The Invisible Man

MY RATING: 6

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info:  28 February 2020

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi
Writer and Director: Leigh Whannell
Running Time:  2 Hours and 4 Minutes

Staring: Elisabeth Moss and Oliver Jackson-Cohen

Rating? R

SPOILERS? YES-ish

STORYLINE

When Cecilia's abusive ex takes his own life and leaves her his fortune, she suspect his death was a hoax. As a series of coincidences turn lethal, Cecilia wrks to prove that she is being hunted by someone no-one can see.

MY REVIEW

Let's just state the obvious- - I KNOW I was expecting a modern day Hollow Man scenario based on the trailers and while it was close, it was not what I thought it was going to be. It was okay, not great and definitely fell flat in some areas, but it was a solid 6. Read below (YES, SPOILERS) to find out why I gave it that rating.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• The tension in the first two acts was intense. I love when movies give you something to be afraid of and NOT show you what that might be. Your thoughts run way and your imagination seems to run wild. What you CAN'T see is scary.
• The viewer is placed in the shoes of Cecilia (Elisabeth Moss) as she struggles with the aftermath of domestic violence, trust issues and a mental breakdown in the making.
• Dark themes. While abuse is no laughing matter and should to be made light of, this movie did give the abuser some of his own medicine but it takes us a little while to get there.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• The third act leaves a lot to be desired with some obvious plot holes, camera angle oddities and an almost never-ending movie. What we think is the end is not the end and then that happens again. While it was interesting, there's such a thing as too many endings.
• Why do they not have a Canary or Ring Camera in the house on the first night weird stuff happens. Seriously, Bust Buy or Amazon can get that shit to you in 1 day. I have so many cameras in the house I catch every dumb thing my cat does!
• Better writing please...

On a more personal note..... 

I did a thing on the way home from work last night and got about 6" cut on the length of my hair I'm okay. It grows back pretty quickly! Also, had some work done on my sleeve this week. Clay went in and made some highlights on the sugar skill and the microphone. One of these days, I'll get back up in front of people and sing. I do miss that sometimes! Last but not least, my little house panther Isabella hanging out at the base of Darth Vader in the living room.

Knives Out

MY RATING: 9

Knives Out (2019)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Release Info:  27 November 2019 

Watched 16 Jan 2020

Genre: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Writer and Director:  Rian Johnson
Running Time: 2 Hours and 10 Minutes

Staring: Daniel Craig, Chris Evans and Ana de Armas

Rating? PG-13

SPOILERS? NO 

STORYLINE

When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Christopher Plummer) is found dead at his estate just after his 85th birthday, the inquisitive and debonair Detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is mysteriously enlisted to investigate. From Harlan's dysfunctional family to his devoted staff, Blanc sifts through a web of red herrings and self-serving lies to uncover the truth behind Harlan's untimely death. Written by Lionsgate

MY REVIEW

Oddly, I was pleasantly surprised that I didn't hate this movie. I was ready do hate it. But, I do L O V E Rian Johnson and the idea that he wrote and directed along with the cast of insanely talented artists. I'll be honest, I didn't go see it in the theater, so I waited for it to be on iTunes movies and did what I do best. Watch it at home from the comfort of my own couch with a cat on my lap. My review will explain why, but yes, this is a good movie. I settled on a  9, which I feel might be generous. Please continue reading to understand why I went that high.

What I DID LIKE about this movie:

• Rian Johnson. I should just write you a love note here. Direction, cinematography, writing, editing, flow. You, sir, are a genius. This was a beautifully complicated movie.  I remember watching Hercule Poirot and Agatha Christie growing up and this felt reminiscent to those older films. It came across as nostalgic, even through it was modern.
• Chris Evan's sweater. Enough said
• While the story itself was easy to follow, I missed a LOT of things that I should have caught. As someone who typically figures out the end WELL before the the reveal, I enjoyed being almost there.

What I DID NOT LIKE about this movie:

• Daniel Craigs accent. I COULD not take him seriously. It did pull me out of the magic of the movie a few times. I just couldn't get past it.
• Twisted plot that sometimes leaves the watcher trying too hard to make sense of the plot holes.
• Social message was a bit overdone, but not enough to detract from the overall idea of the movie.

On a more personal note..... 

Tons of Selfies. It was my friend Missy's daughters 2nd Birthday. Oliver was adorable. Dexter Morgan thought he belonged on a shelf in the office.