Lance Brown

Not many films can achieve locking the audience in within the first few minutes, but 1917 does and takes us on an unforgettable cinematic ride. Successfully portraying the scene of WWI and it’s conditions, the emotions and attitude of men at war match as we trot with British soldiers, Lance Cpl. William Scofield and Lance Cpl. Blake. The two were merely just men on the same side until Lance Cpl. Blake received an impossible order to deliver a message to possibly save 1600 soldiers from dying and reunite with his brother. Choosing Lance Cpl. Scofield to come with him, the two cross into the battlefield of grim landscaping filled with debris to complete their mission. This is one of the most visually pleasing films I’ve seen in a while capturing the one shot essence giving us that feeling as if we are right there with them. The disguised cuts blend so well that the continuous filming allows our hearts to race just as fast as the soldiers in the war. I don’t think one has ever imagined seeing such a nightmarish, brutal event like WWI being seen so beautifully. Within years to come, undeniably we can argue that this is Sam Mendes’ “it” film. When you think of him and his work, this will take the lead of the conversation every time. Cinematographer Roger Deakins has some heavy hitters under his belt already that we’ve seen such as Shawshank redemption, blade runner 2049, no country for old men, etc. but he out does himself once again with 1917. 1917 has a natural build of suspense and intense moments which will give the viewer anxiety through the circumstances these two soldiers have to work through. It was overall such a great movie that it almost left me speechless. For a moment during the movie, you could sense everyone’s attention being focused on the movie and wondering where it will go next during every part. 1917 scores a well deserved 9.8/10 from me and I encourage everyone to watch it twice if they find an opportunity to do so.

Dark waters isn’t the film you want to see, but it is the film you need to see to understand what’s going on in the world today. No one ever really notices DuPont products and how they surround us everyday, but maybe this will help you realize it’s damages to the people of the world. Mark Ruffalo and Anne Hatheway star in this unsettling Docudrama which exposes the chemical effects of Dupont and how a lawyer like Robert Bilott will stop at nothing to expose their negative effect on the community. While the movie may not be necessarily enjoyable from start to finish, it is thought provoking and a must see. Todd Haynes captures the essence or a darker time set in West Virginia over the years where we see a chemical referred to as PFOA (which is used in making Teflon) has had nightmare like effects on the water provided to the people in West Virginia, the workers of DuPont, and the animals on farmland. This lawyer movie shows just how hard one must dig sometimes to see the underlying problems of large corporations that prefer profit over humanity. Mark Ruffalo gives us an intense performance for the unsettling events which was inspired by the ongoing case of Robert Bilott vs DuPont, which was accompanied by cameos including victims of the DuPont contamination and people involved. A solid thing to appreciate throughout the movie is the dark blue hue of lighting provided throughout much like the contaminated waters in the state of West Virginia at the time in the movie. Dark Waters scores a 7/10 for its unsettling plot and its ability to make us more aware of our surroundings and who controls them.

Kick it into 7000 rpm and enjoy a brief ride through history when considering watching this solid film, Ford Versus Ferrari. The exhilarating true story behind the 1966 24 hour Le Mans race serves as a story for the crossing paths between Carol Shelby (Matt Damon) and the eccentric British driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale) and how they come together to take down Enzo Ferrari and show ford off as a top contender. Director James Mangold takes on the American story that rewrote racing history displaying some of the most exciting scenes we have seen this year in 2019. From the drivers POV to the spectators POV, we are taking a journey with all who witnessed this great victory and the events that lead up to it. As failing Henry Ford II seeks out an idea to save his late fathers company, he takes initiative to challenge Ferrari in a race of perfection by hiring Carol Shelby, designer extraordinaire of Shelby American. The issue for Shelby is that he can design cars , but he knows the best driver is Ken Miles, Who seems arrogant to him at first. Ken Miles is a car guru who spends his days either fixing cars or racing them. Putting aside there differences, we are found with the dynamic duo who creates the perfect ford GT to shake up the reign Ferrari has claimed for years. Put two all star actors together and you’ll witness the closest thing we can get to time traveling following the bond between miles and Shelby. Matt Damon seals the deal on being a confident determined Shelby while Christian Bale displays another change physically along with his arsenal of character traits that help him depict roles perfectly. Up close and personal cinematic shots kept viewers eyes glued to the screen as we were passengers to Ken Miles amazing race. With this, and a strong supporting cast, and a great musical score to evoke emotion, Ford vs Ferrari scores an 8.5/10. There is a such thing as a perfect lap.

