Movies I've seen
The movies I've watched in 2019
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- DirectorYeon Sang-hoStarsGong YooJung Yu-miMa Dong-seokWhile a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan.A near perfect zombie movie. Contains a few poignant lines about the movie's themes of fatherhood that become apt by the end, but I would have preferred just a few more of these lines. Some of these poignant lines might have been lost in the translation from Korean. Would go perfectly with a few beers and some friends at a kickback.
- DirectorDenis VilleneuveStarsJake GyllenhaalMélanie LaurentSarah GadonA man seeks out his exact look-alike after spotting him in a movie.When the second viewing of a movie can still keep me: thinking, confused, and intrigued, then it really is worth watching in my opinion. It's short enough that it's worth watching a second time immediately after the first viewing in order to try and process what is actually going on. A film for people who enjoy something difficult.
- DirectorJulia DucournauStarsGarance MarillierElla RumpfRabah Nait OufellaA young woman, studying to be a vet, develops a craving for human flesh.An interesting blend of a sexual awakening alongside the revelation of cannibalistic instinct. For the most part quite well executed. Most definitely a French movie.
- DirectorColm McCarthyStarsSennia NanuaFisayo AkinadeDominique TipperA scientist and a teacher living in a dystopian future embark on a journey of survival with a special young girl named Melanie.A zombie movie where the overwhelming feeling is that the creators thought they were handling a higher concept than they actually were. The dialogue is often on the nose, and simply tells the audience "4" instead of letting them put 2 and 2 together. The sets are the most impressive aspect. It does a few unique things within the genre, but these don't carry it enough to be worth the watch.
- DirectorPeyton ReedStarsPaul RuddEvangeline LillyMichael PeñaAs Scott Lang balances being both a superhero and a father, Hope van Dyne and Dr. Hank Pym present an urgent new mission that finds the Ant-Man fighting alongside The Wasp to uncover secrets from their past.How does Hank Pym have all this money to spend on black market parts to create a "quantum tunnel" while still being hunted by the FBI? Would they not have frozen whatever assets that he had in order to catch him? The scenes with Paul Rudd's character and his daughter are charming enough, and the auxiliary funny characters (trademark logo) are straight out of a Marvel movie. Meh.
- DirectorJames PonsoldtStarsJason SegelJesse EisenbergAnna ChlumskyThe story of the five-day interview between Rolling Stone reporter David Lipsky and acclaimed novelist David Foster Wallace, which took place right after the 1996 publication of Wallace's groundbreaking epic novel, 'Infinite Jest.'Jason Segel's performance of the late David Foster Wallace seems like a true labor of love, and Jesse Eisenberg plays Jesse Eisenberg playing a jealous writer. Quite heart warming for consisting of 106 minutes of two dudes talking to each other in a car.
- DirectorDan GilroyStarsJake GyllenhaalRene RussoZawe AshtonA thriller about the contemporary art scene of Los Angeles, where big money artists and mega-collectors pay a high price when art collides with commerce.The first act is quite good. Once this ensemble of charmingly pretentious asshole characters is established the movie decides to take the least interesting route through its bland horror premise. I was hoping that Coco's conveniently close proximity to the horror while remaining untouched by it would pay off by the end of the movie, possibly in some twist reveal. But it doesn't. It's just "convenient" screenwriting (one of the worst kinds).
- DirectorDuncan SkilesStarsDylan McDermottCharlie PlummerSamantha MathisA picture-perfect family is shattered when the work of a serial killer hits too close to home.A very deliberate film. It takes you pretty much exactly where you expected it to take you, but that doesn't mean that it was not worth watching. It is carried by its execution and the performances. Be on the lookout for this director's future work.
- DirectorSteven SoderberghStarsMatt DamonTony HalePatton OswaltThe U.S. government decides to go after an agro-business giant with a price-fixing accusation, based on the evidence submitted by their star witness, vice president-turned-informant Mark Whitacre.A winding laborious tale that by the end assures you that you've gotten the gist of it. A glimpse into how corporate Americana can reward an unhealthy psyche; a lesson that sometimes the only way to get that tiny bit further ahead may just not be worth what it costs. A character study into the chameleon nature of mental disease in the well educated. It's more ridiculous rather than funny per se.
- DirectorSteven SpielbergStarsDaniel Day-LewisSally FieldDavid StrathairnAs the Civil War rages on, U.S President Abraham Lincoln struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on his decision to emancipate the slaves.A really really great film, but just not the type of movie that resonates with me. Daniel Day-Lewis is a titan. Sally Field and Tommy Lee Jones are immaculate supporting leads; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt is there to desperately make teenagers not think the movie is the most boringest thing ever. Spielberg is a master of his craft, but when the use of lighting is the most impressive aspect of the filmmaking that I note, it leaves me wanting of spectacle. But not entirely. The film was a difficult undertaking, and it was a wonderful attempt.
