THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN

Rated: PG

Release Date: August 9, 2019

Director: Simon Curtis

Stars: Kevin Costner, Milo Ventimiglia, Amanda Seyfried

Plot: A dog spends his life with a race car driver and his family

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release

First off, let's just get this one out of the way right away, Kevin Costner is a terrible voice actor. I spent the entire film picturing him standing in a recording booth reading lines over and over again, but always reading them the same way until the director finally just gave up and said, "we've got it." There are so many lines that feel awkward and out of place. 

Next, since the entire movie is narrated by the dog (Kevin Costner), it feels like I was watching someone read a bad book aloud. The whole time I was mentally screaming at the movie to stop telling me things and start showing me. Telling is boring and static, showing is exciting and dynamic. 

The other thing that is so strange about this movie is that it doesn't seem to know it's target. Is it a dog movie? Is it a romance? Is it a movie about racing? Is it a movie about living life together? The answer is yes to all of them. You can't have a good movie that tries to do all of the things at once. It won't please anyone.

Throw on top of that poor dialogue, mediocre acting, and boring cinematography and you have a pretty bland flick that isn't worth your time or effort. If you happen to run across it when it comes out digitally, you might give it a shot just to see if you like it, but don't be surprised if you turn it off before the halfway point. 

THE FAREWELL

Rated: PG

Release Date: August 2, 2019

Director: Lulu Wang

Stars: Awkwafina, Shuzhen Zhao, Diana Lin

Plot: A Chinese family gathers to say goodbye to their dying matriarch, but she doesn't know she is dying

Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this in theaters now

This is easily one of my favorite movies of the year. It is so touching, emotional, and so perfectly Chinese in every way. 

I have had the pleasure of spending a significant amount of time all over China and there are things there that you would never experience in the West. Watching this movie brought back all of those memories. 

Lulu Wang does an amazing job at directing this film. The pacing is perfect, the shots and sets are artistic and beautiful, and the story is told well. 

Awkwafina proves that she is one of Hollywood's finest actors with her award-worthy performance. You truly feel for her character and the struggle she is going through throughout the film. And seeing her finally make the choice that she feels is the right one is such a powerful and moving moment. 

The show-stealer though is Shuzhen Zhao who plays the matriarch of the family. She is so incredibly funny with her abrupt, no-nonsense talk. And her face lights up the room every time she is on screen. 

Even if you aren't a fan of foreign language films, you should give this one a shot. The story is told so well. It is funny, heartbreaking, beautiful, and wonderful. I would bet that this film makes a lot of people's Top 10 Films list this year. 

THE LAST BLACK MAN IN SAN FRANCISCO

Rated: R

Release Date: June 28, 2019

Director: Joe Talbot

Stars: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors, Danny Glover

Plot: A young man tries to return to the heart of the city he loves, but it has pushed him out

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

Every once in a while a small-budget film comes along that has the ability to make a big splash. This might be that movie. While this isn't a mainstream style film, it is a beautiful and powerful snapshot of a city and its people. 

Jimmy Fails and Jonathan Majors are fantastic in their respective roles. Their portrayals are moving, heartbreaking, and inspiring. As the story unfolds we get the full essence of who they are, what they stand for, and where they want to go. 

The visual elements are stunning and relate perfectly to the tone and pace of the movie. There are several scenes that look like they were pulled right from a Broadway stage, while others look like they sneaked in a quick scene with just the actors, director, and his smart phone. 

My only issue with this movie is the continuity. There are several scenes where things are out of place from cut to cut. A perfect example being when several guys are trying to act tough on a street corner. As the scene cuts back and forth on guy is wearing a hood then he's not, then it's back, and so on. Simple things like that drive me crazy in film because they are so easily fixable. But if that is my only issue, then this is an outstanding film worthy of your time and money.

TOLKIEN

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: May 10, 2019

Director: Dome Karukoski

Stars: Nicholas Hoult, Lily Collins

Plot: This film explores the younger years of the acclaimed fantasy author and how his experiences shaped his stories

Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this in theaters now

As a fan of the works of JRR Tolkien, I was intrigued by the premise of this film. I wanted to see the moments in his life that shaped his writings and especially the works we all know so well like THE HOBBIT and THE LORD OF THE RINGS.

