Greyhound stars Tom Hanks as Ernest Krause the commander of a destroyer, the USS Keeling (its call sign was Greyhound), leading a convoy of 37 Allied ships across the Atlantic in early 1942 (WWII) when the convoy are ambushed and attacked by German U-boats (pack of wolves).
Just Mercy follows young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) who after graduating from Harvard heads to Alabama to defend those wrongly condemned or who were not afforded proper representation, with the support of local advocate Eva Ansley (Larson). One of his first, and most incendiary, cases is that of Walter McMillian (Foxx), who, in 1987, was sentenced to die for the notorious murder of an 18-year-old girl, despite a preponderance of evidence proving his innocence.
Director :Sam Mendes Producer(s) : Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris, Jayne-Ann Tenggren, Callum McDougall and Brian Oliver
Cast : George MacKay, Dean-Charles Chapman, Mark Strong, Andrew Scott, Richard Madden, Claire Duburcq, with Colin Firth and Benedict Cumberbatch
Genre : War/Drama
Release Date : January 17, 2020
Music Director : Thomas Newman
Awesome-O-Metre : 8.0/10
1917 is set at the height of the First World War, where two young British soldiers, Schofield (George MacKay) and Blake (Dean-Charles Chapman) are given the unenviable task of crossing enemy territory to deliver a message that will stop a deadly attack on hundreds of soldiers—Blake’s own brother among them. 1917 is art…pure art! Sam Mendes has created a classic world war drama that plunges the viewer into the horrors of the war and doesn’t let up for 2 hours straight! War films aren’t a staple of the movie scene as these are technical and complicated to pull off and may not appeal to audiences but Sam Mendes has created a fantastic piece of film making that will appeal to many. When I heard of 1917, I was anxious to see it because I am a fan of war films like Fury, Hacksaw Ridge and Dunkirk and I wasn’t disappointed because it is just so much fun. The first thing you will notice (or not) is that the whole film is shot in one continuous take in real time that spans 48 hours of the mission to deliver the important message to the frontlines. By a “continuous take” I mean that the movie is filmed to appear as one continuous shot with no (obvious) editing or scene transitions. If you are a filmmaker, you will recognize how hard this is to do because any small errors will require a reshoot of a long stretch of film. This may seem insignificant to the ordinary to the average movie goer but the impact of this style of filmmaking is that it immerses the viewer and eliciting a sort of first person Point-of-view perspective to the film. I recall seeing this style of filming from Alfred Hitchock’s 1948 film, Rope. It was used most recently in the famous bear attack scene in The Revenant, as well as the opening sequence of Skyfall (also directed by Sam Mendes). Other than the cinematic style of the film, the acting by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman was exquisite. They basically carried the whole film and held the audience captive for the 2-hour runtime of the film. This is no mean feat because carrying the weight of a film and transmitting varying emotions as the film progresses with little or no help from the peripheral characters can be incredibly difficult. Also, the plot is another highlight of the film because it is very easy to follow thereby allowing the audience to appreciate the hell and peril that the main characters are enduring. Sam Mendes’ 1917 is a cinematic marvel with its unblinking visual style and deserves the 10 Academy (Oscar) nominations- including Best Picture and Cinematography. I really enjoyed my time at the cinema and I am curious to hear what you think, so let me know in the comment section below or reach me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Have an awesome week!
The Maveriq
Farming is the autobiographical directorial debut of Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje and is about Enitan (Damson Idris), a young Nigerian boy, `farmed out' by his parents to a white British family in the hope of a better future but instead becomes the leader of a white skinhead gang.
