Joker (2019)

  The 'Joker' is a brutally raw and gritty look into the origin story of one of the most infamous villains in popular culture. Joaquin Phoenix gives an unbelievable performance as the joker. Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck, a man abandoned by society and his family. The Joker is a character study into how much mental and physical suffering a man can take before he just simply can't anymore. The film highlights issues of social inequality and lack of mental illness awareness and the madness that it can bring when things boil over.
  This film is very dark and at time uncomfortable to watch, and doesn't try to hide any of its ugliness. The struggles and insecurities that the Joker faces are things we can all relate to at some level. Even with its downfalls, Joker is worth a look and it should get a lot of buzz during awards season.

IMDB- 9.1/10
Metascore-58/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-69% Audience- 91%
Yong's rating- 4/5

'Christopher Robin' (2018)

  'Christopher Robin' tells the story of what happens when you grow up and forget everything you once held dear. The film introduces us to a grown up Christopher Robin played by Ewan McGregor. We watch the young Christopher Robin transform into an adult in the first few moments of the film. We watch him playing with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet and the gang as a child to see him grown up and too busy with work to play with his own daughter. The grown up Christopher Robin is consumed with responsibilities of work and providing financially for his family that he has forgotten what is really important in life. With his marriage falling apart and his relationship with his daughter in jeopardy, Christopher is too blinded by his job to see how much of a mess he is in. Just when you think poor Christopher Robin is going to lose everything, his childhood buddy, Pooh shows up to help him find the way. A trip back to Hundred Acre Woods leads to a great adventure just like back in the old days.
  Marc Forster does a wonderful job of telling this new version of Christopher Robin story. It reminded me of how much of innocence, imagination and capacity to love we lose as we get older without even realizing it. Often times, many of us find ourselves throwing all of our energy and time into our jobs and work to the point that we forget what is really important. Pooh bear and his gang of friends reminded me that family, friendship, and sense for adventure should always come first, and we should always laugh a little everyday to be constantly reminded to never grow up.

IMDB-7.3/10
Metascore- 60/100
Rotten Tomatoes- critics- 72% Audience- 84%
Yong's score- 4.5/5

'A Star is Born' (2018)

 Beautiful music and a well told love story, what a perfect combination. 'A Star is Born' stars Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga. Cooper who also directed this remake plays Jackson Maine, a well known country super star, and Lady Gaga plays Ally, a talented singer who's down on her lucks. We can see immediately from the start of the movie, that Jackson has a drinking problem. And it is while he is at a bar following a late show to quench his thirst that he happens to discover the talented Ally. He is mesmerized by her voice and who can blame him. When Jackson encourages Ally to show and share her talents with the rest of the world, their love grows as she goes on tour with him. The film shows the ups and downs of the relationship between the two talented musicians.
  Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga share an amazing on screen chemistry and they fit their roles perfectly. Lady Gaga shines in her role as Ally. I got goosebumps when she first sang her rendition of La Vie en Rose on screen. Cooper also holds his own next to the talented Lady Gaga playing the part of a troubled musician with a haunted past. The film had a much darker tone than I expected. There were parts of the film that felt rushed and out of place, but the heart of the story is portrayed very well. Just to see the performances of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper makes 'A Star is Born' worth a watch.

IMDB-8.4/10
Metascore- 88/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 90% Audience- 85%
Yong's Rating- 3.5/5
 

Selma (2015)

'Selma' is a powerful and emotional look into months of heated battle for voting rights in Selma, Alabama during 1965. Dr. Martin Luther King and his supporters gather in Selma to show rest of the country the injustice of voting rights in the south for blacks through non violent protests. The violence, hate, ignorance, and horrors of racism that ensue during the months is all chronicled in the film. It is raw and powerful. You also get a glimpse of look into Dr. King's personal life and the burden his leadership position placed on his family and his personal faith. The acting in this movie is just wonderful and it is well worth seeing for anyone interested in the topic or Dr. King.

