Al's Top Rated Films: 2018
Another excellent year for movies. I'll continue to add more films as I see them.
List activity
164 views
• 0 this weekCreate a new list
List your movie, TV & celebrity picks.
39 titles
- DirectorBradley CooperStarsLady GagaBradley CooperSam ElliottA musician helps a young singer find fame as age and alcoholism send his own career into a downward spiral.Amazing music drama starring, directed by, and co-written by Bradley Cooper; and follows famous country musician Jackson Maine, who battles with alcohol and drug addiction stemming from a troubled childhood. When it seems that he has passed the prime of his career, he discovers a talented young singer named Ally in a drag bar after one of his shows, and falls in love with everything about her. Believing in her abilities and talent to become a star, he brings her up on stage at one of his shows, and literally makes her a YouTube sensation overnight, which blossoms into a loving marriage and working relationship. Trouble enters the picture when Ally starts gaining incredible fame, the direction of her solo music changes, and Jack gets back in his old pattern with alcohol and drugs. Amazing acting and writing overall. Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga both delivered amazing lead performances. Every scene they are in together is electrifying. Lady Gaga was the big surprise for me. She has enough talent to become a huge actress. Sam Elliott, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle, Rafi Gavron, Anthony Ramos, Barry Shabaka Henley, and many others had great roles among a fantastic supporting cast.
- DirectorDavid LeitchStarsRyan ReynoldsJosh BrolinMorena BaccarinFoul-mouthed mutant mercenary Wade Wilson (a.k.a. Deadpool) assembles a team of fellow mutant rogues to protect a young boy with abilities from the brutal, time-traveling cyborg Cable.Deadpool became my favorite superhero with the first film in 2016. I'd have to say I like the second film just as much. The story is superb and a nice change-up stylistically from the first film. This time we follow Wade Wilson struggling to cope with life after Vanessa was shot and killed when one of his enemies was aiming at him. Broken and depressed, Wade grudgingly joins the X-Men to help an angry and unhinged young boy named Firefist they discovered at the Mutant Reeducation Center; after they find he's being hunted by a ruthless time-travelling cyborg named Cable. Just like the first film, Ryan Reynolds delivers one of his all-time greatest lead performances (and is also credited as a writer on the film). Morena Baccarin was great again as Vanessa. Josh Brolin was fantastic as Cable. Julian Dennison, Zazie Beetz, Stefan Kapicic, Karan Soni, Brianna Hildebrand, T.J. Miller, Leslie Uggams, Shioli Kutsuna, Rob Delaney, Lewis Tan, Bill Skarsgård, Terry Crews, and others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorJonah HillStarsSunny SuljicKatherine WaterstonLucas HedgesFollows Stevie, a thirteen-year-old in 1990s-era Los Angeles who spends his summer navigating between his troubled home life and a group of new friends that he meets at a Motor Avenue skate shop.Fantastic coming-of-age drama, and the first film to be directed and written by Jonah Hill. Great throwback story about am eccentric 13-year-old boy named Stevie with a troubled home life who finds happiness when he makes friends with a group of older skateboarders who take him under their wing. As he learns fast lessons with alcohol, weed, and girls, the lifestyle starts to consume his life as he rebels against his mother and older brother. I thought this a great glimpse into the 90s era, which really brought back nostalgic memories of hanging out with your best friends at the impressional age of 13. Great writing and acting all around. Sunny Suljic delivered an outstanding lead performance. He has a bright future with level of acting he represented. Na-kel Smith, Olan Prenatt, Lucas Hedges, Gio Galicia, Ryder McLaughlin, Katherine Waterston, Alexa Demie, Fig Camila Abner, and others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorAdam McKayStarsChristian BaleAmy AdamsSteve CarellThe story of Dick Cheney, an unassuming bureaucratic Washington insider, who quietly wielded immense power as Vice President to George W. Bush, reshaping the country and the globe in ways that are still felt today.Fascinating political biopic about the quiet and reserved Vice President Dick Cheney, and the strategic moves he made to become one of the most powerful American Vice Presidents of all time, while simultaneously changing the climate of power in politics forever. Adam McKay delivered another gem with the unique drama and comedy that we come to expect with his signature style of satire and filmmaking. The writing is top notch as expected. Christian Bale's transformation as Dick Cheney is one of his finest performances of his career—gaining 45 pounds for the role, and rendering him almost unrecognizable as himself on camera. Right down to his direct dialogue and quiet mannerisms, he was excellent in every way. Amy Adams, Steve Carell, Sam Rockwell, Alison Pill, Tyler Perry, Eddie Marsan, Justin Kirk, LisaGay Hamilton, Jesse Plemons, Lily Rabe, and many others had excellent supporting roles.