Hustlers follows a crew of savvy former strip club employees who band together to turn the tables on their Wall Street clients. The film is inspired by the article published by New York Magazine entitled “The Hustlers at Scores” written by Jessica Pressler
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Producer(s) : Jennifer Davisson and Leonardo DiCaprio
Starring : Taron Egerton, Jamie Foxx, Ben Mendelsohn, Eve Hewson, Tim Minchin and Jamie Dornan
Genre : Action/Drama
Release Date : November 21, 2018 (Nigeria)
Awesome-O-Metre : 4.1/10[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text css_animation="right-to-left"]Visit the official site[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Watch Trailer" style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FzwPn9ZnbCo0||target:%20_blank|"][vc_btn title="Book Tickets " style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nairabox.com%2Fmovies%2F|||"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text="Revue of ROBIN HOOD" use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_empty_space height="25px"][vc_column_text css_animation="left-to-right"]Robin Hood tells a story of Robin of Loxley (Taron Egerton) a war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander (Jamie Foxx) as they mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown fronted by the Sherriff of Nottingham (Ben Mendelsohn).
Robin Hood is a story that has been told so many times as movies and series that we have lost count and I sighed when I saw that ANOTHER one was being made as I can’t imagine what else there is to his time worn story. Consequently, I wasn’t surprised when I saw that the film had mixed reactions from critics and the audience and I also agree that this remake of Robin Hood isn’t that good. Let me tell you why;
The producers of this film thought that the best way to make this film was to reimagine it by putting a modern spin to it. This contemporaneousness reflected in the garb of the cast, their language, the city and even the weaponry. However, this twist is a good idea only on paper because on the big screen it made the film lack soul making the film tacky. The audience is unable to connect the old Robin Hood tale with what is playing out on the screen so it left us feeling lost and confused. Also, in an attempt to create an identity for the film, the producers infused a spin to the character of John (Jaime Foxx) and quite honestly, this didn’t work for us as he seemed out of place.
The real disservice to the Robin Hood tale in this film is the plot which was full of holes and very tawdry. The film attempts to relive the essence of the old Robin Hood tale about stealing from the rich and giving to the poor and included Robin challenging the church and monarchy as some sort of vigilante- but sadly, this angle failed due to poor acting. I dont blame the cast for the wretched show as it was caused by a poor script making Robin Hood a chore to watch. The standout character is Ben Mendelsohn as he was really villainous.
Another upside to Robin Hood was the CGI and fight sequences which were adrenaline-charged. The producers used a lot of Slow Mo in the action sequences to good effect, making it the best part of the film.
Spoiler Alert! Robin Hood will have a sequel…which is an idea they should shelve because this first installment is a bit of a bummer.
Anyways, if you think that there should be a sequel, please let me know in the comment section below or on Twitter and Facebook so we can talk about it.
Have a great weekend!
The Maveriq[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_video link="https://youtu.be/zwPn9ZnbCo0" el_width="60" title="TRAILER FOR ROBIN HOOD"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="3736" img_size="full" el_class="mgn-bag-img"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text css_animation="right-to-left"]Director : Steve McQueen
Producer(s) : Steve McQueen, Iain Canning, Emile Sherman and Arnon Milchan
Starring: Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Colin Farrell, Daniel Kaluuya and Liam Neeson
Genre : Thriller/Suspense
Release Date : November 16, 2018 (Nigeria)
Awesome-O-Metre : 5.9/10[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text css_animation="right-to-left"]Visit the official site[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Watch Trailer" style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FnN2yBBSRC78||target:%20_blank|"][vc_btn title="Book Tickets " style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fnairabox.com%3A%209123%2Fmovies|||"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text="Revue of WIDOWS " use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_empty_space height="25px"][vc_column_text css_animation="left-to-right"]Widows is the story of four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities. Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, tensions build when Veronica (Viola Davis), Linda (Michelle Rodriguez), Alice (Elizabeth Debicki) and Belle (Cynthia Erivo) take their fate into their own hands and conspire to forge a future on their own terms. “Widows” also stars Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, Robert Duvall, Daniel Kaluuya, Lukas Haas and Brian Tyree Henry.
Widows was one of my most anticipated films for this year because it stars one of my favorite actors (Viola Davis) and the trailer had whet my appetite to no end. But if like me the trailer had gotten your juices flowing in anticipation of an action-packed, shoot em up style film, well just like me, you will be disappointed. Wallahi, trailer totally hoodwinked me and I felt like a big jack ass. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying this film is bad, quite the contrary, it was quite good, it just wasn’t what I expected it to be.