IMDB-7.5/10
Metascore-89/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-98%, Audience- 87%
Yong's rating- 3.5/5

'We Bought a Zoo' (2011)

In 'We Bought a Zoo', Matt Damon plays a widowed father trying to create a fresh start for his kids following the loss of his wife. While searching for a new home, he comes across a perfect house to create a new life for his family. There is just one catch. The house is in a zoo, and the owner must take care of the zoo and its high maintenance occupants. Ben (Damon) sees the zoo as the perfect challenge for his family.
'We Bought a Zoo' is a heartwarming family film that I found to be very enjoyable. The film touches on many story lines that all come together very well. The rocky relationship between father and rebellious teenaged son. Challenge of being in charge of a zoo and bringing the place up to code in order to reopen it. Feelings of being utterly lost. Finding joy and love in life. And learning that sometimes twenty seconds of insane courage is all you need to discovery something amazing.
 'We Bought a Zoo' is a movie that kids and adults of all ages can enjoy, and it will leave you with a warm smile. There's nothing wrong with that.

IMDB-7.1/10
Metascore- 58/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Audience- 72%, Critics- 66%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Blue Jasmine (2013)

Woody Allen's 'Blue Jasmine' is a look into a woman at her ends. Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) has lost everything. We are introduced to a woman who has lost her youth, family, fortune, and reputation. And by looks of everything, her sanity is not close behind. When Jasmine's life comes crumpling down on the east coast, she moves to the west coast to start over with the help of her sister (Sally Hawkins). It's not an easy transition for a New York socialite to get accumulated to the lower middle class life style in San Francisco.
'Blue Jasmine' showcases Cate Blanchett's powerful performance with her portrayal of Jasmine. It's sure to get her several nominations come awards season. The side storyline of Jasmine's sister, Ginger is worth noting, but did not really capture my attention. As a film on a whole, its ideas have been examined in many of Woody's other films. 'Another Woman', 'September', and 'Alice' come to mind. All portray a high class woman dealing with self identify and a life crisis. 'Blue Jasmine' may have some lighter moments, but it is one of Woody's darker film. Don't expect to watch this to get that warm happy feeling. I will admit, I didn't think this was one of Woody's better movies, but as with any Woody Allen movie, there's always something there worth watching for.

IMDB-7.8/10
Metascore- 78/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-91% Audience-83%
Yong's Rating- 2.5/5 stars

Life of Pi (2012)

Ang Lee's adaptation of Yann Martel's novel, 'Life of Pi' brings the magic of the novel onto the screen. Of course, no movie can capture the full details and the experience you get from reading a novel. But, 'Life of Pi' manages to showcase the highlights of the novel with masterful storytelling and stunning special effects.
The remarkable story of a young man's survival out on a ocean is the backdrop to a deeper storyline.   As you learn about Pi's journey from childhood to his grueling days out on the sea, you learn about one's curiosity for the truth. The search for what makes life, life. Even when one's faith is tested to its limits you find out that you always have a choice to believe and put your faith in what you hold to be true.
This film is just visually beautiful and while it may seem slow at time, I think most of you will enjoy the journey.

IMDB-8.1/10
Metascore- 79/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 88% Audience- 87%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Pan's Labyrinth (2006)

It is because of movies like 'Pan's Labyrinth' that I find myself continuing to go to the theaters and continuing to push the play button at home. On those rare occasions when you do come across a special film that reaches out and speaks to you on a personal level, you suddenly don't mind all those crappy movies that you had to sit through in order to get to that one magical film. I first watched 'Pan's Labyrinth' almost by accident. I was back home in Chicago from school on vacation. On a particular weekend night, having nothing to do, I decided to go to the theaters to catch a show. I had no idea what 'Pan's Labyrinth' was, didn't even know it was in subtitles. I decided to watch it because well it was about to start as I was buying the ticket. That was the night I was introduced to the wonderful fantasy world of Guillermo del Toro. That night, I wasn't so bummed out I had nothing else better to do than go watch a movie by myself on a Saturday night.
Set in Spain during 1944, 'Pan's Labyrinth' tells the story of an imaginative young girl who is forced to seek refuge in her imagination to escape from the horrors of her surroundings. Scared for her sick bed ridden pregnant mother and fearful of her sadistic military stepfather, the only friends Ofelia has are her books and her imagination. Ofelia's imagination takes us into a magical world of fairies, fauns, monsters, kings, and princesses. Even in the dark backdrop of war, a glimpse of hope is shown through a remarkable young girl's imagination. If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing 'Pan's Labyrinth' yet, I'm very very jealous of you.  


