Review by Camden Ferrell

Starring Marvel star, Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), 21 Bridges is a police thriller directed by Brian Kirk. It has a fairly standard plot, and it may stumble on its own narrative leaps, but this movie is still a really energetic and enjoyable film.
 
This film follows NYPD detective Andre Davis as he hunts for criminals who killed eight police officers. In order to do this, Davis shuts down Manhattan island and closes it off while he embarks on a race against the clock to find the wanted men. This premise isn’t anything original at all. It may take the standard crime drama to relatively new heights, but it feels very familiar for the most part.
 
The writing isn’t especially strong in this film, but it’s clear that wasn’t the point of the film. It’s full of cliché and tired dialogue, but thankfully this is overcome by the other elements of the scene. The film may come off as implausible, and it does seem very unrealistic at times, but the movie wasn’t trying to go for realism at all. The story itself is straightforward, and even though it has its twists and surprises, it is all mostly foreseeable. However, this doesn’t noticeably hinder the experience of watching the scene.
 
Boseman leads this film, and he does an adequate job for what it’s worth. It’s nothing groundbreaking or particularly special, but it’s just enough to carry the film through its runtime. Stephan James (If Beale Street Could Talk) plays one of the wanted criminals in the film, and he gives a surprisingly good performance. His character isn’t well-developed, and he doesn’t have any standout moments in the first half, but James has some truly amazing scenes in the latter half of the film. His dynamic with the rest of the cast is fantastic, and he instills a lot of life into the film. 

What the movie lacked in complexity, it more than made up for with its execution. The blocking of the scenes was fairly apt, and it generated suspense like it was supposed to. This is one of those movies with constant action and kinetic energy, and that makes it such an easy film to breeze through and enjoy. It’s a well-paced movie that doesn’t feel overlong until its final act.
 
However, the denouement of this film really minimizes what worked so well before it. The movie goes for a cliché twist that comes off as derivative and boring. It isn’t surprising, and it doesn’t give the film as much narrative depth as it thought. It may make some thematic sense, but it really bogged down an otherwise fast-paced film.
 
This movie also features many themes that are important today. It tackles themes of morality, corruption, economic struggles, and compassion. It isn’t revolutionary or particularly loud with what it says, but it is still there. It is mostly muddled by the constant action and shootouts on screen, but the attempt is present.
 
21 Bridges makes for an exciting time at the theaters this weekend. In a weekend with Frozen II and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, this movie should be able to provide some R-rated thrills for an adult audience.
 
21 Bridges is in theaters November 22nd.
 
Rating: 3.5/5

Review by Dan Skip Allen

Fred Rogers was and still is an icon to many who grew up watching his show on PBS as a child. He saw the good in every one and inspired so many to be better than they were. On his show, he discussed divorce, racism and war — subjects thought to be taboo around children. Nothing was off limits to him, as he brought these topics and many more up as often and as subtle and compassionate way as possible. He did many many shows during his time on the air which inspired millions of kids and adults to sing the famous song "It's A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood".

This film is about one man of the thousands that met Fred Rogers during the tenure of his show. Matthew Rhys (The Americans) portrays Lloyd Vogel, a writer for the magazine Esquire. He is tasked to write an exposé on Mr. Rogers. In the process he gets more than he bargained for. Mr. Rogers, played by Tom Hanks, turns the tables on him. If ever there was someone to embody Fred Rogers more than Hanks, other than Rogers himself, it would be shocking. He is perfectly cast as this beacon of hope and happiness. Hanks will surely garner some Oscar consideration for Best Supporting Actor for this incredible turn. The facial ticks and the movements are spot on, as well as his piano playing and singing. Hanks truly is the total package as Mister Rogers.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood is based on Fred Rogers real life friendship with journalist Tom Junod. This is more of the Rhys character's story than Fred Rogers's. His family situation is nothing to shake a stick at. Anyone can relate to the difficulties of marriage, fatherhood, stress at work and parents we wished we didn't have. I for one sure as hell can. This story was like looking in a mirror at my own relationship with my father: how I still don't forgive him for what he did to my family when I was a child. It hit me over the head like a ton of bricks, and then of course I started turning into him, making me very mad at myself. Fred Rogers helps us see the best in ourselves and in others. It was a very emotional scene when Vogel realized he had it all wrong. Mr. Rogers has that effect on people, and that is what makes this film so effective.

Review by Sean Boelman

​If there is one good thing about the script, it is that it gives a greater arc to some of the supporting characters from the first film. Elsa’s arc was basically completed, so the sequel spends a lot more time developing Anna and showing her growth. This is a bit of a lose-lose situation, though, because while it does give more development to a different character, Anna simply isn’t as fascinating as Elsa, if only because she doesn’t have any powers.