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsJohn David WashingtonAdam DriverLaura HarrierRon Stallworth, an African American police officer from Colorado Springs, Colorado, successfully infiltrates the local Ku Klux Klan branch aided by a Jewish surrogate who eventually becomes its leader. Based on actual events.Fantastic Spike Lee biopic on the life of a black undercover cop named Ron Stallworth who infiltrates the Colorado Springs branch of the Ku Klux Klan in the early 1970s with the help of his Jewish partner Flip Zimmerman. Superbly written and shot with some hilarious comedy involved with Ron's methods of acquiring information. John David Washington delivered a superb lead performance, and this may be my favorite role from Adam Driver yet. The interaction and dialogue between these two really makes the movie entertaining and impactful throughout. Topher Grace, Jasper Pääkkönen, Michael Buscemi, Laura Harrier, Paul Walter Hauser, Robert John Burke, Ken Garito, Brian Tarantina, Corey Hawkins, Ryan Eggold, Frederick Weller, Damaris Lewis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Alec Baldwin, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorChristopher McQuarrieStarsTom CruiseHenry CavillVing RhamesEthan Hunt and his IMF team, along with some familiar allies, race against time after a mission gone wrong.Outstanding sequel in the Mission Impossible franchise from Christopher McQuarrie. This is the 6th installment, and it's the best of the first 6 films in my book. This time we follow IMF (Impossible Mission Force) agent Ethan Hunt two years after capturing terrorist Solomon Lane. He ran a menacing organization called "The Syndicate" which has now transformed into an even more dangerous organization called "The Apostles" under a mysterious man named John Lark. Their plan is to steal three three plutonium cores to build world-ending nuclear bombs. Ethan is forced to make near-impossible decisions to complete his mission or save his team members and friends, which heightens danger for the entire world. A mysterious CIA agent named August Walker joining the team just complicates matters as he and the CIA question Ethan's choices. The story was air-tight, the dialogue was the best of the bunch, the stunts were amazing, and the special effects were outstandingly clean. It's simply one of the best action-packed thrillers I've ever seen. Tom Cruise continues to prove he's arguably the world's best action star with another excellent lead performance. Henry Cavill, Rebecca Ferguson, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames, and Sean Harris also had great starring roles. Vanessa Kirby, Michelle Monaghan, Angela Bassett, Alec Baldwin, Wes Bentley, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorPeter FarrellyStarsViggo MortensenMahershala AliLinda CardelliniA working-class Italian-American bouncer becomes the driver for an African-American classical pianist on a tour of venues through the 1960s American South.Excellent music-inspired biopic from Peter Farrelly filled with great comedy and drama. Great story that follows a tough working-class Italian-American ex-bouncer named Frank "Tony Lip" Vallelonga, who is hired to be the driver of an African-American classical pianist Don Shirley as they make their way through the segregated deep south states for a concert tour during the 1960s. While the odd paring gets off to a rocky start, they eventually find mutual respect for each other as they endure atrocious injustices along the way. Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali both delivered excellent lead performances, and had great chemistry together. Linda Cardellini, Dimiter D. Marinov, Mike Hatton, Sebastian Maniscalco, Frank Vallelonga, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorBarry JenkinsStarsKiKi LayneStephan JamesRegina KingA young woman embraces her pregnancy while she and her family set out to prove her childhood friend and lover innocent of a crime he didn't commit.Fantastic drama from Barry Jenkins set in 1970s Harlem, and follows two childhood sweethearts named Fonny and Tish. Tish is 19-years-old, Fonny is 22, and they are just realizing their intimate love for each other after living their whole lives together as friends, and end up building a beautiful relationship. Due to the increased levels of racism and bigotry in the 1970s, Fonny is wrongly arrested and imprisoned for the rape of a Puerto Rican woman he couldn't have possibly committed. This results in the police covering up any of their corrupt tracks to make sure his sentence sticks and he stays in prison for a long time. Meanwhile, Tish finds out she's having Fonny's baby, which adds another layer of complexity to their relationship, and the efforts both of their family's make to prove Fonny's innocence. Very powerful story with great dialogue and complex and interesting characters throughout. KiKi Layne and Stephan James both deliver excellent lead performances. Regina King also delivered a fantastic Oscar-winning performance. Teyonah Parris, Colman Domingo, Michael Beach, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor, Ebony Obsidian, Dominique Thorne, Diego Luna, Emily Rios, Ed Skrein, Finn Wittrock, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJennifer FoxStarsLaura DernJason RitterCommonA woman filming a documentary on childhood rape victims starts to question the nature of her childhood relationship with her riding instructor