On Sunday April 26, 2020, HBO released a drama directed by Corey Finlay that starred Hugh Jackman, Allison Janney, Ray Ramona and others. The film is based on the true story of the largest school-system embezzlement in U.S. history. It depicts Frank Tassone who went from a well respected superintendent to a disgraced felon. We also see the downfall of the other staff members who were involved, but the main story revolves around Frank Tassone.

Corey Finley has returned after his surprisingly strong debut feature, Thoroughbreds. I can report with gratitude that Finley has crafted yet again another very engaging film that exceeded expectations.

The film did not drag once for me. Finley seems to becoming more comfortable with his style. There are a few sequences that had no dialogue, just the presence of a great score and careful camera work. It is very well directed and edited cleverly. Given this touchy subject matter, Finley is still able to make it his own. Blending dark humor and underlying suspense. The film delves into the reliability of our school system and those who are there to defend and preserve it. It paints not a pretty picture, but an honest picture of our harsh reality.

Of course I can’t review this film without bringing up Hugh Jackman’s performance. Quite possibly his best to date. I say that because we really haven’t seen Jackman like this before. We are so used to him playing the same type of good guy character, and his role in this film is staggeringly different. He still has his charm, and likability. But there many times in this film where he is just something else, which makes him all the more disturbing. The supporting cast also chips in, namely Allison Janney, Ray Ramona, and Geraldine Viswanathan.

The script is riveting, which includes a great monologue from Hugh Jackman which is hard to forget.

As far as flaws go, I only have a few. Most of them aren’t worth mentioning since they ultimately don’t hinder my enjoyment of the film. Although some of the scenes in the third act do suffer just a little bit.

Overall, Bad Education is another impressive piece from Corey Finley, finely directed with beautiful cinematography, and anchored by an astounding central performance by Hugh Jackman. You would be a fool to miss this one.

I have grown a love and appreciation for true crime tv shows. The first true-crime/documentary style show I discovered was Making a Murderer. Although it was a little biased, there was always something about it that was truly gripping. After finishing Tiger King, I can say with confidence that this had a similar effect.

After the series aired on March 20th, 2020, it seemed like it didn’t take too long before it gained a lot of traction. But I didn’t think it would be as popular as it is now. Everyone I came in contact with had seen the show or at least heard about it. It without a doubt took Netflix by storm. So it was only a matter of time before I decided to check it out myself.

Tiger King documents the true story of Zookeeper Joe Exotic. A pretty cut and dry premise at first glance, but the series reveals it to be so much more. We learn about the criminal underworld of the exotic animal breeding and the people behind these popular animal parks. It’s not only Joe Exotic who is interesting to watch and learn about. But also Carole Baskin, Bhagavan Antle, Jeff Lowe, and a handful of others.

This show is ridiculously entertaining. This is an extremely watchable series. Even if you were to remove all the lawsuits, the hire-for-murder plot, and any of the juicy details, this is still a pretty engaging watch. The lifestyle, personality, and history of some these people are just incredible. It’s as if they are playing characters in a movie, especially Joe. What Joe does through out this for himself is so hard for one to fathom. Each episode, we are presented with something new about these people, and it always ends on a cliffhanger.

My one stipulation is the ending. Not that it was bad. You see before the credits roll as documentaries go something is said in text to give you background on what is happening currently. But there was a sort of call to action that regarded tigers, a specific number of tigers in captivity in the US. This didn’t feel like a poignant ending.

Nevertheless, this is very entertaining show that is worth checking out. Heavily reccomended.

I know what your probably thinking, why are you reviewing a film that came out 9 years ago? Well a friend of mine recommended it and said I should review it. So that is what I’m doing.

Limitless is a sci-fi thriller starring Bradley Cooper, Abby Cornish, and Robert De Nero. It follows Edward, who is a unmotivated writer who is struggling with relationship problems and unemployment. Edward runs into an old friend who gives him a drug that supposedly is able to activate and engage 100% of the brain’s power. His performance is quickly enhanced and his life changes rapidly. Until the side effects kick in, and shadowy men start hunting him.