The returning voice cast obviously seems to have enjoyed getting to return to their roles, their enthusiasm going a long way in making the movie more enjoyable. Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell bring a lot of emotion to their performances as sisters Elsa and Anna, and their chemistry together is wonderful. Josh Gad is just as funny as ever as the comedic relief character Olaf, and Jonathan Groff is also very funny this time around. The new additions to the cast, such as Sterling K. Brown and Jason Ritter, aren’t as well-used, but are still a joy when they are in the film.

Of course, the movie contains the same level of wonderful and extravagant animation that audiences have come to associate with the Disney name. Some of the shots in the film are absolutely breathtaking, especially those during the scene set to “Show Yourself”. While the dark and moody nature of the movie doesn’t work quite as well as the bright and bouncy visuals of the original, it still manages to be quite aesthetically-pleasing.

Not quite a total miss, but lacking a lot of what made the original so successful, Frozen II doesn’t take the universe in the direction in which it needed to be going. Though there are still some good things to be found in the film, it is unlikely to be as widely beloved.

Frozen II opens in theaters on November 22.

Rating: 2.5/5

Review by Sean Boelman

​One of the most intriguing things about this movie is that it does not present Rogers as the protagonist, but rather, as a mythic-like guide who leads the protagonist on his journey of self-realization. The protagonist’s arc, while relatively obvious from the onset of the film, is extremely compelling, taking the beats of an average redemption arc and somehow making them feel even more heartfelt.

Matthew Rhys is phenomenal as the journalist whose heart must be warmed over the course of the movie. Despite the fact that audiences won’t know much about this character going in and will likely care more about seeing Mister Rogers, Rhys manages to elevate the material even further, making the character super sympathetic. Of course, as one would expect, Tom Hanks’s turn as the minister-turned-performer is scene-stealing, capturing all of the iconic mannerisms to a pitch-perfect level of detail.

Visually, Heller’s style that was evident in her previous two films carries over in a way that is even more refined. Small but complex touches to the way in which the movie is structured, such as transitions taking the form of a crane through a miniaturized neighborhood, really help absorb the audience into the world of the film. Additionally, the recreations of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, thanks to both Hanks’s performance and Heller’s direction, are absolutely spot-on.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood may not be what audiences expect, but it is what they have always wanted to have. Encouraging viewers to make the most of their beautiful day, this is the type of uplifting crowd-pleaser that Rogers would have been proud to see.

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood opens in theaters on November 22.

Rating: 4.5/5

Review by Sean Boelman

Hoping to give fans a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes life of the famous wrestler and MMA fighter, The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father’s Eyes is a new sports documentary offering a biography of the athlete, albeit with a more personal touch. However, despite the wealth of the filmmakers had at their disposal, this ultimately comes across as a bland attempt at making a celebrity seem more “down-to-earth”.

As one would expect, the film explores Rousey’s rise to success and the various obstacles she has faced along her journey. A particular focus is given in the movie to Rousey’s relationship with her father, who died when she was young and played an integral role in her desire to become an athlete. As one of the world’s most famous and talented fighters competing today, the story of how she got to this level is certainly going to be of interest to her fans. 

One of the biggest problems with this film is that it is unable to feel deep enough to make the audience identify with the subject on a deeper level. Although fans are likely to have a pre-existing connection with Rousey, other viewers are unlikely to find themselves particularly moved by what they see in this movie, as it fails to provide any insight into her life or career beyond the superficial. 

As the title implies, the film’s emotional crux comes from Rousey trying to live her life in a way that would have made her late father proud. While this does humanize Rousey and make her story feel a lot more sympathetic, it isn’t always used effectively. Some of the interviews in which Rousey is reflecting on her life and thinking about her father end up feeling quite artificial, as if they exist for the sole purpose of tugging at the audience’s heartstrings.
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​On a technical level, the movie feels like it was made decades ago, the visuals looking like they were shot and edited on technology that has long been obsolete. In the beginning of the film, Gary Stretch, who also narrates, explains how he was drawn to Rousey’s story when he became friends with her. What viewers will soon come to realize is that, no matter how interesting the story is, Stretch does not have the ability to tell it in a cinematic way.

The interviews in the movie are shot in a way that does not follow the conventions of standard framing practices, and the results are not aesthetically appealing in any way. Some of the interviews are out of focus, and others are composed in a way that results in the subjects’ heads being cut off. Stretch’s lack of experience is a filmmaker is obvious and frequently distracting.

