Janet's TAKE on movies

Janet's TAKE: Michelle Williams and Christopher Plummer are outstanding in the riveting #AllTheMoneyInTheWorld. B+ Director Ridley Scott did a remarkable job of

Janet's TAKE: #Downsizing has an interesting concept that only starts to fall apart near the end. B- Matt Damon delivers a fine performance that's

Janet's TAKE: #ITonya is a great laugh-out-loud chronicle filmed mockumentary-style. A+ Margot Robbie is brilliant as Tonya Harding and the supporting cast does

Janet's TAKE: #PitchPerfect3 has all the elements the fans love but it is a lame plot. Who cares? It's all

Janet's TAKE: #JumanjiWelcomeToTheJungle is a fun sequel with plenty of laughs courtesy of Kevin Hart and Jack Black. B It's not quite

Janet's TAKE: #StarWarsTheLastJedi is a great continuation of the franchise and an entertaining stand-alone film. A- You don't have to be

Janet's TAKE: With #TheShapeOfWater Del Toro has crafted a wonderful melding of love-story, fantasy and sci-fi. A- Sally Hawkins gives a knock-out performance greatly

Janet's TAKE: James Franco enters the Best Actor race in the laugh-out-loud true story #TheDisasterArtist. A- This is the best film ever about one of

Janet's TAKE: The slow moving history lesson #Darkest Hour benefits from Gary Oldman's commanding performance as Winston Churchill. B+ This film is a suitable companion piece to DUNKIRK. Synopsis: During the early days of World War II, with the fall of France imminent, Britain faces its darkest hour

Janet's TAKE: Although Roman J. Israel, Esq. doesn't break any new ground in law dramas, Denzel Washington's multi-layered portrayal is the reason to see this film. B- Washington is

Janet's TAKE: THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS is an entertaining holiday movie with a clever blend of fact and fantasy.  A- Good performances throughout, especially Dan Stevens and Christopher Plummer, leave you with

Janet's TAKE: THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI hits all the right elements for this tragic comedy. A+ The powerhouse but rough characters add a sense of topical truth to

Janet's TAKE: #Novitiate is an interesting look at feminism and faith during the radical changes in the Church by Vatican II. B- An award-worthy performance by

Janet's TAKE: # GeostormMovie is an entertaining matinee disaster flick that has an important message at the end. B- This formula Gerard Butler movie is

Janet's TAKE: #ForeignerMovie is slower-paced than most Jackie Chan flicks but he and Brosnan make formidable adversaries. C A surprisingly emotional Chan makes the movie worth seeing.  There are just too many

Janet's TAKE: #TheMountainBetweenUs is a compelling survival tale with winning performances -up until the contrived romance hits the screen. C Great cinematography and casting cannot

Janet's TAKE: #BladeRunner2049 has masterfully crafted visuals and music with solid performances, but goes on too long. B It felt like

Janet's TAKE: #YearByTheSea is a scenic tale of self-discovery reminiscent, albeit a female version, of "A Walk In The Woods". B- While a good performance from both actresses, Joan's (Karen Allen) relationship with

Janet's TAKE: #BradsStatus provides a concise statement on evaluating one's life based on social media posts from friends. B+ Ben Stiller once again gives a

Janet's TAKE: #RebelInTheRye movie is a formulaic J. D. Salinger biopic with decent performances. B Nicholas Hoult does a fine job in his depiction of Salinger. Kevin Spacey is

Janet's TAKE: #HomeAgainMovie is a predictable rom/com with a touch of "Entourage" thrown in. C+ Reese Witherspoon heads the cast of this "girls night out" entry. While the movie has its share of

Janet's TAKE: #PattiCakes is a fresh take on the mother-daughter genre. C+ Nice performances by Danielle MacDonald as an aspiring rapper and Bridget Everett as her mother. Playing the grandmother, Cathy Moriarty steals more than a few scenes. Synopsis: In a coming-of-age story straight out of Jersey, an unlikely

Janet's TAKE: #BRIGSBYBEAR is a quirky and sometimes uncomfortable tale of re-entry into society. C+ SNL's Kyle Mooney as James gives an endearing performance but it's not enough to save this rambling film. It is an interesting concept that is not executed very well. The supporting cast includes Claire Danes, Mark Hamill, and Greg Kinnear. Synopsis: Superfan James is obsessed with the clever if quaintly goofy kids' show Brigsby Bear to the point of

Janet's TAKE: Charlize Theron packs a punch while conquering the spy genre. B+ Highly stylized sets and costumes along with well-choreographed fight scenes make for an entertaining Berlin Wall-era espionage film. A few laughs along the way lighten up the drama. Synopsis: A breakneck action-thriller that follows MI6’s most lethal assassin through a ticking time bomb of a

