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You Were Never Really Here (2017)

Directed by: Lynne Ramsay

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Judith Roberts, Ekatarina Samsonov

Running Time: 1h 29m

Rated: R

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Direction

WEAKNESSES: None

You Were Never Really Here (2017)

May 1, 2018

A tortured soul of a fixer, is hired to rescue a senator’s 14 yr. old daughter from a “specialized” brothel. When the job goes sideways he has to decide whether to give in to his inner demons or face down the real ones who are trafficking in underage girls. 

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In Crime, Drama, Thriller Tags Joaquin Phoenix, Judith Roberts, Ekatarina Samsonov, You Were Never Really Here, 2017, R Rated, 5 Stars
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Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Tom Holland, Chadwick Boseman... (Too many to list)

Rated: PG-13 for Intense Sequence of Sci-Fi Violence and Action Throughout.

Running Time: 2 h 29 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Visual Effects, Writing, Pacing, Stakes

WEAKNESSES: Also Stakes, Alienates Viewers That Haven't Seen All Marvel Movies

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

April 27, 2018

The Avengers face off against their deadliest foe: Thanos.

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In Action, Adventure, Epic, Drama, Fantasy, Sci Fi, Superhero
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Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper

Running Time: 2h 49m

Rated: R

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Everything

WEAKNESSES: Maaaaaaybe some pacing issues? Maybe?

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

April 26, 2018

Captain Miller and his squad, after surviving the assault on Normandy, must cross France in a desperate search for Private Ryan, whose three brothers were killed in action.

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In War, Action, Adventure, Drama, Epic Tags Saving Private Ryan, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, War Film
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Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (1989)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Allison Doody

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 2 h 7 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Pacing, Directing, Character Chemistry, Music

WEAKNESSES: Plausibility (?)

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)

April 25, 2018

When Indiana Jones’s father goes missing while in search of the Holy Grail, our titular hero takes a trip around the globe in search of his father and the truth about what happened to the Grail.

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In Action, Adventure, Epic, Drama, Fantasy Tags Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Indiana Jones, John Rhys-Davies
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A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, Frances O'Connor

Rated: PG-13 for Some Sexual Content and Violent Images

Running Time: 2 h 26 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: World Building, Themes, Writing, Characters

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Dated Visuals

A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001)

April 23, 2018

A robotic boy who’s programmed to love navigates a futuristic landscape trying to find a person who he believes can make him real.

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In Adventure, Comedy, Epic, Drama, Sci Fi, Thriller Tags Steven Spielberg, Haley Joel Osment, Jude Law, William Hurt
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Jaws (1975)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Roy Scheider, Richard Dreyfuss, Robert Shaw

Rated: PG

Running Time: 2 h 4 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Pacing, Direction, Writing, Music

WEAKNESSES: -

Jaws (1975)

April 19, 2018

The Sheriff of Amity Island teams up with a marine biologist and a local captain to hunt down a shark that’s terrorizing the beaches.

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In Action, Adventure, Drama, Epic, Horror, Thriller Tags Steven Spielberg, Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
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Isle of Dogs (2018)

Directed by: Wes Anderson

Starring: Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum

Running Time: 1h 41m

Rated: PG-13

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Theme, Animation

WEAKNESSES: Pacing

Isle of Dogs (2018)

April 17, 2018

In an alternate universe stop motion Japan, every dog has been exiled to trash island as the last step toward cleansing the island of Japan from the canine infestation. One dog, however, has a master that will not allow him to go silently into the night.

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In Action, Adventure, Animated, Comedy, Epic, Fantasy, Drama Tags Wes Anderson, Bryan Cranston, Koyu Rankin, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Jeff Goldblum
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Tampopo (1985)

Directed by: Juzo Itami

Starring: Ken Wantanabe, Nobuko Miyamoto, Tsutomu Yamazaki

Rated: NR

Running Time: 1 h 54 m

TMM Score: 4.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Charm, Originality, Sensory Experience, Fun

WEAKNESSES: Some Vignettes Fall Flat

Tampopo (1985)

April 13, 2018

In this delightfully delectable comedy, a truck driver stops at a noodle shop and decides to stay to help the owner, a young widow, improve her cooking.

