Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Maya Angelou: And Still I Rise is like reliving her books but with the added benefit of Dr. Angelou speaking and her friends and family chiming in on her story.
Whether you’ll have to go to the movies, download or stream, movies of this category are worth your time and money with few, if any, qualms from us.
Positive (Worth Seeing)
Whether you’ll have to go to the movies, download or stream, movies of this category are worth your time and money with few, if any, qualms from us.
Audrie & Daisy – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Documentaries, usually, are not about happy topics. They are about exposing someone’s suffering, sometimes their triumphs, but rarely is the most empowering tales without the shock someone survived all they were put through. So is the case of Audrie and Daisy in which one didn’t survive all they went through.
Logan – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
If Logan is representative of where the X-Men franchise, if not Marvel, is heading, prepare for more than likable characters and sarcastic moments. You may actually end up feeling something. To the point of tears.
My Brother the Devil – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
My Brother, The Devil may not have any recognizable names to draw you in, but the trailer gives you a certain amount of intrigue. We see young love, violence, homosexuality and family. All together, the trailer sets you up and the movie knocks you out.
The Invisible War – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Like with Blackfish, I discovered the existence of The Invisible War through watching Bill Maher’s Real Time. The subject matter for The Invisible War, in some ways, shares some similarities with Blackfish in the sense that something preventable was ignored and covered up. But, rather than it be a whale which was the subject to…
Fruitvale Station – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Honestly, even being a person of color, I didn’t know the story of Oscar Grant really until I saw Fruitvale Station, and the main reason I saw this movie was because of Melonie Diaz; and because there hasn’t been too many movies featuring people of color, especially black people, not done by Tyler Perry, and…
Odd Thomas – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Anton Yelchin is one of those actors who, I feel, have a sort of Tom Cruise or Will Smith appeal. And while I haven’t seen his two biggest films, Star Trek and Terminator Salvation, I am quite a fan of Like Crazy, Charlie Bartlett, House of D, and a few other of his movies. Alongside…
Asphalt Playground (La cité rose) – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
I stumbled upon this film accidentally and took a leap of faith on watching it since IMDb didn’t, as they usually do, have a trailer available and searching the movie’s title didn’t point me in any direction to find one. However, from the poster I saw a bunch of happy- go-lucky kids playing in a…
Blackfish – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Like many people who grew up in the 90s, part of my childhood fantasies were going to Disney World and going to SeaWorld. Of course, neither of which were close, or affordable, so that never happened. But, going to both places, especially Disney World, never leaves your hopes and dreams, and seemingly becomes the type…
Kiki – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) Consider Kiki the spiritual successor to Paris is Burning but with a stronger focus on the background of key characters and with a less jaded, and tired of it all, perspectives. For despite each and every struggle we see, there remains hope. You may not fully understand why, but you can…
Paris is Burning – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Paris is Burning is, without question, a legendary piece of cinema. To speak on excellent documentaries and skip this one shows the many issues with any type of film study class. I say this since, often, films featuring people of color are looked over and not mentioned when it comes to said classes. You’d sooner…
Before I Disappear – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
After slitting his wrist a man waits to die for he believes he lost the only thing worth living for. That is until he is reminded that there are still people who want, need, and potentially love him.
Dying Laughing – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) With the rise of YouTube and various other online platforms giving birth to comedians, it has made it seem that just being funny was all it took to become a professional. However, the 50+ stand-up comedians involved in this documentary remind you that being funny is good and all, but that’s…
Get Out – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) You know how in 2009 people said Orphan would negatively affect adoption rates and how movies like Split give a bad name to those with dissociative identity disorder? Well, Get Out may likely make Black men think twice when it comes to dating white women. Noted Actor(s) Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) |…
Una Noche – Overview/Review (with Spoilers)
Overview An unfamiliar tale, with known consequences. We are introduced to the lives of three young people seeking more than what Havana, Cuba can offer. Their plan of escape is the primary focus of the movie. Review I personally haven’t seen this story done and off the bat, the idea is quite refreshing. Also, the…
Mississippi Damned – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) Mississippi Damned is the rare drama with a predominately Black cast which doesn’t feature comic reliefs but strictly dramatic performances. One heartbreak after another to the point where you’re glad some storylines aren’t as developed as they could and should have been. Trigger Warning(s): Movie Contains Suggested Child Molestation Noted Actor(s)…
Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) Despite being a devoted Kristen Stewart fan, I skipped this movie. However, considering the performances, topics, and dialog of this movie, I’ve come to regret that. Trigger Warning(s): Gun Violence Noted Actor(s) Billy Lynn (Joe Alwyn) | Shroom (Vin Diesel) | Crack (Beau Knapp) | Dime (Garret Hedlund) | Albert (Chris…
One Night (1 Night) – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
This movie might be a pleasant surprise. For one, it features a romance which isn’t about unrealistic showboating and over the top grandeur gestures. Rather, it’s heavily about communicating with someone you like or love and attempting to work through the kinks in your relationship. Leading to perhaps one of the most likable romantic films I’ve seen.
