My Mid-2018 Movie Rankings

Here is the ranking of all the movies I have seen so far in 2018 in theaters:

1. Annihilation (5 Stars)
2. Phantom Thread (4 1/2 Stars)
3. Black Panther (4 1/2 Stars)
4. I, Tonya (4 1/2 Stars)
5. Ready Player One (4 1/2 Stars) * 2
6. Molly's Game (4 Stars)
7. The Shape of Water (4 Stars) * 2
8. Paddington 2 (4 Stars)
9. Hostiles (4 Stars)
10. You Were Never Really Here (4 Stars)
11. American Animals (4 Stars)
12. Lean on Pete (4 Stars)
13. Tully (4 Stars)
14. Won't You Be My Neighbor (4 Stars)
15. First Reformed (4 Stars)
16. The Post (4 Stars)
17. A Quiet Place (4 Stars)
18. Incredibles 2 (4 Stars) 
19. Game Night (3 1/2 Stars)
20. Tag (3 1/2 Stars)
21. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (3 1/2 Stars)
22. Solo: A Star Wars Story (3 1/2 Stars)
23. Deadpool 2 (3 1/2 Stars)
24. Hereditary (3 1/2 Stars)
25. Avengers: Infinity War (3 1/2 Stars) * 2
26. Isle of Dogs (3 1/2 Stars)
27. Tomb Raider (3 1/2 Stars)
28. Love, Simon (3 1/2 Stars)
29. Blockers (3 1/2 Stars)
30. Upgrade (3 1/2 Stars)
31. Adrift (3 1/2 Stars)
32. A Wrinkle in Time (3 1/2 Stars)
33. Chappaquiddick (3 Stars)
34. Unsane (3 Stars)
35. Ocean's 8 (3 Stars)
36. Rampage (3 Stars)
37. 12 Strong (3 Stars)
38. Early Man (3 Stars)
39. Thoroughbreds (2 1/2 Stars)
40. Beirut (2 1/2 Stars)
41. Red Sparrow (2 1/2 Stars)
42. Pacific Rim: Uprising (2 1/2 Stars)
43. The Death of Stalin (1 1/2 Stars)

Predictions for the 2018 Academy Awards

Here are my predictions for the 2018 Academy Awards that take place tonight:

Best Picture: The Shape of Water
Best Director: Guillermo del Toro (The Shape of Water)
Best Actor: Gary Oldman (Darkest Hour)
Best Actress: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Best Supporting Actor: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)
Best Supporting Actress: Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
Best Original Screenplay: Get Out
Best Adapted Screenplay: Call Me By Your Name
Best Film Editing: Dunkirk
Best Cinematography: Blade Runner 2049
Best Original Score: Alexandre Desplat (The Shape of Water)
Best Original Song: This Is Me (The Greatest Showman)
Best Sound Editing: Dunkirk
Best Sound Mixing: Dunkirk
Best Visual Effects: War For The Planet Of The Apes
Best Production Design: The Shape of Water
Best Costume Design: Phantom Thread
Best Makeup & Hairstyling: Darkest Hour
Best Animated Feature: Coco
Best Documentary Feature: Faces Places
Best Foreign Language Film: A Fantastic Woman
Best Live Action Short: DeKalb Elementary
Best Animated Short: Dear Basketball
Best Documentary Short: Edith+Eddie

Film Independent Spirit Awards Ballot and Predictions

This year I decided to join Film Independent which allowed me to get screeners and vote in the Independent Spirit Awards. It was a lot of fun to get to watch the nominated films that I had yet to see at home and some before they were even released in theaters. Below you will find the nominees and who I voted for and who I think will win each category.

Best International Film
-BPM
-A Fantastic Woman
-I Am Not A Witch
-Lady Macbeth
-Loveless

My Vote: I didn’t vote in this category since I wasn’t able to watch I Am Not A Witch

My Predicition: BPM

Best Documentary
-The Departure
-Face Places
-Laste Men in Aleppo
-Motherland
-Quest

My Vote: I didn’t vote in this category since I wasn’t able to watch Faces Places

My Predicition: Faces Places

Best Supporting Male
-Nnamdi Asomugha (Crown Heights)
-Armie Hammer (Call Me By Your Name)
-Barry Keoghan (The Killing of a Sacred Deer)
-Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)
-Benny Safdie (Good Time)

My Vote: Barry Keoghan (The Killing of a Sacred Deer)

My Prediction: Sam Rockwell (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)

