Category: Monday Morning Movie Reviewer

Much like Now You See Me, this film had a waaaay bigger than expected opening weekend, thus making it an overnight “hit” that will make at least 20 times its initial 3 million budget back. Unlike Now You See Me, the film collapsed on its second weekend now that most people know it sucks. It…

A day of brand new reviews (don’t worry we’ll even get to some released–gasp–less than a week ago) kicks off with this stupid-smart hybrid heist thriller and magician movie. What Works: This feels like a March movie, so the fact that it was released in late May (a calendar period where it should have gotten…

I have no idea how this franchise is so successful. I have no idea how it grossed a hundred million dollars this weekend and will be one of the biggest movies of the summer. I have no idea how people can honestly plunk down 10 to 15 dollars to watch the same movie they’ve now…

The surprise box office dud of the summer. Fast and Furious 6 (or is it 60?) mopped the floor with it last weekend, but the jury’s still out on whether or not it should have. What Works: It’s better than the 2nd film, but worse than the first one, which should surprise no one. It…

Better than the first Star Trek film but if you’ve seen some of the wildly positive reviews for this film (Entertainment Weekly gave it an A) then lower your expectations. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel or even do much more than serve as a solid B+ summer tentpole picture. That being said, after watching The…

Not a bad time, but a mixed adaptation. Arguably the best adaptation that’s ever been done of this classic (largely thought to be unadaptable) book, but that doesn’t mean it really captures the essence. What Works: Jay Gatsby is one of my favorite literary characters, and there’s no question that Leonardo DiCaprio is the right…

You can almost hear the cynical studio logic behind this film. “Hey, Tyler Perry has shown that black people will go the movies if you put his name on something——literally, anything, so why not give them a black version of Meet the Parents?” And this film could easily be called the black version of Meet…

This is based on the true story of a psychotic mafia hit man who killed dozens of people in the 60’s and 70’s. I wish I could say the film was great, but it’s just so-so. Still, there is a great performance at the center of it. What Works: In two words: Michael Shannon. As the titular…

A movie I really wanted to like more than I wound up liking. Susan Sarandon plays a former member of The Weather Underground who’s been in hiding for decades, but gives herself up. When she does, an ambitious journalist (Shia Lebouf) puts a lot of her old friends at risk by digging into their backgrounds….

Okay, seriously Alabama Liberal what is up with all these reviews for movies that no one cares about anymore? Don’t worry, the newer reviews truly are coming. Have a little faith. What Works: Not much. This White-House-in-peril thriller may have defied all box office expectations but it’s still pretty bad. On the plus side, Gerard…

Another late April movie I’m just now getting to, but don’t worry, this is just one of many new reviews coming out today. Plus, this film is actually really good and it’d be a shame for you to miss out on it. What Works: This film about three bodybuilders who enter a life of crime…

This film came out more than a month ago, and I’m sure everyone who cared about seeing a biopic of Jackie Robinson already has, but don’t worry, this is just the first review of many today. What Works: I think this is a solid film, but not a great one. There are some great scenes…

A slow-building, completely charming indie about two boys in the waaaay rural South (think Mississippi Delta) who travel out to an island and discover a fugitive (Matthew McConaughey, continuing his career resurgence) who needs their help. One of the boys is having some personal problems (his parents are getting divorced…his “girlfriend” barely acknowledges him when…