Hidden Figures

When you see a movie of such historical importance and long overdue present relevance as Hidden Figures, it is hard to encapsulate the significance of the content in mere words. This is just an amazing movie of Black history, women's history, and American history that was long overdue to be told. Three educated Black women mathematicians and engineers, a crucial part of the most significant American space explorations, just being revealed to the vast majority of people on a scale that is more than deserved. Showcased are the trials and tribulations with healthy doses of humor, poise, and an engaging humanity in the performances of Taraji P. Henson, Janelle Monae, and Octavia Spencer.  In our present technology dependent era, mandated by a more urgent need for education, training, and innovation; and amidst a society still greatly plagued by racism, Hidden Figures is a film with inspiring and not so hidden lessons for us all.

Moonlight

African American writer and director Barry Jenkins has developed a lot since his independent film debut in 2008's Medicine For Melancholy.  Moonlight is an artfully crafted, poetic film that creatively captures the moments in a young Black man's journey to manhood and the issues of race, sexuality, poverty, and family strife that shape that journey.  It's a well put together cast, especially in the performances of Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Andre Holland, and Trevante Rhodes and I must say this is a very talented and refreshing cast ensemble of diverse Black actors.  Moonlight deserves all the accolades it's been given.  It's powerful film making in the stillness of it's cinematography, the mood of it's soundtrack, what it elicits from it's audience, and poignantly mirrors back on our society.

War Dogs

Two young American guys turn international arms dealers and their ambitions to get paid, take them to the top and down.  This thriller/comedy/true story is interesting to be sure.  However, it fails to measure up in its execution ultimately.  It's a shame because a decade prior, there was its arguably better counterpart of a film  in Nicholas Cage's Lord Of War (also about arms dealers and with the same general story arc).  The best thing about War Dogs is frankly Jonah Hill's performance.  It's as simple as that, especially after great performances by him like in The Wolf Of Wallstreet.

Captain Fantastic

A father (Viggo Mortensen) raises his six children in an unconventionally holistic way away from modern society in the forest.  Upon the news of his wife's death, their journey to come to terms with that and how they are living is met with humor and heartfelt moments.  Captain Fantastic is that fascinating journey by writer and director Matt Ross and it is quite a gem of a unique film that is quite engaging in it's simple moments.

The 13th

Director Ava Duvernay's The 13th is a powerful and insightful documentary that explores the modern day incarnations of racism, particularly in the U.S. penitentiary system especially toward African American males.  It also importantly and intelligently shows the true historical origins and evolution of that sort of racism and how it continues to breed that in policy, procedure, and perception for all Americans. On that note, I think every American should see this film.  There's a real and growing divide in this country and lack of understanding our different historical experiences and how they shape our perceptions and actions/inactions, that only serve to threaten us as a whole.   The 13th looks at this for African Americans and the seemingly recent, racist biased violence that has ensued of late; and explains the systematic, economic driven strategy that allows it to flourish in different forms. 

Money Monster

I really wanted to like this, but all along it seemed flat as fuck.  Guess what, it was flat as fuck. George Clooney and Julia Roberts yeah ok, they are a good acting duo sure.  Jodie Foster is a good director, too.  I mean all the right people were here, but...  Probably the story.  White guy loses his money after a stock investment tip from tv's Money Monster show host Clooney and takes over the studio demanding accountability and truth.  Along the way, the police and people seeking the truth scramble.  Somewhere along the way, it loses much steam and just trails off the tracks....

In The Heart Of The Sea

Ron Howard and Brian Grazer's latest, In The Heart Of The Sea, is a true life story about an event in the sinking of the Essex whaler ship that helped to inspire the writing of Moby Dick. It stars Chris Hemsworth, Cillian Murphy, Benjamin Walker, and Tom Holland.  Howard and Grazer seem determined to expand Hemsworth's range beyond Thor in their now second collaboration following Rush.  They'd be right, as Hemsworth is an obvious choice in fitting the bill for this role as seafaring whales man.  The rest of the cast is good and it's a great and fascinating story of survival.  The story is like Titanic, told thru the eyes of a young survivor.  What jumps out more to me were the rich visuals in the settings, set decoration/design and the mere story itself.