Best Supporting Female
-Holly Hunter (The Big Sick)
-Allison Janney (I, Tonya)
-Laurie Metcalf (Lady Bird)
-Lois Smith (Marjorie Prime)
-Taliah Lennice Webster (Good Time)

My Vote: Allison Janney (I,Tonya)

My Prediction: Allison Janney (I, Tonya)

Best Female Lead
-Salma Hayek (Beatriz at Dinner)
-Frances McDormand (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)
-Margot Robbie (I, Tonya)
-Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)
-Shinobu Terajima (Oh Lucy!)
-Regina Williams (Life and nothing more)

My Vote: Saoirse Ronan (Lady Bird)

My Prediction: Frances McDormand (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)

Best Male Lead
-Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name)
-Harris Dickinson (Beach Rats)
-James Franco (The Disaster Artist)
-Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out)
-Robert Pattinson (Good Time)

My Vote: Daniel Kaluuya (Get Out)

My Prediction: Timothee Chalamet (Call Me By Your Name)

Best Cinematography
-The Killing of a Sacred Deer
-Columbus
-Beach Rats
-Call Me By Your Name
-The Rider

My Vote: The Killing of a Sacred Deer

My Prediction: Call Me By Your Name

Best Editing
-Good Time
-Call Me By Your Name
-The Rider
-Get Out
-I, Tonya

My Vote: I, Tonya

My Prediction: Get Out

Best First Screenplay
-Ingrid Jungermann (Women Who Kill)
-Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon (The Big Sick)
-Matt Spicer, David Branson Smith (Ingrid Goes West)
-Kogonada (Columbus)
-Kris Avedisian, Kyle Espeleta, Jesse Wakeman (Donald Cried)

My Vote: Matt Spicer, David Branson Smith (Ingrid Goes West)

My Prediction: Kumail Nanjiani, Emily V. Gordon (The Big Sick)

Best Screenplay
-Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird)
-Azazel Jacobs (The Lovers)
-Martin McDonagh (Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri)
-Jordan Peele (Get Out)
-Mike White (Beatriz at Dinner)

My Vote: Jordan Peele (Get Out)

My Prediction: Jordan Peele (Get Out)

Best Director
-Sean Baker (The Florida Project)
-Jonas Carpignano (A Ciambra)
-Luca Guadagnano (Call Me By Your Name)
-Jordan Peele (Get Out)
-Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie (Good Time)
-Chloe Zhao (The Rider)

My Vote: Jordan Peele (Get Out)

My Prediction: Jordan Peele (Get Out)

Best First Feature
-Columbus
-Ingrid Goes West
-Menashe
-Oh Lucy!
- Patti Cake$

My Vote: Ingrid Goes West

My Prediction: Columbus

Best Feature
-Call Me By Your Name
-The Florida Project
-Get Out
-Lady Bird
-The Rider

My Vote: Lady Bird

My Prediction: Get Out

My 2017 Movie Rankings

Here is my ranking for all the movies I saw in theaters in 2017:

1. Dunkirk (5 Stars) * 2
2. Lady Bird (5 Stars)
3. It Comes At Night (4 1/2 Stars)
4. Your Name (4 1/2 Stars)
5. Brigsby Bear (4 1/2 Stars)
6. Baby Driver (4 1/2 Stars) * 2
7. The Big Sick (4 1/2 Stars) * 2
8. War for the Planet of the Apes (4 1/2 Stars) * 2
9. Land of Mine (4 1/2 Stars)
10. Blade Runner 2049 (4 Stars)
11. A Monster Calls (4 Stars)
12. The Lego Batman Movie (4 Stars)
13. The Killing of a Sacred Deer (4 Stars)
14. Thelma (4 Stars)
15. Logan (4 Stars)
16. Get Out (4 Stars)
17. Jackie (4 Stars)
18. Wonder Woman (4 Stars) * 2
19. Spider-man: Homecoming (4 Stars)
20. Battle of the Sexes (4 Stars)
21. Wind River (4 Stars)
22. Detroit (4 Stars)
23. Darkest Hour (4 Stars)
24. Patriots Day (4 Stars)
25. Silence (4 Stars)
26. The Beguiled (4 Stars)
27. Professor Marston and The Wonder Women (4 Stars)
28. Lady Macbeth (4 Stars)
29. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (4 Stars) * 2
30. IT (3 1/2 Stars)
31. Hidden Figures (3 1/2 Stars)
32. Split (3 1/2 Stars)
33. The Lost City of Z (3 1/2 Stars)
34. Wonder (3 1/2 Stars)
35. The Disaster Artist (3 1/2 Stars)
36. Coco (3 1/2 Stars)
37. Stronger (3 1/2 Stars)
38. mother! (3 1/2 Stars)
39. Novitiate (3 1/2 Stars)
40. Only the Brave (3 1/2 Stars)
41. The Florida Project (3 1/2 Stars)
42. Thor: Ragnorok (3 1/2 Stars)
43. All The Money in the World (3 1/2 Stars)
44. John Wick: Chapter 2 (3 1/2 Stars)
45. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (3 1/2 Stars)
46. Kong: Skull Islands (3 1/2 Stars)
47. Logan Lucky (3 1/2 Stars)
48. Ingrid Goes West (3 1/2 Stars)
49. Free Fire (3 1/2 Stars)
50. Life (3 1/2 Stars)
51. Colossal (3 1/2 Stars)
52. Marshall (3 1/2 Stars)
53. Beatriz at Dinner (3 1/2 Stars)
54. 20th Century Women (3 1/2 Stars)
55. A Ghost Story (3 1/2 Stars)
56. Three Billboards outside Ebbing Missouri (3 1/2 Stars)
57. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (3 1/2 Stars)
58. Thank You For Your Service (3 1/2 Stars)
59. Patti Cake$ (3 1/2 Stars)
60. The Fate of the Furious (3 1/2 Stars)
61. Their Finest (3 1/2 Stars)
62. A Quiet Passion (3 1/2 Stars)
63. The Greatest Showman (3 1/2 Stars)
64. The Zookeeper's Wife (3 1/2 Stars)
65. The Hero (3 1/2 Stars)
66. The Lovers (3 1/2 Stars)
67. Victoria & Abdul (3 1/2 Stars)
68. The Hitman's Bodyguard (3 1/2 Stars)
69. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (3 Stars)
70. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (3 Stars)
71. American Made (3 Stars)
72. Happy Death Day (3 Stars)
73. The Dark Tower (3 Stars)
74. Gifted (3 Stars)
75. Megan Leavey (3 Stars)
76. Goodbye Christopher Robin (3 Stars)
77. Justice League (3 Stars)
78. Pitch Perfect 3 (3 Stars)
79. A Bad Moms Christmas (3 Stars)
80. The Glass Castle (3 Stars)
81. Ghost in the Shell (3 Stars)
82. The Belko Experiment (3 Stars)
83. Rough Night (3 Stars)
84. Power Rangers (3 Stars)
85. Alien: Covenant (3 Stars)
86. Good Time (3 Stars)
87. xXx: Return of Xander Cage (3 Stars)
88. The Founder (3 Stars)
89. Roman J. Israel, ESQ (3 Stars)
90. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (3 Stars)
91. Elle (3 Stars)
92. Kingsman: The Golden Circle (3 Stars)
93. The Mountain Between Us (3 Stars)
94. The House (2 1/2 Stars)
95. Before I Fall (2 1/2 Stars)
96. Downsizing (2 1/2 Stars)
97. Beauty and the Beast (2 1/2 Stars)
98. American Assassin (2 1/2 Stars)
99. Atomic Blonde (2 1/2 Stars)
100. The Foreigner (2 1/2 Stars)
101. Despicable Me 3 (2 1/2 Stars)
102. The Mummy (2 1/2 Stars)
103. Live by Night (2 1/2 Stars)
104. 47 Meters Down (2 1/2 Stars)
105. Suburbicon (2 1/2 Stars)
106. The Wall (2 1/2 Stars)
107. Baywatch (2 1/2 Stars)
108. A Cure for Wellness (2 Stars)
109. Brad's Status (2 Stars)
110. Murder on the Orient Express (2 Stars)
111. Tulip Fever (2 Stars)
112. The Book of Henry (2 Stars)
113. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2 Stars)
114. Cars 3 (2 Stars)
115. Table 19 (1 1/2 Stars)
116. Transformers: The Last Knight (1 1/2 Stars)
117. The Great Wall (1 1/2 Stars)
118. Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (1 1/2 Stars)
119. Daddy's Home Two (1 1/2 Stars)
120. The Snowman (1 1/2 Stars)
121. The Circle (1 Star)
122. Toni Erdmann (1 Star)

Atomic Blonde Review

Well that was disappointing. I went into Atomic Blonde looking forward to an ass kicking good time and instead I got a movie that had all its ass kicking shown in the trailers and a spy story that I didn't care about.

