Bohemian Rhapsody: There’s not really a scene I can point to beyond the final Live Aid performance that is super memorable, but at the end of the day this is a fun time at the movies. Rami Malik as Freddie Mercury is tremendous and there’s Queen songs playing through the whole thing! ***3/4
A Star is Born: I probably would’ve enjoyed this better had it not been discussed and praised to the point of parody beforehand. Regardless, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga and Sam freaking Elliot make for a trio of compelling performances around a very well-made movie. The thing about this one is that I think it has a staying power unlike a lot of movies out there – the beats are timeless. ****
The Favourite: An absolutely unreal trio of lead performances by Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz is surrounded by a whole lot of funny gross aristocratic dudes and a bizarre atmosphere made only possible by director Yorgos Lanthimos. ****1/4
Green Book: This is a terrible, terrible movie. Something racist happens, white guy solves it, driving, another racist thing happens, white guy solves it, driving, rinse and repeat. BUT – the lead performances, particularly Masherhala Ali, are ASTOUNDING. Some of the best acting in a blatantly awful movie. ***
Vice: Christian Bale as Dick Cheney is astounding. Otherwise, this is not a great movie, though it is one you can just smirk your way through, even if the last half has a whole lot of really sad footage. I can see the way Adam McKay does his movies now being a little off-putting, but I dug this, even if it’s a whole lot of SNL impersonations vs. acting. Regardless, Rockwell does a hell of a Bush and Carell as Rumsfeld is still Carell. ***1/2
