Judy

Winter 1968 and showbiz legend Judy Garland (Zellweger) arrives in Swinging London to perform in a sell-out run at The Talk of the Town. It is 30 years since she shot to global stardom in The Wizard of Oz, but if her voice has weakened, its dramatic intensity has only grown. As she prepares for the show, battles with management, charms musicians and reminisces with friends and adoring fans, her wit and warmth shine through. Even her dreams of romance seem undimmed as she embarks on a courtship with Mickey Deans, her soon-to-be fifth husband. Featuring some of her best-known songs, the film celebrates the voice, the capacity for love, and the sheer pizzazz of “the world’s greatest entertainer.”

This movie was all about Zellwegger's performance as Judy Garland.  And all the buzz was spot on.  She was absolutely incredible.  Like beyond incredible.  The thing is that the movie basically has no substance whatsoever outside of the performance.  Like it ends up being pretty boring once you get past her acting.  But the acting really is going to get a bunch of nominations.

I would recommend people checking this out solely for the performance.  But the movie itself is not all that good.

Abominable

"Abominable" takes audiences on a 3,000-mile journey from the exotic streets of Shanghai to the breathtaking Himalayan snowscapes. When a group of misfits encounter a young Yeti named Everest, they embark upon an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family at the highest point on Earth.

This is the textbook end of September family release that tries to capitalize on the Jewish holidays and the kids having off so much.  The movies released around now are usually pretty hit or miss in terms of being worth it.  I actually enjoyed this one.  It was better than the usual entries and what not.  Cute enough characters and the movie was well paced until some extra stuff towards the end.

I would recommend families checking this out.  It is worth the time and money or at least much more than the usual options are.

Ad Astra

Brad Pitt and Tommy Lee Jones to star in James Gray’s "Ad Astra." The sci-fi epic will feature Jones as the father of Pitt’s character who, 20 years ago, left his son on a mission to Neptune in the search for extraterrestrial life. Pitt’s character, named Roy McBride, then sets out two decades later to find out what happened to his dad.

This was a weird ass movie.  And it certainly was not a mainstream offering.  This movie is much more of a cerebral type of movie.  Although there were parts of the most random action that was beyond unexpected that were actually really awesome.  But after those really out there scenes the movie would go back into deep thought mode for waayyyyyyy too long.  The only movie that I can honestly compare this to is 2001.  Like it was amazing visually and had some really awesome moments but bottom line I was bored several times throughout the movie.

I would sort of recommend people checking this out just because of how visually amazing it was and that it really is an excellent piece of filmmaking.  Just don't go into it thinking that you are seeing a mainstream type of space movie.  That is NOT what this is.

Rambo: Last Blood

The new film finds John Rambo coping with intense PTSD while living on a ranch in Arizona, trying to pick up casual work wherever he can. Soon his friend and estate manager Maria informs him that her granddaughter went missing after crossing into Mexico for a party, so John travels south of the border to find the youngster. The quest quickly turns into a violent descent into hell as Rambo uncovers a sex-trafficking ring, teaming up with a journalist whose half-sister has also been kidnapped. Rambo has to deploy all his skills to save the girls and bring down a vicious crime lord.

This movie was exactly what you thought it would be.  There was a bunch of pointless story build up that you honestly just don't care about at all.  And then there was awesome non-stop action.  The action was worth it if you are into these kinds of movie but it really did take way too long to get there.

I would still kind of recommend that fans of these movies check it out.  It's nowhere near the league of previous Rambo movies in terms of intensity until the last 20 minutes or so and even then it really still isn't but its watchable.

IT - Chaper Two

Because every 27 years evil revisits the town of Derry, Maine, IT CHAPTER TWO brings the characters—who’ve long since gone their separate ways—back together as adults, nearly three decades after the events of the first film.

The biggest challenge of every time that they try to make IT is the second part.  The first half where they are all children and its mostly the clown is creepy as hell.  The second part is always a problem.  I will say that this is the best attempt at it so far.  It really wasn't bad at all.  I liked it.  The problem was that it was almost 3 hours long.  That was so beyond not necessary in any way and it basically makes you stop being scared of anything.  There were so many point in the last hour or so that I was numb to be afraid and just kind of laughing at it.  I with this would have been at least an hour shorter.  Again - it was good.  Just could have been great like the first one.  I also have to give a shout of to Bill Hader and James Ransone playing the adult versions of Richie and Eddie.  They stole every scene that they were in with their physical and verbal reactions to things happening in the movie.

I would still recommend people checking this out.  I really did like it.  I just couldn't love it because of the long run time and how the scares just became like whatever because of it.

Hustlers

The Jessica Pressler penned true-life Robin Hood tale centers on a crew of former strip club employees who turn tables on their Wall Street clientele. Lopez is set to play the ringleader of the group of ambitious women who take their plans of getting their full cut too far. The film takes place in the late aughts of New York City in the wake of the financial crisis and explores the toll it took on the livelihood of the dancers who relied on their Wall Street clients.

This was ALOT better than I thought it would be.  Like the telling of the story was very enjoyable and well paced and the acting across the board was really good.  I watched this online and enjoyed it so much that I wish I would have seen it in theaters.  Easily the best performance of Jennifer Lopez's career.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  This is a much better watch than what would normally come out in September.  Definitely worth checking out.

Once Upon A Time In Hollywood

Set in Los Angeles in the summer of 1969, Tarantino’s upcoming movie focuses on a male TV actor named Rick Dalton (DiCaprio) who’s had one hit western series and is looking for a way to get into the film business. His sidekick Cliff Booth (Pitt) who’s also his stunt double, is looking for the same thing. The horrific murder of Sharon Tate (Rick’s neighbor in the film) and four of her friends by Charles Manson’s cult of followers serves as a backdrop to the main story.

I have always been a huge fan of Tarantino.  Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction are probably two of my favorite movies ever.  Most of his movies would also be way up there.  That being said, you can always expect certain things from his movies . . . . . They will take you to the exact time where the movie is supposed to take place almost flawlessly, the movie will be too long and there will be legendary dialogue or random action scenes.  This movie was no different.  The movie legit looked like it was right out of the 70s.  There was so much effort put into the cinematography and it really became kind of like a character in the movie.  The movie was definitely too long and to be honest was missing a hook for the first 40 minutes or so.  I was starting to get worried that I wouldn't like it (knowing I still had two more hours) just before it did get much better.  Could have done without that though.  And yes - the dialogue, one liners, random action scenes with Brad Pitt were all awesome.   And the bottom line is that even though it was too long - the movie came together awesomely and very Tarantinoesque at the end.

I would recommend people checking this out because just like all his other films - this is essentially a clinic on film making from every angle.  It is definitely too long and drags at times but gets better as it goes and the way it comes together at the end is awesome.

Ready Or Not

Ready or Not follows the story of a young bride who is invited on the night of her wedding by her rich and eccentric in-laws to participate in a time-honored tradition that turns into a lethal game of survival with everyone fighting to stay alive.

This was exactly what you thought it would be.  Over the top violence and silliness throughout.  The story is simple as hell.  The movie is very quickly paced and short.  Honestly - you forget about it like 10 minutes after you are done watching it.

I wouldn'really recommend anyone bothering with this.  It's not awful but it is extremely pointless.