Knives out is the mystery movie of 2019 gathering up all of the serious A-list actors in Hollywood and allowing them to take a day off and have some fun with their roles. Writer and director Rian Johnson is true to the “whodunit” idea, knives out is a roller coaster of twist and turns leading up to a grand finale much like a futuristic version of clue. Most of the conversations brought up in Knives out allow great comedic timing as we venture through such topics on immigration, liberal hypocrisy, internet trolls, the “this is my land get off my property” inherited wealth myths that that spoiled hold dearest to themselves, and much more. But the real hit here is the constant curve balls of hints leading up to the idea of the whole movie, figuring out who murdered Harlan Thrombey, the wealthy head of the family who has earned millions. The art of misdirection and mayhem clash together here to create a family of grave diggers looking to inherit wealth and a confused caretaker looking to hold her secrets close to her. Although not as visually striking as other movies that came out this year, the plot of knives out will keep you on the edge of your seat and looking for more clues. Watching our beloved James Bond (Daniel Craig) and Captain America (Chris Evans) step out of the norm and bring fresh takes on characters to the table is always enjoyable to see. While other famous actors join us for the ride in comedic support and the sake of storytelling, the suspense/comedy will keep you focused on guessing. Knives out scores a 8/10 and is definitely a must see if you’re looking for a good movie.

“Why’d ya spill yer beans?” Robert Eggers writes and directs this gripping, haunting tale through 35mm black and white film stock which in my opinion, added to the suspense and the psychological horror of the entire film. Nothing more unsettling to watch in the dark than a black and white film set in the 1890s. Lighthouse is a disquieting tale of two men isolated on an island, whose only visitor ends up being insanity. Here we are introduced to the irritable elderly seafarer Thomas (Willem Dafoe) and his young new Wickie, Winslow (Robert Pattinson) who is to assist in the up-keeping of a lighthouse off the shore of Maine. When you mix isolation with hard work, a great deal of drinking, and a storm that just won’t end, you receive the means of what it is to survive both mentally and physically. It takes a great deal of skill to make the audience experience the loneliness and the gradual building tension between the two characters from the beginning of the movie, and that is what Eggers does for us here. You can sense the darkness within the hearts of men truly unfolding as liquid courage dishes the motivation to release such demons. Magnificently delivered by Pattinson and Defoe, lighthouse is very much well appreciated and definitely a must see for those in search of a fresh new story to make the mind ponder with its disturbing visuals. This dark tale scores an 8/10 in my book and I look forward to stumbling upon it again someday.

Ma can be summed up in a quote of “the sins of the father will visit the son” but in this case the sins of a high school prank will create a possessive, manipulative, whack job looking for some sort of approval. If you’re looking for a movie to catch while on a date that you really don’t want to pay all attention to but catch the thrilling parts. This is for you. This movie can be thrilling and entertaining but the overall storyline doesn’t succeed at living up to the hype. The movie is a solid 5/10 and a slice of Swiss cheese, missing a whole lot of plot. Ma started off gradually introducing our main maniac as just a middle aged lady buying booze for underage high schoolers. Assistant Vet or Dog groomer by day and party host by night, Sue Ann successfully delivers parties to teens who don’t question why they are in a random women’s house after hours. From the first scene in her basement you can tell how demonic her ways can be making a teenager strip as a gag. As we continue, we discover a prank from high school and the humility she felt is what drives ma to reign hell among the children of her graduating class. The movie is fast paced as it keeps up with its own story while attempting to deliver flashbacks that help tie the story together. I have so many questions for the writers and how long their lunch breaks must’ve been. Tough relating this to any part of real life or developing connection to the movie itself. The music selection was nostalgic if you are over 35 and the cinematography isn’t anything too crazy to make a film buff go crazy. Just another average movie with a key crazy character that we’ll forget in a few weeks. You are better off waiting for the movie to come to Netflix...if it makes it to Netflix. Octavia Spencer, I hope your career is okay after this.