and running coach.Extremely powerful drama that's based on writer and director Jennifer Fox's own real life struggles of her first sexual relationship at the age of 13, with her 40-year-old running coach. The story is pieced together as Jennifer (Laura Dern) rediscovers a story she wrote in middle school about that summer of love, confusion, and resentment toward her coach Bill and her horse riding instructor, Mrs. G. Now in her 40s, she's able to grasp that it wasn't a relationship she was in control of, and finally accepts that she's been damaged by their horrifying actions throughout her life. Laura Dern delivered her bast most complex lead performance to date. She was excellent throughout. Isabelle Nélisse, Ellen Burstyn, Jason Ritter, Elizabeth Debicki, Common, John Heard, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJohn KrasinskiStarsEmily BluntJohn KrasinskiMillicent SimmondsA family struggles for survival in a world where most humans have been killed by blind but noise-sensitive creatures. They are forced to communicate in sign language to keep the creatures at bay.Excellent horror drama from John Krasinski that is set in a time when the planet is being ravaged by deadly invincible/camouflaged alien-like creatures who cannot see, but are able to pin-point sounds with the help of their hyper-sensitive hearing. The story follows the 5-person Abbott family (with another baby on the way), and is set on day 89 through day 473 of their struggle to survive. Luckily they all know perfect sign language to keep quiet, but they will run out of resources and luck if they can't figure out how to get communicate with the outside world or find a weakness to destroy the creatures. Definitely one of the better horror flicks I've seen. The story was great cast was fantastic. Emily Blunt, John Krasinski, Millicent Simmonds, and Noah Jupe all had excellent lead performances. Cade Woodward and Leon Russom also had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorSean AndersStarsMark WahlbergRose ByrneIsabela MercedA couple find themselves in over their heads when they foster three children.Excellent comedy drama from Sean Anders that follows a happy married couple named Pete and Ellie Wanger who decide that they want to have children after putting it off for so many years while building their home renovation business. Instead of trying to have their own, they decide being foster parents may be the route for them. They decide to foster a quick-witted and untrusting 15-year-old girl named Lizzy, her feisty 6-year-old sister Lita, and her shy, fearful, and clumsy 10-year-old brother Juan. They are all victims of a crack-addicting and troubled mother/home, which has left them in the foster system for several years. Through hard work, understanding, determination, a lot of laughs and great drama; they all make an unlikely connection and battle through challenges that improves all of their lives. Solid story all around with nice great writing and a great cast. Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne both delivered a couple of their best lead performances. Isabela Merced, Gustavo Escobar, and Julianna Gamiz also had great starring roles. Octavia Spencer, Tig Notaro, and several others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorAntoine FuquaStarsDenzel WashingtonPedro PascalAshton SandersRobert McCall serves an unflinching justice for the exploited and oppressed, but how far will he go when that is someone he loves?Excellent sequel to Antoine Fuqua's underrated crime thrilling classic from 2014, which presents one of my all-time favorite characters from Denzel Washington. This time we follow retired CIA Black Ops operative Robert McCall falling back into his past life as a vicious crusader as he works as a Lyft driver by day, and vigilante by night. He ends up befriending a young troubled young man named Miles Whittaker and tries to lead him down the right path. Meanwhile, he sets out to investigate the murder of one of his best friends, which brings his revenge story to a head once Miles life is threatened by his enemies. While the story isn't quite as great as the first, the action is top-notch, and Denzel Washington feels even more comfortable with his rough and tough lead performance. It's a fantastic sequel overall. Melissa Leo, Pedro Pascal, Ashton Sanders, Orson Bean, Bill Pullman, Jonathan Scarfe, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorSteven Caple Jr.StarsMichael B. JordanSylvester StalloneTessa ThompsonUnder the tutelage of Rocky Balboa, newly crowned heavyweight champion Adonis Creed faces off against Viktor Drago, the son of Ivan Drago.Excellent sequel to the first Creed film, which also plays as a sequel to Rocky 4 (1985). Adonis Creed is on the top of his game after becoming the heavyweight champion of the world, and now must face a seemingly unbreakable Russian opponent named Viktor Drago—the son of Rocky's arch nemesis, Ivan Drago, who killed Apollo Creed back in 1985, and nearly defeated Rocky in the toughest match of his career. I may even like this film a bit more than the first. The story and acting is excellent throughout. Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren, and Florian Munteanu all delivered excellent lead performances. Tessa Thompson, Wood Harris, Phylicia Rashad, Brigitte Nielsen, Jacob 'Stitch' Duran, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsViola DavisMichelle RodriguezElizabeth DebickiFour women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands' criminal activities take fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.Excellent crime drama from Steve McQueen that follows four women who face a $2 million debt when their criminal husbands are killed when hi-jacking the money from a dangerous crime boss. After one of the women finds a secret notebook containing information for future jobs, the women decide to team up and plan a to steal $5 million to repay the debt and move on with their lives. Very nice story with a great plot-twist at the end. Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, and Elizabeth Debicki all deliver excellent lead performances. Cynthia Erivo, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson, Molly Kunz, Daniel Kaluuya, Robert Duvall, Jon Bernthal, Jacki Weaver, and others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorDebra GranikStarsThomasin McKenzieBen FosterJeffery RifflardA father and his seventeen-year-old daughter are living an ideal existence in a vast urban park in Portland, Oregon when a small mistake derails their lives forever.Excellent drama from Debra Granik that follows a father (Will) and his 13-year-old daughter (Tom) who have lived an ideal secluded life in the forests of Portland, Oregon for many years. Since the forest is public land, it is illegal to live there, and they are eventually caught and forced into social services. These life changes takes their peaceful and independent lives in new directions that has Will craving his life of freedom back, while Tom has an easier time adapting to a sophisticated life. Ben Foster and Thomasin McKenzie both prove to be immense talented, and deliver fantastic lead performances. Dale Dickey, Dana Millican, Jeff Kober, Isaiah Stone, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJacques AudiardStarsJohn C. ReillyJoaquin PhoenixJake GyllenhaalEli and Charlie Sisters, an infamous duo of gunslinging assassins, chase a gold prospector and his unexpected ally in 1850s Oregon.Great modern day gold-mining western set in 1850s Oregon, and follows brothers Eli Sisters and Charlie Sisters—a notorious and legendary duo of hitmen who make their way through San Francisco as they work to track down a gold prospector who uses a chemical substance to make the gold visible to the eye under water. Great story and plot-twist that find greed earing it's ugly face. Meanwhile, the brothers are getting too old for this line of work, and strive for something better. John C. Reilly and Joaquin Phoenix both deliver some of the finest performances of their careers. Jake Gyllenhaal and Riz Ahmed also had excellent lead roles. Rebecca Root, Carol Kane, Rutger Hauer, and many others had nice supporting roles.
- DirectorAlex GarlandStarsNatalie PortmanJennifer Jason LeighTessa ThompsonA biologist signs up for a dangerous, secret expedition into a mysterious zone where the laws of nature don't apply.Excellent horror/adventure/thriller about a shimmering light/forcefield that surrounds "Area X" (somewhere off the U.S. southern coast) that scrambles the genetics of plants, animals, and humans that enter; and is growing larger by the day. While everyone is presumed dead who enters, one man barely makes it out alive, and falls into a coma. His wife, biologist, and Army veteran; and a team of 4 women with similar backgrounds enter the shimmer to find a way to save human existence. This film is genuinely mysterious and frightful, and really excels with the strong female cast and great dramatic dialogue throughout. Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, Tuva Novotny, and Tessa Thompson all had great lead performances. Oscar Isaac and Benedict Wong also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorClint EastwoodStarsClint EastwoodPatrick L. ReyesCesar De LeónA ninety-year-old horticulturist and Korean War veteran turns drug mule for a Mexican cartel.Excellent crime drama from Clint Eastwood that follows a 90-year-old Korean War veteran and horticulturist who's very much alone since he ignored his family his entire life in favor of his work. Eventually his business fails and he's facing foreclosure and homelessness. He loves to travel and drive across the country, and one day he's offered a job to simply drive and transport goods from state to state. Not knowing exactly what the job is, he accepts, and he soon finds out that he's working for the Mexican cartel as a drug mule, and is transporting serious amounts of cocaine. He initially wants it to be a one-time deal, but the money is incredible, and he also wants to make amends with his wife, daughter, and the rest of his family that he's disregarded in his lifetime. As time goes on, things get more dangerous on the cartel side as he gets closer to being caught by DEA agents that are hot on his tail. I didn't have high hopes for Clint Eastwood making a comeback in acting at 88-years-old, but he was certainly sharp enough to deliver his role perfectly, and delivered an excellent lead performance. His direction was also excellent. Bradley Cooper, Dianne Wiest, Alison Eastwood, Andy Garcia, Michael Peña, Laurence Fishburne, Taissa Farmiga, Robert LaSardo, Saul Huezo, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJason ReitmanStarsCharlize TheronMackenzie DavisRon LivingstonA struggling mother of three forms an unexpected bond with the night nanny hired to help with her newborn baby.Excellent drama from Jason Reitman that follows a struggling mother of two in her early 40s with an unplanned baby on the way. Her son Jonah shows signs of autism, which adds to her exhaustion once their new baby arrives. Her marriage is also in slump as she deals with postpartum depression. When her brother suggest hiring a night nanny to help take care of the baby, she reluctantly gives in after reaching her wit's end. The nanny's name is Tully, and she ends up forming a mysteriously close bond with her as she starts to heal and move forward with life. Charlize Theron arguably delivers her best lead performance. Mackenzie Davis was also fantastic. Ron Livingston, Mark Duplass, Elaine Tan, Gameela Wright, Asher Miles Fallica, Lia Frankland, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorJohn Francis DaleyJonathan GoldsteinStarsJason BatemanRachel McAdamsKyle ChandlerA group of friends who meet regularly for game nights find themselves entangled in a real-life mystery when the shady brother of one of them is seemingly kidnapped by dangerous gangsters.Hilarious action-packed comedy from John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein that follows an extremely competitive married couple named Max and Annie who live for their weekly game nights with their group of best friends. When Max's wealthy, more successful, and more attractive brother Brooks comes back into town, it starts up their bitter sibling rivalry from the past. But Brooks wants to be part of Max and Annie's life, and sets up a game night at his own house that is supposed to mirror a real-life kidnapping. The plans hilariously fail as the kidnappers that arrive are real, and abduct Brooks due to some illegal dealings he's done with them in the past. It's up to Max, Annie, and the rest of their friends to save Brooks' life. Great story with a lot of excellent plot twists you don't see coming. Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams both delivered come of their very best lead performances. Kyle Chandler, Sharon Horgan, Billy Magnussen, Lamorne Morris, Kylie Bunbury, Jesse Plemons, Michael C. Hall, and others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsBryan CranstonKoyu RankinEdward NortonSet in Japan, Isle of Dogs follows a boy's odyssey in search of his lost dog.Excellent comedy/drama adventure from Wes Anderson set in 2038 Japan, and follows a corrupt politician named Kobayashi who banished all dogs to a wasteland called Trash Island when a spike of dog flu runs through town. The story mainly centers around a a young boy who crash lands on Trash Island to find his banished dog, and the adventure he takes with Chief and four other dogs to find his beloved friend. Meanwhile, Kobayashi is feeding the public with fear and propaganda to win his re-election campaign, which would result in killing every dog in Japan. Great story and great writing throughout. The cast was also top notch. Bryan Cranston and Koyu Rankin both delivered great lead voice performances. Edward Norton, Bob Balaban, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Greta Gerwig, Frances McDormand, Scarlett Johansson, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton, Kunichi Nomura, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorNia DaCostaStarsTessa ThompsonLily JamesLuke KirbyIn Little Woods North Dakota, two estranged sisters are driven to extremes when their mother dies, leaving them with one week to pay back her mortgage.Underrated crime drama from Nia DaCosta set in Little Woods, North Dakota, and follows a black woman named Ollie who's white adoptive mother recently passed away. She's also on probation for illegally running prescription pills over the Canadian border. With only 10 days left of probation, she makes plans to get a job and move on with her life. Her estranged white sister Deb is broke, illegally lives in a trailer, is in a dead-end relationship, has a young son, and is also pregnant. When the two learn they need to raise $3,000 in one week to keep the bank from taking their mother's home, Ollie is forced back into dealing prescription pills to raise the money to keep the house and to ensure Deb and her son will be okay. Great story and great acting all around. Tessa Thompson and Lily James deliver excellent lead performances and have great chemistry together. Luke Kirby, James Badge Dale, Lance Reddick, Brandon Potter, Jeremy St. James, Joe Stevens, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorBarry LevinsonStarsAl PacinoKathy BakerKenneth MaharajPenn State football coach Joe Paterno becomes embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal.Excellent sports biography/crime drama from Barry Levinson that revolves around the respected and revered 61-year veteran Penn State University football coach Joe Paterno. In 2011, he wins his 409th game as head coach at the age of 84. Shortly after, a horrific scandal of sexual abuse revolving around retired assistant coach Jerry Sandusky comes to light. It's unclear how early Paterno knew these things were going on, and questions about who he reported it to heavily plague his case as more terrifying details come out, and victims step forward to tell the stories