Atomic Blonde takes place in 1989 right around the time of the fall of the Berlin Wall and tells the story of a MI6 spy named Lorraine Broughton, played by Charlize Theron. With the help of David Percival (James McAvoy) and Delphine Lasalle (Sofia Boutella), Lorraine must find a list of names that was lost when fellow spy is killed.

There were a couple of things that I did like about Atomic Blonde. The first, and most obvious, was Charlize Theron and her fight scenes. Charlize totally kicks ass as Lorraine. When it came to her fight scenes, I liked that they showed she was vulnerable. In a lot of action movies today, the hero will get into these brutal fights and walk away like they were invincible. In Atomic Blonde, Lorraine gets bruised and bloody and near the end of fights is out of breathe and barely standing. I also enjoyed how the fight scenes were shot. The camera was close to the action and I never felt lost about what was going on and where the punches were landing.

Another aspect I liked about Atomic Blonde was the way certain scenes looked. Actually, they weren't really scenes, but more like one shots. These one shots would consist of Charlize mainly just sitting in a chair in her hotel room. I loved the way these shots were framed with her in the center and the lighting around her. In fact, I actually enjoyed these moments more than when she was fighting and kicking someones ass.

The big negative for me with Atomic Blonde was the story. I found the journey to be uninteresting. I was never on the edge of my seat wondering who was this mystery person Lorraine was looking for and if she would ever find him/her. I was expecting non-stop action and instead they tried to give me a spy thriller that didn't add anything new to the genre. I found myself often wanting the story to hurry up and move on to the next action scene. Unfortunately, when it did move on to the next action scene, it was a scene that I saw in the trailer, only just extended by a tiny bit.

Atomic Blonde provided solid action scenes with Charlize Theron, unfortunately, if you have seen the trailers, you have seen all the action. The story is below average and never keeps you engaged in the movie. If you are interested in Atomic Blonde, see it at a matinee price or wait until you can rent it or it's on Netflix/Amazon Prime.

2 1/2 out of 5 Stars

My Mid-2017 Movie Rankings

Here is the ranking of all the movies I have seen so far in 2017 in theaters:

1. It Comes At Night (4 1/2 Stars)
2. Your Name (4 1/2 Stars)
3. Baby Driver (4 1/2 Stars)
4. Land of Mine (4 1/2 Stars)
5. A Monster Calls (4 Stars)
6. The Lego Batman Movie (4 Stars)
7. Logan (4 Stars)
8. Get Out (4 Stars)
9. Jackie (4 Stars)
10. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (4 Stars)
11. Wonder Woman (4 Stars) * 2
12. Kong: Skull Islands (4 Stars)
13. Patriots Day (4 Stars)
14. Silence (4 Stars)
15. The Beguiled (4 Stars)
16. Hidden Figures (3 1/2 Stars)
17. Split (3 1/2 Stars)
18. The Lost City of Z (3 1/2 Stars)
19. John Wick: Chapter 2 (3 1/2 Stars)
20. Free Fire (3 1/2 Stars)
21. Life (3 1/2 Stars)
22. Colossal (3 1/2 Stars)
23. 20th Century Women (3 1/2 Stars)
24. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (3 1/2 Stars)
25. The Fate of the Furious (3 1/2 Stars)
26. Their Finest (3 1/2 Stars)
27. A Quiet Passion (3 1/2 Stars)
28. The Zookeeper's Wife (3 1/2 Stars)
29. The Lovers (3 1/2 Stars)
30. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (3 Stars)
31. Gifted (3 Stars)
32. Megan Leavey (3 Stars)
33. Ghost in the Shell (3 Stars)
34. The Belko Experiment (3 Stars)
35. Rough Night (3 Stars)
36. Power Rangers (3 Stars)
37. Alien: Covenant (3 Stars)
38. xXx: Return of Xander Cage (3 Stars)
39. The Founder (3 Stars)
40. Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (3 Stars)
41. The Mummy (3 Stars)
42. Elle (3 Stars)
43. Before I Fall (2 1/2 Stars)
44. Beauty and the Beast (2 1/2 Stars)
45. Live by Night (2 1/2 Stars)
46. 47 Meters Down (2 1/2 Stars)
47. The Wall (2 1/2 Stars)
48. Baywatch (2 1/2 Stars)
49. A Cure for Wellness (2 Stars)
50. The Book of Henry (2 Stars)
51. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2 Stars)
52. Cars 3 (2 Starts
53. Table 19 (1 1/2 Stars)
54. Transformers: The Last Knight (1 1/2 Stars)
55. The Great Wall (1 1/2 Stars)
56. The Circle (1 Star)
57. Toni Erdmann (1 Star)

Top Ten Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2017

The summer movie season is one of the best times of the year for movies. It is the time of year where we get the big summer blockbusters as well as some indie darlings that fly under the radar. With Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 coming out this week, I decide to list my Top Ten Most Anticipated Movies of the Summer. For movies to appear on this list they must be released between May 1st and August 31st.

