JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Insidious: Out of the Further Starring Amelia Eve, Brandon Perea, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Lin Shaye Directed by Jacob Chase The "Insidious" franchise was something that was never meant to be. The first movie was an astonishing hit, earning over $99 million worldwide on a $1.5 million budget, making it one of the most financially successful horror movies. It was expertly done, with well-timed jump scares (including one that's still listed as one of the best in all of horror) and had a great story behind it, with impeccable performances by Patrick Wilson, Rose Byrne, Ty Simpkins and Lin Shaye. The ending did leave it open, but it seemed that it was still contained as a one-and-done, but as we all know, money talks. The future installments stretched the story so thin it became a caricature of itself, even though it did keep earning money hand to foot. So now it's the fifth installment, "Insidious: Out of the Further," which doesn't have a lot to do with ...

The End of Oak Street Starring Anne Hathaway, Ewan McGregor, Maisy Stella, Christian Convery Directed by David Robert Mitchell Ever since 1993, dinosaurs on the big screen have been unofficially owned by "Jurassic Park" and its subsequent sequels, reboots and franchises. Any time you hear of a dinosaur movie, you'll be sure to hear John Williams' iconic score with the title "Jurassic ____" in it. Which is what makes "The End of Oak Street" so refreshing - it's a dinosaur movie without having Chris Pratt try to calm Velociraptors or Jeff Goldblum talking about life finding a way. Instead, it's a unique mix of prehistoric and modern day, where a normal cul-de-sac is somehow transported to another era where dinosaurs ruled supreme. Not just that, but the family dynamic at the heart of the film propels the thankful 99 minute runtime forward, along with surprising humor and even more surprising shocks that makes for a lean, entertaining, memorab...

Motor City Starring Alan Ritchson, Shailene Woodley, Ben Foster, Pablo Schreiber Directed by Potsy Ponciroll The idea of a revenge movie has been done time and again in cinematic history, but rarely in the style of "Motor City." The movie was almost entirely absent of audible dialogue, letting its soundtrack and actors' facial expressions tell the story. It's not like it's a complicated one to understand, as we've seen it all before, and without clunky exposition-laden speeches we're allowed to become fully immersed in the film's violence, which comes hot and heavy, and gives deep character dives without uttering a single word. In 1977 Detroit, John (Alan Ritchson) is an ex-con Vietnam vet who has made his life right and is settling down with his girlfriend Sophia (Shailene Woodley) when his world comes crashing down and he's framed by crooked cop Savick (Pablo Schreiber) and his accomplice Reynolds (Ben Foster) who happens to be Sophia's abusi...

Pinocchio: Unstrung Starring Richard Brake, Robert Englund, Cameron Bell, Jessica Balmer Directed by Rhys Frake-Waterfield In a world where CGI has all but overtaken the cinematic landscape, seeing a film filled with practical effects is a breath of fresh air, no matter how convoluted the story is. "Pinocchio: Unstrung" - the continuation of Rhys Frake-Waterfield's "Twisted Childhood Universe" - falls under that category. While there's a lot about this movie that doesn't make a lick of sense, it can be forgiven because the practical effects are so well-done for such a small budget you can't help but admire it. Where production companies crap out soulless sequel after soulless sequel, Frake-Waterfield's work showcases his deep desire to see his vision come to life, and you can feel his heart beating with every scene. After losing his parents, young James (Cameron Bell) goes to live with his grandfather Geppetto (Richard Brake) who's been plann...

One Night Only Starring Monica Barbaro, Callum Turner, Maya Hawke, Julia Fox Directed by Will Gluck It's no surprise I dislike romantic comedies - maybe it's because I'll never find love, or because they're so formulaic you can tell everything that'll happen from the first trailer. Either way, it takes a lot for me to be genuinely surprised by a romantic comedy, and it's rarely happened. "One Night Only" didn't break that mold, and I predicted everything that would happen from the (far too many) times I saw the trailer. While the concept is unique, the execution is baffling, but at least the main actors had strong chemistry together, even though they come off as being best buddies rather than lovers. In the near future, a law is passed that makes having sexual intercourse before marriage illegal except for one night only, where singles can mingle for twelve hours. Pizza store owner Owen (Callum Turner) expects to spend it with his girlfriend, but s...

Spider-Man: Brand New Day Starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton Spider-Man has consistently been a favorite for comic book readers since his introduction in 1962, spanning numerous comic books, television shows, video games and movies. What is it about him that draws people more than the likes of Iron Man, Captain America, Superman or Batman? Essentially it comes to the relatability of the character - a mild mannered kid gets bit by a radioactive spider and gains superhuman abilities. It's something that every kid dreams of, but also showcases the depth of responsibility and danger it entails. Peter Parker always pines for what he can't have, because he has to remain hidden under the mask to keep his family and friends safe. The burden of responsibility is strong, because as we all know, "with great power comes great responsibility." Spider-Man is the most relatable character in all comics, hence why audiences attend...