IMDB-8.3/10 (#110 on the Top250)
Metascore- 98/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 96%, Audience- 90%
Yong's Rating- 5/5 Stars

Deconstructing Harry (1997)

'Deconstructing Harry' is one of Woody Allen's more darker comedies. It tells the story of Harry Block (played by Woody), a successful writer experiencing his first writer's block. Burdened with failed relationships, financial troubles, depression, and slight addiction to pills and prostitutes, a case of writer's block seems like the least of his worries. When his former college invites him to be honored for his works, Harry plans a road trip to his old school. The trip serves as a reflection into his past as characters from his novels and people from his own memories intertwine. It's obvious that Woody got the main idea for this film from 'Wild Strawberries'. Will Harry's trip lead him to profound insights into his life as it did for Dr. Borg? Well, I guess you just have to see to find out.


IMDB- 7.3/10
Metascore- 61/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 71% Audience-79%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 Stars

Hugo (2011)

The bad thing about watching a movie with a lot of hype is that it's more likely to disappoint than to live up to its high expectations. Well, 'Hugo' lived up to the hype and surpassed it in my opinion. Anyone who has love for movies and film history will have a hard time not falling in love with 'Hugo'. So, you can see why it wasn't so hard to win me over. Martin Scorsese shows his versatility by proving he can make a film that parents can feel safe about their children watching.
Set in Paris, the movie follows the adventures of a boy named Hugo (Asa Butterfield). After losing his father in a terrible accident Hugo devotes all of his energy to finding a purpose to his life and his current predicament. Living hidden behind the clocks in a train station, Hugo meets a strange and grumpy toy shop keeper (Ben Kingsley), and his lovely god-daughter (Chloe Grace Moretz). His encounter with these two strangers lead Hugo into a wild and wonderful adventure that helps to give him all the answers that he was seeking. I won't get too much into the storyline because it would take away from the magic of the film.
All I can say is that it is because of movies like 'Hugo', I am reminded of why I fell in love with movies in the first place. Anyone wanting to rekindle their love affair with movies, do yourselves a favor and go watch 'Hugo'!

IMDB-8/10
Metascore- 83/100
Rotten tomatoes- Audience- 82%, Critics- 93%
Yong's Rating- 5/5 stars

The Artist (2011)

Most of you are probably aware that 'The Artist' is the favorite to win the Oscar for Best Picture this year. It has become the critics' darling much like 'The King's Speech' was last year. It's a much better movie than 'The King's Speech', but I guess that's a topic for another entry.
After seeing 'The Artist' I understood the reasoning behind all the praises, and I will be very surprised if it does not win the Best Picture. 'The Artist' is the very antithesis of today's big budget Hollywood movies. If you could make a movie that is the complete opposite movies like the Transformers movies, I think you'll end up with something very close to 'The Artist'.
It tells the story of the demise of a famous silent film star, George Valentin (Jean Dujardin), whose vanity and pride prevents him from adapting to the introduction of talking pictures in the film business. Peppy Miller (Bernice Bejo) is a young, up and coming star whose fresh look and youth is exactly what the audience dying to see. The introduction of talking in movies changes the very foundation of the film industry and sets the two actors into two very different paths. It was hard not to be captivated by the facial expressions and body language of the actors. It is still amazing to see how a simple smile, a simple hop in the steps, or even a wink can express so much more than any amount of words ever can. Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo both delivery a very genuine and memorable performances. 'The Artist' is an experience that requires your complete attention and if you allow yourself to be captivated by the silent, black and white screen for an hour and forty minutes, you will walk away amazed knowing that you can have a delightful cinematic experience without having your eardrums blown away and your eyes spinning from 3-D objects flying all over the place. Do yourself a favor and go check out 'The Artist' with an open mind.