of their horrific past encounters with Sandusky. Excellent story with a great cast of actors. Levinson does a great job with making the viewer feel sympathy for Paterno's character. Al Pacino delivered a fantastic lead performance. Riley Keough, Kathy Baker, Michael Mastro, Greg Grunberg, Annie Parisse, Larry Mitchell, Darren Goldstein, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorBryan SingerStarsRami MalekLucy BoyntonGwilym LeeThe story of the legendary British rock band Queen and lead singer Freddie Mercury, leading up to their famous performance at Live Aid (1985).Great music biopic on the famous British rock band Queen. It mainly follows eccentric lead singer Freddie Mercury starting in the early stages of meeting the band and working through relationship and social issues, while simultaneously breaking through barriers as a bisexual man in a very controversial time. And also smashing expectations with their inventive direction and arrangements. Very nicely done biography overall. Rami Malek delivered an excellent lead performance as Freddie Mercury. Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Allen Leech, Tom Hollander, Mike Myers, Aaron McCusker, and many others had great roles among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorRyan CooglerStarsChadwick BosemanMichael B. JordanLupita Nyong'oT'Challa, heir to the hidden but advanced kingdom of Wakanda, must step forward to lead his people into a new future and must confront a challenger from his country's past.Excellent action-packed sci-fi adventure that picks up the T'Challa/Black Panther story arc after the events of Captain America: Civil War (2016), as he finds himself back in the technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as the new king after his father's passing. They have kept Wakanda a secret from the outer world due to their discovery of vibranium; which is the strongest metal in the world, and is used to power and run their entire society. It could mean the end of the world if it ever fell into the wrong corrupt hands. Trouble arises when a determined and skilled killer named Erik Killmonger makes his way to Wakanda to kill T'Challa and take the throne as king, while simultaneously revealing troubling and deceitful history that opens wounds for the entire family. T'Challa must face these demons head on while he works with C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross, members of the Dora Milaje, and his trusted family and team to defend the future of Wakanda. Chadwick Boseman is one of my favorite actors, and while I enjoy his biopics much more, he delivered a fantastic lead performance worthy of his praise. Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, and Danai Gurira also delivered excellent starring roles. Letitia Wright, Martin Freeman, Daniel Kaluuya, Winston Duke, Angela Bassett, Sterling K. Brown, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis, Florence Kasumba, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorAnthony RussoJoe RussoStarsRobert Downey Jr.Chris HemsworthMark RuffaloThe Avengers and their allies must be willing to sacrifice all in an attempt to defeat the powerful Thanos before his blitz of devastation and ruin puts an end to the universe.Excellent action-packed Marvel adventure that collects several members of the Avengers and their allies as they attempt to stop the brutally evil Thanos from collecting all 6 Infinity stones, which would give him enough power to rule the universe. While I haven't seen all the Marvel movies, this film had a centralized story that didn't deviate and confuse new viewers at all. It was nicely focused and very entertaining throughout. Fantastic cliffhanger to end of the film. While some of the Avengers look to be top-billed in this film, Josh Brolin (Thanos) had the biggest and best story arc, and the most screen time. He delivered one of his best performances ever. Zoe Saldana (Gamora), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chris Hemsworth (Thor), Mark Ruffalo (Hulk), Benedict Cumberbatch (Doctor Strange), Tom Holland (Spider-Man), Chris Evans (Captain America), Paul Bettany (Vision), Elizabeth Olsen (Scarlet Witch), Chris Pratt (Star-Lord), Dave Bautista (Drax), Bradley Cooper (Rocket), Karen Gillan (Nebula), Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Don Cheadle (War Machine), any many others also had great roles.
- DirectorJoshua MarstonStarsChiwetel EjioforGerard CatusAllie McCullochEvangelist Carlton Pearson is ostracized by his church for denying the existence of Hell.Powerful and underrated historical biopic set in the 1990s, and follows the life of famed minister and gospel music artist Carlton Pearson—who was pastor of the one of the largest churches in Tulsa, Oklahoma (Higher Dimensions Family Church). After breaking down so many barriers to reach his fame, he believes god spoke to him and conveyed there is no hell, and that non-Christians will also be sent to heaven along with everyone else. The controversy leads to Pearson being ostracized and losing the support of everyone in the church, along with many of his friends and supporters. Chiwetel Ejiofor is one of my favorite actors, and he delivered a superb lead performance. Dola Rashad, Martin Sheen, Jason Segel, LaKeith Stanfield, Stacey Sargeant, Danny Glover, and many others also had great supporting roles.
