Escape Room

THE GIST: Six strangers receive a mysterious invitation to the ultimate escape room with a large cash prize for the winner. From room to room, they're locked in until they solve the current puzzle, but the stakes are as high as it gets as their very lives are on the line.

Escape Room is a decently made thriller with some pretty cool ideas and a reasonably good cast of actors. I guess it just lacks that special Je ne sais quoi that would make it great.

One thing is sure, a few times I found myself thinking, Well, that's convenient, which isn't a very good sign. Still, it's inventive and quite cool.

THE BOTTOM LINE: The typical flick for an easy night of entertainment. Don't expect too much and you won't be disappointed.

Grade: 6.5

If Beale Street Could Talk

THE GIST: A young couple, who have known one another since childhood, dream of starting a life together, now that she's pregnant. Unfortunately, their hopes are suddenly dashed when he's accused of a crime he says didn't commit. Will their families be able to help prove his innocence?

If Beale Street Could Talk tells the tale of a very delicate love story tainted by the same institutionalized racism that has inspired the current protests around the country (and the world) for the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

Barry Jenkins wrote and directed the film with such a gentle hand, it's like watching a fairy tale gone bad. He's most assuredly a great storyteller.

Kiki Layne and Stephan James are excellent as the doomed lovers, along with Michael Beach, Aunjanue Ellis, and Colman Domingo, but it's Regina King who dominates the screen with a fierce performance that resulted in a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A sweet story marred by racism that will fill your heart with sadness and make you plead for justice. Very well made.

Grade: 7

Goodfellas

THE GIST: The story of wannabe gangster Henry Hill and his association with the Italian mafia, particularly Jimmy Conway and Tommy DeVito. The three become inseparable and evermore daring in their operations, even getting arrested and sent to jail repeatedly.

One of the most lauded films by maestro Martin Scorsese, Goodfellas is rightfully considered the epitome of mafia-related motion pictures.

Headlined by Robert De Niro, Ray Liotta, and Joe Pesci, the movie also stars Lorraine Bracco, Paul Sorvino, and Debi Mazar.

Given the topic, a certain level of violence and suspense are to be factored in, but Pesci turns that knob up to a hundred, then smashes it with a hammer, and finally shoots it a dozen times. Not surprisingly, he won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for this role.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If crime movies, especially as they relate to the mafia, are your thing, this is a must-see. As is for any Scorsese fan like myself. If any of that turns you off, you won't be entertained.

Grade: 8

Snug Together

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On the Basis of Sex

THE GIST: The story of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, from her years studying law at Harvard as one of only six women, to arguing a case about gender discrimination that led the way for sweeping changes in the law across the country.

I have a lot of respect for Justice Ginsburg, from her dedication to her profession to her championing of the unjustly targeted among us, so I wasn't going to miss out on watching On the Basis of Sex.

The movie is quite streamlined, well written, and well acted by Felicity Jones as Ginsburg and Armie Hammer as her husband Martin.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you like movies about the law and court proceedings, then don't pass this one up.

Grade: 7

Replicas

THE GIST: A neuro-scientist is working on a project to transfer badly maimed soldiers' consciousness to clones or androids. One night, his wife and three children are killed in a car accident and he is faced with the dilemma of losing them for good or trying to reanimate them into replicas.

Keanu Reeves's name will always be associated with the wonders of The Matrix universe, so it stands to reason that a sci-fi based project would benefit from casting the star.

Unfortunately, Replicas isn't really anywhere near as good as the original movie in that trilogy, even though it's not necessarily a bad movie either (and certainly rates higher than those sequels ...)

I believe the film suffers from trying to stretch the possibilities described beyond the level of acceptable disbelief.

Either way, Reeves, not known for being a consummate actor, does his best, flanked by Thomas Middleditch, Alice Eve, John Ortiz, Emjay Anthony and Emily Alyn Lind. The latter two a couple of very promising child actors.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Replicas doesn't really try to reinvent the wheel, nor does it pretend to be a classic. It's a sci-fi movie with some very dramatic moments and a troubling choice at its core. Not too bad.

Grade: 5

Ben Is Back

THE GIST: Ben shows up unexpectedly at his parents' home on Christmas Eve. Because of his drug addiction, his mother lovingly welcomes him, but also knows not to let her guard down and just trust him. Has Ben really turned over a new leaf?

Ben Is Back is probably not an easy movie to watch for anyone who has experienced first hand the tragedy that is drug addiction and the lying and cunning that accompany it.

Nevertheless, it's a solid movie, well written and directed by Peter Hedges, who's the father of lead actor Lucas Hedges, one of the most promising young actors out there right now.

Julia Roberts is perfectly cast as well, and does some of her best work to date, flanked by the always good Courtney B. Vance.

THE BOTTOM LINE: A very good drama about the agony of living with drug addiction or of loving someone who's enslaved to it.

Grade: 7.5

Atonement

THE GIST: Briony is a young girl and blossoming writer with a vivid imagination. Her mistaken interpretations of a couple interactions between her older sister Cecilia and Robbie, the young man she loves, on whom Briony also has a crush, result in a scandal with far reaching consequences.

I had had this movie on my list to watch for a long, long time, and finally saw it. What a delightful treat.

A wonderfully written script (nominated for a Best Adaptation Oscar) layered with intrigue and drama, uplifted by a magnificent and organic score by Dario Marianelli (winner of a Best Original Score Oscar).

The costumes and sets are great and the cinematography lovely.

Finally, what fantastic performances by Saoirse Ronan (nominated for her first Best Supporting Actress Oscar), James McAvoy, and Keira Knightley, as well as Brenda Blethyn, Juno Temple, Alfie Allen, Benedict Cumberbatch, and Vanessa Redgrave.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Beautifully acted, written, and directed, this Best Picture nominee should be on anyone's list. A must-see.

Grade: 9

Bird Box

THE GIST: An invisible terrorizing presence suddenly drives people rapidly insane and to suicide. The only ones who survive lock themselves up indoors and block all views of the outside world. After five years, a woman caring for two children decides to make the perilous, treacherous trip down a river to a supposedly safe refuge. From the moment they leave their indoor refuge though, they must remind blindfolded at all times or risk seeing the entity that will spell their doom.

Bird Box was so heavily advertised by Netflix (it's one of their own productions) and starred Sandra Bullock, an actress whose work I usually like, that I decided to give it a shot.

I'm glad I did, as the movie is definitely worth it. The script is well written and the story is told at a good clip, with the right amount of suspense weaved through.

As expected, Bullock is the best thing about the movie and carries the whole thing on her shoulders expertly.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you are looking for a thriller/post-apocalyptic movie, this one won't disappoint.

Grade: 7.5

Liquid Mirror

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