- DirectorEsteban SapirStarsAlejandro UrdapilletaValeria BertuccelliJulieta CardinaliThis near-silent black and white film from Argentina tells the story of a city that has lost its voice, stolen by Mr. TV, and the attempts of a small family to win the voice back. Similar in design to early German expressionist films.A fantastic thesis on visual storytelling. A masterful blend of Orwellian world-building and David Lynchian filmmaking. It's a shame films like this can no longer get made in America.
- DirectorSpike LeeStarsDanny AielloOssie DavisRuby DeeOn the hottest day of the year on a street in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, everyone's hate and bigotry smolders and builds until it explodes into violence.A nostalgic time capsule into an age now passed, yet a depressing reminder of how little we have progressed in thirty years. While trying desperately to front load the palette with sweetness, the haunting bitterness will stay with you in a stain that doesn't wash away. Real, moving, gripping, goofy, beautiful, horrible. Worth watching.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsRussell CroweJoaquin PhoenixConnie NielsenA former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.Epic in scale, watching this 3 hour behemoth it's hard not to imagine how expensive everything going in to its production must have been. It feels like every aspect of this film influenced some facet of Game of Thrones. Joaquin Phoenix's controlled performance is definitely of note, considering how such a character can easily end up coming across as hammy. It's like a big piece of cake; it's nice while you're enjoying it, but you're not going to take away much afterwards except maybe a stomach ache. But hey, cake can be pretty good sometimes.
- DirectorTerry GilliamStarsJonathan PryceKim GreistRobert De NiroA bureaucrat in a dystopic society becomes an enemy of the state as he pursues the woman of his dreams.While many aspects of the film are still relevant and biting, the overwhelmingly dated 80's sci-fi aesthetic hurts the once oppressive tone that was weighted upon the audience. The sets are exceedingly cluttered in order to make the characters feel small in an overgrowth of dystopian infrastructure, but compared to a modern action movie, e.g. the Transformers series, the camera is mercifully still and the "cluttered" frame is inoffensively meek. The last 20 minutes dive headfirst into a surrealist nightmare and redeem the film, making it worth watching in the modern era.
- DirectorTamara JenkinsStarsKathryn HahnPaul GiamattiGabrielle ReidAn author is undergoing multiple fertility therapies to get pregnant, putting her relationship with her husband on edge.Why did I watch this?
Edit: the "hidden gem" tag on Netflix is not to be trusted. - DirectorStanley KubrickStarsTom CruiseNicole KidmanTodd FieldA Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing.The 4th Kubrick film I've seen, and clearly the most accessible. The type of movie that keeps you looking for every possible detail in order to try and understand its depth. Upon cursory glance, it's a look at the theme of infidelity that turns into a haunting spell as the main character finds himself in something far over his head. Lots of tasteful nudity and uses music superbly. It's almost frustrating; I don't feel like I missed anything, but a second viewing is basically necessary. I will watch this again sometime.
- DirectorJemaine ClementTaika WaititiStarsJemaine ClementTaika WaititiCori Gonzalez-MacuerViago, Deacon, and Vladislav are vampires who are struggling with the mundane aspects of modern life, like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts.Do you like basghetti? Setups! Punchlines! Actual jokes! A wonderful mock-dark, heavily goofy tone creates the perfect environment for these characters thrive in. Would be a 10 if not for a couple jokes that won't stand the test of time. In twenty years, people won't quite get Vlad "The Poker" poking someone on facebook, nor the new vampire initiate going around town drunkenly shouting "I'm Twilight". However, the rest of the movie is funny enough to be among the legends of 70s era comedy films like Caddyshack and Airplane.
- DirectorPaul Thomas AndersonStarsJoaquin PhoenixPhilip Seymour HoffmanAmy AdamsA Naval veteran arrives home from war unsettled and uncertain of his future - until he is tantalized by the Cause and its charismatic leader.A deep dive into two characters profoundly attracted to each other by offering what the other lacks. It felt like watching the two halves of my psyche meet on the screen. Paul Thomas Anderson treats his characters unapologetically and with a respect that they would deserve were they real humans. He doesn't take damaged people and tell you to laugh at them, but rather immerses you into a situation that garners understanding. Joaquin Phoenix once again shows his entrancing range as an actor. Phillip Seymour Hoffman is perfectly cast with such command as an orator. A difficult movie that I would only recommend to those well acquainted with difficult cinema.
