JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Won't You Be My Neighbor? Starring Fred Rogers Directed by Morgan Neville The Story: "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" is a documentary film telling the life of Fred Rogers, who started a children's programming show in 1968 in a small Pittsburgh studio that blew up into an international sensation.  The film interviews those who knew him best (including his wife Joanne and his now-grown children) as they share Fred's ups and downs, how he tackled important issues for children, and proved that a nice guy can really finish first. The Synopsis: Growing up in the 80s, I remember seeing "Mister Roger's Neighborhood" when I went to my grandma's house.  I don't remember a lot about it, but I remember really enjoying the program despite also liking the classic 80s children action shows like "Transformers" and "G.I. Joe."  "Mister Roger's Neighborhood" was something ultimately different and, as mentioned s...

Worst2First:  My Top Ten Films Featuring Redheads "Blondes are noticed, but redheads are never forgotten" - Unknown. There are countless films that prominently feature redheads, and many of them are actually very good.  Here are my personal top ten films featuring redheads, worst2first... **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** #10  Child's Play If you had to transfer your soul into the body of a pint-sized red-headed doll, you'd probably be a bit pissed off too.  Serial killer Charles Lee Ray (played by the amazing Brad Dourif) transfers his soul into the body of a Good Guy doll named Chucky, which is purchased by a mother for her young son, and he continues his rampage of terror.  One of horror's most lasting icons, Chucky has terrified and thrilled audiences since 1988. #9  Miss Sloane Jessica Chastain is one of modern cinema's most prolific actresses, and I was torn between picking "Zero Dark Thirty" or "M...

The Equalizer 2 Starring Denzel Washington, Pedro Pascal, Melissa Leo, Ashton Sanders Directed by Antoine Fuqua The Story: Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) continues working for the little guy, using his particular skill set to beat up and kill bad guys in order to protect the good.  His friend Susan (Melissa Leo) works for the government, and while in Belgium working on a case, she's murdered.  This causes McCall to investigate, finding a conspiracy deeper than he imagined, and putting those he cares most about at risk. The Synopsis: 55.  Denzel Washington has appeared in over fifty-five television shows and films, and never once did he sign up for a sequel.  He's one of the few actors in Hollywood who's never done a sequel, but no longer.  "The Equalizer 2" is Washington's first sequel, and you know for him to relent and appear in a sequel that the film had to be good, and it was. Antoine Fuqua (who also has never directed a sequel) returns...

The Equalizer Starring Denzel Washington, Marton Csokas, Chloe Grace Moretz, Melissa Leo Directed by Antoine Fuqua The Story: Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) is leading a rather quiet life: he lives alone after his wife's death, he works at a Home Depot-style retail store, and he enjoys reading at an all-night diner.  He befriends Teri (Chloe Grace Moretz), and takes her under his wing to teach her the importance of life and valuing herself as a human being, despite servicing as a prostitute. When she's beaten up by her Russian owners, McCall unleashes his old training and dispatches harsh justice, inciting the ire of the Russian mafia, who sends Teddy Rensen (Marton Csokas) to dispatch McCall.  Instead, Rensen finds McCall to be more than meets the eye, and learns to never underestimate the opponent. The Synopsis: Quentin Tarantino and Samuel L. Jackson.  Tim Burton and Johnny Depp.  Ron Howard and Tom Hanks.  Martin Scorsese and Robert De Ni...

Skyscraper Starring Dwayne Johnson, Neve Campbell, Chin Han, Roland Moller Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber The Story: Ten years after a hostage negotiation goes horribly wrong and leads to his leg getting amputated, former FBI leader Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson) now assesses security for skyscrapers, and his latest job lands him at The Pearl in Hong Kong - the world's largest self-sustaining skyscraper designed by billionaire Zhao Long Ji (Chin Han). Will's wife Sarah (Neve Campbell) and twin children are able to stay at the Pearl during Will's assessment, before they open it up to the general public.  However, terrorist kingpin Kores Botha (Roland Moller) has different plans, and sets fire to one floor of the complex in order to trap Ji and an item that Botha desperately needs.  Unfortunately for him, he also trapped Sarah and her children, leading Will on a wild adventure to save them. The Synopsis: At the opening party of a colossal, but poorly const...

Sorry to Bother You Starring Lakeith Stanfield, Tessa Thompson, Jermaine Fowler, Steven Yeun Directed by Boots Riley The Story: Cassius (Lakeith Stanfield) is a man in his 30s struggling with his identity in the world, finding a job to pay the bills, and wanting to live a comfortable life with his artistic girlfriend Detroit (Tessa Thompson).  He finds a job at a telemarketing firm, and learns from fellow employee Langston (Danny Glover) to use his "white voice" in order to drive sales. Mastering his "white voice," Cassius soon moves up the ranks in the company, earning the title of "power caller" and getting a prime raise and position, while his friends meander in the lower tiers and plan to form a union.  He learns he's making calls for Steve Lift (Armie Hammer), who's the president of WorryFree - a company where people sign away their lives to work, live, and eat there their entire lives in return for free room and board.  While De...

Worst2First:  My Top Ten Unnecessary Sequels This week finds three sequels hitting theaters, and each one has something different to offer.  "Unfriended: Dark Web" isn't a direct sequel to the original, but includes the same concept of being filmed through the lens of a computer camera.  "The Equalizer II" is Denzel Washington's first sequel ever, so you know it's something he believes in.  Then there's "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!"  Why was this sequel greenlit and produced?  Was there even a need for a sequel like this so long after the original? This got me thinking about the most unnecessary sequels I've seen, and I've compiled a list. So here are my personal top ten unnecessary sequels, worst2first (this time, "first" being the worst of them all)... **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** #10  The Last Exorcism II When the title of the film has the word "last" in it, you definitely don...