Hereditary is an intense, terrifying movie. It reminded be a bit of the “Babadook” in the themes of family dysfunction and grief. “Hereditary” has a bit of a Gothic feel to it in that a major setting is a house. Is this house haunted or are the people living in it just really odd and withdrawn from each other? The house seems beautiful at first viewing but continues to grow darker and more menacing as the movie progresses, much like the characters themselves. Toni Collette is at the top of her game and it is unfortunate that she will most likely not get an Oscar nomination for this film because it is in the horror genre. Her facial expressions alone deserve honorable mention. There are a lot of important plot-points to this film that should not be divulged as we know very little going in and things slowly and carefully get revealed, the plot being moved along by different shocking and surprising turn of events. The first hour is a slow simmer, giving us a tale of loss and a family trying to hold together and then it unfolds into a terrifying and horrific tale, ending with a disturbing final image that will haunt you. 

Warning: This movie is not for everyone. It is scary and gory and it does not shy away. Not for the faint of heart. True fans of the macabre and horror will enjoy no doubt.

Grade: A

What an absolute surprising gem of a movie. I will admit I have not seen the original “Jumanji” (gasp away). I was never interested. I also wasn’t interested in this movie when it hit the theatres. However, after hearing multiple people singing the movies praises, I decided to take a shot. This movie is hysterical. Jack Black’s character alone is worth watching the movie. The premise is enjoyable and there is a balance between story and action. The end has a tender and sweet message about life and being able to be our best version of ourselves. I highly recommend this to anyone and everyone.

Grade: A

There really isn’t anything technically wrong with “Oceans 8.” The cast is entertaining and beautiful. It’s awesome to see a group of sexy, talented actresses taking on the slick, cool con-men of the Ocean’s world. Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett make a good duo, similar to George Clooney and Brad Pitt. The movie is quick-paced and cool. The clothing and hair are dazzling. I found myself waiting for the next scene just to see what everyone was going to be wearing and how they were going to look. I know I strutted out of the theatre a little taller and feeling just a little cooler (although instead of wearing a snazzy outfit and jewelry, I was in my jeans, flip-flops and my “Cute But Kinda Weird” t-shirt). The problem with “Ocean’s 8” is that it just isn’t as good as “Ocean’s 11.” The twists and turns are sort of predictable and blah. There isn’t a moment where your eyes go wide and you are like “wow!” It’s fun to watch. It’s a solid heist movie. To be clear though, it is not “Ocean’s 11.”

Grade: C+

I loved the first “Deadpool.”  It was a refreshing superhero movie mostly because “Deadpool” is a superhero similar to the way Dexter is a good guy. I mean they both are doing “good” but they are kind of dark and twisty while doing it. I am a lover of the dark and twisty so I am a fan of the not so shiny hero. I also appreciated the R-rating of “Deadpool” so we can finally be real with the violence and the action and not hold back with swearing. Basically, “Deadpool” doesn’t have to be marketed and targeted for 12-year-old boys. “Deadpool 2” felt like leftovers. You warm them up in a microwave and they still taste sort of like the amazing Vietnamese you had the a few days before but just not quite as good…a little dryer, a little older, and just not quite as tasty. “Deadpool 2” felt like a rehashment (I’m not sure that’s even a word) of the initial film and jokes but with more action, and I never like MORE action. Ugh! I was bored by the end.

Grade: C

Upon leaving the theatre I would have given “Tully” a B. It was not fully what I expected and so I was thrown off initially. If one goes in thinking that “Tully” is a dramedy about a woman struggling through motherhood you would only be a little correct. It is really a dark drama that is about a woman struggling. She is also a mother and the parent of a newborn and a son who is “quirky.” She has a marriage that has fallen into a bit of a flat routine. After hiring a night nurse, this woman starts to feel better because she is getting sleep, some help around the house, and is starting to feel more like herself. There are a lot of deep, tough issues in this film. It is an important film for mothers to see. Diablo Cody is a brilliant writer and she brings her edge, darkness and sarcasm to this script. Thinking about this movie more and talking to some of my fellow friends and mothers who have seen “Tully”, I have upped my initial grade to an A- because I actually think it’s a really powerful film about who we are and who we become after having children. All women lose some sense of who they are and there is a sadness and grief in that process of becoming a parent. Parenthood is the hardest job you will ever love but damn, it is hard.

