JoeMama's Movie Reviews

Rubber Starring Stephen Spinella, Jack Plotnick, Roxane Mesquida, Wings Hauser Directed by Quentin Dupieux The wonder and magic of cinema is being able to tell stories that no one would otherwise had considered.  The only limit is your imagination (and also budget, but even with meager budgets you can still produce something decent), and there's been countless unique films in history - from killer tomatoes to men in love with mannequins, to murderous cars and sentient pop machines.  "Rubber" is just such a film - an anomaly that exists somewhat in legend, as several friends of mine never heard of the film, but heard that there was a movie about a killer tire, but didn't believe it.  While the premise is outlandish, there's a tongue-in-cheek humor and a question that often goes unanswered - and mostly unasked as well. Robert is a tire that suddenly gains sentient knowledge and rises from the Arizona desert, unsure of his surroundings or life itself.  At first he wo...

Requiem for a Dream Starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, Marlon Wayans Directed by Darren Aronofsky When I tell people "Requiem for a Dream" is one of my top five favorite films of all time and that I've seen it numerous times, they're shocked at the fact that I've seen it so many times - not because it's a terrible film, but its so mentally draining and depressing that most people can only stomach one viewing.  To me, the film is a picture of perfection, a movie that demands at least one viewing to understand the downward spiral the affects drugs have on a person's entire life, a film that's unrelenting and never lets go of you even after it ends, resulting in an extraordinary experience that'll remain with you. The film follows the lives of four different addicts.  Sara Goldfarb (Ellen Burstyn) is a widowed elderly woman living in a dank, depressing apartment alone, and relegates herself to watching an infomercial over and over ...

Better Than Chocolate Starring Karyn Dwyer, Christina Cox, Peter Outerbridge, Wendy Crewson Directed by Anne Wheeler In the late 90s there was still a negative stigma associated with the LGBTQ community, and as inroads were being created (especially with Ellen DeGeneres coming out in 1997), there still wasn't a lot of representation in films apart from the generic gay best friend.  Anne Wheeler's "Better Than Chocolate" was released in 1999, and while it was a small, independent Canadian film, it still portrayed the world of the lesbian community with a lighthearted nature and introduced viewers to a unique group of women with their own strengths and weaknesses, and while today it seems rather dated and over-the-top, it helped to show the world a different viewpoint they hadn't seen previously. Maggie (Karyn Dwyer) was a college student preparing for a career in law when she decided to drop out and spend her time at the local lesbian bar and working at ...

Let Him Go Starring Diane Lane, Kevin Costner, Lesley Manville, Jeffrey Donovan Directed by Thomas Bezucha There was a time where the Western genre was erupting, thanks in no small part to the likes of John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, but as the years have gone on, this genre has fallen by the wayside in favor of bigger, more explosive blockbusters that are often all glitz and glamor and not deep character development or depth. "Let Him Go" is one of those classic Western films in that it takes place in the majestic wilderness of South Dakota and Montana, where there's nary a skyscraper or paved road in sight, and involves a very simplistic story of redemption, revenge, and the power of family. Margaret (Diane Lane) and George (Kevin Costner) Blackledge are living their best lives - they're proud parents of their only son James (Ryan Bruce), who still lives with them on their farm with his wife Lorna (Kayli Carter) and their infant son Jimmy. Everything is ideal and pi...

Saint Maud Starring Morfydd Clark, Jennifer Ehle, Lily Knight, Lily Frazer Directed by Rose Glass There is an inherent danger with being zealous for something, in the fact that it's all you believe is true, and you want everyone else to believe what you believe is true as well. Mostly this falls under the religious aspect, with the concept of "saving" another soul through the acceptance of Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior that often serves as a recent convert's only goal in life, no matter what other people think. For many, all they think about is how to save others from the damnation of hell, and there's nothing else that occupies their time, and this mostly comes from people who are newly converted, as they understand in their mind who they once were and who they are now are two totally different people - and in their mind for the better - so they set out to have others feel that same experience. While most are harmless and act out of true kindness ...

Irresistible Starring Steve Carell, Rose Byrne, Chris Cooper, Mackenzie Davis Directed by Jon Stewart "The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism."  Thus were the words spoken by the first President of the United States, George Washington, on the dangers of a two-party political system.  Of course, we didn't listen to this vexed warning and have had to endure the prophecy Washington stated come to fruition, to the point now we seemingly can't co-exist with one another anymore.  America is more divided than ever, with both sides flinging insults and pandering to their own bases without true emotion or feeling, and it's under this guise that famed celebrity Jon Stewart directed "Irresistible," a film that sheds an unflinching light on the seedier side of politics and ho...

My Spy Starring Dave Bautista, Chloe Coleman, Kristen Schaal, Parisa Fitz-Henley Directed by Peter Segal There has to be a hidden agreement for wrestlers who wish to be movie stars, that they must star in at least one obligatory family-friendly film.  Dwayne Johnson ("The Tooth Fairy"), John Cena ("Playing With Fire"), Kane ("See No Evil" - alright, maybe not).  Dave Bautista joins the line of former wrestlers-turned-movie stars with "My Spy," even though he's already fully established himself as a credible actor in films like "Guardians of the Galaxy" and "Blade Runner 2049," but again it seems to be in wrestlers' blood to do films like this.  What sets "My Spy" apart from the other aforementioned films, however, is that it was actually quite enjoyable - even if it's entirely predictable. JJ (Dave Bautista) is a former Army Ranger who now works for the CIA, but his brutish frame and take-no-prisoners met...