #1
25. Wonder Woman Free Comic Book Day 2017 Special Edition (2017-) issue #1
26. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #2
27. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #1
28. Incredible Hulk (1999-2007) #92: Planet Hulk Part One
29. Batman/Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II #3
30. Wonder Woman (2006-2011) #1
31. The Astonishing Ant-Man (2015-2016) #1
32. Star Wars: Rogue One Adaptation #1
33. Tate's Not At Comic Con Local Indy Anthology #8

Sunday, December 8, 2019

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Tom Hanks is one of the greatest actors of all time and Fred Rogers is one of the most inspiring human beings ever. So it's no surprise thaEsquit Hanks not only portrays Mr. Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, but does it with pure perfection. The film is based on the late 1990s Esquiere article by Tom Junod in which the journalist interviewed the beloved television personality to better understand why he did what he did. While the movie does take liberties with what actually happened, such as changing Tom's name to Lloyd Vogel and giving him a strained relationship with his father and infant son, most of what the journalist did with Rogers is factual. The story is, much like the lessons Mr. Rogers endowed on his show, so inspiring and hopeful along with being so well written. Though the biggest thing about this film is Mr. Rogers, the focus is mostly on Lloyd and what he goes through before and during his interview. Lloyd's development from beginning to end is done in such a natural and realistic way, especially with Matthew Rhys's performance. Director Marielle Heller not only makes a stunning and hopeful movie, but also manages to recreate the style and feel of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. There are times when it just feels like an actual theatrical adaptation of the show, what with the beginning, parts in the middle, and end playing out like an actual episode. There's also the painstaking model recreations of entire cities used when going from one scene to another, the cinematography and music being just like the show's, and the fact that they filmed certain scenes in the same studio as where Rogers shot his program. If there's one flaw is that it can get slow at times, but that only happens a few times and even then there's a good reason. Just like with the documentary last year, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is another amazing look at such a wonderful man this time behind the eyes of someone who never felt hope in his life. Over all: 100%
2019 top list so far:
1. Jojo Rabbit
2. Judy
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Knives Out
5. Ready or Not
6. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
7. Doctor Sleep
8. Frozen II
9. Joker
10. The Lighthouse
11. Toy Story 4
12. Hustlers
13. Shazam!
14. Spider-Man: Far From Home
15. Villains
16. Zombieland: Double Tap
17. Rocketman
18. The Current War
19. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
20. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
21. Ad Astra
22. It Chapter 2
23. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
24. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
25. Hobbs & Shaw
26. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
27. Us
28. Aladdin 2019
29. Pokemon Detective Pikachu
30. Captain Marvel
31. The Lion King 2019
32. Yesterday
33. Pet Sematary 2019
34. The Upside
35. Dark Phoenix
36. Cold Pursuit
37. Glass

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Knives Out

Knives Out is a murder mystery comedy that harkens back to classic whodunit stories of the past like those of Agatha Christie and even the Clue board game. After a wealthy and well known crime novelist is found dead, apparently from suicide, his family gathers together for what they first think is to learn what he left them. As it turns out, there's more to his death than what many believe as a private detective is hired by an anonymous figure to reveal the truth of what happened. Having previously tackled a galaxy far away, Rian Johnson gets back to his small budget roots in this witty and well directed film. Johnson works with an incredible ensemble cast that includes Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael Shannon, and many more. While it initially draws you in by asking how and why Plummer's Harlan Thrombey died, it takes a turn very early on by actually going back and showing you how and why while making you believe that the rest of the story is about keeping Craig's detective from figuring it out. But, much like with any good mystery story, there's a twist that one never suspected if you were to pay attention to what everyone told from their point of view. Everything about this film pays homage to similar films of the past, not only through its ingenious and clever writing, but also the the music, cinematography, editing, and production design. While there are certain aspects that don't work without a suspension of disbelief, the way Johnson tells his story makes you ignore them entirely. Though one thing that is hard to ignore is the many weird speeches Benoit Blanc, Craig's detective, makes when comparing certain things to the case he's working on anytime he hits a dead end. Having made such an original and fresh mystery, Johnson's Knives Out is a fun ride from beginning to end with a cast that you don't know how to really feel once it finishes. Over all: 100%
2019 top list so far:
1. Jojo Rabbit
2. Judy
3. Avengers: Endgame
4. Knives Out
5. Ready or Not
6. Doctor Sleep
7. Frozen II
8. Joker
9. The Lighthouse
10. Toy Story 4
11. Hustlers
12. Shazam!
13. Spider-Man: Far From Home
14. Villains
15. Zombieland: Double Tap
16. Rocketman
17. The Current War
18. How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World
19. John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum
20. Ad Astra
21. It Chapter 2
22. Godzilla: King of the Monsters
23. Once Upon a Time In Hollywood
24. Hobbs & Shaw
25. The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part
26. Us
27. Aladdin 2019
28. Pokemon Detective Pikachu
29. Captain Marvel
30. The Lion King 2019
31. Yesterday
32. Pet Sematary 2019
33. The Upside
34. Dark Phoenix
35. Cold Pursuit
36. Glass