Janet's TAKE: #AGhostStory is a tedious exploration of existence, grief and letting go. C- This Malick-ish film is annoyingly slow-paced with minimal performances and dialog along with the usual landscape beauty shots.  The only saving grace is

Janet's TAKE:#DespicableMe3 ~ more Minions, more Gru ~ what's not to like? B There are some crazy

Janet's TAKE: #TheBeguiled is a sensual, well-acted Civil War tale. C+ Director Sofia Coppola beautifully filmed this

Janet's TAKE: #RoughNightMovie is an uneven mix of comedy and relationship angst. C Some genuine laughs, but few and far between. Kate McKinnon delivers the same character performance that's starting

Janet's TAKE: #CaptainUnderpantsMovie has a more creative plot than most superhero movies. B- Not much for adults but

Janet's TAKE: #WonderWomanFilm has an action-packed story w/good character development and chemistry between the stars. A- As one of my favorite superheroes growing up, this

Janet's TAKE: The series lowered the bar of TV entertainment. This movie lives up to the series. C- Surprisingly better acting, lots of typical gross-out humor,

Janet's TAKE: #ParisCanWait is light on plot while providing a beautifully-shot Southern France food and wine travelogue. B- Diane Lane gives another "Under The Tuscan Sun" pleasant performance while Alec Baldwin phones in his few moments as her husband. "Paris Can Wait" is great for foodies and Diane Lane rom-com fans. Synopsis: Eleanor Coppola’s feature film directorial and screenwriting debut at the age of 81 stars Academy Award® nominee Diane Lane as a Hollywood producer’s wife who unexpectedly takes a trip through France, which reawakens her sense of self and

Janet's TAKE: #KingArthurmovie feels like an extended music video on crack. D With lots of shaky-cam and disjointed edits, Guy Ritchie's direction makes it hard to keep focus on what little plot there is. The cast makes a valiant effort but

Janet's TAKE: #Snatchedmovie is an amusing but raunchy mother-daughter adventure. C+ Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn have some on-screen chemistry that lends itself to relationship building with a few laughs and silly antics thrown in. Be warned - not a prim and proper Mother's Day outing. See the clip at Rog's Viewpoint . Synopsis- After her boyfriend dumps her on the eve of their exotic vacation,

Janet's TAKE: #GuardiansoftheGalaxyVol2 is another fun ride in outer-space. B+ The characters are endearing but the plot gets a little fuzzy at times.  Still it is a commendable sequel. Set to the backdrop of 'Awesome Mixtape #2,' Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 continues

Janet's TAKE: Fine performances by the cast of #GiftedMovie are overshadowed by "gifted" young actress Mckenna Grace. B- Synopsis: Frank Adler (Chris Evans) is a single man raising a child prodigy - his spirited young niece Mary (Mckenna Grace) - in a coastal town in Florida. Frank's plans for a normal school life for Mary are foiled when the seven-year-old’s mathematical abilities come to the attention of

Janet's TAKE: #TheZookeepersWife is a worthy effort in need of more character development. C+ Synopsis: The real-life story of one working wife and mother who became a hero to hundreds during World War II. In 1939 Poland, Antonina Żabińska (portrayed by two-time Academy Award nominee Jessica Chastain) and her husband, Dr. Jan Żabiński (Johan Heldenbergh of “The Broken Circle Breakdown”), have the Warsaw Zoo flourishing under his stewardship and her care.

Janet's TAKE: #FiftyShadesDarker follows the book in that the sex overshadows the romance. I would have liked to see more relationship development: C- See the trailer, more details and Rog's Viewpoint here .

Janet's TAKE: #TheSpaceBetweenUs can't decide if it's a sci-fi or teen road trip film, but it never rises above after-school special: C- See the trailer, more details and Rog's Viewpoint here .

Janet's TAKE: #LegoBatmanMovie has plenty of "Awesomeness" and fun for the whole family: A Will Arnett makes a splendid caped-crusader in this visual treat! See the trailer, more details and Rog's Viewpoint here .

Janet's TAKE: #20thCenturyWomen~Honest portrayal of Mother/Son relationship buoyed by a strong cast including #AnnetteBening. A "Girls Nite Out" recommend. Special note : A24 WILL MAKE A DONATION TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD IN HONOR OF ALL THE WOMEN (AND MEN) WHO SEE THE FILM THIS WEEKEND

Janet's TAKE: #Silence~Scorsese project of a brutal but over-long journey through devotion and religious persecution in Japan w/good performances and stunning cinematography: B+ Martin Scorsese’s Silence, the Academy Award winning director’s

Janet's TAKE: #HiddenFigures ~ Moving story of pioneering women of science. STEM rules! A+ It is evident that the cast all gave their best efforts for this true, but until now, untold event. Deserves lots of awards. HIDDEN FIGURES is the incredible untold story of

Janet"s TAKE: @amonstercalls ~ A heart-rending child's journey thru grief w/as many twists as the Monster's branches: A- True to the book but NOT