The Iron Claw

The true story of the inseparable Von Erich brothers, who make history in the intensely competitive world of professional wrestling in the early 1980s. Through tragedy and triumph, under the shadow of their domineering father and coach, the brothers seek larger-than-life immortality on the biggest stage in sports.

This was a very good and enjoyable biographical drama.  The performances were good (except for the guy playing Ric Flair - that was terrible) and the story was heartbreaking.  My only knock against it would be the pacing was a little off.   Like they spent so much time with you getting to know the characters and then it was one thing after another in rapid fire with the family even though there was a lot of time inbetween the incidents.

I would definitely still recommend people checking this out.  It was one of the better end of year biographical offerings this year.

The Book Of Clarence

A down-on-his-luck man struggles to find a better life for his family while fighting to free himself of debt. Captivated by the power and glory of the rising Messiah, he risks everything to carve his own path to a divine life, ultimately discovering that the redemptive power of belief may be his only way out.  

Another movie that I really liked the premise of but the pacing and how it played out kind of lost the hook.  It kept going back and forth between being a satirical comedy and a character drama.   This reminded me alot of a bit coming off of the show Atlanta where it might have been too smart for its own good to fully deliver.

I would lukewarmly recommend this movie only because of the spiritual satire that I found kind of entertaining.   Otherwise, its not a bad movie but its not great either.

I.S.S.

Tensions flare in the near future aboard the International Space Station when a worldwide conflict breaks out on Earth. Soon, the U.S. and Russian astronauts each receive orders from the ground: take control of the station by any means necessary.

This was actually a really good premise and the movie was actually really good as it started to play out and stuff but it didn't really pay off after that.   The pacing kind of went eh and the hook that they had let up.  Kind of disappointing because it actually had a lot of good supporting actors and actresses in it that you recognize from other shows and movies but have no clue what their name is.

I would lukewarmly recommend this movie.  It's not a bad watch.  They just kind of dropped the ball as the movie went on from a really interesting premise.

Poor Things

Brought back to life by an unorthodox scientist, a young woman runs off with a lawyer on a whirlwind adventure across the continents. Free from the prejudices of her times, she grows steadfast in her purpose to stand for equality and liberation.

This was a weird weird weird movie.  LOL!   Like next level weird.  The filming style of it, the subject matter, the performances were all off the charts weird.   I'm actually very surprised I was able to make it through this movie but the social commentary throughout really had me hooked and made me want to see how things play out.  It also definitely helped that I love Emma Stone.   I'm pretty sure this movie will be up for a lot of end of year awards but this is about as far from a mainstream movie that you can get.

I would have to know who was asking whether or not to recommend checking this out.  Like I have said it was very arthouse weird but it managed to keep me hooked.

Wish

Young Asha makes a wish so powerful that it's answered by a cosmic force, a little ball of boundless energy called Star. With Star's help, Asha must save her kingdom from King Magnifico and prove that when the will of one courageous human connects with the magic of the stars, wondrous things can happen.

I just didn't like this movie.  I can't really put my finger on it but something about it just annoyed me.  Like the movie didn't really know what it wanted to be and I guess I was expecting something more straight forward Disney princess wise.  The music didn't work and fell very flat.  The characters were all pretty forced and dull.  I was very surprised at how not enjoyable this movie really was.

I wouldn't really recommend anyone checking this movie out.  I thought it was easily one of the lamer Disney entries in a long long time.

Aquaman And The Lost Kingdom

After failing to defeat Aquaman the first time, Black Manta wields the power of the mythic Black Trident to unleash an ancient and malevolent force. Hoping to end his reign of terror, Aquaman forges an unlikely alliance with his brother, Orm, the former king of Atlantis. Setting aside their differences, they join forces to protect their kingdom and save the world from irreversible destruction.

And the DCEU as we know it comes to an end with possibly the biggest dud of them all.  This movie was honestly hot garbage.  The dialogue was so beyond groan worthy.  The effects were total trash.  The story . . . . . who cares.  And it has to be the most pointless comic book movie release with it being public knowledge that nothing was coming of this and that it was just a money grab.  Excited to see what James Gunn can do moving forward but so glad that these DC movies are over.   How do you have Jason Momoa who is just fun to watch be this bad?

No - I would never recommend anyone bothering with this movie.  Again - absolute hot garbage on every level.

The Color Purple

Torn apart from her sister and her children, Celie faces many hardships in life, including an abusive husband. With support from a sultry singer named Shug Avery, as well as her stand-her-ground stepdaughter, Celie ultimately finds extraordinary strength in the unbreakable bonds of a new kind of sisterhood.

This was a very great and powerful watch.  The acting, singing and choreography was awesome and didn't seem forced or awkward.  The only knock I would make on this is the same knock I have made on all the versions of it that the time jumps are a little too choppy to get through all of the traumatic events over a lifetime and introduce all of the important supporting characters.

I would definitely recommend people checking this out.  It was a very enjoyable and powerful watch filled with awesome performances.

Ferrari

During the summer of 1957, bankruptcy looms over the company that Enzo Ferrari and his wife built 10 years earlier. He decides to roll the dice and wager it all on the iconic Mille Miglia, a treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy.

This is one of those movies where you know you are watching a very well made movie and a very well acted movie but like there is next to zero hook that makes you care.  Like I very much respect the movie but it wasn't that high on the enjoyable meter because it ended up just kind of being there and led to me wondering how/why this guy was worthy of an autobiographical movie.   

I would kind of recommend people checking this out because I'm pretty sure that it will be in the running for end of year awards.  Again - very well done but kind of dropped the ball on the emotional hook for me at least.

Freelance

Stuck in a dead-end desk job, former special forces operative Mason Pettis reluctantly takes on a freelance gig to provide private security for a washed-up journalist as she interviews a ruthless dictator. When a military coup breaks out just as she's about to get the scoop of a lifetime, the unlikely trio must figure out how to survive the jungle and one another to make it out alive.

This is the definition of a made for DVD movie.  This is the biggest example of how much the writers strike and actors strike have screwed Hollywood.  This being a theatrical release is crazy.  I like Cena and Alison Brie but this movie is a complete waste of time and was never meant to be seen on the big screen.   So crazy.

I wouldn't recommend anyone really bothering with this.  It's a just there movie and there are definitely better things you could be doing or watching.