10. Alien: Covenant:

Ridley Scott returns once again to the Alien franchise. Back in 2012, Prometheus was released with a lot of hype but overall disappointed a lot of people. I felt that it was okay but it never really felt like an Alien movie. So far the trailers for Alien: Covenant give the feeling that this sequel to Prometheus is a proper Alien movie. I do have some issues with what I've seen from the alien creature but I hope the movie at least provides some intense situations and some brutal deaths. Alien: Covenant will be released on May 19th in the US. Trailer

9. Spider-Man: Homecoming:

When Captain America: Civil War was released last summer, one of the surprising highlights was Tom Holland as Spider-man/Peter Parker. He brought this youthful energy to the team and provided a lot of the laughs. This summer we get to see Tom return as Spider-man this time in his own movie called Spider-man: Homecoming. With Homecoming, we also get to see Michael Keaton return to comic book movies as the villain, Vulture. A lot of people say this movie feels like a John Hughes movie from the 80s and I hope that Spider-man: Homecoming does feel like a smaller superhero movie. Spider-man: Homecoming will be released on July 7th in the US. Trailer

8. Wonder Woman:

Well it's that time of year again where we get another DC Comics movie. Lately the DC Comics movies have been very disappointing. Last year Suicide Squad was one of my most anticipated films of the year and I found it to be complete shit. I hated pretty much everything about that movie. So far the trailers for Wonder Woman have been promising. I feel that Gal Gadot could be a decent Wonder Woman, I mean she was the best part of Batman V Superman last year. I like that this movie takes place back in World War I and from the trailers the action looks great. Wonder Woman will be released on June 2nd in the US. Trailer

7. The Beguiled:

Here is the first indie movie of the summer on my list. The trailers for The Beguiled make this movie look terrifying. I am not familiar with the book it is based on and the original movie that was released in 1971 starring Clint Eastwood. This version of The Beguiled stars Nicole Kidman, Colin Farrell, Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning. The cast alone should get everyone excited about this movie. Colin Farrell has been one of my favorite actors for a long time and I have really enjoyed what Elle Fanning has been in recently. The Beguiled will be released on June 23rd in the US. Trailer

6. It Comes At Night:

I am someone that doesn't really like horror movies, but for the second time on this list here is what would be considered a horror movie, It Comes At Night. This is another movie where the trailer is absolutely terrifying. One of the main reasons I am anticipating this movie is because it is being released by A24. For those that don't know, A24 is probably the best film studio around today. Each year they put out one fantastic movie after another. Some of those films include Swiss Army Man, Ex Machina, Room, The Witch and Moonlight (winner of Best Picture at this years Academy Awards). Another reason I am looking forward to It Comes At Night is that it stars Joel Edgerton. Joel is one of my favorite actors working today and I will see anything he is in. It Comes at Night will be released on June 9th in the US. Trailer

5. A Ghost Story:

Oh look, another movie being released by A24. As I mentioned above I love A24 and will see any movie they release. Another reason I am excited about A Ghost Story is that it stars Rooney Mara and Casey Affleck. I adore Rooney Mara and love seeing her in movies. Casey Affleck is usually pretty solid in his movies and is coming off winning the Academy Award for Best Actor. I've only seen the one trailer for this movie and have read that you should go into this movie knowing as little as possible and that is what I am trying to do. A Ghost Story will be released on July 7th in the US.

4. Baby Driver:

Written and Directed by Edgar Wright, that's all you need to know about Baby Driver. I have loved every movie made by Edgar Wright and from what I've heard the streak will continue with Baby Driver. The cast for Baby Driver looks incredible and the trailers give off this energy that gives the expectation that this movie will be an absolute blast. The response from people that saw Baby Driver at South by Southwest caused this movie's release date to be moved up from August to June, I can't remember that last time I heard of that happening. Baby Driver will be released on June 28th in the US. Trailer

3. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2:

The first Guardians of the Galaxy movie was awesome. The characters were fun, the adventure was exciting and the music was fantastic. The trailers for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 show that the sequel should be more of the same. Plus the sequel gives us Baby Groot and that alone is a perfect reason to be excited about this movie. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 will be released on May 5th in the US. Trailer

