JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Carol Starring Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Sarah Paulson, Kyle Chandler Directed by Todd Hayes The Story: In 1950s New York, young Therese (Rooney Mara) works at a department store, but longs to do work with photography.  She's in a relationship with Richard (Jake Lacy), but she shows little interest in the relationship. Then, one day at work, she meets Carol (Cate Blanchett), an older, more sophisticated, more wealthy married woman with a young daughter.  The two hit it off and Carol finds the nerve to finally leave her marriage of convenience to Harge (Kyle Chandler).  However, Harge is wary of Carol's moral choices, especially when it comes to Abby (Sarah Paulson), a lifelong friend of Carol's whom he thinks is more than just a friend, and he sets out to gain full custody of their daughter by enacting a morality clause in their divorce.  Distraught, Carol decides to travel west, and brings Therese with her.  As they go from seedy hotels to th...

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace Starring Liam Neeson, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Jake Lloyd Directed by George Lucas The Story: Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson) and his Jedi Apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) are sent to the Trade Federation to negotiate an end to a blockade against the planet of Naboo, but they're met with hostility when Darth Sidious calls for their deaths.  As they escape, they rescue Gungan outcast Jar Jar Binks, who directs them to his secret underwater home. They continue in their travels and rescue Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman), the Queen of Naboo, and the group crash lands on Tatooine, where they meet young slave Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd), a kid who is very knowledgeable with pod races, and a kid that Qui-Gon feels a strange force around.  He believes this is the child destined to bring balance to the Force, but before he could begin training the young kid, the Trade Federation unleashes their army on Naboo...

Spectre Starring Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes Directed by Sam Mendes The Story: After causing an international incident in Mexico City, the 007 program is under close scrutiny by the Joint Intelligence Service, led by C (Andrew Scott).  He's got a vision for the future, a world that is under constant surveillance, and sees the 007 program as an archaic, outdated company. While M (Ralph Fiennes) works to keep the program afloat, James Bond (Daniel Craig) goes on his own quest - to uncover the mysterious SPECTRE organization, which seems to have deep connections to Bond.  SPECTRE leader Blofeld (Christoph Waltz) has a personal vendetta against Bond, and a past that threatens to destroy him.  As Bond uncovers the truth, he learns that SPECTRE is something much more deadly than he previously imagined. The Synopsis: Daniel Craig has played Bond for four films now - "Casino Royale," "Quantum of Solace," "Skyfall"...

The Stanford Prison Experiment Starring Billy Crudup, Michael Angarano, Ezra Miller, Tye Sheridan Directed by Kyle Patrick Alvarez The Story: Based off the actual experiment in 1971, Doctor Philip Zimbardo (Billy Crudup) enlists several Standford students to conduct a two-week experiment: divide them up into guards and prisoners and place them in a fictional prison and see how it affects their psychological being.  The experiment was supposed to last two weeks, but it was canceled after six days.  This film shows why. The Synopsis: "The Stanford Prison Experiment" is the third film that focuses on this harrowing true-life tale, the first released in 2001 and another in 2010 starring Adrien Brody and Forest Whitaker.  What I appreciate about this film as opposed to the other two is that the experiment focused on young college students, while the previous two outings had adults in their roles.  It was more interesting - and uncomfortable - seeing the eve...

Major Theatrical Releases January 2016 It's a new year, and a new month for a slew of new movies that span the gambit: Award-nominees, horror, comedy, drama, animation, action, sci-fi, even westerns.  There's something for everyone in the first month of 2016! Here is the list of films being released nationally for the month of January, 2016. January 8 The Revenant Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hardy, Domhall Gleeson, Will Poulter Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu Synopsis (imdb.com): In the 1820s, a frontiersman, Hugh Glass, sets out on a path of vengeance against those who left him for dead after a bear mauling. Thoughts: This COULD be the film that finally gives Leo his much-maligned Oscar.  Directed by Oscar winner Inarritu ("Birdman"), "The Revenant" looks like an excellent period piece, filled with drama, suspense, and great acting. The Forest Starring Natalie Dormer, Taylor Kinney, Eoin Macken, Stephanie Vo...

You Can't Kill Stephen King Starring Monroe Mann, Ronnie Khalil, Crystal Arnette, Kayle Blogna Directed by Ronnie Khalil, Monroe Mann & Jorge Valdes-Iga The Story: Six friends decide to take a trip to Maine in order to find Stephen King's home, and maybe even meet the master of horror himself.  Instead, they get stalked and killed off one-by-one in ways reminiscent of Stephen King's novels. The Synopsis: Cheesy horror films are my favorite type of films, but not because of its award-winning content or brilliant acting.  I love watching them because they serve as a brain-numbing drug, something I can just sit back and watch with no anticipation of seeing anything fantastic. Such as it is with "You Can't Kill Stephen King," which is one of the best-titled movies since "Bachelor Party in the Bungalow of the Damned."  Of course, Stephen King makes absolutely no appearance in this independent-driven film that's directed, written, ...

The Hateful Eight Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Kurt Russell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins Directed by Quentin Tarantino The Story: Set sometime after the Civil War, bounty hunter John "The Hangman" Ruth (Kurt Russell) is escorting prisoner Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh) to Red Rock, Wyoming, to hang her for her crimes.  Along the way, driver O.B. (James Parks) sees a man on the road, who is also a bounty hunter and former slave turned Confederate war hero Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), who needs a ride to town. After picking up Warren, they then proceed to pick up Red Rock sheriff Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), and as a blizzard approaches, the crew takes refuge at Minnie's Haberdashery.  While Minnie and her husband are nowhere to be found, there are some strange inhabitants, including Mexican Bob (Demian Bichir), former Confederate general Smithers (Bruce Dern), British hangman Oswaldo Mobray (Tim Roth) and gunman Joe Gage (Michael Mads...