JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Brooklyn Starring Saoirse Ronan, Samantha Munro, Emory Cohen, Domhnall Gleeson Directed by John Crowley The Story: Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan) is a small-town Irish girl living with her mother and older sister.  She doesn't seem to have a lot going for her in Ireland, as she works for the insufferable Miss Kelly (Brid Brennan) and gets the opportunity of a lifetime to go to New York City thanks to her sister Rose (Fiona Glascott).  She boards the boat and sets sail, but since she never left her small town she's not used to being on a boat or the rude people around her.  Thankfully her bunkmate teaches her everything she needs to know, including how to look more beautiful. Upon arriving in Brooklyn, she lives in an Irish boarding house and works at a department store.  One night she meets Italian Tony Fiorello (Emory Cohen), and the two begin a courtship that slowly blossoms into a full-blown romance. When terrible news reaches Eilis, she rushes back...

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Billy Dee Williams Directed by Irvin Kershner The Story: Three years after the Death Star was destroyed, the Rebels are being hunted throughout the galaxy by the Empire, led by Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones).  They take refuge on the frozen planet of Hoth, but their base is soon discovered and the Empire attacks it with Imperial Walkers.  In the confusion, the group is separated.  Luke (Mark Hamill) and R2-D2 head to Dagobah because Luke's late master Obi-Wan Kenobi told him to.  Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han (Harrison Ford), C-3PO and Chewbacca head to Cloud City to see Han's old friend Lando (Billy Dee Williams). Arriving in the Dagobah system, Luke meets the mysterious Jedi master Yoda, who trains Luke in the ways of the Force.  Meanwhile, the bounty hunter Boba Fett has been following Leia and conducts a trap at Cloud City, bringing Darth V...

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness Directed by George Lucas The Story: There is a civil war in the galaxy.  The Galactic Empire has created a superior weapon known as the Death Star, and the Rebels are set on destroying it by obtaining the plans.  One of the Rebel leaders, Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), is captured by the dreaded Darth Vader (David Prowse/James Earl Jones), but not before placing the Death Star plans in the android R2-D2. R2-D2 and his android companion C-3PO take the plans to Tatooine, where they're sold to Owen and Beru and their nephew Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).  Luke sees the message and takes the droids to Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), who tells Luke of the Jedi and the Force.  They need to get the plans to the Rebels and rescue Leia, and enlist smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his Wookiee first mate Chewbacca to take them on Han's Millennium Falcon. ...

Major Theatrical Releases February 2016 Typically February is a time movie studios leave the films they wish were never made.  Usually it's the lowest turnout month, but it doesn't seem to be the case this month as there's a lot of fantastic movies coming out in this short cold month. Here is the list of films being released nationally for the month of February, 2016. February 5 Pride and Prejudice and Zombies Starring Lily James, Lena Headey, Matt Smith, Douglas Booth Directed by Burr Steers Synopsis (imdb.com): Jane Austen's classic tale of the tangled relationships between lovers from different social classes in 19th century England is faced with a new challenge -- an army of undead zombies. Thoughts: Is the zombie craze over?  Maybe for some, but not for this zombie lover.  I remember when I was in college, my roommate made me watch the entire PBS miniseries "Pride and Prejudice" and I was thoroughly bored.  I doubt I'll b...

Worst2First: My Top Ten Sports Movies There's not a whole lot I know about sports.  I don't particularly play them, and I don't really care to watch them.  Basically, everything I've learned about sports come from the movies, and there's been some really spectacular sports movies out there. So here are my top ten sports movies, Worst2First... **There will be no spoilers.** #10 The Wrestler Darren Aronofsky is one heck of a director who enjoys fully messing with your mind ("Requiem for a Dream," "Pi"), and he gives us an unflinching look at the world of wrestling through the eyes of Randy "The Ram" Robinson, who was once the best of the best, and now has sunk to incredible lows, living in a trailer, and working at a minimum wage job.  This shows the dangers of abusing your body for the sake of your sport, and re-invents former heartthrob Mickey Rourke as a shell of a man, and earned him an Oscar nomination for this ro...

Dope Starring Shameik Moore, Tony Revolori, Kiersey Clemons, Kimberly Elise Directed by Rick Famuyiwa The Story: Malcolm Adekanbi (Shameik Moore) is a senior living in the rough end of Inglewood known as "The Bottoms" with his single mother.  He's a very intelligent person who is enthralled with 90s style, music and fashion, which are all reasons why he's constantly bullied and labeled as a nerd in a rough school district.  All he has is his future dreams of going to Harvard, his music, and hanging out with his friends Jib (Tony Revolori) and Diggy (Kiersey Clemons).  One day he comes into contact with dope dealer Dom (A$AP Rocky) who invites Malcolm and his friends to a party.  Things go terribly wrong, and Malcolm ends up with a backpack full of the drug Molly, and is caught in a drug war that pits him and his friends in the center.  He has to sell the drugs, and comes up with an ingenious way of doing so, all the while fearing for his life and a...

Ex Machina Starring Alicia Vikander, Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, Sonoya Mizuno Directed by Alex Garland The Story: Computer coder Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson) wins the right to spend a week with the reclusive CEO of the company he works for, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac), on his remote island home.  Upon arriving, he learns that Nathan has been working on the ultimate scientific experiment - artificial intelligence.  He thinks he's created the ultimate A.I. in Ava (Alicia Vikander), and enlisted Caleb to perform a Turing test - a series of interviews that will determine if the A.I.'s awareness and personality are comparable to that of a human, or if it's greater than it. Upon communicating with Ava, Caleb is spellbound by her beauty and begins to show true feelings for the A.I., which conflicts with the test while testing Caleb's ability to understand the situation himself - who is really playing whom? The Synopsis: "Ex Machina" (a take off...