Widows isn’t the action-packed film it was touted to be, but it was more about a bunch of scheming and contriving widows who were trying to create their own legacy. If you ask me, the idea that they were all brought together by their thieving husbands didn’t really add much to the film as the ladies held their own down. Talking about exceptional performances, Daniel Kaluuya gave a killer performance! He is my standout character in the film.
I liked the plot twist at the end of the film even though it was a bit obvious to the discerning mind but I think it helped wrap up the film. Have you seen Widows? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comment section below or on Twitter and Facebook.
Thanks so much for always dropping in on my blog, I really appreciate it.
The Maveriq[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_video link="https://youtu.be/nN2yBBSRC78" el_width="60" title="TRAILER FOR WIDOWS"][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Producer : Damien Chazelle
Starring : Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, Corey Stoll, Ciaran Hinds, Christopher Abbott, Patrick Fugit, Lukas Haas
Genre : Drama/Biography
Release Date : October 26, 2018 (Nigeria)
Music Director : Justin Hurwitz
Awesome-O-Metre : 7.8/10[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text css_animation="right-to-left"]Visit the official site[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Watch Trailer" style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:%20https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FPSoRx87OO6k||target:%20_blank|"][vc_btn title="Book Tickets " style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nairabox.com%2Fmovies%2F|||"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text="Revue of FIRST MAN" use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_empty_space height="25px"][vc_column_text css_animation="left-to-right"]First Man is the riveting story behind the first manned mission to the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong (Ryan Gosling) and the decade leading to the historic Apollo 11 flight. A visceral and intimate account told from Armstrong’s perspective, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the film explores the triumphs and the cost—on Armstrong, his family, his colleagues and the nation itself—of one of the most dangerous missions in history.
When you see a film specifically made for the Oscars, you immediately recognize it. First Man was made for the Academies and let me tell you why I know this;
All I have listed above are absolute crap to the average moviegoer so if you aren’t into technicalities in movies, you have no business seeing First Man. If on the other hand yo are into technical stuff, please see First Man...preferably in IMAX. I am touting First Man to be in contention for Sound, Cinematography and even best picture at the Oscars. Have you seen First Man? Tell me how bored you were in the comment section below or on Twitter and Facebook
Happy Sunday!
The Maveriq[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_video link="https://youtu.be/PSoRx87OO6k" el_width="60" title="TRAILER FOR FIRST MAN"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Producer(s) : Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, Robert Teitel and George Tillman Jr.
Starring : Amandla Stenberg, Regina Hall, Russell Hornsby, Issa Rae, Sabrina Carpenter, Common and Anthony Mackie
Genre : Drama/Thriller
Release Date : October 19, 2018
Awesome-o-Metre : 7.6/10[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text css_animation="right-to-left"]Visit the official site[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Watch Trailer" style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2F3MM8OkVT0hw||target:%20_blank|"][vc_btn title="Book Tickets " style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:http%3A%2F%2Fnairabox.com%3A%209123%2Fmovies|||"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text="Revue of THE HATE U GIVE " use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_empty_space height="25px"][vc_column_text css_animation="left-to-right"]The Hate U Give is adapted from the book by Angie Thomas with same title about Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) who is constantly switching between two worlds - the poor, mostly black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, mostly white prep school that she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and decide to stand up for what's right.
Usually, people go to see movies for entertainment value only but The Hate U Give is so much more than entertainment- It is a powerful and thought provoking take on social injustice that is prevalent in the United States and in other forms around the world. The film explores the reality of being a person of color in the United States where POCs are subjected to oppression, racism and racial profiling. It is a sensitive subject that people would rather tip toe around, but The Hate U Give has brought it to the fore and it can no longer be ignored.
The message in The Hate U Give was conveyed by some powerful acting by the cast especially Amandla Stenberg who did an astonishing job shouldering the weight of the whole film and carrying it effortlessly despite her young age. It was refreshing to see Regina Hall in a role that wasn’t comical but my standout character has to be that of Russell Hornsby who played the gangster father role with such finesse and passion. However, I was unconvinced with Anthony Mackie who seemed poorly suited for his role, or maybe I am just used to seeing him as an Avenger LOL.
