Movie reviews of Jeremy Lebens

Knives Out sports some memorable performances that work as a collective, but the film fails to capture the audiences attention throughout its lengthy running time that is far from the twists and turns promised in the trailers. It's the first whodunit that doesn't really seem to care about who did it.

21 Bridges is a predictable, yet entertaining race against the cop flick, with Chadwick Boseman playing a more than serviceable lead, full of unstoppable rage and a moral compass. Director Brian Kirk keeps things pretty close to the chest, but the end result is a decent way to kill two hours.

Frozen II fails to recapture the magic of the original film, adding colorful set pieces and even more family-friendly songs to attract the kiddos, yet forgets that a driving plot with engaging characters is what really makes for a memorable movie. I applaud Disney Animation for making another gorgeous-looking film, but shake my head at the obvious cash-grab mentality that went into producing this sure-fire box office juggernaut.

Ford v Ferrari is an enthralling and captivating film, capturing the beating spirit of the American dream with its complex characters, played with unrelenting motivation by Matt Damon and Christian Bale. James Mangold's direction elevates the true-life story to heightened levels, which makes for one of the year's most exhilarating films.

Last Christmas is charming and weird, with director Paul Feig embracing the cheesy Hallmark feel, yet still managing to get a warm performance out of Emilia Clarke and an ending that gives the film a surprising boost.

Mike Flanagan's Doctor Sleep is worthy sequel to Stanley Kubrick's classic The Shining, both based on the novels written by Stephen King. Doctor Sleep's true terror rests with its depiction of alcoholism and addiction, wrapped in a very spooky shell, full of creepy imagery and nail-biting suspense, in addition to well-acted and purposed drama.

Terminator: Dark Fate takes one step forward and two steps back. It's better than the last two entries by a wide margin, but still struggles branching out from being just another carbon copy of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Director Tim Miller brings the action goods and the return of Sarah Connor, but struggles rising above the messy writing.

Honey Boy is a tragic self-reflection from writer Shia LaBeouf that's constantly scratching at truth and wholesome sincerity in ways that will surely move you. Honey Boy is one of the most beautifully haunting films of 2019.

Zombieland: Double Tap recaptures that same gore-filled energy and excitement from Ruben Fleischer's first film, thanks to its returning cast and crew. Double Tap doubles down on the action, the violence and comedy to make for that rare sequel that actually warrants existing.

Ang Lee's Gemini Man gives us a promising look into the future of the tech behind how we create and consume movies, but not much of anything else. The film itself is a middle-of-the-road Will Smith action film that feels far more innovative from a technical standpoint than it does as an actual film. See it in the highest resolution and frames-per-second as possible or don't bother seeing it at all.

Tyler Nilson and Mike Schwartz's The Peanut Butter Falcon is cinema in its purist form. Shia LaBeouf and Zack Gottsagen lead a cinematic journey that's full of heart and charm, reminding us just why it is that we go to the movies -- to feel, to be moved and to believe in anything and everything.

Todd Phillips' Joker is a cold and dark reflection on one of the most iconic broken characters of all-time, played with unhinged menace by Joaquin Phoenix. Phillips and Scott Silver's script occasionally dips its toes into the deep end, but mostly sticks to surface-level anarchy, creating for an unstable masterpiece, that's beautifully-shot and hauntingly-scored.

Ad Astra is a visceral experience and an unrelenting journey into darkness and the unknown. Brad Pitt gives a cold, but enduring performance, while Gray's direction utilizes all talents involved to capture a truly unique and engaging sci-fi experience.

Rob Zombie's 3 from Hell is a violent trip down memory road, rekindling the grizzly and gory moments of The Devil's Rejects and House of 1,000 Corpses, only with 1/4th the budget in look and feel. 3 from Hell meanders its talent on a story that's not really about much of anything.

IT: Chapter Two is full of terrifying creature designs and top tier performances. Director Andy Muschietti has made the largest and weirdest horror film to date that proves the genre's ability to capitalize on a larger budget and cast.

Jacob Estes' Don't Let Go is a time-traveling whodunit that goes one twist too far. Still, the film exceeds because of Estes' ability to blend the high concept with a cast of solid performers, including stars David Oyelowo and Storm Reid.

Ready or Not cleverly balances horror and comedy in a way that makes for one of the freshest films of the summer. Directors Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett have crafted a film that's a lot of gory fun, while actress Samara Weaving proves herself a Goddess, commanding the screen and making for one of the most memorable on-screen characters in modern horror history.

47 Meters Down: Uncaged is a slick sequel, playing off its new environment to maximize scares and expand the killer shark sub-genre of horror. Director Johannes Roberts successfully blends elements of claustrophobia and paranoia with trademark slasher moments to make a worthwhile PG-13 horror film that absolutely brings the kills.

André Øvredal's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is the perfect balance of atmosphere and terror, blending together author Alvin Schwartz's frightening tales with the behind-the-lens talents of horror master Guillermo del Toro. This is one of the most effective PG-13 horror movies ever made, never sacrificing a good scare for the lesser rating. This movie will scare both young and old.

It's wildly entertaining and so damn over-the-top, but it gets the job done, aside from a few unneeded characters and tie-ins.

It's meaty, full of colorful characters and gorgeous set pieces that make for a wild trip down memory lane. It might not be Tarantino's best, but it's definitely his boldest and most ambitious.

Crawl is a fast-paced gator ride that absolutely thrives in worst-case scenarios.

Michael Dowse's Stuber is the funniest film of the year, meshing together Dave Bautista's straight-faced tough guy machismo and wit with Kumail Ninjiani's rapid-fire humor.

Annabelle Comes Home is one of the very best Conjuring Universe installments. Gary Dauberman's directing brings the atmosphere and scares, while the cast delivers likable and reliable performances that makes for the best Annabelle movie to date.