Don’t forget to smile while watching this cinematic masterpiece provided by Todd Phillips and the Oscar worthy Joaquin Phoenix. Following it’s well anticipated expectations, Joker exceeds what we believed it was to be, it was nothing short of amazing. This depiction of the Joker based on DC comics allowed writers to experiment with different aspects of the mentally ill man and how he copes with the world around him attempting to fit in. Partnered with the original Taxi Driver himself, Robert DeNiro, this thriller is complete with a dark, psychological, chilling sense of what it is like to look out Arthur Fleck’s window of life. This is the tale of the darker side of Gotham you needed to know of that breed men like Arthur Fleck. A grimacing look into the gritty 70s where poverty and systematic oppression rules the lower class. We are witnessing the destruction of a man in his battle versus the world. The grip on sanity that Arthur Fleck holds already has a slippery grip with his laughing condition and delusional happiness. Follow this by a cutthroat society and a few consistent wrong turns in life fueled by rejected/negative relationships, the true cruelty of man, and a system that cares very little about those on the bottom, and you receive those like Arthur who evolve into Joker. Expecting the mentally ill to act as if they don’t have a mental illness creates societal pressures and that’s exactly what Phillips is offering here as we witness the world within the movie represent an aspect of the larger world we live in today. A society full of union strikes, budget cutbacks in departments beneficial to the suffering, and a job market that doesn’t seem to be catering to anyone but those already employed; this is the world around Arthur Fleck as he grows to become more isolated and mentally ill. The continuous acts of violence makes Arthur feel in control and that leads him to developing the Joker as his alter ego. Musically, we are guided through Arthur’s mind as every mishap pays a great due to his actions as the reactions of the world come face to face with him day in and day out. It almost pains us the way the music creeps along with the acting of Joaquin. The songs chosen are more old and straight to the point, the lyrics describe everything. It helps us sympathize with his developing careless ways understanding that he is a victim taking control and unknowingly becoming the face of revolt and chaos. Cinematically this is a real eye pleaser as we watch the hazy grim grit of cinematography that graces this film along with its amazing actors. Every frame and lighting compliments the issues at hand within the movie and connects us directly into the situation as if we were there. If this film were placed on mute, we can still sense the grit and emotion of the scenes due to the cinematography and lighting, especially the intro scene witnessing a the joker apply his make up forcing himself to smile while tearing. Lastly, Joaquin Phoenix has single handedly put on a show for us like no other. Even without camera focus or close ups you know how deep in character he is due to his beautiful intense body movement. The interpretive dance through scenes shares with us a secret in Arthur Fleck’s life, that among his issues, he is in his own world and he is the star of it...no matter what the real world says. He stuck out like a sore thumb the entire movie with his odd ways and welcoming voice, we saw the sweet idea of a man in the slums birth the idea of a chaotic ring leader of Gotham. Small things like his tone when saying punch line jokes, the way he runs, consistently falling in situations, the dancing, the different ways of his offbeat laughter, it was all just magical to watch a man become a villain through Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of the joker. Joker scores a highly deserved 9.5/10 as you will see from start to finish that this movie should be in discussion for top film of the year.