That is a pretty basic synopsis of the plot. Once again I will discuss what worked and what didn’t.

Bradley Cooper is very good is this film. There are multiple scenes where he is able to be quick witted and clever. He has a bit of dramatic moments too. Abby Cornish is good as well. Despite De Niro’s minimal presence on screen, he is able to make the best of it. One scene in particular that I like is when Carl Van Loon is talking down to Edward about having a god given talent, but not working hard for it.

This is also a very good looking stylized film. When Edward is on the drug there is a brightness and the colors really pop out. Some of the scenes where tense.

My biggest gripe with this film is the characters. Bradley Cooper may be entertaining, but that doesn’t mean that I loved his character. From the beginning we are thrust into Edwards current life situation which is pretty bad. We aren’t given much to work with in terms of his character, just him recalling a bad night with his ex-girlfriend. His current girlfriend isn’t given much background either. As the film progresses, Edward gets more and more hooked on the drug. What does he decide to do with this new found power? Sleep with loose women, get money, and improve his occupation. Admittedly, that last one isn’t so bad. But for the most part he’s living his life like Jordan Belfort. Any complex idea that the film may have been going for, is completely squandered by the motives of our main character. Edward may be quick-witted, but that doesn’t equate to character depth or an amazing performance.

This sci-fi flick is broken down to a thriller about a man who is trying to get away from the people that are hunting him down. It’s not thought provoking in the slightest. I would say that this is wasted potential, but I didn’t really take the premise of the film too seriously to begin with. It’s not juggling any important themes, and it just reveals itself to be pretty hollow.

If your reading this and think that I hate this film, I don’t. Maybe I’m just reading into this movie too much. Honestly if your at home and interested in watching a movie that is fun and doesn’t exert much brain power, than this is the one for you. You could fold your laundry or finish cleaning and have this on in the background. However, if you are looking for a sci-fi film that will leave you with something to think about, and is impactful, than you are in the wrong place.

This was the first film I have seen this year. Unfortunately the ones I am anticipating most won’t be coming to theaters anytime soon because of what’s happening. Nevertheless I am glad I watched something this year.

I first discovered Leigh Whannell through Upgrade, a film that I found surprisingly underwhelming. After doing some research, I found out that he also wrote and co-wrote such films as Insidious & Saw. The only thing that made me interested in this film was Elizabeth Moss, who is a very talented actress. So what were my thoughts? In order to answer that I will discuss what worked and what didn’t. There will be spoilers

Something that I will acknowledge from Whannell is that The Invisible Man is a very good looking film. The colors on some occasions blend very well, and there is a clearness that is maintained through out each scene. The lighting also worked really well to the directors advantage. Overall, Elizabeth Moss gives a great performance. The material given to her might not have been the best, but she still did a fine job. You understand her situation and you empathize with her. Moss gives quiet nuances that enhance her performance greatly. Whannell was able to use the room in which we were viewing the main character, to it’s potential. It was subtle, but able to create incredible tension. Those moments were the best in the entire film.

Now here are my main problems. Earlier I said that there was incredible moments of tension. That is still true. But the payoff was awful. There is a scene where Cecilia is fighting this invisible man and he just tosses her around like she’s a sack a flowers. He picks her up by her neck. It was as if he had super strength which is completely ridiculous. A scene near the end of the film features Cecilia trying to fight of the invisible man in a mental hospital, while he picks off every single security guard in sight. This seen is laughably terrible. It’s still a human being in this invisible costume how does that work? We are also watching the usual horror cheese and cliches. The dialogue is half-baked. The supporting cast, thankfully the few of them, are pretty run-of-the-mill and annoying. The score is over bearing, and ruins the tension that had been building. It also makes for a few serious sequences to be painfully overdramatic.