Not only did I get what I wanted, but I got so much more. This movie is outstanding. It is a work of art unto its own. It almost feels like the second coming of DEAD POETS SOCIETY, which, to me, is one of the greatest films of the last 40 years.

The acting is near perfect, the cinematography is mesmerizing, the story is well-paced, and the imagery is intense, meaningful, and exciting to see. There are so many Easter eggs in this film for fans of The Hobbit and LOTR. You probably need to see it a couple of times to catch them all.

Nicolas Hoult and Lily Collins have beautiful chemistry, making the love story just as enjoyable as the story about his early life and friends.  They make this movie significantly better with their skills.

Unfortunately, for most fans of Tolkien's works, they will never even know this film exists. The marketing for this movie has been minimal at best, and that is a true disservice to a wonderful film. If you know someone who is a fan, please let them know that this movie is in theaters now. It deserves a good audience.

THE INTRUDER

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: May 3, 2019

Director: Deon Taylor

Stars: Dennis Quaid, Megan Good, Michael Ealy

Plot: A couple buys their dream home, but the former owner isn't ready to let the place go

Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

Very few times in my life have I rooted for the bad guy in a movie, but in this case I was cheering him on with full gusto. About 30 minutes into the film I realized that both of his victims were so colossally stupid that they deserved everything that was going to happen to them.

Here are just a couple of the, (slightly spoilery, but it really doesn't matter), stupid things they did: 1. They both are the worst cell phone users ever. 2. They never bother to call the cops. 3. The woman has zero sense when it comes to self-preservation. 4. The bad guy keeps coming to their house and  the guy victim sends his wife back home ALONE to spend the night ALONE. 5. Bad things keep happening at the house and zero cops show up.

And those are just a few of the eye-rolling moments...I left out all of the really bad ones. And there are plenty.

Oh, and to make matters worse, hardly anything exciting happens in the first hour. They had to throw in a fake action/dramatic scene to try and trick us into thinking the movie was actually going somewhere.

This movie is so bad that strangers were talking to each other as we left the theater commiserating with one another about how bad the flick was. I had one guy come up to me and say, "if that were my wife and she was that stupid, we would have had a come-to-Jesus way early in that movie." He's not wrong.

A tell-tale sign that a movie isn't great is when the studio releases one trailer, and puts it on the front of every possible movie for a good six months leading up to its release. Which is exactly what the studio did for this film. Going in, I knew there was a chance that it wasn't going to be good, but I went in with an open mind. Silly me. The actual movie ended up being even worse than I had imagined it could be.

This movie could have been so smart and scary. Instead it was thoroughly boring and stupid. Don't even bother with this one. It will just disappoint you.

TEEN SPIRIT

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: April 19, 2019

Director: Max Minghella

Stars: Elle Fanning, Zlatko Buric, Agnieszka Grochowska

Plot: A poor farm girl tries for fame and freedom by auditioning for a major singing competition

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

While this isn't a bad film at all, it feels like it missed it's production window by about eight years. I know that singing competitions are still popular, but they are nothing now compared to a few years ago when they were just about the only thing people talked about when it came to TV.

Elle Fanning is incredible in this role. She pulls off a foreign accent, a foreign language, and she even sings all of the songs herself. For an actor to do any one of those things is pretty good, but to nail all three is exceptional.

The thing that bothered me most about this film is the tone. It's about a girl going to a massive singing competition, it should feel exciting and overwhelming, but instead the whole thing is toned down like we are on a morphine drip during our own birthday party.

I think this film could have been great if it was just a little more up and fast-paced. It is worth seeing just because of Fanning, but the story may leave you wanting more.

BREAKTHROUGH

Rated: PG

Release Date: April 17, 2019

Director: Roxann Dawson

Stars: Chrissy Metz, Topher Grace, Josh Lucas, Marcel Ruiz

Plot: A mother turns to God to help save her son after he suffers a tragic accident

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

About five minutes into this movie I was done. I'm sure Chrissy Metz is a wonderful person, but her acting in this movie was so bad I could barely handle to watch any more of it. Thankfully, I endured the painful start and was treated to a very good...not great....movie.

