Random Movie Birb

Skyscraper Starring Dwayne Johnson and Neve Campbell Written and Directed by Rawson Marshall Thurber US Release Date: 13 July 2018 My First Viewing: 12 July 2018 There are a few things you will be guaranteed of during Summer movie season. Several superhero/comic book movies, a solid animation feature (usually from Disney/Pixar) and a Dwayne Johnson big budget action flick. Well, we've had Civil War and Incredibles 2, now Johnson gives us the trifecta with Skyscraper.  Johnson plays Will Sawyer, a former FBI assault team member who becomes a security professional after a negotiation-gone-wrong leaves him without his left leg. He is trying to gauge the security system of The Pearl, a 220+ story building in Hong Kong which was developed by Zhao (Chin Han, The Dark Knight ). However, there are some really bad men who are trying get their hands on the Magic McGuffin that Zhao possesses, and it's up to Sawyer to save his family and Zhao before the entire building goes up in...

The First Purge Starring: Y'Lan Noel and Lex Scott Davis Directed by Gerald McMurray US Release Date: 4 July 2018 My First Viewing: 3 July 2018 image credit: movieposter.com The First Purge, which is technically the fourth film in the financially successful Purge franchise, tells the story and the events which led to, you guessed it, the first Purge experiment.  This time around, we follow Nya (Lex Scott Davis) and her brother Isaiah (Joivan Wade) through Staten Island as the New Founding Fathers are days away from beginning the experiment. This test, by whatever nefarious means are required, tries to prove that by letting out all of your anger and frustrations through one twelve-hour period every year where you can do whatever you want, including murder, is better for society as a whole. Overseeing the experiment is Dr. Updale (Marissa Tomei) and NFF Chief of Staff Arlo Sabian (Patch Darragh).  With this being the fourth film in the franchise, there are...

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 favorit...

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 Cle...

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 Colle...

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 mindle...