Random Movie Birb

Hello BirbArmy! We have reached the halfway point of the year, so I wanted to share with you my ten favorite films thus far in 2018.  There has been a lot that I have seen, but there are a few that I may have missed. Honorable Mentions:  First Reformed, The Death of Stalin, Disobedience, RBG, Deadpool 2, Tully, Love Simon, Incredibles 2, and Thoroughbreds. 10.) Game Night Starring Jason Bateman and Rachel McAdams US Release: 23 February 2018 I did not get a chance to experience Game Night in theaters when it was initially released. This out-of-nowhere box office success has a great cast including Bateman and McAdams, as well as Kyle Chandler and Jesse Plemons. Centered around a sibling rivalry that goes awry when a murder-mystery game night theme becomes real, there are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, but also has great set design and isn't too long that it overstays its welcome. I'm glad I didn't miss it because  Game Night is my favorite comed

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Starring: Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard Directed by J.A. Bayona US Release Date: 22nd June 2018 My First Viewing: 21st June 2018 image credit: movieposter.com Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard return for the sequel to 2015's Jurassic World in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom , directed by J.A. Bayona (A Monster Calls).  After the events that took place in the first series, a once-dormant volcano on Isla Nublar has erupted, and a military team is trying to evacuate as many dinosaurs off the island as possible. The plan is to relocate them to a self-sustaining new island where the dinos can roam free. Owen (Pratt) and Clarie (Howard) are summoned by Jurassic Park co-creator Benjamin Lockwood (James Cromwell) and Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) to track down Blue, a Velociraptor that Owen trained on the island. Once there, a double-cross occurs and the true reason they are summoned to the island begins to take shape. Mills wants to auction off t

QuickBirb: Brief reviews, typically done when I see multiple films in one day.  Usually, this will be done with lower budget/indy films, or ones I am getting caught up on VIA streaming/rentals. This is a new concept, so let me know what you think! Unsane  stars Claire Foy ( The Crown)  who, after going to a counselor to seek help for the flashbacks of her stalker, is put into an asylum against her will. As her stay is prolonged, she finds that her stalker found his way into getting a job at the asylum she's at. Steven Soderbergh ( Logan Lucky, Magic Mike)  directs this stylized film with the usage of iPhone 7's for the cameras. Foy's performance is great, but the overall story lacks in any real surprises and to a degree seem unrealistic, even for a movie.  Soderbergh tried to do something different, and for the most part, he succeeds. Would recommend for Foy's performance alone.  Hearts Beat Loud  stars Nick Offerman and Kiersey Clemons as a father/daughter du

Hereditary Starring: Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne Written and Directed by Ari Aster US Release Date: June 8th, 2018 Most Recent Viewing: June 16th, 2018 image credit: movieposter.com Some movies take more than one viewing to fully grasp everything that occurs while you're watching it. Blink and you miss it moments, small hints that come back later in the film, and typically an ending that leaves you scratching your head. Hereditary  falls in that category and after a second viewing is the best film thus far in 2018.  After the death of her mother, Annie (Toni Collette) and her family are each dealing with the grief that goes with her passing. After slowly discovering more about her mother's past, a plethora of secrets arise, as well as a spiritual presence that doesn't want to leave.  It is impossible to go into much more detail without giving away any spoilers. There are so many reasons why you should see this film, at least once, if not twice. Toni Collett

Incredibles 2 Starring: Craig T. Nelson and Holly Hunter Directed by Brad Bird US Release Date: June 15th, 2018 My First Viewing: June 14th, 2018 Image Credit: movieposter.com After a long fourteen year wait, Mr. Incredible, Elastigirl, Dash, Violet, and Jack-Jack are back in Incredibles 2 , directed by Brad Bird.  Taking place right after the events of 2004's The Incredibles  with the Parr family leaving the track meet when The Underminer shows up to reek havoc on the city. With the help of Frozone (Samuel L. Jackson), they defeat their foe but Supers are still outlawed, and the police are not happy with all the damage they caused. Coming into the picture are the Deavor siblings (Bob Odenkirk and Catherine Keener), who want to bring Supers back into the limelight by showing that they are, in fact, good. Standing in their way is the new big bad, The Screenslaver, who wants to keep Supers away by taking over all the screens in the world and turning people into mindless zo

Ocean's 8 Starring: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, and Anne Hathaway Co-Written and Directed by Gary Ross US Release Date: June 8th, 2018 My First Viewing: June 7th, 2018 Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett lead an ensemble cast in Gary Ross' Ocean's 8 , which is the first in the franchise since 2007's Ocean's Thirteen.  Bullock plays Debbie Ocean, the sister of George Clooney's Danny Ocean who we learn in the first five minutes of the movie has passed away. Debbie (much like Danny in Ocean's 11)  has spent the last five year's in jail and is out on parole. Blanchett plays Lou, Debbie's former partner in crime. As soon as Debbie gets out, she has a plan to make pull off a heist to steal a Cartier diamond necklace from actress Daphne Kluger (Anne Hathaway) while she attends the Met Gala.  This is an okay film that would have been better without the Ocean's name tagged to it. You could have made a fun, female-led heist film without havin

First Reformed Starring: Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried Written and Directed by Paul Schrader US Release Date: May 18th, 2018 My First Viewing: May 30th, 2018 A former military officer turned Reverend deals with the struggles of guilt and despair in his own life as well as the world around us in First Reformed, starring Ethan Hawke and Amanda Seyfried.  Hawke plays Reverend Toller, who at the beginning of the film starts a one-year journal exercise to write his thoughts in the truest way possible, by putting pen to paper. In his small congregation (which is run by a superchurch run by Cedric "The Entertainer" Kyles) is Mary (Seyfried) and her husband Michael (Philip Ettinger). Mary wants to set Michael up with Reverend Toller because he is depressed about global warming and he wants her to get rid of their unborn child because he doesn't want to bring another life into this world.  This is a very deliberately paced film, but it keeps you invested. Hawke's