Fair warming to all of you that see this movie, bring a lot of tissues. You will be ugly crying at least three times and probably more. It is a highly emotional film that is willing to take you to the breaking point.

The story is told well, and the pacing is fine, but the only issue with the film is Metz. I was shocked at how bad her acting was. I've never seen THIS IS US, but I assumed she would be great since the show is such a hit. On the contrary, her acting would have been laughably bad had the subject matter of the film been less serious. That said, it's almost laughably bad anyway.

The rest of the cast does a fine job, and the emotional story is powerful and moving. This isn't a great film, but for a low budget movie they did a very fine job.

If you are ready to ugly cry, you may want to give this film a chance.

THE AFTERMATH

Rated: R

Release Date: April 5, 2019

Director: James Kent

Stars: Keira Knightley, Jason Clarke, Alexander Skarsgard

Plot: A British woman and her soldier husband move into the house of a single German father during WWII. When her husband is called away on a mission she and her housemate form a relationship

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release and make someone else rent it

If you are looking to be fantastically bored for two straight hours, do I have the movie for you. One would think that a film about a steamy affair would be somewhat interesting, but alas, even the bad stuff is awkward and dull.

Jason Clarke all but kills the movie. His acting is incredibly monotonous. And Keira Knightley, who is usually very good, must have spent too much time hanging out with Clarke during the filming, because her acting is just as flat as his.

The story takes forever to get going, and by the time it does you are beyond the point of caring what happens to any of them.

There is one could-be interesting plotline, but it is handled so poorly that all of the emotion is taken out of it. It isn't until three minutes to go that anything of emotive significance happens. And after that the movie completely falls off of the rails.

The other horrible aspect of this movie is that the entire drama revolves around a 30 second conversation that never happened, but if it did it would have solved everything. Forced, manipulative drama does not make for a good film. You need real drama, high stakes, and sacrificial decisions for it to be effective and powerful. This film has none of the above.

Don't waste your time with this one. Unless you are truly in need of a good nap.

GLORIA BELL

Rated: R

Release Date: March 15, 2019

Director: Sebastian Lelio

Stars: Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Michael Cera, Rita Wilson

Plot: A middle-aged woman goes through a mild mid-life crisis while trying to find out what is important to her

Trailer

Clint Says: Don't even bother

This is one of those films where I swear I saw a different movie than almost all of the other critics. Apparently, they saw something fantastic.

I saw a movie that is slow, the main character is just as boring as every one of us in our normal day-to-day lives, the conflict is childish, and the arc of the hero is minimal at best.

Essentially it is a story of old, white people dancing like old, white people and doing old, white people things. Then the main character has some form of a mild mid-life crisis in which she tries to party a couple of times like she was in college, have sex like in high school, and goes through relationship drama the way we did when we were in junior high.

The big, life-altering moment for the main character is really quite mundane. It also feels like the whole story was written to get to that one point in the story. It's 90 minutes of normalish, boring life leading up to 2 minutes of what an old person would think is exciting. It's a lot more annoying than it is empowering. The whole time I was watching this I wanted to yell at the main character, "Do something exciting"! I also wanted to act like a relationship counselor and tell everyone to grow up. 

If you are interested in seeing this movie, there is absolutely zero reason for spending the money to see it on the big screen. Watching it on your computer curled up in your bed will be just fine. That is also just about as exciting as the plot of the movie.

CLIMAX

Rated: R

Release Date: March 15, 2019

Director: Gaspar Noe

Stars: Sofia Boutella, Kiddy Smile

Plot: A dance troupe parties after a rehearsal, but chaos breaks out when it it discovered that the sangria is laced with LSD.

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release and make someone else rent it

This is the kind of movie that is made for people that like strange movies. If you are the kind of person who sees three or four movies a year then this is a film you should skip.

For those of you that like the weird, odd, and totally insane flicks that hit theaters, this one takes crazy to an insane new level. Imagine your prom afterparty turning into a murderous, psychotic horror fest. That is exactly what you get with CLIMAX.