IMDB-8.5/10
Metascore- 89/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 97%, Audience- 91%
Yong's Rating- 5/5 Stars

50/50 (2011)

I didn't think you could make a comedy about cancer without being too insensitive or offensive. Which is probably why there aren't too many cancer comedy movies out there. However, '50/50' takes the subject of cancer and manages to tell a genuinely funny and compelling story. The movie is loosely based on Seth Rogen's friend Will Reiser who wrote the script.  Joseph Gordon-Levitt portrays Adam, a 27 year old who is diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He learns that patients with his form of cancer has a 50% survival rate. It was moving to watch the progression of Adam through the different phases of treatment. It must be daunting to be face to face with death at such a young age. To be fully aware that death isn't something that you need to worry about years down the line. That it can come at any instant, sometimes without any reason or warning. Coping with something as serious as cancer isn't something one can be expected to deal with alone, and it's important to find a close support group that you can count on. Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen are two likable charismatic guys that are enjoyable to watch on screen and they didn't disappoint. Anna Kendrick is also very cute in her role as the young therapist. '50/50' tackles a tough subject with laughs and human drama. I really enjoyed this movie and I recommend it to anyone who is curious about it.



IMDB- 8.1/10
Metascore- 72/100
Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 92%, Audience- 91%
Yong's Rating- 4/5 stars

Blue Valentine (2010)

Not all love stories end happily ever after. It's a sad depressing thought, but eventually love fades. 'Blue Valentine' tells two stories. One about falling in love and another about falling out of love. Both stories are presented well enough to stand on their own. And in the case of 'Blue Valentine', when the two stories are told side by side, you are treated to an unique perspective on nature of relationships. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams does a wonderful job portraying the hard luck couple. The vast difference between the dynamics of relationship when they first meet and the present time is eye opening. It is interesting to witness just how much you can love someone and just how quickly you can fall out of love with the same person. This film is very well made, and its realistic take on relationships really makes it stand apart from the typical romantic movies out there and for that I think it's well worth a look.

IMDB-7.6/10

Metascore-81/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 87%, Audience- 75%

Yong's Rating- 4/5 Stars

Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)

After seeing the trailers for 'Crazy, Stupid, Love', I walked in the theater expecting just another 'Hitch' type generic romantic comedy. Boy was I wrong. 'Crazy, Stupid, Love' delivered much more than I anticipated with its stellar cast, plot, and that feel good after taste.

Cal's (Steve Carell) life gets a sudden wake up call when his wife Emily (Julianne Moore) asks for a divorce. Cal ends up at a bar to get some drinks for his sorrow and someone to talk to. Jacob (Ryan Gosling) takes notice of Cal. A badly dressed, drunk middle aged man babbling on and on about why his wife left him to anyone in his vicinity. Jacob takes pity on the poor guy and offers him his guidance to rediscover his long lost manhood. Just when you think this movie is just about a recently divorced middle age man learning to pick up hot chicks, it changes pace and ties in other character's story lines into the mix. What you get is a delightful mix of love, drama, and even a few laughs.

Steve Carrell and Ryan Gosling share very good chemistry together. I also enjoyed Julianne Moore and Emma Stone's performance very much. The talented cast make this movie a very good ensemble piece and a joy to watch. If you are in a mood to leave a theater with a smile this summer go check this one out.

IMDB- 8/10

Metascore- 68/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-75%, Audience- 86%

Yong's Rating- 4/5 Stars

About Schmidt (2002)

Directed by Alexander Payne, 'About Schmidt' tells the story of Warren Schmidt (Jack Nicholson), a recently retired Omaha man embarking on a new phase of his life. There's just something so subtle yet powerful about this film that I think everyone can relate to. Life for Warren may seem simple on the surface, but underneath the mellow exterior lies a complex man at a serious crossroads with where his life is heading.

"Who is this old woman who lives in my house?"