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In Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Foreign Film Tags Ken Wantanabe, Juzo Itami, Tsutomu Yamazaki, Nobuko Miyamoto
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God's Not Dead: A Light in the Darkness (2018)

Directed by: Michael Mason

Starring: David A.R. White, John Corbett, Shane Harper

Running Time: 1h 45m

TMM Score: 1 star out of 5

STRENGTHS: Message

WEAKNESSES: Pacing, Characters, Acting, Visual FX

God's Not Dead: A Light in the Darkness (2018)

April 12, 2018

When Pastor Dave's church is burned, the University with which it is associated is convinced that they should shut it down. Will Pastor Dave's dedication to his church win over all the critics or will St. James Church be torn down as sacrifice to the secular god's of political correctness.

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In Christian Film, Drama Tags Michael Mason, David A. R. White, John Corbett, Shane Harper
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Chappaquiddick

Directed by: John Curan

Starring: Jason Clarke, Ed Helms, Jim Gaffigan, Kate Mara

Running Time: 1h 46m

TMM Score: 3 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting

WEAKNESSES: Wrong Protagonist

Chappaquiddick (2017)

April 11, 2018

In 1969, Ted Kennedy was involved in a scandal where a young woman was drowned. What would be the aftermath of this incident, for his family, political aspirations, and the country?

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In Biographical, Crime, Drama, Thriller Tags John Curan, Jason Clarke, Ed Helms, Jim Gaffigan, Kate Mara
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Dead Man Walking (1995)

Directed by: Tim Robbins

Starring: Susan Sarandon, Sean Penn

Rated: R for Depiction of a Rape and Murder

Running Time: 2 h 2 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Directing, Writing, Message

WEAKNESSES: -

Dead Man Walking (1995)

April 5, 2018

A nun becomes a spiritual advisor to a convicted man during his last days on death row.

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In Christian Film, Crime, Drama Tags Sean Penn, Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, Margo Martindale
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Ready Player One (2018)

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Starring: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn

Rated: PG-13 for Sequences of Sci-Fi Action Violence, Bloody Images, Some Suggestive Material, Partial Nudity and Language

Running Time: 2 h 20 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Direction, Visuals

WEAKNESSES: Also Visuals, Message

Ready Player One (2018)

April 2, 2018

Wade Watts, a teenager living in 2045, when the majority of life takes place inside the virtual world of Oasis, competes in a contest that could grant him untold riches and reshape the landscape of the digital world forever.

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In Action, Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Thriller, Sci Fi Tags Steven Spielberg, Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn
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I Can Only Imagine (2018)

Directed by: The Erwin Brothers

Starring: J Michael Finley, Dennis Quaid, Madelin Carroll

Rated: PG for Thematic Elements Including Some Violence

Running Time: 1 h 50 m

TMM Score: 3.5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Message, Family Friendly

WEAKNESSES: Acting, Characters

I Can Only Imagine (2018)

March 29, 2018

The true story behind MercyMe's chart topping single, I Can Only Imagine, focusing primarily on Bart Millard's relationship with his abusive father.

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In Biographical, Christian Film, Drama Tags Erwin Brothers, Dennis Quaid, Madelin Carroll
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Paul, Apostle of Christ

Directed by: Andrew Hyatt

Starring: James Faulkner, Jim Caviezel, Olivier Martinez

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1h 48m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Acting, Dialogue, Message

WEAKNESSES: Pacing

Paul, Apostle of Christ (2018)

March 28, 2018

Luke, newly arrived in Rome, where Christians are being hunted down and executed, seeks to bring the Apostle Paul’s story to the struggling church. One problem, Paul is imprisoned in a Roman Jail and suspicions of every Christian in the city are on the rise.

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In Adventure, Biographical, Christian Film, Drama Tags Andrew Hyatt, James Faulkner, Jim Caviezel, Oliver Martinez, 2018, Paul, Apostle of Christ, mjamesmcdonald, 4 Stars, PG-13
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The Death of Stalin (2017)

Directed by: Armando Iannucci

Starring: Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin, Jason Isaacs

Rated: R for Language Throughout, Violence and Some Sexual References

Running Time: 1 h 47 m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Directing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Subject Matter Might Offend

The Death of Stalin

March 22, 2018

After Stalin's death, the Soviet Union is thrust into disarray while the remaining leaders struggle to maintain some semblance of order.

