JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Wonder Starring Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Izabela Vidovic Directed by Stephen Chbosky The Story: Ten-year-old Auggie (Jacob Tremblay) was born with mandibulofacial dystosis, which required years of surgeries that resulted in a deformed face.  He's been home-schooled by his mother Isabel (Julia Roberts), but his father Nate (Owen Wilson) thinks fifth grade is the best time for Auggie to go to real school, because everyone will be new there. Jacob meets three students - spoiled Julian (Bryce Ghesiar), self-absorbed Charlotte (Elle McKinnon), and Jack Will (Noah Jupe), who defends him.  At first, the kids stay away from Auggie and outcast him, causing him to not want to go back to school, but Jack Will befriends him, and soon things begin looking up for him. Meanwhile, his older sister Via (Izabela Vidovic) is going through her own ordeals.  She just lost her grandmother, whom she felt closest to, and after summer her former best friend Mir...

Worst2First:  My Most Anticipated Films of Winter 2017-2018 Winter is coming.  So are some highly anticipated films that will be strong contenders come Oscar season, as well as some action-adventure blockbusters and terrifying true tales. **There will be no spoilers,  since the films haven't been released yet. Also, dates are subject to change** #10 The Commuter January 12 Liam Neeson is one of Hollywood's hardest working actors.  He is 65 years old, and he acts like a young buck in his 20s.  With films like "Taken" and "Non-Stop" making him an action hero, he once again takes the mantle in "The Commuter," which is basically "Non-Stop" on a train.  Here he plays an insurance salesman who gets roped into a game on a train by a mysterious stranger - locate the passenger who doesn't belong, or else.  Co-starring Vera Farmiga and Patrick Wilson, this looks to be another action-packed Neeson flick. ...

Major Theatrical Releases December 2017 The final month of the year brings your typical Oscar-bait films, true-life tales, as well as long-awaited sequels and that certain film that takes place in a galaxy far, far away. Here are the major theatrical releases for December 2017. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS,  since the films aren't released yet. Also, dates are subject to change** The Shape of Water December 8 Taking place around the Cold War era, "The Shape of Water" centers around mild, timid janitor Elisa - played by Sally Hawkins - who finds an amphibious humanoid being kept captive by a cold-hearted Colonel - played by Michael Shannon.  Elisa is mute, and she feels a deep connection with the humanoid due to their shared differences.  Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro, this film is already being hailed as his best effort since "Pan's Labyrinth," and has put Hawkins as a front-runner for an Oscar nomination.  This ...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Starring Dan Stevens, Christopher Plummer, Jonathan Pryce, Simon Callow Directed by Bharat Nalluri The Story: In October 1843, writer Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) is going through a writer's block crisis: his last three books were flops, and trying to live off the success of "Oliver Twist" is wearing thin.  He's got a longsuffering wife, four kids (with a fifth coming soon), and a lot of expensive home remodeling to take care of, as well as caring for his father John (Jonathan Pryce). When his publishers reject his latest idea - a ghost story revolving around Christmas - he takes it upon himself to write and publish it himself, in only six weeks.  As he almost goes mad trying to find out a story, he begins creating characters based off people around him, especially a crotchety old man at a cemetery who utters "Humbug" a lot.  This character - whom he names Ebenezer Scrooge (Christopher Plummer) - will help him wr...

Worst2First:  My Top Ten Native American Films Native Americans were the first to live on this land, and as colonization by the British expanded, they were unfortunately pushed farther and farther from their homeland.  Now, most Native Americans live within their own communities, often forgotten by those who infiltrated their land.  Still, there's some stories that have been told about their plight and the world they currently live in, and those stories have been showcased in some true cinematic classics. Here are my personal top ten Native American films, worst2first... **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** #10 The Indian in the Cupboard Directed by Frank Oz (the same guy who played Yoda in the "Star Wars" movies), "The Indian in the Cupboard" is a film based off the 1980 children's book by Lynne Reid Banks.  The film follows a young boy who gets a cupboard and a plastic Native American toy for his birthday, and finds that the cupboard br...

Justice League Starring Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa Directed by Zack Snyder The Story: After the death of Superman (Henry Cavill), the world is a much darker place, a world without hope.  As crime runs rampant, Batman (Ben Affleck) discovers winged demons invading, and learn that a new, evil force is at hand.  Diana (Gal Gadot) learns that this new evil is Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), who once tried to rule the world with the help of three Mother Boxes, but failed.  Now he's back to try it again, and Batman realizes he can't do it alone. He, along with Diana, gather three other meta-humans: Barry Allen (Ezra Miller) who is the fastest man alive, Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa) who resides in Atlantis and can survive underwater, and Victor Stone (Ray Fisher), who was in an accident and survived when his father combined alien parts to his body, making him a Cyborg.  Together they go against Steppenwolf, but even their combined abilities mig...

Locke Starring Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman, Andrew Scott Directed by Steven Knight The Story: Expert construction foreman Ivan Locke (Tom Hardy) has just abandoned the biggest job of his career to drive to a hospital where Bethan (Olivia Colman) is giving birth to his child - the product of a one-night stand months earlier.  He wants to do the right thing because his father did the wrong thing, but that one event has reverberations in the present, as he spends his car ride talking to his co-worker Donal (Andrew Scott) about finishing the job tomorrow, as well as breaking the news of the affair to his wife Katrina (Ruth Wilson).  What results is a fateful drive where he entered the car with everything, but by the end could lose everything. The Synopsis: "The difference between never and once is the whole world.  The difference between never and once is the difference between good and bad."  This is a saying that's repeated throughout "Locke,...

The Other Side of the Door Starring Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto, Sofia Rosinsky, Logan Creran Directed by Johannes Roberts The Story: Maria (Sarah Wayne Callies) and her husband Michael (Jeremy Sisto) suffered the death of their young son Oliver (Logan Creran), and six years later Maria still hasn't gotten over it, mostly due to her guilt for saving her daughter Lucy (Sofia Rosinsky) instead of Oliver.  While living in India, her housekeeper Piki (Suchitra Pillai-Malik) tells her that she can say goodbye to Oliver again by completing a ritual at a mysterious temple, but warns her no matter what she must not open the door. She completes the ritual and talks to Oliver through the door, but opens it.  At first she sees nothing, but soon the house becomes haunted by Oliver's spirit - or possibly a demon taking the form of Oliver.  As Oliver's antics grow more dangerous, Maria realizes she must find a way to shut the door she had originally opened, but fin...