To wake up one day and find yourself wondering where the past 66 years of your life has gone must be a frightening thought. And that is exactly where we find our hero, Warren. Recently retired, he seems unsure about where his life is heading. His life's work is thrown away and passed onto some young hot shot from Des Moines. Regrets about missed opportunities and chances not taken fill his mind. A wife who feels like a stranger, and his only daughter about to marry a complete loser. Just when you think things can't get any worse for poor Warren, his wife suddenly drops dead. So what do you do when life keeps throwing you cheap shots? You take your camper and go on a road trip to do some soul searching.

I really felt Nicholson gave one of his best performance of his career. He just felt so natural and smooth portraying the part of Warren. Payne provides a genuinely thought provoking movie about life and family that I enjoyed the heck out of and I hope you do too. And how can you pass on the chance to see the gorgeous Omaha skyline in a movie?

IMDB-7.3/10

Metascore- 85/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 85%, Audience- 64%

Yong's Rating- 5/5 stars

Hereafter (2010)

As the title suggests, 'Hereafter' deals with the theme of afterlife. I usually love movies with this type of fantasy theme, so naturally I was excited to check out this movie. Plus Clint Eastwood directed it and Matt Damon is a bad ass, so it can't be that bad, right?

'Hereafter' follows the lives of three main characters and the way in which death has affected each one of them. After a near death experience as a child, George (Matt Damon) develops a special gift/curse which allows him to communicate with people in the afterlife. He spends most of his life using his power to do readings for people longing to talk to lost loved ones. However, his ability becomes too much of a burden for him to handle. Wanting to live a normal life, he choses a reclusive lifestyle in order to escape from his past. Marie( Cecile De France) is a French reporter who experiences a near death experience and has an out of the body experience. When she is brought back to life, the haunting images of her experience of afterlife is too much to forget. She becomes obsessed with the concept of afterlife. The third storyline revolves around two young twin boys. When one of the brother suffers a terrible accident and dies, the remaining bother goes on a search to find ways to communicate with his dead brother.

Overall, I was not too impressed by this movie. I'm not saying this movie is terrible, it just didn't grab my attention. It is a well thought out movie with coherent story lines, but I just couldn't get into the movie. I found myself getting bored, maybe because the storyline is very easy to predict. That's just never a good sign. So, here's my warning, watching this movie may bore you to death. See what I did there. Boom.

IMDB-6.7/10

Metascore- 56/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 46%, Audience-41%

Yong's Rating- 2/5 Stars

127 Hours (2010)

"127 Hours" is a real testament to one's undying free spirit and the will to survive. Directed by Danny Boyle (cue the dramatic music and clever use of flashbacks), it chronicles the true life story of mountain climber/adventurer Aron Ralston, who famously got his arm stuck between a boulder and a canyon due to a freak accident during a climb. Aron (James Franco) finds himself literally stuck between a rock and a hard place in middle of nowhere, miles away from any signs of civilization. Oh, and he didn't tell anyone where he was going.

James Franco delivers a very convincing, powerful performance as the free-spirited Aron Ralston. Now only if he could deliver a convincing performance as an Oscar host (sorry, I just had to do it). As the title suggests, Aron spends 127 hours contemplating about his situation and reflecting back on his life. As he thoughtfully states during one point in the movie, every moment of his life, every decisions he has ever made had been pushing him closer to his unfortunate meeting with the boulder. With his supplies getting low and his health deteriorating, how far is he willing to go to survive? You can watch the movie to find out for yourself. I found "127 hours" very engaging and well worth the viewing. Just like any good life affirming adventure, there are fun, thoughtful, rewarding and even some gruesome moments for everyone to experience.

IMDB-8/10

Metascore-82/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics- 93% Audience- 85%

Yong's Rating- 3.5/5 Stars

The Fighter (2010)#

'The Fighter' chronicles the early career of the junior welterweight boxer Micky Ward. He is most famous among boxing fans for his legendary bouts with Arturo Gatti. I feel that sports movies have the highest risk of being hit or miss. Majority of them have the tendency of having a generic inspirational underdog rising to the top storyline without much substance or character development. On that note, 'The Fighter' is not your typical sports movie.