- DirectorDavid Gordon GreenStarsJamie Lee CurtisJudy GreerAndi MatichakLaurie Strode confronts her long-time foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.As a big fan of the Halloween franchise, I'd have to say I think this is the 2nd or 3rd best sequel out of the whole 13-film saga. The story is set 40 years after the events of the first film (1978), and finds Michael Myers escaping from a mental facility and going on the hunt to kill Laurie Strode once again. After years of post traumatic stress nearly ruined her life, her ultimate nightmare is once again coming true. Nice story and nice acting throughout. It was a fine time to finally drop another Halloween flick. Jamie Lee Curtis delivered another great lead performance. Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Nick Castle, James Jude Courtney, Haluk Bilginer, Will Patton, Rhian Rees, Jefferson Hall, Toby Huss, Virginia Gardner, and many others had great roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorRon HowardStarsAlden EhrenreichWoody HarrelsonEmilia ClarkeDuring an adventure in the criminal underworld, Han Solo meets his future co-pilot Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian years before joining the Rebel Alliance.Since I'm more of a casual Star Wars fan, I usually avoid the stories that aren't centered around the original trilogy lead cast, but I thought this was excellent origin story of the reckless and sarcastic smuggler Han Solo as he meets Chewbacca, Lando Calrissian, and battling with other intergalactic criminals. Excellent direction from Ron Howard with great acting and writing throughout. Alden Ehrenreich delivered an excellent lead performance as Han. Woody Harrelson, Emilia Clarke, Donald Glover, Joonas Suotamo, Thandiwe Newton, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Paul Bettany, and many others had solid supporting roles throughout.
- DirectorJ.A. BayonaStarsChris PrattBryce Dallas HowardRafe SpallWhen the island's dormant volcano begins roaring to life, Owen and Claire mount a campaign to rescue the remaining dinosaurs from this extinction-level event.I absolutely loved Jurassic World (2015), so I was thrilled to hear a sequel (trilogy, actually) was coming. Great story that takes place 3 years after the Jurassic World theme parked closed down, and follows Owen and Claire's return to Isla Nublar when the island's dormant volcano begins erupting. They work to save as many dinosaurs from extinction as possible, as they uncover a conspiracy that is threatening all their existence. More action and not quite as great of a story as the first Jurassic World, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it's a solid piece of the franchise's story. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard both deliver great lead performances once again. Justice Smith, Daniella Pineda, Rafe Spall, Isabella Sermon, Toby Jones, Ted Levine, James Cromwell, Jeff Goldblum, BD Wong, and many others had very nice roles among the supporting cast.
- DirectorBoots RileyStarsLaKeith StanfieldTessa ThompsonJermaine FowlerIn an alternate present-day version of Oakland, telemarketer Cassius Green discovers a magical key to professional success, propelling him into a universe of greed.Bizarre dark comedy drama directed by Boots Riley of the legendary hip-hop group The Coup. The story takes place in an alternate version of Oakland, and follows a young black man who's struggling for work, and accepts a job as a telemarketer. He gains massive success when he pretends to be white on the phone, which gets him huge sales, and earns him the title of "Power Caller". Trouble ensues when his ego gets in the way of his friends and relationships, when an even more outlandish and unexpected plot-twist finishes the complex storyline. Well done film that tackles a lot of issues in a very unique way. LaKeith Stanfield delivered an excellent lead performance. Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Omari Hardwick, Terry Crews, Danny Glover, Steven Yeun, Armie Hammer, Robert Longstreet, Forest Whitaker, and others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorJay ChandrasekharStarsJay ChandrasekharKevin HeffernanSteve LemmeWhen a border dispute arises between the U.S. and Canada, the Super Troopers are tasked with establishing a Highway Patrol station in the disputed area.The Broken Lizard crew is back at with a sequel to their most successful comedy classic after 17 long years. The story follows our favorite state troopers several years after being fired from police work, when they suddenly get a call from former Captain O'Hagen, who sets up a secret meeting with the Governor of Vermont, to task the infamous group with taking over the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in the region after a border dispute arises between the U.S. and Canada. While the sequel doesn't live up to the hype of the first film, it is still a well done film, and delivers plenty of laughs. Solid sequel overall. Steve Lemme, Erik Stolhanske, Jay Chandrasekhar, Paul Soter, Kevin Heffernan, Brian Cox, Rob Lowe, Marisa Coughlan, Seann William Scott, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and others delivered great performamces.
- DirectorPhil JohnstonRich MooreStarsJohn C. ReillySarah SilvermanGal GadotSix years after the events of "Wreck-It Ralph," Ralph and Vanellope, now friends, discover a wi-fi router in their arcade, leading them into a new adventure.Excellent follow-up the video-game inspired comedy adventure Wreck-It Ralph (2012). The story takes place 6 years after the events of the first film, and follows Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz as they travel the world wide web through a newly-installed Wi-Fi router in Litwak's Arcade to search for a solution to fix Vanellope's arcade game, Sugar Rush. I thought the story and voice acting was just as great as the first film. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman are great together, and both deliver excellent lead voice performances. Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Raymond S. Persi, Katie Lowes, Rich Moore, Jamie Elman, Ed O'Neill, Dennis Haysbert, Stefanie Scott, Adam Carolla, and many others had great supporting roles.
