 Rating: 4 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy, Romance
Run Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes, Rated R Starring: Jenny Slate, Jake Lacy, David Cross, Gaby Hoffmann, Gabe Liedman, Richard Kind, Polly Draper Co-Written & Directed by Gillian Robespierre (feature film directorial debut) Who knew a film about abortion could be so funny? Fired from Saturday Night Live after only one season (2009-2010), comedian Jenny Slate went on to find a good deal of success in the entertainment business, but never the kind that raised her to household name recognition. While the content of the romantic comedy, Obvious Child (opening today), will most likely keep it from finding any real mainstream success, it acts as a showcase for Jenny Slate not only as a comic, but as an actress. Remember her name.
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 Rating: 3 out of 5 starsGenre: Documentary
Run Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes, Rated R Featuring: Shep Gordon, Alice Cooper, Emeril Lagasse, Anne Murray, Michael Douglas, Tom Arnold, Sylvester Stallone, Mike Myers Directed by Beth Aala & Mike Myers (feature-film directorial debut) Mike Myers - yes the Austin Powers, Saturday Night Live Mike Myers - tries his hand at directing with the new documentary, Supermesch: The Legend of Shep Gordon (opening today). His inexperience shows, as it is a mostly sophomoric effort, from a technical standpoint down to how the film is laid out. But at least he's chosen a captivating subject.  Rating: 4 out of 5 starsGenre: Biography, Drama, Musical
Run Time: 2 hours, 14 minutes, Rated R Starring: Vincent Piazza, John Lloyd Young, Michael Lomenda, Erich Bergen, Joseph Russo, Mike Doyle, Christopher Walken Directed by Clint Eastwood (Hereafter, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, Unforgiven Jersey Boys (opening today), the film is based on Jersey Boys, the incredibly successful, Tony-award winning play. It's based on the rise to fame of Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, who have collectively sold over 100 million records worldwide, with their timeless hits such as "Sherry," "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Rag Doll," "Let's Hang On," "Working My Way Back to You" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You," just to name a few. The film is directed by Clint Eastwood, the ancient Hollywood force who was a big star in his own right when Valli and company hit the big-time. He apparently, is just the man the film adaptation needed, infusing the film with lightheartedness, reverence and seemingly (I'm only 35, how would I know?) capturing the look and feel of the 60s and 70s to a tee  Rating: 4 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy
Run Time: 1 hour, 44 minutes, Rated PG-13 Starring: Kevin Hart, Regina Hall, Michael Ealy, Jerry Ferrara, Meagan Good, Gabrielle Union, Taraji P. Henson, Terrence J, Jenifer Lewis, Romany Malco, Dennis Haysbert, Gary Owen, Wendi McLendon-Covey Directed by Tim Story (feature-film directorial debut) Kevin Hart's Cedric - and his group of friends - return to the big screen for the sequel to the 2012 hit comedy, Think Like a Man, which was based on the best-selling book of the same name by Steve Harvey. In Think Like a Man Too (opening today) the group travels to Las Vegas for the bachelor/bachelorette party and wedding celebration of two of their own.  Rating: 2 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy, Action, Crime
Run Time: 1 hour, 52 minutes, Rated R Starring: Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Amber Stevens, Jillian Bell, Peter Stormare, Wyatt Russell, Nick Offerman Directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller (Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs, 21 Jump Street, The Lego Movie) Just because a film is self-aware and knowingly refers to itself as an uninspired, tired sequel, does not make it OK to then actually be an uninspired, tired sequel. 21 Jump Street was the surprisingly funny 2012 re-imagination of the late 1980s TV show of the same name. 22 Jump Street(opening today) is its misfire sequel...it's not only a trip around a familiar block, it circles and circles the same proverbial block over and over and over...and over and over...and over. And over.  Rating: 5 out of 5 starsGenre: Drama, Romance
Run Time: 2 hours, 5 minutes, Rated PG-13 Starring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Willem Dafoe Directed by Josh Boone (Stuck in Love The Fault in Our Stars (opening today) doesn't aspire to be conventional. The film even begins with our main character, Hazel (Shailene Woodley) telling us that real-life is not like it is in the movies...you can't just brush over the realities of life with a Peter Gabriel song. But if you've seen one teen romance movie, you've seen them all, right? If that's your current stance, then brace yourself. The Fault in Our Stars is a beautifully acted, smartly written, gem of a film that not only defies expectations, it reshapes them. The film cuts much deeper and is way more insightful than many might initially give it credit for, especially since it is aimed directly at the young, Twilight-worshiping, female audience...the kind of movie-goers who unapologetically show up at theaters in gaggles, to hoot, holler and swoon over the eventually-shirtless male lead, despite the depth of the story  Rating: 3 out of 5 starsGenre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, Foreign
Run Time: 1 hour, 57 minutes, Rated R Starring: Romain Duris, Audrey Tautou, Cecile De France, Kelly Reilly Written & Directed by Cedric Klapisch (My Piece of the Pie, Russian Dolls, Paris) Chinese Puzzle (or "Casse-tete chinois," opening today) is an examination of how, despite growing older, one does not necessarily grow up. It follows a group of middle-aged people who, basically, act like children, in this fantastical and whimsical romantic comedy.  Rating: 4 out of 5 starsGenre: Action, Sci-Fi
Run Time: 1 hour, 53 minutes, Rated PG-13 Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton, Jonas Armstrong, Tony Way Based on the novel "All You Need Is Kill" by Hiroshi Sakurazaka Written by Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects, Valkyrie, Jack Reacher), Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth Directed by Doug Liman (Fair Game, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Bourne Identity, Go, Swingers) It's a rare breed indeed: A Summer blockbuster that has equal parts heart, humor, action and intelligence. And while Edge of Tomorrow (opening today) isn't airtight in its logic, it may be the most enjoyable movie-going experience so far this Summer. It's definitely a thrill-ride worthy of repeat viewings, ironically enough.  Rating: 3 out of 5 starsGenre: Drama, Thriller
Run Time: 1 hour, 49 minutes, Rated R Starring: Michael C. Hall, Don Johnson, Sam Shepard, Vinessa Shaw, Wyatt Russell, Nick Damici Based on the novel by Joe R. Lansdale Written by Nick Damici (Mulberry St, We Are What We Are) Co-Written & Directed by Jim Mickle (Mulberry St, We Are What We Are) Cold in July (opening today) is a dark and gritty thriller with a slick undertone of humor. But this pulp fiction tale degenerates along the way, becoming a disappointing shoot 'em-up that gives in to every genre cliche. |
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tom santilli movie reviews
Tom Santilli is a professional film critic, TV personality, host and
the Executive Producer of Movie Show Plus.
He also is the featured film critic appearing on WXYZ Channel 7 Action News in Detroit,
and appeared weekly on FOX-2 in Detroit from 2016-2020.
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