The Darjeeling Limited

    

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Directed by: Wes Anderson
Written by: Wes Anderson, Jason Schwartzman, Roman Coppola
Gross Revenue: $35 mil





         Last year I made a vow that I'd see ever Wes Anderson movie ever made and I'm still at it. Every time I go into one of his movies I say "oh my gosh what if I don't like it?" I say this only because I've yet to see one I haven't enjoyed. He has a way of bringing every environment to life in a way I don't see anywhere else. His vision is unmatched, it's something I am very happy to say I am addicted to and will be anticipating from now on. I feel like, I missed out on great in theater experiences that I could have witnessed if I wasn't such a mainstream junkie. However, as the saying goes, "you know better you do better" 

     I knew I was in for a treat by just reading the description of The Darjeeling Limited. The moment I saw the trailer I said    "yep, okay I'm gonna watch it and oh lort I hope I like it" and of course I fell in love with it. Only Wes can capture the tight quarters of a train and make it into something so magical. Each shot was beautifully done and well executed. Death! Is all the rage in Wes's films but its done so elegantly and so lighthearted you find a peace in that person passing rather than sadness. The message he gives is very direct but not in a preachy, in your face way which I love.

     I often envy those who flawlessly create dialogue that is both witty, fresh and amazing. Somehow Anderson does it every time and I am just in awe of his literary skills. Words, just words can leave me unable to blink when watching his films, I never want to miss one sentence, one word, one syllable . The comedy is always so awkward, strange a little dark by oh man is it remarkable. I often find myself wanting Wes humor in other films and I'm sure that's weird but I admire his writing that much. Its always a cut above and something that wont ever be replicated.
    

 

Adrian Brody, Owen Wilson, Jason Schwartzman  are Andersons golden boys and I have zero complaints about that and I love them all individually. So, this was a treat for me because the brotherly dynamic was so well done, the chemistry was through the roof. Alone, well they were as always perfect in the most awkward way. Only Wes Anderson can make this cast as astonishing as it was.

Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri

 

⭐⭐⭐⭐


Directed by: Martin McDonagh
Written by: Martin McDonagh
Gross Revenue: $24.6 mil

   

  Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri was something that took me by amazing surprise. Besides the name i knew nothing of it, I hadn't even looked at the trailer. I know what a shame on me because I could have been in cinema bliss a long time ago. Let me just get this out of the way now, Frances McDormand is in a league of her own folks, she walked on that set and stole every single spotlight and made it hers. I've never been a Mcdormand fan per say but I believe I am slowly becoming one. She's a tour de freaking force, it seems every role she plays it is MEANT for her. Seriously, each of her roles fit like a latex bodysuit three sizes too small. She without a doubt brings every character to life in a way that many actors try to do but cannot execute. She is getting better and better with age. I know now that if the cast includes Frances I am more than certain I will love the movie, simply because of her. She well deserves every award she wins.

The movie itself is on a whole other level of greatness, its a dramedy in every sense of the word which is my 4th favorite genre. It punches you in the gut with subject matter that are tough to deal with and at all times more uncomfortable to watch. However,  when you want to see a mama raising hell over her deceased daughter due to her prolonged unsolved murder, this would and should be your first choice. Everything about it is fantastic though abrasive at times it's a must see. To be totally honest, i'm not familiar with  Martin McDonagh and his work at all, I know of hIs fIlms but i've never seen one. This, however has me second guessing my decision on never seeing In Bruges.



Not only was his direction spot on and very impressive, the writing was impeccable. Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, whom of which won a globe for his Earth shattering performance. The cast alone made this movie an excellent experience, which made me proud to be a film fanatic. Though as I said it’s rough around the edges but it’s real, in a very dark comedic way. It grabs at your heart strings and sends a message that's incredibly hard to ignkre. Film, is very subjective I know, just because I love dark, twisted, humor shrouded in turmoil doesn't mean everyone will. That fact aside I beg you, if you haven't seen it pay yourself the honor of seeing it at least once. You may just like it and if you don't well that's okay to

The Disaster Artist

🌟🌟🌟🌟


Directed by: James Franco
Written by: Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber
Gross Revenue: $20.6 mil



       Critic Consensus:

Oh, hai Mark. The Disaster Artist is a surprisingly poignant and charming movie-about-a-movie that explores the creative process with unexpected delicacy.