The film is directed in a way that makes you feel like you are tripping on acid along with the characters. There are scenes that go on way too long where you find yourself begging to get away, but you can't. The whole movie is set to an overly loud and driving techno beat that bores into your head. There are scenes shot in ways that are not naturally appealing so your brain works overtime to try to reconcile what it is seeing, but with no luck. By the time the film ends you, like all of the other characters are mentally, and in some ways, physically exhausted.

There is no way in could ever recommend this film to 98% of the people I know or that read my reviews. It's just too much, and also not enough when it comes to plot, to keep the average movie-goer engaged or entertained. Must people will be completely turned off by this work in less than 15 minutes.

For the 2% that crave the insanely weird, CLIMAX will give you what you want, but it may give you more than you bargained for.

SERENITY

Rated: R

Release Date: January 25, 2019

Director: Steven Knight

Stars: Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jason Clarke

Plot: A man is asked to kill his ex-wife's new husband, but everyone in the small town seems to know what is going on

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release

This is one of those okay movies that is on the verge of being great in some ways, but also on the verge of being a complete train wreck. It has several interesting moments, but it also has several, "what the heck am I watching?" moments as well.

The twist is interesting. Some people will love it, more will roll their eyes at it. The problem is that it is revealed way too early. There could have been a really cool setup for a huge twist at the end, but instead it just sort of leaks out about halfway through the story. 

The pacing and acting are fairly slow and stilted, but that has something to do with the greater story, so it is forgivable. Although, before you get to the twist it can become pretty annoying. 

I wish this film could have been something great, instead it just unfolds and then we all go home. There is a scene near the end that should be emotional and powerful, but by the time it gets there, we are so ingrained in the mundane that it doesn't even blip on the emotion detector.

There are so many movies these actors have done that are significantly better than this one. See one of those instead. You'll feel better.

IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK

Rated: R

Release Date: January 4, 2019

Director: Barry Jenkins

Stars: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King, Colman Domingo

Plot: A young couple in love try to make a life for themselves while going through pregnancy and being accused of a crime he didn't commit

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

Director Barry Jenkins has proven once again that he can make outstanding, award-worthy films that are also accessible to the average movie-goer. His films are beautiful, important, and timely, but they never feel overdone, or pretentious, or self-congratulating.

This film is an emotional ride all the way through. There are moments where you feel first love, there are moments where you feel things that you want to go away. It's a captivating film with scenes where you wish you could turn away, but it is so good you can't.

The acting is easily some of the best of the year. Regina King is getting a lot of awards buzz, but KiKi Layne's performance is just as moving and powerful. I'm surprised she isn't getting more awards attention.

This is a slow-moving story, but it never feels like it gets too slow. The pacing is perfect. It gives just enough time to sit in each scene and really take in all of the beauty and meaning. This is a master class in dramatic film.

WELCOME TO MARWEN

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: December 21, 2018

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Stars: Steve Carell, Leslie Mann, Janelle Monae

Plot: An artist uses dolls and an elaborate set to cope with life after he is horribly beaten and left for dead

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release and make someone else rent it

This story has so much potential. It is a fascinating and powerful true story, unfortunately the film does a horrible job of making it come to life in a way that isn't awkward and just plain weird. 

The worst part of this film is that it actually gets really good for the last 15 minutes. Unfortunately, there are 90 minutes of a really bad movie before you get there. It's not worth the wait. 

Steve Carell does a good job with the roles he plays. He's proven that he can be a great dramatic actor as well as a comedian. It's too bad that this movie doesn't showcase his talents better. 

The other issue with the film is that every scene feels like the timing is off. The dialogue comes too slow, the cues are mistimed, and the transitions are awkward.

The best way I can describe watching this movie is to use the movie itself. Imagine how awkward you would feel if you were an adult playing with dolls in your front yard while other people watched. There you go. That's what it feels like to watch WELCOME TO MARWEN.

THE MULE

Rated: R

Release Date: December 14, 2018

Director: Clint Eastwood

Stars: Clint Eastwood, Bradley Cooper, Michael Pena, Laurence Fishburne

Plot: An old man in need of a quick buck finds himself running drugs for a large cartel

Trailer

Clint Says: Save some money and see a matinee

This has been rumored to be Clint Eastwood's final film. If that is the case, it is a wonderful, artistic, piece of cinema that is worthy of his long legacy. 