Micky Ward (Mark Walberg) is in a slump. A losing streak and an unreliable management has him questioning his will to continue fighting. Ward is embarrassed of being seen as a stepping stone for his opponents and frustrated with lack of support from his mother (Melissa Leo) and half brother (Christian Bale). His mother seems more interested in making a profit than getting the best fights for his career. His half-brother, Dicky is a former boxer who earned his nickname as the the 'Pride of Lowell' by going the distance with Sugar Ray Leonard. Dicky is addicted to crack and is in no condition to train his brother properly. When Micky is at his lowest point, his new girlfriend (Amy Adams) convinces him to turn his life around by starting fresh without his family dragging him down. With a new direction and motivation in his life, Micky is focused to attempt a last run at becoming a champion before it is too late.

'The Fighter' has an authentic drama quality that separates it from typical sports movies. It really draws you into the lives of these characters from a tough New England neighborhood and makes you care about them. Christian Bale really steals the show with his convincing portrayal of Dicky. Whenever he is on screen, it is impossible to take your eyes off of him. I dare you to not look at him. You'll be asking yourself, "What happened to batman?" Bale really shows his range as an actor. He seems like a strong favorite to win an Oscar as the Best Supporting Actor. I also thought Amy Adams was deserving of her nomination for Best Supporting Actress. (By the way, Kim Hye Ja really deserved an oscar nomination for 'Mother') 'The Fighter' is a very well made inspirational movie with heart of a champion (you like how I used a sports metaphor there?). Simply labeling it as a sports movie does not give this movie the proper praise it deserves. Do you think it has a good shot at winning the best picture?

#IMDB-8.2/10 (#211 on Top 250)

Metascore-79/100

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-89% Audience-90%

Yong's Rating- 4/5 Stars (highly recommended)

*I've decided to go to a five star rating system, rather than 10 pt system. Why? it's easier and more simple.

Schindler's List (1993) *#@

Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List doesn't attempt to explain or provide answers to how something as horrific as the Holocaust could take place. There is no way any single movie can effectively tackle the immense issues of morality and tragedy brought on by the Holocaust. Spielberg simply uses World War II as a backdrop to tell the compelling true story of Oskar Schindler. The war provides the perfect opportunity for Schindler to make a big profit running factories for the war effort using Jewish workers. At the start of the film, you get a sense that he is simply a manipulative businessman only out to make money. However, as the movie progresses you can see that he truly feels compassion for his workers and the suffering of the Jewish people. Schindler goes out of his way to provide refuge for his workers by using his factories as a safe haven for them. Schindler's (Liam Neeson) compassion and kindness to the helpless workers show the goodness that a person is capable of even in the darkest of times. On the other hand, General Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) personifies the evil that we are also capable of.

Schindler's List tells the story it intends to tell very well and provides an emotional authentic experience for its viewers. It moves slowly and builds up to an emotional climax. The use of black and white for this film perfectly serves to show the gritty and dark nature of the time period. The true legacy of Oskar Schindler is passed on through the Jewish survivors that he helped to save and the future generations of their family.

#IMDB-8.9/10 (#7 on the Top 250)

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-97%, audience- 96%

Yong's Rating- 9/10 (highly recommended)

@- One of Ebert's great movies.

*One of 1001 movies you must see before you die

Big Fish (2006) #

Today, I wanted to review one of my favorite movies, Big Fish. Directed by Tim Burton, it tells the story of Edward Bloom, who as everyone knows is a very sociable person. Bloom is a wonderful story teller with a larger than life personality who just draws everyone to him. However, over the years, his son has gotten tired of all the silly stories and wants to learn about the man behind the stories. The relationship between the father and son has gotten to a point where the two stops communication. Edward's failing health brings the two together for the last time and a final chance to renew their relationship.
The majority and the best part of this film are the flashbacks of stories of most eventful moments in Edward's life. These stories are mixture of facts and fantasy and reveal the type of person Edward Bloom is. A big fish in a small pond. This film has a wonderful cast and storyline. It is a must see for any movie fans who just love a good story. After all, who are we if it isn't for our stories.

# IMDB- 8.1/10 (#203 on top 250)

Rotten Tomatoes- Critics-76% Community- 86%

Yong's Rating- 10/10 (must see)