John Wick (2014) – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) While John Wick certainly isn’t something to be considered noteworthy in terms of the violence, choreography, or story, like the majority of action movies released, it is a decent way to spend almost two hours of your lifespan. Noted Actor(s) John Wick (Keanu Reeves) | Marcus (Willem Dafoe) | Viggo (Michael…
Imperial Dreams – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Imperial Dreams shows the struggles which come from trying to get yourself together after going to jail. For with no one wanting to hire a felon, you struggle with trying to stay out of what got you put into prison in the first place. Add in you don’t have any sort of assistance from the…
iBoy – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) After Take the Ten, I had a real fear that as Netflix tries to beef up the amount of original content it had, it would focus solely on quantity over quality. However, to my surprise, despite a corny title, and Maisie Williams, arguably, not having the best filmography, they have put…
Hidden Figures – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) Hidden Figures is a feel good movie. One that exemplifies what the term edutainment means and there ain’t a bad performance in it. However, don’t expect it to win any major awards. Trigger Warning(s): Racism (Microaggressive Depiction – No Violence) Noted Actor(s) Katherine Johnson (Taraji P. Henson) | Dorothy Vaughn (Octavia…
A Monster Calls – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) There are many ways to handle the death of a person, be it in a movie or in life and through animation, the point of view of a son, the point of view of a mother, and each finding their own way to deal with things, we are given a story…
Elle – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) If you thought Gone Girl was twisted, oh you haven’t seen nothing yet. Trigger Warning(s): Rape (Multiple Scenes) | Domestic Abuse (Verbal and Physical) Noted Actor(s) Michèle (Isabelle Huppert) | Richard (Charles Berling)
Kizumonogatari: Part 2 (Nekketsu-hen) – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) In a sort of weird way, Kizumonogatari, thanks to us witnessing the birth of Hanekawa’s crush on Koyomi, sort of becomes a romance. Just one which features more violence than gore than your usual monster/ girl romantic movie. Trigger Warning(s): Blood (Excessive) | Gore (Body Mutilation, intestines being exposed)
The Diary of a Teenage Girl – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview Once again, a coming of age deals with one losing their virginity and, as with most coming of age films featuring girls, a man much older than the girl is the one ushering her into womanhood. But something is different about The Diary of a Teenage Girl. Something talked about more below. Trigger Warning(s):…
Batman vs. Robin – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview Batman vs. Robin is a decent movie which feels like a few episodes of the animated series mashed together. Director: Jay Oliva Writer: J.M. DeMatteis Review (with Spoilers) – Below
Done In – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Done In truly is the type of film you want to see carefully expanded. For with it only being 7 minutes of film, and one minute of credits, it truly doesn’t feel like enough.
Veronica Mars: The Movie – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview Every fan of a cult hit wishes for their favorite show to get the proper send-off, and Veronica Mars: The Movie doesn’t just give Veronica one more case, but presents an argument for why it should be renewed like Family Guy was. Review (with Spoilers) In September it will be a decade since Veronica Mars…
20th Century Women – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview/ Review (with Spoilers) 20th Century Women is so many things at once. It is a coming of age story, a sort of mid-life crisis, a story dealing with women in the heart of the sexual revolution and the rise of feminism. All of which it does strangely well despite splitting its focus. Noted Actor(s)…
The Little Prince – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview Sometimes it is easy to underestimate the impact or potential stories animated films could have, especially when they seem to be made for children, but The Little Prince rivals, if not surpasses, any and all animated media you might be used to.
Thor: The Dark World – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Thor is very much an action/ comedy, which has a dash of romance, family drama, but at the same time a sense of interdependency which makes it so each character’s role is essential for Thor to be the hero.
The Hateful Eight – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview I want you to imagine Agatha Christie, of And Then There Were None fame, and picture her writing a pseudo-western with a little less mystery than what she is known for, but a whole lot more violence and the use of the N-word. Pretty much, that would equate to what you get in The…
Philomena – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview After 50 years of struggling with a broken heart, a mother goes to find the boy snatched from her. Review (with Spoilers) With this and Nebraska, I will have seen every Oscar nominee for Best performance in a lead or supporting role and, to me, the lead actress category is between Amy Adams and…
Piper & Finding Dory – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Both Piper and Finding Dory are bound to drive you to tears and wish the theater had a 13+ viewing of the movie available.
HAL (Haru) – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview A robot assists in the grieving process, helping someone cope with the tragic death of a significant other. Review (with Spoilers) I found out about HAL randomly, watched the first few minutes, saw the cool art style, saw robots, and figured it should be worth reviewing. Now, after watching the OVA, I feel drained…
I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview I Am Big Bird focuses just as much on Caroll Spinney, as it does Big Bird’s place in the illustrious history of Sesame Street. Director: Dave LaMattina & Chad N. Walker Writer: Dave LaMattina Review (with Spoilers) – Below
Kill Your Darlings – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview Love awakens a writer, while his love interest seeks to destroy and push away, everything he has. Review (with Spoilers) I should probably note, right off the bat, you mention any of the names in the film besides Allen Ginsberg and I will say “who?” And I note this because it seems very much…
Sicario – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)
Overview It has been long established that the process to legally bring down a criminal is a long and expensive process, yet crossing Ts and dotting Is are part of many people’s jobs. For one agent, though, she grows weary of cleaning up the mess once it hits American soil and volunteers to take part…