A House With A Clock In Its Walls

Director Eli Roth’s A House With A Clock In Its Walls is a modestly entertaining family film in which an orphaned boy (Owen Vaccaro) is sent to live with his uncle (Jack Black) and finds himself in a magical house in which his deceased elder uncle (Kyle MacLachlan) hid a doomsday clock somewhere in the walls.  It must be found before it winds down to the Zero Hour.

Thankfully, Cate Blanchett is on hand as his uncle’s magical neighbor to add some sparkle to the film.

 

I give A House With A Clock In Its Walls a 3.1 out of 5.

Fahrenheit 11/9

Writer/Producer/Director Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 11/9 is, undoubtedly, the most important film of 2018, to date. It’s a must-see for any intelligent human being. 

I term it a “F@%K You” film, as in, if you don’t think the Governor of Michigan should be immediately arrested and charged with crimes against humanity, F@%K You.

If you don’t think “Fatty-Bone-Spurs” is using the Nazi playbook to subvert America, F@%K You.

If you don’t think President Obama wimped out in his visit to Flint, F@%K You.

Moore skillfully brings to light the flaws in governance of the United States that have been escalating over the last half-century, yet builds the hope that rescue is on the horizon thanks to women and the new generation of youth with the spirit of Parkland High.

Fahrenheit 11/9 is a wake-up call to embrace the unity of all lovers of freedom .  I give it a 5 out of 5.

A Simple Favor

Producer/Director Paul Feig’s A Simple Favor is one of the better surprises of the year.I had heard the film was a thriller, but Feig is noted for great comedies like Spy and The Heat, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Well, I was in for a treat and you will be, too.

A seemingly simple drama about mommy-blogger Stephanie (Anna Kendrick) takes a mysterious turn once she befriends fashion PR sophisticate Emily (Blake Lively). 

Emily asks Stephanie to do a simple favor and pick up her son (Ian Ho) from school and watch him until she is finished work.  But, Emily never shows up.

The film turns to romance once Stephanie gets to know Emily’s husband (Henry Golding) and then gets into the thriller zone when…but I won’t give any more away.

It’s because of the twists and turns of genre that this black-comedy is so entertaining.  So, go see it.

I give A Simple Favor a 4.6 out of 5.