- DirectorBrad PeytonStarsDwayne JohnsonNaomie HarrisMalin AkermanWhen three different animals become infected with a dangerous pathogen, a primatologist and a geneticist team up to stop them from destroying Chicago.Great sci-fi action-packed adventure that follows a group of animal scientists who must team up to stop a rare albino gorilla named George, along with a crocodile and a gray wolf who become infected with a gene-mutating pathogen that causes them to grow to monstrous proportions—wreaking havoc and destruction on all of Chicago. While the story and acting isn't fantastic, it was simply a fun, entertaining, and visually impressive film to watch; that even demanded a couple more viewings. Dwayne Johnson delivered an excellent lead performance. Naomie Harris, Malin Akerman, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jake Lacy, Joe Manganiello, Marley Shelton, and many others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorTommy AvalloneStarsDavid AllanBalu ArtTommy AvalloneThis documentary explores various urban legends around Hollywood's most elusive star.Excellent documentary about film-maker Tommy Avallone, who specializes in exploring urban legends as he tries his hardest to setup a meeting with one of Hollywood's most beloved and evasive actors—Bill Murray. Murray seems like such a down-to-earth kind and giving person. While there are two sides to every person and story, this was a great little film that shows how unique and fascinating Bill Murray actually is.
- DirectorAlex RanariveloStarsSasha AlexanderJessica SerfatyKathleen WilhoiteThe inspiring story of a BMX champion who overcame an abusive childhood through the love and life lessons of his interracial foster family.Not since Rad (1986) has there been a proper sports drama centered around BMX/Freestyle bikes. Very nice story about an abused teenage boy with racism issues stemming from troubled childhood, who is adopted by a interracial couple who is willing to give him another chance as they work with his anger issues, and find he is exceptionally talented riding BMX bikes, which helps him with his personal problems as he rises to the top. Shane Graham, Ludacris, and Sasha Alexander all deliver great lead performances among a solid supporting cast.
- DirectorBrad BirdStarsCraig T. NelsonHolly HunterSarah VowellThe Incredibles family takes on a new mission which involves a change in family roles: Bob Parr (Mr. Incredible) must manage the house while his wife Helen (Elastigirl) goes out to save the world.Great sequel to one of the most beloved Pixar films (even if it isn't one of my favorites). It's another great comedy adventure that finds The incredible Parr family changing family roles as Bob stays home and takes care of the house and kids, while Helen goes out to save the world as they ride the line with using their illegal superpowers. Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Huck Milner, Catherine Keener, Eli Fucile, Bob Odenkirk, Samuel L. Jackson, Sophia Bush, Brad Bird, Phil LaMarr, and many others delivered excellent voice performances.
- DirectorSusanne BierStarsSandra BullockTrevante RhodesJohn MalkovichFive years after an ominous unseen presence drives most of society to suicide, a mother and her two children make a desperate bid to reach safety.Very nice sci-fi mystery/horror Netflix original flick, that follows a mother and two children set in an apocalyptic futures where an invisible threat is driving most of the population to commit suicide. If you see this unseen force, you simply die. The blindfolded family takes a dangerous journey down a river to find a sanctuary where others have found refuge. While the story is far-fetched, I found it entertaining throughout, with Sandra Bullock delivering a very nice lead performance. Trevante Rhodes, Sarah Paulson, John Malkovich, Jacki Weaver, Rosa Salazar, Danielle Macdonald, Lil Rel Howery, Tom Hollander, Colson Baker, BD Wong, and many others had very nice supporting roles.
- DirectorMarc ForsterStarsEwan McGregorHayley AtwellBronte CarmichaelA working-class family man, Christopher Robin, encounters his childhood friend Winnie-the-Pooh, who helps him to rediscover the joys of life.Very nice comedy drama adventure about a middle-aged and working-class man who's stuck in a rut with his job that prevents him from spending time with his family. Soon his childhood friends, Winne the Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Tigger set out for Hundred Acre Wood to help him rediscover himself and enjoy life again. Ewan McGregor delivered a very nice lead performance. Hayley Atwell, Bronte Carmichael, Jim Cummings, Brad Garrett, Nick Mohammed, Peter Capaldi, Sophie Okonedo, and others had solid supporting roles.