I feel very conflicted when I think of this movie. There are things that I really liked, but also things that were horribly executed that I cannot deny. Overall The Invisible Man contains some interesting ideas and dives into past and abusive relationships. It has a great female lead performance, amazing tension and beautiful cinematography. Sadly it’s weighed down by an overblown score, bad dialogue, bloated runtime, and multiple deliveries of bad payoffs. I’m not gonna dismiss Leigh Whannel as a bad director, I actually think the opposite. I will be keeping my eye on his future projects.

Gaspar Noé is the one of the most polarizing directors I have come across, some have even referred to him as a shock poet. His films whether I like them or not, will always be special to me because they exposed me to a type of cinema that I was not used to. A common term may be “Extreme” cinema.

I had come across Climax right after I had wrapped up my favorites from 2019. But if I were to go back and tweak my list, oddly enough this would get the number 1 spot. Why? Well let me explain.

The plot of the film isn’t the hardest to follow. A dance troupe in France are rehearsing in an empty school building and have a party right after. Everything seems fine until it is revealed that the sangria has been spiked with LSD. There are a few sequences involving dialogue between our dancers where we receive a little bit of insight of who they are. The first shot in the building shows us a dance sequence, which is stunning. For me its one of the most well choreographed dances scenes I’ve ever seen. Than the characters drink the sangria, and before you know it this fun little dance party is turned into a hellish nightmare. We get a feel of who these dancers really are, their true colors are revealed. Their insecurities and whatever they have suppressed deep within themselves are now put at the forefront of the limelight. Social Norms and morality are quickly evaporated as we see the characters revert back to primal instincts. It could be saying that by means of drugs we can unlock our true potential or that we could lose ourselves to the point where nothing else is of any importance. The building in which are characters are interacting in, becomes a prison of their subconscious.

This film is a complete sensory overload. It assaults all of our 5 senses ferociously. There are two quotes in this film that pop up kind of randomly through out the film. The first being “Birth is a unique opportunity” and the other “Death is an extraordinary experience”. I don’t think in this case that birth and death is limited to a biological standpoint. When the sangria kicks in, we are seeing the death of our characters fake self, followed by the eventual birth of their true self.

We are also creatures of our own demise. How that level of true ecstasy while may seem attainable is ultimately too much for us.

The camera latches onto the personality of each and every single character that it follows, perfectly mimicking how they are feeling. The cinematography features vibrant colors, immersing you in the whole atmosphere. The sound design is brilliant, upping the ante as the film treads along.

People who are fans of Gaspar Noé have said that Climax, is not as thematic compared to his other work. But I feel that people are not giving this enough credit. It made me uncomfortable the first time I watched it, but after multiple viewings I don’t pass it off as just pretentious. Visually it’s telling us things that we aren’t comfortable talking about. It’s easily Gaspar Noé’s best looking film and my personal favorite.

Overall Climax felt more than a film to me, it was an experience. It is a horrific acid trip, an orgy of hysteria and hallucination. At times the camera work felt like it broke the barrier and transcended cinema.

Not long ago, I was surfing IMDB looking for something to watch. I had stumbled upon a film that was iconic, and it was a must see for true film lovers. The film was called The Terminator and I gave it a watch. Needless to say I was not impressed as much as everyone else was. There are numerous films out there that are extremely popular that I still haven’t seen, so I’m over here playing catch-up. I didn’t anticipate that I would be so underwhelmed by a film beloved by the vast majority of people who saw it. It wasn’t bad, but not great in my opinion.

People have always been conflicted with sharing their true feelings about a number of topics. It is not limited to one. In the case of film, I believe there is nothing more important than sharing your own opinion. Of course there will always be opposition. People will be quick to label you as a bandwagon or contrarian for feeling a certain way. A prime example of this is film critic Armond White. Armond White is an american film critic, and although I don’t know much about him as a person, he is known to have some pretty hot takes. He has in fact been labeled during a time as a contrarian. I discovered him when I was sorting through the Rotten Tomatoes reviews of the film Parasite. This particular picture actually garnered awards such as Best Directing, Best Picture, and Best adapted screenplay. It also happened to be one of my favorites of the year. Armond White said in a scathing review “Bong himself is a political con artist. He pits a family of grifters in opposition to elites, as though clarifying the easily exploited social conflicts frequently repeated in the media.” At first glance I found this reaction to be pretty pretentious, but as I read his full review it made a little bit more sense what his stance was.