That said, with Stretch’s background in sports (he was a boxer himself), one would think that the sports sequences would be more prevalent in the film than they are. Instead, the movie almost exclusively tells the emotional and human side of Rousey’s story. Additional fight scenes would have gone a long way in making the documentary more cinematic and enjoyable.

The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father’s Eyes has something to offer for fans, but will be of little appeal to anyone else. Because the film isn’t particularly well-made, it is disappointingly difficult to get invested in Rousey’s story.

The Ronda Rousey Story: Through My Father’s Eyes is available on VOD beginning November 19.

Rating: 2/5

Review by Sean Boelman

​Like any good issue of a tabloid magazine, there is so much energy in the narrative of this film that it often becomes dizzying. As one would expect, this is definitely a very eye-catching documentary, but beyond the facade of glossy editing and extremely well-framed interviews is the truth that this film exists for little reason other than to attempt to prove the importance of a medium that has since become so easy for anyone to replicate.

Much of the film’s runtime is dedicated to defending the work that the writers being interviewed did as “real journalism”. Still, it is easy to see past all of the euphemisms used by the interviewees like “ethically questionable” to realize that these people understand (and understood at the time) that what they did is completely unsound on an ethical level. It is absolutely baffling that the film tries to defend them even when the people themselves admit that what they did was wrong.

The other thing with which this film seems to be preoccupied is ensuring that it is relevant itself. Some of the stories addressed in the film, such as the Enquirer promoting Trump in the 2016 election, feel timely and interesting, yet only a measly ten minutes are spent on this. Others, like ones including Bill Cosby or Arnold Schwarzenneger, make the film seem like it was meant to come out years ago when those people were still dominating the headlines. 

Although some portions of the film are quite amusing, Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer is a largely disappointing documentary that doesn’t take full advantage of its subject material. By desperately trying to be relevant, Landsman instead delivers a film that feels more like fluff than breaking news.

Scandalous: The Untold Story of the National Enquirer is now in theaters and on VOD.

Rating: 2.5/5

Review by Sean Boelman

Review by Sean Boelman

Review by Camden Ferrell

After 16 years, Charlie’s Angels is the third film for the franchise that started with the classic television series. This newest film is written and directed by Elizabeth Banks (Pitch Perfect 2). While it is a fairly generic action flick, a fresh cast and mindlessly fun action make this movie more enjoyable than not.
 
This film follows a young engineer trying to stop her company from releasing a potentially dangerous invention of hers. When the whole situation gets out of hand, she receives help from Charlie’s Angels to find those involved and protect the world. This is a very standard action plot with tropes and clichés that have been seen too often, but it is an adequate set up for the mindless fun that follows.
 
This is a film that is very accessible. No prior knowledge of the series is required to enjoy the film, and that helps incorporate a new fan base to the franchise. However, for fans of the series, there are plenty of references and callbacks to satisfy viewers. It stands very well on its own, and it should be fun for all audiences young and old.
 
This film stars Kristen Stewart, Naomi Scott, and Ella Balinska. They are all very talented actresses, and this film gives all of them room to grow and explore more than they usually do. However, Scott’s performance is probably the best in the film. It’s fun as we get to see her character be introduced to this new world, and she is incredibly charming in her role. The supporting cast includes Elizabeth Banks, Patrick Stewart, and Sam Claflin, and they all give decent performances that don’t particularly stand out.

The main problem with the movie is how blandly it was written. It feels like every other action blockbuster, and it does very little to set itself apart. It tries to blend comedy and action, and it isn’t always successful. There are a handful of funny lines, but most of them fall flat. However, the cast does a pretty solid job at making the most of the material they have been given.
 
The movie is also full of many themes of feminism and empowerment. While these are admirable traits, the message is often too heavy-handed and on the nose. Subtlety is not the film’s strong suit, but it is still a noble attempt at creating powerful female characters. They are very strong-willed and serve as great role models for the younger members of the audience who will see this film.
 
The action in this movie can also feel a little underwhelming. It’s PG-13 rating proves itself to be a noticeable restriction in the way the fights were shot and choreographed. It can make the action feel very stale at times, but it’s hardly noticeable for the most part.
 
Charlie’s Angels is bound to please its target audience. Even if it is an unoriginal story, it features a fun cast and some timely themes. The action and comedy may sometimes fall flat, but the film still offers plenty of mindless fun for all audiences.
 
Charlie’s Angels is in theaters November 15th.
 
Rating: 3/5

Review by Dan Skip Allen