Oceans 8

 Writer/Director Gary Ross’s Oceans 8 is a joyful caper that will appeal especially to women.  As opposed to a popcorn movie, this is a chocolate and latte movie.

Ross’s brisk script, aided by Co-Writer Olivia Milch provides laughs and slick turnabouts that make this film a pleasant respite from all the action and horror films that have taken over the screens.

Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Sandra Paulson, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Awkwafina, Mindy Kaling and Helena Bonham Carter all work together smoothly and pull the audience into the fun.  And, James Corden comes in at the right time to give the film added punch.

I give Oceans 8 a 3.8 out of 5.

Hereditary

Writer/Director Ari Aster’s Hereditary is two-thirds boringly SLOW, then turns gristly with a few good scares before becoming nonsensical and, finally, historically stupid.

Poor Toni Collette and Gabriel Byrne.  I hope the money was good.

Some Satanists and Trumpers may enjoy this tripe, but I give it a 1 out of 5.

Beast

Writer/Director Michael Pearce’s Beast is a riveting drama about Moll (Jessie Buckley), a young woman, living under the thumb of her dominating mother (Geraldine James) on the British insular isle of Jersey. 

Saved by an islander (Johnny Flynn) from being violated while on a date, Moll falls in love with her hero despite his dubious reputation, finally breaking away from her family to live with him until he is arrested for the murders of several young women.

It is the excellent performances of the cast, the turnabouts within the interesting story and the images of Cinematographer Benjamin Kracun that make Beast well worth seeing.

I give the film a 4 out of 5.