JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Tony Starring Dominic Sessa, Antonio Banderas, Emilia Jones, Leo Woodall Directed by Matt Johnson Anthony Bourdain was one of America's most prolific chefs, a culinary genius who, like pretty much all geniuses, was a troubled soul. His outward cockiness was a mask for hidden insecurities which ultimately unfortunately took over him in 2018, leaving a legacy that'll inspire future chefs for decades to come. When it comes to biopics, a story like this seems golden - a young arrogant wannabe who lied his way through life to be more impressive comes to terms with who he really is and turns his life around to find his true passion and live a fruitful, yet troubled, life. It's also the kind of biopic that could've failed on every level, resulting in another Wikipedia-sourced movie that glosses over everything and focusing on a few minor details. Fortunately, director Matt Johnson didn't go this route, but instead focused on one moment in Anthony's formative years that...

Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma Starring Hannah Einbinder, Gillian Anderson, Jack Haven, Amanda Fix Directed by Jane Schoenbrun My favorite franchise ever is "Friday the 13th" even though I know most of the films aren't that good, it doesn't take away from my enjoyment of them. Throughout the years it became more a laughingstock rather than respected, but still it knew what it was and delivered in making Jason Voorhees an international icon. So anything akin to the series is something I'd be immediately drawn to, and "Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma" is one such movie - a movie within a movie that serves equally a love letter to horror as well as embracing your whole self in every aspect, director Jane Schoenbrun's third film serves as a perfect ending to their personal life trilogy, a movie made almost for themself rather than a general audience, but one that general audiences can truly appreciate for its aesthetic, story, performances, an...

The Dog Stars Starring Jacob Elordi, Josh Brolin, Margaret Qualley, Guy Pearce Directed by Ridley Scott Post-apocalyptic movies are thrilling, exciting, and fast-paced. Be it a zombie apocalypse, a natural disaster or man-made viruses, you're always bound to see survivors gathering together to horde their supplies as they come under attack from one group of enemies or another. This is why "The Dog Stars" is so frustrating - it's perpetually boring. Out of the too-long two hour runtime only about fifteen minutes are filled with action, and the rest is a dour story that is more about remembering the past than facing the future. Although it's got some great natural setting, this is a world where I would've wished I was gone before it happened, otherwise I'd die of boredom. After an unknown virus killed most of society, Hig (Jacob Elordi) lives in an abandoned airport bunker with his trusty dog and former Marine Bangley (Josh Brolin). While Bangley is content ...

Coyote vs. Acme Starring Will Forte, Lana Condor, John Cena, Tone Bell Directed by Dave Green "You complete me." Those were the words uttered by Heath Ledger's Joker in Christopher Nolan's blockbuster "The Dark Night" when he's being interrogated by Christian Bale's Batman, as he wondered if the Joker wanted him dead. The Joker laughed and said those words showing that, while they're way on opposite ends of the legal spectrum, they really do compliment one another. There can't be a Batman without his Joker, or Professor X without Magneto, or Spider-Man without Green Goblin. Likewise, spanning back since 1949, Wile E. Coyote can't be without the Road Runner. The two have been chasing each other down for over seventy years, and it seems almost unthinkable to wonder what would happen if the Coyote did in fact capture the Runner (although it's happened in non-canonical situations). That's the heart behind the long-delayed and almost n...

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...