All posts by Alex Brannan

Movie News

Summer 2017 Movie Release Preview: June

June 2017 comes with a mix of high profile money makers, animated family affair, Summer horror counter-programming, and smaller films. We’re looking at a June box office that will see a DC figurehead go up against the seemingly unending onslaught of transforming toys. We’re looking at comedy and horror that will try to become surprise hits. And there’s a Tupac movie.

Let’s take a look at what June has in store.

 

June 2:

Wonder Woman

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Here’s why you don’t get your hopes up, folks. People will tell you that this looks like Continue reading Summer 2017 Movie Release Preview: June →

Box Office Predictions, Movie News

Weekend Box Office Predictions: 4/28 – 4/30

This weekend sees the new release of the Emma Watson-Tom Hanks thriller The Circle, based on the novel by Dave Eggers, and How to Be A Latin Lover, a comedy directed by Ken Marino and starring Eugenio Derbez and Salma Hayek.

Additionally, Bollywood sequel Baahubali 2: The Conclusion will be looking to make a similar smash to its predecessor. According to Box Office Mojo, the first film grossed $3.5 million in its opening weekend, and its sequel has already pulled in an estimated $2.5 million in Thursday night previews.

Box Office Predictions: Weekend of 4/28

Continue reading Weekend Box Office Predictions: 4/28 – 4/30 →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

The Circle (2017) Movie Review

Mae (Emma Watson) is stuck at a dreary temp job. Her car barely runs. She lives at home with her parents. Effectively, she’s stuck.

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Then, through a connection in friend Annie (Karen Gillan), Mae lands an interview at The Circle, a hip-and-trendy tech outfit that is, on contact, Orwellian. Or, at least, Continue reading The Circle (2017) Movie Review →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Leave it

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) Movie Review

Director Guy Ritchie’s new venture, King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, opens on a war sequence that introduces Uther Pendragon (Eric Bana), the father of the once and future king Arthur (Charlie Hunnam), as well as one-time king Vortigern (Jude Law).

It is a scene marked by blurry action and messy narrative introduction. Luckily, it is also a scene that is returned to multiple times over throughout the film.

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Following this, we watch little Arthur grow up before our eyes in a very Continue reading King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017) Movie Review →

Movie News

Summer 2017 Movie Preview: May

May kicks off the Summer movie season: One of the best…no that’s not right…one of the most underwhelming periods in the Hollywood calendar.

Alright, that’s not entirely fair. But there have been some clunky Summers in recent years when it comes to U.S. theatrical releases. Every year there are films that are on the schedule that look great on paper (Jurassic World), or at least acceptable on paper (Independence Day: Resurgence), and then turn out to be major disappointments. (Yes, I realize Jurassic World was by no means a major disappointment in terms of money or general audience response. But mark my words that that film will not hold up over time).

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And sure, there can be May surprises (Mad Max: Fury Road, a second example), but Summer is generally Continue reading Summer 2017 Movie Preview: May →

All Movie Reviews, Horror, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words), Sci-Fi/Fantasy

Alien 3 (1992 & 2003) Movie Review

There is a stigma to Alien 3, the third installment in the massively popular Alien franchise and David Fincher’s first directorial effort. Pulled out of the world of music video directing, Fincher was given the lofty task of continuing the sci-fi horror series. The end result was massive studio interference that led to two drastically different cuts of the film.

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The 1992 theatrical cut was heavily edited down, leading to a far less cohesive film. It is still Continue reading Alien 3 (1992 & 2003) Movie Review →

All Movie Reviews, Horror, Leave it, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Phoenix Forgotten (2017) Movie Review

Phoenix Forgotten opens on Sophie’s (Florence Hartigan) 6th birthday party. Family members give testimonials to camera about Sophie; advice for her as she grows up. Then, a voiceover from Sophie begins the narrative. Her brother Josh (Luke Spencer Roberts) and two of his friends went missing in the desert in 1997. Now, Sophie is returning home to make a documentary about his disappearance.

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The film plays with framing through this setup. In 1997, Josh, obsessed with seeing lights in the Phoenix sky that may or may not be a UFO, starts Continue reading Phoenix Forgotten (2017) Movie Review →

Action/Thriller, All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Like It, Long Reviews (>400 Words)

Free Fire (2017) Movie Review

Free Fire, the new film from Kill List director Ben Wheatley, takes place during a contentious international arms deal in a spacious abandoned warehouse in 1978 Boston. As expected, it does not go as planned.

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Interestingly enough, the deal plays out in an anachronistically polite way. Not tea party polite, but more polite than Continue reading Free Fire (2017) Movie Review →

Box Office Predictions, Movie News

Weekend Box Office Predictions: 4/21 – 4/23

This weekend is an interesting one in terms of box office. While it is somewhat clear what movie will take the top spot, the number of new releases of various sizes leads to some question marks. There are five new releases this Friday: Unforgettable, Free Fire, The Promise, Born in China, and Phoenix Forgotten. Additionally, The Lost City of Z will see an expansion.

This is adding to the already full theaters that still carry Boss Baby, Beauty and the Beast, and Smurfs. Then there’s Fate of the Furious, entering its second week after a record breaking opening weekend internationally.

It’s a full house. Let’s (try to) figure it out.

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Box Office Predictions: Weekend of 4/21

Continue reading Weekend Box Office Predictions: 4/21 – 4/23 →

All Movie Reviews, Comedy, Leave it

Sandy Wexler (2017) Movie Review

Adam Sandler. A story of continuous disappointment. The celebrity’s output has a marked shift from his early days to recent years. Pixels. The Ridiculous 6. Even The Cobbler’s different approach to the Sandler brand was a misfire.

Now that Sandler is working with Netflix, it seems like the bar has been lowered significantly.

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The eponymous Sandy Wexler (Sandler), played with one of Sandler’s three voices, is a notorious Hollywood manager. Notorious for being Continue reading Sandy Wexler (2017) Movie Review →