An emotional journey with One fearless mans long voyage to the stars as a successful, recognized astronaut in search of the things we all seem to have in front of us. Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) is dedicated to his line of work due to his father’s absence in his life, Clifford McBride (Tommy Lee Jones), another hero in this world who gave up his life as a father and a husband to journey deeper into the unknown for the sake of research and preventing issues the world may encounter.. We embark on an emotional conquest with our hero Roy McBride through the infinite space to fill a void of a missing parent he once knew. Stunning views of space as we know it seen throughout this emotional film. The Cinematography and CGI helps us feel that void of loneliness through the wide shots of how vast the universe is and how small one can truly be. Much like interstellar but Ad Astra (Latin for To The Stars) carries a weight to it that’s painfully exploring the psychological process of our celebrated heroes at NASA. The writers make sure we know how unafraid/un-phased one must be to go to space and carry out these missions. Time and time again throughout the film, we see Roy challenged with emotional trauma and his journey being held up due to his emotional state presenting a self inflicted dilema he must overcome. Recognizable symmetrical scenes can be noticed much like 2001 A Space Odyssey, when aboard each spaceship, we can notice how every room follows the dynamics of one shape and doesn’t break that pattern which makes the film very pleasing to the eye. Also, don’t be surprised if you see a gorilla or two much like the celebrated Kubrick film offered us. Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones execute a beautiful idea of each character using their line of work as an excuse to escape the things that they believe they don’t need as astronauts. As the film goes on, we’re well aware that Roy is following in his father’s footsteps of forgetting about his life at home and creating a home out in space where he believes he belongs along with his work. The emotional acting from the two shows us how some voids can never be truly filled by those things we search for but truly with the things right in front of us. Throw in a strong atmospheric musical score that allows us to witness space under tones of loneliness and bravery, and we have Ad Astra scoring a solid 8.5/10 displaying one of Brad Pitt’s finest performances. What lies beyond us in space may be terrifying and expose the true idea of what it means to lack companionship but what’s in front of us on earth can sometimes be more welcoming.

A classic look at 1969 from the hairstyles to the canned goods, We got ourselves the creative 9th film from Quentin Tarantino himself. As eccentric as ever, he delivers Hollywood for us from a lens we never saw it through. Rick Dalton and his trusty stunt man, Cliff Booth, is having trouble with understanding this new Hollywood as times are changing and facing facts that some actors can’t hold the spotlight forever. On his quest to remain relevant, we walk through The golden 1969 Hollywood, which involves freeloading hippies, misguided youth, acid trips, excessive drinking, and of course this strange imitation of Bruce Lee we all seem to have been given. Like always, Tarantino tells this story from multiple sides so in the end when it all ties together we get an expected Tarantino finale. Every character gets their moment for the audience to understand who they are and how it will clash with the other characters in his stories. Although Margot Robbie isn’t as present in the movie, her character is a necessity to the story as a whole. Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt were absolutely stunning in this movie as actors. Leo was not afraid to take that extra step being a Hollywood drunk while Brad Pitt displays Cliff Booth as the edgy character we needed in the movie to sell the suspense of what is To come. Weaving together an artsy, wicked story, Tarantino’s Once Upon a time get a flame throwing 8/10 from me. His ability to put the cherry on top of an eccentric story is what gives us the extra excitement we need right before we leave the theatre.

The sequel provided to us by the Russo brothers from infinity war has arrived and it’s presence will be known ! Something that lives up to the hype and closes the book to an amazing journey has finally graced us with its presence. Marvel’s Avengers End Game was single handedly one of the greatest superhero movies I have ever seen. We’re talking about emotion after emotion with messages concentrated within the writing of the movie. First off, shout out to all the cult movie culture shout outs along the way through the film. For a movie buff or someone who follows movies that made huge cultural impacts, this is the one for you. Second of all, you will be in an emotional rollercoaster with unexpected turns and surprises till the end of the movie. Every single character in the avengers plays an important role and each is given enough screen time to perfect the story for the last installment. Thanks demanded your silence for a reason and it will be rewarded. This film will have you on the edge of your seat always as we take the journey through the mind of Stan Lee one last time to complete the era or the avengers. With love, excitement, surprises, confusion, tears, and smiles, end game has fulfilled its destiny. An amazing job by each character in the cast and a lovable end game as we witness the marvel avengers one last time in unison, defending our home and hearts. The film receives a 10/10 from me and its CGI, Cinematography, plot twist, emotional pull, comedy, and ability to keep watchers from running to the bathroom for 3 hours a 10/10. This has been the greatest ending to a superhero saga to ever exist and shouts out to the recognition to the powerful women of marvel and how they also contribute to the success of the film. RIP Stan Lee and go see this amazingly thought out movie AS SOON AS POSSIBLE !!!