If you hate a movie that everyone else loves, or loves a movies that everyone else hates, Well that’s all fine. But if you want people to take you seriously, you gotta explain yourself. No one is obligated to do so, but I believe if you do it will create room for discussion. That’s part of what film is about, everything for that matter. Discourse. If you tell your friends or peers you don’t like something, chances are they will ask why. In the beginning, I said I watched The Terminator and it didn’t impress me as much as I expected. I felt like I committed a crime giving it a 3 out of 5 instead of a higher score. But as I looked around and found similar opinions, I felt a little comforted. Now that might not always happen. People you look up to might think otherwise about a film, and thats okay. Pretending that you love something when you really don’t is one of the worst feelings. So don’t hide it. Express how you truly feel about something. At the end of the day people might not be fully convinced by what you have to say, but they will be introduced to a new perspective. That’s the beauty of having a difference of opinion.

Be firm about it and don’t let others change it.

While I was sitting with my family the other day, I couldn’t help but notice my niece crying and screaming uncontrollably. While I love her to pieces, I can’t even imagine what it would be like to take upon that burden. From time to time, I get asked the question from my friends and peers “Do you want kids?” To that I respond with a resounding no. Occasionally, I think about how nice it might be and how it has the power to change my life for the better. But then I watch something like Rosemary’s Baby, and it keeps my priorities in check. Obviously using a film like that may be a little irrational. But there are too many films out there, some even pretty realistic, that make it seem like having a child would be a living hell. Today, I’m gonna share of few of them.

1. Rosemary’s Baby

I mean of course I have to discuss this one. The story is about a couple that moves into a New York apartment who want to start a family together. Rosemary gets pregnant and things slowly but surely go awry. Directed by Roman Polanski. Starring Mia Farrow, John Casavetes. This truly is one of the scariest films of all time. The reason why it merit’s the title of being a horror classic is because it has such a n eerie atmosphere, creepy imagery, and a very committed performance from Mia Farrow. The utter emotional and mental turmoil she faces onscreen is devastating, all thanks to the baby. It is close to impossible to watch this film and not think about it for days on end.

2. We Need to Talk About Kevin

I brought up this film in my previous list, but I cannot stress how good it is. It is sort of the same concept as Rosemary’s Baby, where we have mother being haunted by the child and what it invites in it’s presence. The son in this film challenges the mother on virtually every level you can imagine. The film acts as a timeline for the boy, where we see him as a baby to when he is an adult. There is no one specific event that reveals him to be a psychopath. It is a slow burn in every sense of the word. If this film doesn’t make you rethink having a child, I don’t know what will.

3. A Clockwork Orange

Set in a futuristic version of London, the film follows Alex and his group of friends engaging in what they refer to as “Ultravoilence”. Alex is than pursued by the police, and institutionalized. There he is tested and experimented on to be rid of his violent and sadistic ways. When he is released back into the world, he comes to find that those he has hurt aren’t done with him yet. It is masterfully crafted from a filmmaking standpoint directed by the ingenious Stanley Kubrick. Hailed as one of the most controversial films ever made, and with good reason. Alex is truly terrifying. The question of how can someone this young could be so depraved? Is asked multiple times in the film.

4. The Exorcist

Widely regarded is the scariest film of all time, The Exorcist holds up surprisingly well today. Tells the tale of 12-year old Regan MacNeil who begins to have changes in her personality and is soon discovered that she is possessed by the devil. Her mother Chris eventually enlists the help of father Damien Karras who is already having a crisis of faith, to exorcise the demon from within her. Directed by William Friedkin and adapted by the novel William Peter Blatty who also produced the film. While for the majority of the film follows father Damien Karras, there is still enough time given to the daughter before and after she was possessed. Ellen Burstyn gives a very real performance as the mother, and you quickly feel bad for her.

