Ford vs Ferrari (Film Review)

Ford vs Ferrari is a good film that's structure has been seen many times before.  It adheres closely to the Hollywood biographical drama formula just with a new setting of the titled auto manufacturing companies competing to win a car race.

Uncle Drew (Film Review)

If I had a list of 2018 films coming out ranked from “must see” all the way down to “least interested”, I don’t think Uncle Drew would have even made the list.  I had absolutely no interest in seeing Uncle Drew, that is until my film buff friend told me the film is awesome, is much, much better than it has any right to be, and highly recommends it.  I didn’t believe him, but I decided to give the film a shot.  Ten minutes in and I was immediately regretting my decision.  The characters felt stock and/or were complete assholes, the plot felt unoriginal and the comedy was nonexistent.  It had me preparing for the worst, but then Uncle Drew shows up.

FRJ's Best of 2015 Awards (Film List)

I love making lists.

FRJ's Top 20 Films of 2015 (Film List)

Rarely do the Oscars and I agree.

FRJ's Top 10 Drama Films of 2015 (Film List)

I make lists for three reasons: declaration, recommendation, and self-entertainment.  The latter reason is self-explanatory (I really enjoy making lists), the other two may need some expansion.  The first reason refers to expressing my opinions and thoughts on personal interests, such as film.  Lists provide a great way to organize my thoughts and convey them in an easy to understand format (particularly since I decline to use any rating system for film reviews).  The other reason, recommendation (or disparagement for worst-of lists), indicates my desire to open readers to new films they may enjoy, but haven’t seen due to false trailers, initial disinterest, or being under the radar.  The latter happens to the majority of low-budget, foreign, and independent films—getting swept aside by the year’s major blockbusters.  Just last week, after reaching my goal of seeing one hundred 2015 films, I discovered—by complete accident—two unique, highly acclaimed 2015 films I hadn’t even heard of: The Lobster and The Diary of a Teenage Girl (both which will be considered leftovers for 2016).  If I can miss two very intriguing films despite searching diligently all year-round for under the radar cinema, then there’s certainly a few hidden gems the average movie goer missed too—which is where my lists can help out.

Creed (Film Review)

In 2013, short film director Ryan Coogler made his first feature length film FruitvaleStation—a wonderful, emotionally intense film starring Michael B. Jordan about the events leading up to the death of Oscar Grant by the hands of a BART station police officer.  The film made the number one spot on my favorite films of 2013, the very first “best of the year” list made on Film Reviewer Jr.  Creed, at the very least, confirms Fruitvale Station wasn’t just a fluke great film, and that Coogler’s director skills are as prodigious as they appear.  Creed is undoubtedly the best Rocky sequel by a long shot, and rivals the original in terms of classic, effective storytelling and stunning cinematography.  The film has the air of a pure sports story, and homages itself in many ways to the original Rocky; yet Creed transcends being a stale repetition with fleshed out characters, touching relationships, great performances, intense editing, and a subtleness rarely seen in the sports genre.