Category: Movie Review

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Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

John Stark

Starring (or featuring the voices of): James Corden, Rose Byrne, Domnhall Gleason, Lenny James, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debecki, Sam Neil, Hayley Atwell, and Sia. Directed By: Will Gluck Where I Watched It: Netflix English Audio Description Available?: Yes The plot: Picking up basically where the first film left off, Peter (Corden) and his extended animal family now live sin somewhat harmony with their respective humans (Byrne and Gleason), the former of whom uses the cute critters for her own work… much the same way Beatrix Potter did by writing the books. Get it? It’s like..this is real life. But all … Continue reading Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway

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Cloud Atlas

John Stark

Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Jim Broadbent, James D’Arcy, Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess Directed By: The Wachowski Where I Watched It: Netflix (though this was not my first time) English Audio Description Available?: Hell Yes. Plot: People. Over time. Stories. Intertwined. I’ve now seen this film twice, and trying to describe it seems still like a monumental task. The film stretches over thousands of years, imagining actors almost as reincarnations of themselves across time in completely different circumstances and explores deep themes like human connection and fate. What Works: Well, for the sighted, I do remember … Continue reading Cloud Atlas

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Together Together

John Stark

Starring: Ed Helms, Patty Harrison, Nora Dunn, Fred Melahmed, and Tig Notaro. Directed By: Nicole Beckwith Where I Watched it: Hulu English Audio Description Available?: No. The Plot: A 40 something man (Helms) decides that despite being single, he is at the point in his life where he wants to be a father. So, he connects with a surrogate (Harrison), and the two begin on a nine month journey that certainly tests all preconceived notions these two may have had about how this thing is supposed to happen. What Works: Well, what may work for me may not work for … Continue reading Together Together

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This Is The Night

John Stark

Starring: Naomi Watts, Frank Grillo, Bobby Cannavale, and Method Man. Directed By James DeMonaco Where i Watched it: Netflix English Audio Description Available?: No. The Plot: It’s 1982, we’re on Staten Island, and Rocky 3 has just hit theatres. You’d be surprised what you can do with just that longline. What Works: This movie was admittedly hard to follow, but the heart of the story are these boys living in Staten Island when Rocky 3 is first released, and their west to view this film in a way that treats Rocky 3 like some massive cinematic event. It’s amazing. And … Continue reading This Is The Night

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Don’t Look Up

John Stark

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Meryl Streep, Jonah hill, Cate Blanchett, Timothy Chalamet, Ariana Grande, Tyler Perry, Michael Chili’s, Paul Guilfoyle, Kid Cudi, Mark Rylance, and Melanie Lyndsey. Directed By Adam McKay Where I Watched It: Netflix English Audio Description Available?: Yes The Plot: Born obviously out of a lot of current events, two scientists (DiCaprio and Lawrence) embark on a journey to convince people that there is a.comet headed directly at earth and will cause an extinction level event. What Works: You’ve probably already heard about this film, an you probably already have an idea of whether or not … Continue reading Don’t Look Up

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The Eyes Of Tammy Faye

John Stark

Starring: Jessica Chastain, Andrew Garfield, Cherry jones, Vincent D’Onofrio Directed By Michael Showalter Where I Watched It: HBO MAX English Audio Description Available?: Yes The Plot: A rather endearing and sympathetic biopic about Tammy Faye Bakker (Chastain), from her life as a little girl, brought up with a deep religious conviction, and later introduced to the charismatic Jim (Garfield), who has some very interesting ideas about preaching and wealth. Which, of course, leads to his eventual downfall. Along the way, we see them interact with lovely human beings like Jerry Falwell (D’Onofrio). What Works: Showalter has decided to share his … Continue reading The Eyes Of Tammy Faye

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Ron’s Gone Wron

John Stark

Featuring The Voices Of Jack Dylan Grazer, Zack Galafanakis, Olivia Coleman, Ed Helms, Rob Delaney, Justice Smith Directed By: Sarah Smith, Jean-Philippe Vine, and Octavio E Rodriguez Where I Watched It: Disney Plus English Audio Description Available?: Yes Plot: It’s another boy and his robot story. This type of film needs its own genre by now. There’s Barry (Grazer), an outcast in a rather dystopian view of the future, where kids and their connection to social media is so insane that a corporation (yes, presumably evil) has created robots that are even more tapped into the social network, forcing kids … Continue reading Ron’s Gone Wron

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The Unforgivable

John Stark

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Viola Davis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jon Bernthal Directed By Nora Finkshite Where I Watched It: Netflix English Audio Description?: Yes The Plot: Sandra Bullock plays a woman recently released from prison after serving 20 years, and attempts to rejoin a society that overwhelmingly makes it a seemingly impossible task. The film also explores the victim’s surviving family, and their reaction to her getting released on parole. The film takes these two stories already deeply intertwined, and twists them further. What Works: I know Netflix can’t offer every single one of their exclusive titles an Oscar qualifying run, but … Continue reading The Unforgivable

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The Lost Daughter

John Stark

Starring: Olivia Coleman, Dakota Johnson, Jessie Buckley, Ed Harris, Peter Sarsgaard Directed By: Maggie Gyllenhaal Where I Viewed: Netflix English Audio Description: Yes The Plot: A late 40’s woman (Coleman) is the predominant focus of this story, that jumps through timelines, and explores intimately many details of a persons life, and how they came to be. It tackles everything from motherhood and all that comes with it, and an unhealthy obsession. What Works: Olivia Coleman’s performance. Even though Jessie Buckley does a fine job in the flashbacks, this really a film that lives and dies with Coleman. I can appreciate … Continue reading The Lost Daughter

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Best Of/Worst Of 2017

John Stark

I’m slowly working my way through my awards, but I wanted to try and post a few a day till I run out of awards. So, here are some silly awards to start with. MOVIE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN BETTER AS A TV SERIES: RUNNER UP: What Happened To Monday There’s a quality in this movie that could have been stretched over a short 13 episode season, where we get to know each of the girls a bit more, and the world they live in. As a film, it was OK, but there was a hint of something more beneath … Continue reading Best Of/Worst Of 2017