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In Comedy, Biographical, Thriller, Drama Tags Armando Iannucci, Steve Buscemi, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin, Jason Isaacs, Dark Comedy, Death of Stalin, The Death of Stalin, Seth Steele, 2017, R Rated, 4.5 Stars
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A Wrinkle In Time

Directed by: Ava DuVernay

Starring: Storm Reid, Deric McCabe, Levi Miller, Reese Witherspoon

Rated: PG

Running Time: 1h 49m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Storm Reid's Performance

WEAKNESSES: Everything Else

A Wrinkle In Time (2018)

March 20, 2018

When Middle Schooler Meg's scientist Father went missing, it ruined her life, but upon meeting Charles Wallace, her brother's, new other-worldly friends, she is offered the chance to find her Father and heal her broken family, all while saving the universe?

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In Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Children's Movies, Sci Fi Tags Ava DuVernay, Storm Reid, Deric McCabe, Mindy Kaling, Reese Witherspoon, Oprah Winfrey, Chris Pine, Zach Galifianakis, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, 2018, A Wrinkle In Time, PG, 2 Stars, mjamesmcdonald
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The Outsider (2018)

Directed by: Martin Zandvliet

Starring: Jared Leto, Tandanobu Asano, Kippei Shina

Rated: TV-MA

Running Time: 2 h

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Set Design, Cinematography

WEAKNESSES: Predictability, White Savior Complex

The Outsider (2018)

March 19, 2018

An American living in post-war Japan joins the Yakuza and rises through their ranks.

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In Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama, Thriller Tags Martin Zandvliet, Jared Leto, Tandanobu Asano, Kippei Shina, The Outsider, 2018, TV-MA, 2 Stars, Seth Steele
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Derren Brown: The Push

Directed by: Jon Richards

Starring: Ben Adams, Darren Brown, Tom Carter

Rated: TV-MA

Running Time: 1h 8m

TMM Score: 2 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Tension Building

WEAKNESSES: Underlying Moral, Drawn Out

Derren Brown: The Push (2016)

March 15, 2018

In this special reality TV presentation, one man is put through an elaborate series of social pressures all designed to see if a normal, everyday guy can be pushed to kill.

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In Crime, Documentary, Drama, Mystery, Thriller Tags Jon Richards, Ben Adams, Derren Brown, Tom Carter, 2016, Derren Brown: The Push, TV-MA, 2 Stars, mjamesmcdonald
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Thoroughbreds (2017)

Directed by: Cory Finley

Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Olivia Cooke, Anton Yelchin

Rated: R for Disturbing Behavior, Bloody Images, Sexual References and Some Drug Content

Running Time: 1 h 32 m

TMM Score: 4 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Writing, Acting

WEAKNESSES: Underlying Message

Thoroughbreds (2017)

March 12, 2018

Lily and Amanda, two wealthy, troubled teenage girls living in suburban Connecticut, bond over the banality of their lives, their disdain Lily’s step dad, and toying with the idea of murder.

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In Crime, Comedy, Drama, Thriller Tags Cory Finley, Olivia Cooke, Anya Taylor-Joy, Anton Yelchin, Thoroughbreds, 2017, R Rated, 4 Stars, Seth Steele
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A Separation

Directed by: Asghar Farhadi

Starring: Payman Maadi, Leila Hatami, Sareh Bayet

Rated: PG13

Running Time: 2h 3m

TMM Score: 5 stars out of 5

STRENGTHS: Mystery, Complicated Characters, Cultural Immersion, Acting, Deliberate Direction

WEAKNESSES: None

A Separation (2011)

March 9, 2018

As an Iranian couple flirt with divorce they are accused of assault. As the mystery of what happened is revealed, so is who they truly are. 

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In Drama, Mystery, Thriller, Foreign Film Tags Asghar Farhadi, Payman Maadi, Leila HAtami, Sarah Bayet, Foreign, A Separation, mjamesmcdonald, 2011, PG13, 5 Stars, Iranian Film
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