    I simply cannot agree more, Rotten Tomatoes aren't always fair but they are known to be right on occasion.
The Disaster Artist is a one chance look at a very private Tommy Wisesau at a time where his dreams were both shattered and made real. It goes without saying, though some may beg to differ, you really should watch The Room to understand where The Disaster Artist is coming from. Sure, you can watch it alone without viewing The Room but I think you can't understand and get the full gravity of what Tommy was trying to do unless you see the actual film.

    I'm not going to sugar coat it or put a pretty ribbon on it, The Room was horrendous, it was bad. Like, nails on a chalkboard bad, I'd rather watch paint dry bad, though there was a silver lining....it was hilarious. Which is something you could tell just by watching it, it's definitely not what Tommy was trying to do.  I love The Disaster Artist for giving us an inside look, so to speak into  the mind behind the madness.  Wiseau is such a passionate soul,  the movie more times then not had me thinking of myself and my own dead and buried dreams. You can respect Tommy for his effort and the amount of heart he tried to put into his movie.

     Oh before I go, let me just say that ONLY James Franco can deliver in a film like this. Before even watching it I often said he was meant to play Tommy. That fact was solidified by his brilliant exectution both in front and behind the camera. The chemistry that he and his brother Dave have is the sweetest thing to watch. It was like he was speaking through Tommy with the endering things he was saying. I just admire them both a great deal and I'm so happy I'm living in a time such as this, when James Franco is at his best.

Thor: Ragnarok

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟


Directed by: Taika Waititi
Written by: Christopher Yotes, Craig Kyle, Eric Pearson
Gross Revenue: $835 mil



Jaw dropped and wig snatched folks!! Taika Waititi just resuscitated this lifeless, dead to the world frannchise and brought it back to life. Words are escaping me at the moment, Ragnarok was so good it's stolen my passion for expression...I'm all choked up on pure joy. I typically wait for the dust to settle to view a big Budget CBM. Don't ask me why, it's just how I tick. Now, as I was saying ....or trying to say, THIS IS WHAT A CBM SHOULD FEEL AND LOOK LIKE.  This is how you set the bar, this is why Marvel is far superior to the "other guys". From beginning to end it served up all the goods, from Directing, witty fun dialouge, flawless and I mean flawless visuals that make me wanna kiss everyone on the CGI team! It was all so beautiful, I'm talking a rose dipped in 24 kt gold and sprinkled with diamonds beautiful.

If you like the melancholic, dark, abrasive, slow cinematic experience then please, stay far way from Ragnarok, because you'd be getting none of that. Tears literally were welling in my eyes, I was so very pleased with this Thor and yet so very saddened. I feel, man handled, short changed, frickin robbed!!! This is the Thor we should have been gifted with long ago! Nope, what'd we get?A boring, bloated, lengthy origin film, and crawling half dead dumpster fire called Dark World. Why, oh why, give me the best Thor I've ever witnessed in the last solo installment?? Cold wold, cold, cold world.

There were so many good elements in this movie. Mmm Thor, Hulk holding a legitimate conversation, Jeff Goldblum as himself, the witty banter, Thor with no hammer, Thor with no hair and korg....I severely wanted more of him!! Oh, and let's not forget that sexy little fight bit in the last act! I think thaaaatsss about it......oh right LOKI, he's flipped flopped more than a pair of nike slides worn by Usain Bolt. However, I'm willing to get over it as long as I get to keep seeing his beautiful face!

I just am so very pleased with this movie, there isn't a word big enough that describes my feelings at the moment.  I'm not someone who lives and breathes for the next superheo movie, but marvel sure knows how to make a girl sweat. I'm so anxious to see infinity war now, my bones are vibrating!! If this is the kind of delivery they've committed to I'm so in for the next 20 movies they've got in the slow cooker.