JoeMama's Movie Reviews

RRR Starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr., Ram Charan, Ajay Devgn, Alia Bhatt Directed by S.S. Rajamouli There's a local theater that plays films from India (known as Bollywood or Tollywood) and to be honest I never had a desire to watch them, mostly because they run the gambit of two hours and forty minutes all the way to well over three hours, and not knowing enough about them, I didn't want to invest that huge chunk of time with them. "RRR" was one such film that I ignored when it was in the theaters, and then it hit Netflix and I heard everyone talking about what a spectacle it was, how unique it was, and it was something no one has ever seen before outside of those who enjoy Tollywood films. When I finally dedicated the time to watch "RRR," not only did it become one of my favorite films of the year, but I kicked myself for not taking advantage of seeing it on the big screen, because a film of this caliber deserves it. In the 1920s during the British Raj, evil gov...

 See How They Run Starring Sam Rockwell, Saoirse Ronan, Adrien Brody, David Ovelowo Directed by Tom George When it comes to the "whodunit" subgenre, one name immediately comes to mind: Agatha Christie. She's one of the most prolific mystery writers in history, giving birth to the whodunit subgenre and giving birth to the likes of Inspector Hercule Poirot, but something that only diehard Christie fans know is her work called The Mousetrap . This work is actually a satirical work she crafted to make light of her other, more serious, work, and the play of the production has been performed at London's West End since 1952 - becoming the longest-running play in history, being put on over 28,000 times. The Mousetrap is unique in that Christie demanded that the play not be made into a movie until its run ends, and the play's unique ending turns the audience into accomplices to the crime, with the cast telling them to not reveal who the killer is to anyone after leaving t...

Amsterdam Starring Christian Bale, John David Washington, Margot Robbie, Robert De Niro Directed by David O. Russell I used to like going to all-you-can-eat buffets and pigging out on everything they had to offer, and while at the time it seemed like a good idea, I suffered for it afterward. By engorging myself on every type of food imaginable, I had become overstuffed and, let's just say, it had to come out somehow. It's an interesting connection between this story and "Amsterdam," in that the film serves as a cinematic metaphor for that all-you-can-eat buffet: it seemed like a good idea, but ultimately it became so overstuffed you just need to find a way to expunge everything you just devoured with your eyes. In 1918, Dr. Burt Berendsen (Christian Bale) goes to fight in World War I where he meets fellow soldier Harold Woodsman (John David Washington), and they become fast friends. Suffering wounds in the battle, they're nursed back to health by nurse Valerie Voz...

Hellraiser Starring Odessa A'zion, Jamie Clayton, Drew Starkey, Adam Faison Directed by David Bruckner Life, knowledge, love, sensation, resurrection, power. These six sensations are what everyone strives for, but it might not be all it's cracked up to be. Life can be beautiful, but can also be tragic. Knowledge can open your mind to a world you never knew, but could also leave you hollow and empty. Love can fill your heart, but can also break it. Sensation allows you to experience the carnal pleasures, or the most intense pain. Resurrection can bring your loved one back to life, but with dire consequences. Power can give you everything you ever wanted, or it can strip it all away. Clive Barker's novel The Hellbound Heart might not be known to most people, but the film based off it - "Hellraiser" - sure is. The 80s was rich with sequel-hungry slashers like Leatherface, Jason, Freddy, Chucky, and Michael - and also Pinhead, the supposed villain in the "Hellra...

  Smile Starring Sosie Bacon, Kyle Gallner, Jessie T. Usher, Kal Penn Directed by Parker Finn Welcome to "Cooking a Generic Horror Film Disguised as a Unique Idea." To make the deliciously hollow "Smile" film, here are the ingredients and what to do: Take roughly 90 minutes of "The Ring" Sprinkle in moments from "The Grudge" Insert a smidgen of "The Babadook" Add a few pinches of "It Follows" Then dump them all into a pot and stir furiously with frequent jump scares and you've got "Smile," an "original" horror idea that worked well as a short film, but when you elongate it into a nearly two-hour snoozefest, you realize you might've overcooked it. Dr. Rose Cotter (Sosie Bacon) works at a mental health facility when a young patient named Laura (Caitlin Stasey) arrives, worried that something is out to kill her after she witnesses her professor's suicide. During their talk Laura freaks out and afte...

Worst2First:  My Top Ten Films to Watch on Netflix for Halloween   It's the season for Netflix and Chills, and the popular streaming service offers something for everyone to enjoy this Halloween season. From original content to some of today's most cerebral and thought-provoking horror, there's a lot to enjoy for your Netflix and Chills Halloween, and here are my ten favorites. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** #10 Gerald's Game There are two names that are synonymous with horror: Stephen King and Mike Flanagan. King is the most prolific horror writer of our generation, while Flanagan has directed some of the best horror films in recent memory, so when these two titans of terror come together it's bound to be a terrifyingly good time. While once thought to be impossible to turn into a film, "Gerald's Game" finds married couple Jessie and Gerald - played flawlessly by Carla Gugino and Bruce Greenwood - arriving at an isolated lake house for a romantic getaw...

Hocus Pocus 2 Starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Whitney Peak Directed by Anne Fletcher What does Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Allen Poe, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Anne Frank have in common? They all became famous after they died, but during their lives no one really knew who they were. In film, this occurs when a movie is released but bombs, and then is revived on home video and cable, turning it into a cult sensation - in a way, they become famous after their cinematic "demise." One such film is "Hocus Pocus," Earning just $44 million domestically in 1993, it seemed certain that the story of the Sanderson sisters would rest in the grave, but when it came out on DVD and cable, their popularity shot up tremendously, and now, 29 years later, you'll be hard pressed to not find some Sanderson merch at your local Halloween store. The film has become a mainstay for Halloween, showing almost on the daily throughout the entire month of October, and ...