5. Hereditary

Now, once again I brought up this film in this last list. But even though it came out in 2018, it has still maintained a pretty good following. The ideas and concept’s in this film that remain under the surface may be a little harder to grasp, but at it’s core this film is a very dark and depressing family drama. Not only does the death of matriarch have an effect on the family, but there is a sequence later on in the film that is life scarring. Toni Colette gives a career best, and the rest of the cast does a more than adequate job. Director Ari Aster revealed that the film was also inspired from his own family. Either way this film is truly horrifying as we see this family breakdown and deteriorate.

Admittedly, most of the films I have provided are in fact horror films. But if you are someone who really wants kids, I don’t think you could watch these and not that have a little bit of cold feet. Of course there are films out there that feature charming kids with many wonderful personalities. However, I don’t think it is a coincidence that there have been a variety of films centered around or that include disturbed kids and troubled teens. I urge those of you who desire to have children, to take a look at these films. On the contrary, if you are pregnant, not the best idea to check these out.

We can all admit that we are going through a very trying time right now. It still remains difficult to adapt to our current situation. But on the bright side, we do have more time to watch movies and be entertained for a specific amount of time. If you are having trouble finding something to watch allow me to provide so of the best movies I have found via streaming services. That includes Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, etc.

1. The Social Network

Directed by David Fincher and starring Jessie Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Armie Hammer. The Social Network tells the real life story of Mark Zuckerberg and the creation of Facebook. Expertly crafted by fincher, the film not only shines as a compelling drama about Mark Zuckerberg and those he is associated with, but doubles as a character study into the minds of one of the most influential men in tech. It features a career best in Jesse Eisenberg, as well as a powerful supporting role in Andrew Garfield. It also happens to be a riveting screenplay made by Aaron Sorkin. It truly is a must that is available on Netflix.

2. Lady Bird

A brilliant coming of age film directed by Greta Gerwig. Lady bird follows Marion McPherson played by Saoirse Ronan, a catholic school girl who navigates friends, family, school, and religion. Directed smoothly by Gerwig who manages to give you the feeling that you are in Sacramento, CA. Gerwig perfectly captures the warmth of California. Empathetically executed from the supporting cast of Laurie Metcalf, Beanie Feldstein, Timothy Chalamet. But of course the show-stopper is from our main female protagonist Saoirse Ronan, who is able to connect and resonate with the audience to an outstanding degree. Written and directed with ease, beautifully performed, it’s everything you want in a movie. This is available on Amazon Prime.

3. We Need to Talk About Kevin

A film that is not as well known to the ones I have recommended thus far, but I believe deserves some appreciation. A psychological indie thriller starring Tilda Swinton, Ezra Miller, and John C. Reilly. Tilda Swinton plays Eva who recalls her experiences with her volatile and depraved son leading up to a horrific incident that took place. The films acts as a slow burn, tension building experience. Tilda Swinton’s character is so well realized and gives such a good performance that you can’t help but feel for her character. Every actor that plays Kevin at a different age is also good, namely Ezra Miller. John C. Reilly also chips in. Overall it is a nail-biting, tension fueled experience that will continue even after the end credit roll. This film is available on Hulu.

4. Hereditary

Without a doubt one of the best horror films of the decade. Ari Aster’s magnificent debut feature film will haunt you days after viewing it. After the death of a family patriarch, the daughter Ellen begins to find out secrets of the family’s ancestry. From start to finish Aster immerses the audience in a gloomy, dread filled atmosphere. There are beautiful long and wide takes that give you a feel of the environment our characters are in, and also send shivers down you’re spine. Aster is very meticulous and knows the right moment when to reveal something to the audience. Each one of the actors in the family does a great job in there roles. But it is Toni Colette who steals the show and gives one of the best performances of 2018. This film is not for everyone, some may be turned off be how unsettling it can be. But if you are a horror buff or fan of movies, definitely check this one out. This is available on Amazon prime.

