JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Worst2First:  My Top Ten True-Life Inspirational Films In the very trying and downright depressing times we're facing today, it may seem easy to focus on the negative and throw yourself into a rut of self-despair and loneliness.  Since we're cooped up in our homes, we let our minds wander to places it shouldn't, and need a positive outlet to know that this isn't the end, and that the human spirit is stronger than anything. With that in mind, I compiled a list of my personal favorite true-life inspirational films.  Sure, many of these films are fictionalized (and one almost completely), but it doesn't dampen the impact, legacy, and timeless effects these real-life people have had on the world - and these films will easily leave a smile on your face (and definitely a tear or two), something we all need now more than ever. So here are my top ten true-life inspirational films, worst2first... **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** #10  Sully Everyon...

The Mothman Prophecies Starring Richard Gere, Laura Linney, Will Patton, Debra Messing Directed by Mark Pellington Years ago I visited friends in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, and I was driving across a bridge that seemed very familiar to me, even though I'd never been in the town before.  My friend with me told me that this was the bridge where they filmed "The Mothman Prophecies," which I had seen a few weeks prior, and I was really surprised because I had never at that point been to a place that was actually filmed for a movie.  After re-watching it now, I remember that bridge and realized that I was more excited about accidentally being there than the movie itself, which really hasn't held up well, despite the strong performances. John Klein (Richard Gere) and his wife Mary (Debra Messing) just bought a new house when Mary witnesses a mysterious moth-like creature while they're driving, and crash.  She ends up passing away from a brain tumor, leaving J...

Worst2First:  My Top Ten Virus Films With everything happening in the world today, I figured it's a good a time as any to showcase my personal top ten virus films.  These films won't focus on zombies (although some have variations of the classic monsters), but rather more on pandemics and epidemics that don't spawn the living dead. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** #10  Carriers Basing itself around the Avian Flu, "Carriers" centers on a group of friends who try desperately to follow the rules to not become infected by the deadly disease as they traverse the country in search of supplies.  The film focuses heavily on peoples' fears of a virus and how we interact with each other when we don't know what'll happen, and features a strong cast including Chris Pine, Lou Taylor Pucci, Piper Perabo and Emily Van Camp. #9  Children of Men Taking place twenty years after a mysterious illness left women unable to ha...

The Day the Earth Stood Still Starring Michael Rennie, Patricia Neal, Billy Gray, Lock Martin Directed by Robert Wise The 1950s were a unique time for cinema, in that it incorporated numerous science-fiction films that have gone on to attain not just cult status, but endearing films that have been hailed by critics and earned the title of "classic."  Films like "War of the Worlds," "The Thing From Another World," "It Came From Outer Space," "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea," and "Creature From the Black Lagoon" are still continuously watched and praised today, along with Robert Wise's "The Day the Earth Stood Still," a film that incorporated Cold War fears and Christ-typology wrapped in a different kind of alien invasion film. When an unidentified flying object is seen over Earth, the entire world goes into panic, especially when it lands in Washington, D.C.  Soon Klaatu (Michael Rennie) and his robot G...

Onward Starring Tom Holland, Chris Pratt, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Octavia Spencer Directed by Dan Scanlon Leave it to Pixar to give animated characters truly humanistic depth and to weave a beautiful, heartfelt story that'll hit you in the feels.  From the loss of a spouse, loss of youthful innocence, or even the heights of new love, Pixar never ceases to provide the waterworks.  "Onward" continues that tradition, and this is an extremely personal tale woven by incorporating both the magic of yore and the modern of yeet, a story that pretty much anyone with a pulse can get behind: what would you do for one more day with a parent who's passed on? In this world, brothers Ian (Tom Holland) and Barley (Chris Pratt) Lightfoot are blue elves who live in a post-magic world, where the former desires of learning hard magic was abandoned for simplistic modern conveniences, and there's almost no real magic left in the world.  Ian just turned 16, and struggles with ...

The Machinist Starring Christian Bale, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Aitana Sanchez-Gijon, John Sharian Directed by Brad Anderson The "unholy Trinity" of personal psychological trauma includes "Pi," "Fight Club," and "The Machinist."  All three films feature a main character who's struggling through personal trauma that's deeply affected how they see the world, and the impact of their past mistakes that've come back to haunt them.  They're films that shine a light on mental illness and the often unspoken manner in which we deal with our memories that we wish would just disappear, but they never do. Trevor Eznik (Christian Bale) is a machinist who has had a very rough year - in fact, he hasn't slept in 365 days.  He doesn't eat, and he's been reduced to almost a hundred pounds, a body that's the visible representation of his inner anemic state.  He doesn't have any friends, his co-workers think he's str...

The Way Back Starring Ben Affleck, Al Madrigal, Michaela Watkins, Janina Gavankar Directed by Gavin O'Connor Typically when a film advertises things like "from the director of" or "from the producer of," it's a trick to draw audiences in when they know a film won't be as good as the aforementioned productions, but hope you rely on your nostalgia and love for them to see what's next on the pike.  Sometimes, however, it's to advance the narrative that a certain director or producer is amazing at his craft, and will deliver another solid outing.  "The Way Back" advertised "from the director of 'The Accountant,' 'Warrior,' and 'Miracle,'" and I was debating which side the film would fall on - and fortunately it's the latter, as Gavin O'Connor again gives a stirring, powerful sports film thanks to one of Ben Affleck's best performances. Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) is plagued with is...