Quick Movie Reviews: Darkest Hour, Annihilation, Game Night

Darkest Hour: Joe Wright's (Atonement, Pan) Winston Churchill biopic is 2017's obligatory semi-boring and creatively bankrupt piece of historical drama Oscar bait. However, what Darkest Hour has that most other similar films lack is the towering presence of Gary F'N Oldman. Oldman's commanding, apporoatiely showy turn as Churchill is engaging enough to make this otherwise uninspired film about the newly-appointed British prime minister's efforts to counteract an impending invasion by Nazi Germany during World War II somewhat worthwhile.
Grade: B-

Annihilation: Paramount did Annihilation dirty by quietly dumping into 2,000 theaters in North America and selling it off to Netflix in most overseas territories. What Alex Garland's (Ex Machina) sophomore directorial effort lacks in elaborate action sequences and noteworthy performances, it makes up for with beautiful visuals, badass mythology and a smart script that raises a lot of interesting questions about the nature of mankind. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you're cool with cerebral sci-fi flicks that favor ambiguity over spectacle, you'll probably enjoy this.

Grade: B+

Game Night: Following a year that was notably light on great comedies, Game Night has descended from the heavens to start 2018 off on a soaring high note. This clever, highly original R-rated dark comedy from directing duo Jonathan Goldstein and John Francis Daley (Vacation) and screenwriter Mark Perez (Accepted) is without question the most I've laughed out loud at a film since Popstar. It takes about 15-20 minutes to kick into high gear, but once the main plot involving a potentially real kidnapping that occurs during a murder mystery party gets set in motion, Game Night becomes a buffet of great visual jokes and quotable lines delivered by an awesome ensemble cast (Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Lamorne Morris, Billy Magnussen, Jesse Plemons) that's collectively in peak form. In addition to its pretty much non-stop laughs, this film also features some surprisingly tense, well-directed chase sequences that further enhance its energetic, freewheeling vibe. Go see this shit.     

Grade: A