5. Inception

Christopher Nolan’s Imaginative and thought-provoking thriller, Inception. Inception, tells the story of Cobb who is a professional thief who extracts information from the subconscious of his targets. He is offered a job that requires him to plant an idea is someones mind which is seemingly an impossible task. The film benefits from an ensemble cast of Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Michael Caine, Tom hardy, Cillian Murphy and others. Nolan is able to take the viewer into this world that is vast and ever changing. Visually it is mesmerizing. Hans Zimmer’s masterful score also elevates the magnitude of the film. It’s consistently engaging, unpredictable, and exciting. This is available on Netflix.

6. 10 Things I Hate About You

Released in 1999, 10 Things I Hate About You was directed by Gil Junger and stars Health Ledger, Julia Styles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Although the plot is fairly simple and pretty formulaic, it is better than most rom-coms out there. It is anchored by charming performances from our two leads Ledger and Styles. That is quite honestly what makes this film more than your average cheesy rom-com. If you are craving a healthy dose of nostalgia and in the mood for something a bit lighter, than this is the movie for you. It is available on Disney+.

7. Nightcrawler

For all the lovers of Jake Gyllenhaal, this is another fantastic performance from the man himself. Directed by Dan Gilroy, Nightcrawler follows Louis Bloom who is desperate to make a living, surviving on petty theft. When suddenly he finds himself thrust in the world of crime journalism. It not only shows the beautiful night life of L.A., but it is also a great character study. It also peeks behind the curtain of the tv news business and the implications of it. The screenplay is very well crafted only adding to the sheer madness of Gyllenhall’s character. It’s tense tightly edited to put the viewers at the edge of there seat. Overall its a wild ride. This film can be found on IMDB tv where you can watch it for free with ads.

8. Booksmart

Olivia Wilde’s feature length debut, brings us another heartwarming coming of age film. Booksmart tells the story of Amy and Molly who are academic overachievers. On their last day of school they realized they should’ve spent more time trying to have fun than working so much. That night they decide to do everything they missed out on in the 4 years they went to school in one night. The two females leads give honest and empathetic performances, they have undeniable chemistry. It also is filmed with tenderness, you get a sense of the location they are in. It’s very relatable and there is something in this film for everyone. This is available on Hulu.

9. Train To Busan

Probably not the most uplifting film to watch, especially right now. But Train To Busan is one of the best modern zombie movies made. It starts off with our main protagonist and his daughter taking a speed train from Seoul to Busan when suddenly a zombie-virus breaks out. No time is wasted as to what the virus is or where it came from. This is a just a straight up zombie movie. Yeon Sang-ho does a terrific job at building tension at the beginning and preserving that sense of impending danger through out the runtime. It never drags, the violence is gruesome, as it should be. Not much else needs to be said. If you are looking to be entertained, than this is the way to go. This film can be found on Netflix.

10. 12 Angry Men

A film that has stood the test of time, loved by both audiences and critics. 12 Angry Men is one of the best drama’s of all time. Filmed for almost the entire runtime in one location, Sidney Lumet is able to use it to it’s advantage. The story follows a jury of 12 men who will decide if a young Spanish-American boy is guilty of killing his father or not. What seems to be an open and shut case from the men is quickly halted when one of them suspected otherwise. This film contains some of the best dialogue ever put to film. It’s obviously another ensemble cast, but the two who give the best performances are Henry Fonda and Lee J. Cobb. Every time a new perspective of the case is introduced, we get a very interesting look at the true colors and intentions of these men. It’s one of the greatest movies of all time and it is definitely worth a watch.

While after viewing these you might like more than others, these films should be enough to distract you for a little while.

Hello, My name is Cedric Hardy and I love movies. I’m 18 years old and I live in Vancouver, WA. I created this blog to share my love for film and ones that find have some depth. Here you will find reviews, lists, analysis, and further discourse on tv and movies. My letterboxd is cedriccinema.