2. Dunkirk:

A new movie from director Christopher Nolan, that's all I need to hear to get excited for Dunkirk. Nolan is another director who I have enjoyed all his previous movies with The Dark Knight being one of my favorite movies of all time. Visually Dunkirk looks incredible and I look forward to seeing Nolan's take on a war movie. Dunkirk will be released on July 21st in the US. Trailer

1. War for the Planet of the Apes:

And here we are, my most anticipated film for the summer of 2017, War for the Planet of the Apes. This is the third movie in the reboot of the Planet of the Apes series. Andy Serkis returns as the chimpanzee Caesar. Serkis' motion capture work in the previous Ape movies has been impressive and I look forward to seeing what he does in this movie. With this movie I am trying to avoid the trailers because I want to experience everything when I see it on the big screen. Visually I know this movie will be impressive and I hope that it will touch me emotionally. War for the Planet of the Apes will be released on July 14th in the US. Trailer

Predictions for the 2017 Academy Awards

Here are my predictions for the 2017 Academy Awards that take place tonight

Best Picture: La La Land
Actor in a Leading Role: Denzel Washington (Fences)
Actress in a Leading Role: Emma Stone (La La Land)
Actor in a Supporting Role: Mahershala Ali (Moonlight)
Actress in a Supporting Role: Viola Davis (Fences)
Animated Feature Film: Zootopia
Cinematography: La La Land
Costume Design: Jackie
Directing: Damien Chazelle (La La Land)
Documentary Feature: OJ: Made in America
Documentary Short Subject: The White Helmets
Film Editing: La La Land
Foreign Language Film: The Salesman
Makeup and Hairstyling: Star Trek Beyond
Original Score: La La Land
Original Song: City of Stars (La La Land)
Production Design: La La Land
Animated Short Film: Piper
Live Action Short Film: Timecode
Sound Editing: Hacksaw Ridge
Sound Mixing: La La Land
Visual Effects: The Jungle Book
Adapted Screenplay: Moonlight
Original Screenplay: Manchester by the Sea
   

Weekend Expectations: Feb 10-12

After a weekend of not going to the movies, it's time to get back to it. This weekend has two releases that I am really excited to see: The Lego Batman Movie and John Wick: Chapter Two.

The Lego Batman Movie: Two words: Lego and Batman. That's all I need to hear to get excited about this movie. Batman is my favorite comic book hero and Lego was my favorite toy growing up. In 2014 when The Lego Movie came out I was blown away with how much I enjoyed it and how great Batman was in that movie. Now that he is getting his own movie I look forward to laughing a lot and enjoying seeing all my favorite DC heroes and villains.

John Wick: Chapter Two: Also released in 2014, when John Wick came out I didn't really know what to expect. What I ended up seeing was a movie with some of the best action scenes in recent memory. With Chapter Two, I am expecting much more of the same. I am looking forward to seeing Keanu Reeves kicking some ass and just laying out tons of people. I am also looking forward to seeing what Ruby Rose does in this movie. I enjoyed her a lot early this year in xXx: Return of Xander Cage and expect her action scenes to be just as great in John Wick: Chapter Two.

Weekend Expectations: Jan 27-29

This weekend there are no major releases that I am interested in seeing. I haven't watched a Resident Evil movie since the second one, the controversy behind A Dog's Purpose will keep me from seeing it and Gold just doesn't look good. Because there is nothing new to see, I will be catching up on two movies that were released last weekend, Split and xXx: Return of Xander Cage.

Split: This is the latest release from M. Night Shyamalan. Lately Shyamalan has not made very good movies, in fact I haven't seen one of his movies since Lady in the Water in 2006. I really enjoyed his earlier work, especially Signs. So far I've heard that Split is good to very good and that the twist at the end is incredible. Those two things alone have me excited to see Split. I am also looking forward to James McAvoy's performance. In the trailers he looks absolutely stunning. I am also looking forward to seeing Anya Taylor-Joy (The Witch) and Haley Lu Richardson (The Edge of Seventeen).

xXx: Return of Xander Cage: My expectations for this one are extremely low. The only reason I am going to see this is for its mindless action sequence. I don't remember anything that happened in the previous two xXx movies but I have feeling that won't affect what happens in this movie. The one thing I actually am looking forward to is seeing Donnie Yen in another movie. He was one of my favorite parts of Rogue One. I am basically going into this movie expecting to laugh at how ridiculous the action is.