- DirectorRobert RodriguezStarsHarvey KeitelGeorge ClooneyJuliette LewisTwo criminals and their hostages unknowingly seek temporary refuge in a truck stop populated by vampires, with chaotic results.The first half is literally a Tarantino movie, and is played completely straight, until he gets eaten by a vampire and it turns into glorious action schlock. Not even the movie knows it's a vampire movie until it is out of nowhere, which is unique and fun. There is a lot of dated CGI, but it honestly helps the goofiness factor. The majority of the effects are classically practical to counterbalance it. I thought Tarantino's character's psychosis was going to set something up down the line, but this is probably an intentional red herring. Once we get to the vampire den, the sets start to feel 90s, which I personally am not the biggest fan of, and the action does sort of lose my interest over the well paced tension of the beginning. But we do see Cheech Marin's eyes explode onto Juliette Lewis, so come on.
- DirectorJustin BensonAaron MoorheadStarsAaron MoorheadJustin BensonCallie HernandezAs kids, they escaped a UFO death cult. Now, two adult brothers seek answers after an old videotape surfaces and brings them back to where they began.A really wonderful horror mystery film especially considering its low budget. Very sparse use of blood and violence keeps the tension of the horror bounded within your own imagination while watching, which plays into the film's theme of the fear of the unknown. It doles out information masterfully, until it almost feels over explained in an "exposition dump", but this is succinct enough to be inoffensive. Really strong minimalist fantasy visuals jive well with the naturalistic color grading. Also an extremely well developed character dynamic between two brothers carries the entire movie. Extremely recommended to anyone who enjoys letting a movie take its time to reveal its secrets.
- DirectorSarah Adina SmithStarsRami MalekDJ QuallsKate Lyn SheilA family man's chance encounter with a conspiracy-obsessed drifter leaves him on the run from the police and an impending event known as the Inversion.Hard to wrap my head around this one. I think I like the film? The base narrative in itself is not simple, and with the Christopher Nolan-esk nonlinear story structure, it ends up giving off the feeling of spinning around in a circle with your eyes closed. There's enough details to put it all together, and some nice subtleties in the performances to make the turns not feel out of nowhere. However, even by the end it still makes you interpret from it what you will, which can be a definite hang-up for general audiences. The type of movie that needs a good dissection with a friend.
- DirectorChris EigemanStarsTravis TopeHaley RammDylan EverettTeenagers Jude and June spend seven minutes in a locked closet and emerge in a hostile and dangerous alternate world.Having trouble finding the point of this movie. Do you want to watch a horror movie with no horror, with no tension, where you know exactly how it's going to end as soon as the premise is established? The answer is no. In closing, these 2018 teenagers had haircuts from 1998.
- DirectorDean DeBloisStarsJay BaruchelAmerica FerreraF. Murray AbrahamWhen Hiccup discovers Toothless isn't the only Night Fury, he must seek the Hidden World, a secret Dragon Utopia before a hired tyrant named Grimmel finds it first.I saw the second movie in this series in theaters without seeing the first. I remember enjoying it, despite it being a kids' movie and being somewhat predictable. I cannot say the same for this entry in the franchise. Only one character, the main character, has a character arc; leaving the rest of the ensemble saying and doing what they've said and done throughout the other movies. And even Hiccup's arc is not prominent. He starts off hesitant to lead and unconfident, and by the end he shows leadership. Except he's still their leader in the beginning and everyone listens to him unquestioningly before and after the movie's events. It's just muddled and unclear, and frankly, I'm not sure what the message is. It feels like it's rushing to end the trilogy and it feels like they put more effort into getting the audience to like a palette swap of the already likable main dragon, instead of telling a well thought-out story.
- DirectorCaroline LabrècheSteeve LéonardStarsDiego KlattenhoffCharlotte SullivanBrett DonahueA man wakes up with no memory of who he is, and finds that everyone who comes within a certain distance of him suddenly dies.One of those high concept films where the entire thing relies on some far fetched premise and then rides it out to its conclusion. It reminds me of one of those movies you would see on the sci-fi channel on a Friday or Saturday, where there's not a single actor you recognize and there isn't too much style behind the film making. But like, a really good one. It's well-paced and keeps your interest. It's worth watching, if you don't have a better use of your time.
- DirectorBryan BertinoStarsZoe KazanElla BallentineAaron DouglasA mother and daughter must confront a terrifying monster when they break down on a deserted road.A simple premise elevated by its execution. If this was made in the late 80's and shot on cheap video, it would be like so many other "horror" movies that are made almost entirely out of shots of people wandering in the woods. Thankfully, there is much more production value, and the lighting hides the fact that the monster is a guy in a cheap rubber suit. But its also a metaphor for abuse. Or something. Each individual facet of the film isn't terribly strong, but the whole of this film is greater than the sum of its parts.