Doctor Strange

While I have always been a Marvel girl, I was mostly an X-Man fan and never knew anything at all about Doctor Strange. Because of this, I have to say right at the start that I have no idea whatsoever if this film is true to the books, so I can't base any part of my review on that. What I can say is that this is a spectacular film with some of the best effects I've maybe ever seen. It's like an incredible update to things I remember from "Inception", only far better with the advances technology has made. The acting was mostly strong, and I was happy to see a superhero film coming in at only an hour and forty-five minutes. I really enjoyed this and am curious to see how this film and its characters will integrate with the rest of the Marvel Universe. 4/5

Doctor Strange on Netflix

Star Trek Into Darkness

I'm really struggling with a rating for this film. There was a lot that was good. The acting was good as always, the first two-thirds of the story was good, and I actually really enjoyed Cumberbatch's version of Khan. What I find utterly unforgivable, however, was the last third of the film. How can Abrams get "Star Wars" so right and this film so badly wrong? Without spoiling anything, the changes he made to the end of this story I felt betrayed the characters he is attempting to honor with these films. I so strongly disagree with these choices that I have to condemn this film. And, as a bonus, Abrams' lens flare penchant was worse than I've ever seen it before. It's not a bad movie, but it's a terrible Star Trek movie. I'm going to give it three stars and call it a day. 3/5

Star Trek Into Darkness on Netflix

Black Mass

I've seen quite a few films about Whitey Bulger in the last few years, so, plot-wise, I didn't feel like this film necessarily added anything new to the subject. However, the acting in this was absolutely top-notch. It's been a lot of years since I've seen Johnny Depp really sink deep into a role, long enough that I'd forgotten how good he can be. He is at his best in this film, where he seems to inhabit Bulger heart and soul. The whole of the cast was really on their game, and the direction and script were solid. A well done film about a well known subject. 4/5

Black Mass on Netflix

The Imitation Game

While this will be longer than a simple tweet, it won't be an essay like some of my last Oscar reactions. It won't be because I've already written what I need to say in my review of "The Theory of Everything", wherein I discuss how Redmayne's performance was wonderful, but yet so safe and predictably Oscar-bait that I could not, in good conscience, reward it. The same is true here. Cumberbatch is lovely and all, but let's have some real talk here. He is playing a high-functioning Autistic Savant with a flat affect, and frankly there isn't much meat to a role like that. It doesn't require the complexity of skill that so many others showed, and the movie itself was, like "Theory", predictable and safe. I won't bother listing the three nominees I still think should have had these spots - I think I've drummed for them enough. Suffice it to say this was a good but terribly safe movie. 4/5

The Imitation Game on Netflix

August: Osage County

This is a powerhouse of acting, just amazing performances. Should have been nominated for best picture. 4.5/5

August: Osage County on Netflix

The Fifth Estate

I was surprised at how well balanced this film was, and of course Cumberbatch was outstanding. Well done. 4/5

The Fifth Estate on Netflix