The Hate U Give will take you through a rollercoaster of emotions- one minute you are laughing and going awwwww, the next you are entertaining trepidation and then some scenes will leave you deep in thought. But after its all done, you will be left with some serious matters to ponder especially about your position on racism and the attendant social injustice met on POCs. The viewer will be made to understand that you may chose to ignore or deny the existence of racism and racial profiling (or any social injustice for that matter) but you will be affected by it in one way or the other - so what are you going to do about it? Fight or keep quiet? You choose.
The Hate U Give is a thought provoking and timely film especially with recent spate of fatal shootings around the world (even in Nigeria) by law enforcement agents. It comes to Nigeria cinemas from the 19th of October and is recommended especially for people who are conscious of the goings on in the world today.
When you do get to see The Hate U Give, please let me know what you think about it in the comment section below or on Twitter and Facebook.
Take care of yourself…and each other.
The Maveriq[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_video link="https://youtu.be/3MM8OkVT0hw" el_width="60" title="TRAILER FOR THE HATE U GIVE"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="3708" img_size="full" el_class="mgn-bag-img"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text css_animation="right-to-left"]Director : Bradley Cooper
Producer(s) : Bradley Cooper, Bill Gerber, Todd Phillips and Lynette Howell Taylor
Starring : Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle and Sam Elliott
Genre : Romance/Musical
Release Date : October 5, 2018 (Nigeria)
Awesome-O-Metre : 7.9/10[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][vc_empty_space height="10px"][vc_column_text css_animation="right-to-left"]Visit the official site[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title="Watch Trailer" style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fyoutu.be%2FnSbzyEJ8X9E||target:%20_blank|"][vc_btn title="Book Tickets " style="custom" custom_background="#ffbe49" custom_text="#0a0a0a" shape="square" align="left" css_animation="right-to-left" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nairabox.com%2Fmovies%2F|||"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text="Revue of A STAR IS BORN " use_theme_fonts="yes"][vc_empty_space height="25px"][vc_column_text css_animation="left-to-right"]A Star Is Born is a remake of the 1976 classic of the same name, that starred Barbra Streisand. In this new take on the tragic love story, Bradley Cooper is a seasoned musician (Jackson Maine) who discovers—and falls in love with—struggling artist Ally (Lady Gaga). She has just about given up on her dream to make it big as a singer… until Jack coaxes her into the spotlight. But even as Ally’s career takes off, the personal side of their relationship is breaking down, as Jack fights an ongoing battle with his own internal demons.
It’s amazing how talented Bradley Cooper is! I was blown away by his directorial debut and even his singing abilities. It’s no mean feat that he has been Oscar nominated four times but I think this is the film that will finally clinch the Academy award for him. Let me breakdown the highlights of A Star Is born:
The Music: Lady Gaga gave one of her most powerful music performance and Bradly matched her tone for tone. My favorite song off the album must be The Shallows which was such a ridiculously emotional song. Even I'll never love again almost made hard man like me start crying in the cinema but I stayed strong…
The Acting: Gaga and Bradley were so perfect together that you get so immersed in their performance that they no longer seem like actors but real characters. Yes, the chemistry was that good.
Directing: It’s hard to believe that this is Bradley Coopers directorial debut because this movie was so perfectly executed. He chose eerie silence rather than score the whole film and this silence kept the audience on edge like an ominous cloud of darkness that was about to befall the ill-fated lovers. I also liked the simplicity in the shots and direction which weren’t convoluted but just so easy to follow.
A Star Is Born is a tear jerker where Gaga gives a performance of a lifetime and Bradley Cooper shines in front and behind the camera. This is definitely an Academy (Oscar) contender and I cannot recommend this film enough- but I must warn that if you aren’t into slow-burners, then this may not be the film for you. If you do get to see A Star Is Born, please let me know what you think in the comment section below or on Twitter and Facebook.
Have a blast!
The Maveriq[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_video link="https://youtu.be/nSbzyEJ8X9E" el_width="60" title="TRAILER FOR A STAR IS BORN"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