Grade: B….later A-

A small and powerful film. The acting by Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams and Alessandro Nivola were worth the price of the movie ticket (although because I have MoviePass, I guess I didn’t really pay for my ticket). The movie is about Ronit (Rachel Weisz) returning to her childhood home and town, which happens to be an Orthodox Jewish community after her father suddenly dies. We are dropped into a story and we don’t really know what has happened or what will happen but we know that Ronit is somewhat unwelcome by many in the community, despite the fact that her father was beloved in the community. We sense ease, sadness and a lot of tension and between Ronit and Esti (Rachel McAdams) and a true friendship with Dovid (Allessandro Nivola) who is a friend and was a close pupil of her father, and maybe the son he never had since he only had a daughter, Ronit. “Disobedience” is dripping with quiet, raw emotion. It is a sad and heartbreaking film. Ronit knows who she is but also feels sadness because she is not accepted for who she is by her community and perhaps by her father. This film delves into the pain that comes with losing a parent and feeling like there were things left unresolved and unsaid. “Disobedience” is a story about childhood friends, lovers, fathers and daughters, and coming home.  

Grade: B

After having seen “The Quiet Place” I started to fantasize about what the viewing experience would have been like if I had known next to nothing about this movie. I imagine a preview of one of the many silent family scenes, followed by an accidental noise and then look of sheer terror on our stars, John Krazinski and, real-life-spouse, Emily Blunt. The screen cuts to black and then it says something like “If they hear you, they hunt you” and that’s about it. Previews today give away far too much. It’s as if people want to watch the cliffs notes version of the movie before they go and see the movie. For a movie like “The Quiet Place”, the less you know going in, the scarier the movie. I felt like I knew a lot of the surprises and scares so when we got there, it just wasn’t as terrifying. Overall the solid place was a solid film and John Krazinski, if he can maintain this quality, will have a successful directing career. I just wish he and the production and marketing crew would have respected the film more and given less away. Horror is all about what you don’t see or what you might see, it has nothing to do with what you have seen.

Grade: B- (Grade if I had viewed it without seeing any previews A-)

It seems like there has been this wave of movies starring Leslie Mann that has coincided within a 5-10 year span with my age and milestones in life. It started with “Knocked Up” which I absolutely loved and watched repeatedly. Then I got pregnant and watched the movie again with an entirely different perspective and appreciation. Then she did “This is 40” and although I’m not 40 yet, I am nearing that milestone and feel I can watch that movie understanding the complexities and realities of a woman nearing 40. Her latest film, “Blockers,” is about being a parent and having some issues when your child grows up and becomes an adult…whether it be high school graduation, prom or losing one’s virginity (or in the case of this movie, all of this happening in one night). “Blockers” is definitely a comedy and a consistently funny one but it also has heart. It addresses the dreaded reality for all parents, as tough as it is to be parents and to raise children, the toughest part of it may be when they leave the nest. The moment when we can breathe a sigh of relief for a job well done and then cry for what is gone.

Grade: B+

I feel like I would give the first 45-minutes of this movie a solid A. It was very funny and I think most women would be able to relate to many of the insecure body moments that it was nice to feel like you were watching a movie where the creators obviously understood the pressures and insecurities of women in our world today. A world where social media and YouTube make it feel like you should be able to have your life together and look perfect every moment of the day with ease. The message of this film was clear from the beginning so the obvious trajectory of the movie made the middle feel a little slower. It seemed as if drama and unnecessary conflicts were put in place just to make the final moments more powerful. It trudged along a bit but then had a satisfactory ending. The overall message of “I Feel Pretty” is such an important and timely one. Most women feel this pressure to be and look beautiful but in the end, beauty and confidence has nothing to do with what one looks like or sounds like. True beauty is about being yourself and being kind to people and not letting others opinions or actions make you feel like less of a person.

Grade: First 45 minutes get a solid A –  Last 45 minutes get a B-/C+ – Message of the movie gets an A+

The story is simple, a Manhattan NYU professor heads to Singapore with her boyfriend to join him for a vacation and a wedding. Upon arrival she finds out that her boyfriend is basically the son of one of the richest families in Singapore…practically Asian royalty. Think about Meghan Markle unknowingly going to visit London with Harry only to discover he’s a Prince. The movie deviates only slightly from the book, but the deviations, for the most part are okay, and probably make for a smoother movie viewing experience. One character is changed drastically from the book, probably for comic relief, but this ends up being an enjoyable change because this character truly makes the film great. She is hysterical! I love that this is the grist American movie with an Asian led cast in 25-years (the last film being “The Joy Luck Club”). If this story were set in LA and filmed with the typical white cast, it probably would be an average to okay movie. The type of rom-com that you’ll watch on a Saturday night when you’re bored at home. However, setting the film in Singapore with an all-Asian cast and adding in the history and visuals of that world suddenly make it not only fun (and beautiful) to watch, but it also is a more interesting and dynamic story suddenly. I had a smile on my face the entire film and am already planning on watching it again.  A fun, dazzling and heartwarming experience all around.

Grade: A