This isn't the kind of film that is overly exciting or thrilling, but it is an interesting story about family and generational differences. Overall, it is a well done film that completes everything it sets out to accomplish. 

The only downside to the movie is that it has one massive plot hole that should have been addressed early on in the making of the movie. I even heard two different people asking why as we walked out of the theater. In a nutshell, without spoiling the movie, there is zero reason why the main character would continue driving the same vehicle after he finds out certain things. It is a major knock against the movie. 

This isn't the kind of film that will be winning any awards, nor will it be one that will be on any "Top Ten Clint Eastwood Films" lists, but it is a solid film that is worthy of being seen, especially if you are a fan of Eastwood.

GREEN BOOK

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: November 21, 2018

Director: Peter Farrelly

Stars: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini

Plot: An Italian-American drives a black concert pianist through the deep south for a performance tour in the early 1960's

Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and see this in a theater now

As of this writing, this is my favorite movie of the year. There are still a few weeks to go before the awards deadline and there are several films that may give this one a good run, but this movie is outstanding.

Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali give award-worthy performances. They have amazing chemistry, and at the same time, have a natural conflict that adds so much to the overall story.

The story is fantastic, the pacing is perfect, the music is wonderful, and the cinematography is outstanding. At this point I will be shocked if this movie gets less than five Oscar nominations. (This could change, depending on the rest of the movies that come out this year. 

This is a powerful and moving true story that will have you laughing, cringing, crying, and feeling for the the characters as they go through their inner and outer struggles. 

This is a film everyone should see. You may not think that you will like it, but I would be shocked  if anyone came out of the theater after seeing this film and thinking it wasn't worth seeing. 

BOY ERASED

Rated: R

Release Date: November 9, 2018

Director: Joel Edgerton

Stars: Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Joel Edgerton

Plot: After a teen tells his parents he is gay they send him to a conversion therapy facility

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait for the digital release

This may not make a lot of sense yet, but I was a bit disappointed that this film was so easy to watch. When I saw the trailer I thought we were going to be in for a tough two-hour journey that would have me uncomfortably squirming in my seat. I wanted to witness the hell this kid went through, I wanted to feel his pain. Instead, there are only a couple of scenes where things start to get intense and then the camera cuts away. This is the kind of film that needs to be bold and make a splash if it is going to get any kind of recognition. Unfortunately, it pulls its punches.

Lucas Hedges does a nice job as the tormented teen, but I never really bought him in the role. It just didn't feel right. It isn't his acting skill or lack thereof that cause the issue, he just wasn't a good fit for the role.

The first hour of the film is dreadfully slow. I looked at my watch three times. I rarely do that during a movie unless it is just dragging along. Thankfully the last 40 minutes are much better. Once the movie hits its stride everything starts working together to make it the kind of film worth seeing.

One of the things that I liked about this movie is that it did not portray religion or the followers of that religion in a bad light. It offers legitimate arguments on all sides. I don't like being preached at by any movie on any subject. I never felt like this one got preachy.

If you know anyone that has gone through conversion therapy this is a good film for you. For almost everyone else it is an okay film that does a good job telling a fascinating story, but it could have been so much better.

THE HATE U GIVE

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: October 19, 2018

Director: George Tillman Jr. 

Stars: Amadla Stenberg, Russell Hornsby, Regina Hall, Anthony Mackie

Plot: A girl must learn to stand up for herself and her community after her friend is is tragically killed by a police officer

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

This was one of the biggest and most powerful books in the Young Adult genre in 2017. It came at a time and covered issues that were, and still are, some of the most important and passionate of the day. Now, 20 months later, it is a powerful and moving film that hits hard on those same issues. 

Amandla Stenberg and Russell Hornsby give performances that will shake you to your core. They portray the feelings of hurt, loss, and desperation in beautiful yet painful ways. Their characters are also complex. Nobody is perfect, everyone has flaws and issues that muddle up the situations and give all sides valid arguments.

The story itself is emotional and powerful. If you aren't crying at some point during this film you may want to check your pulse. 

The movie version is a bit different from the book, but the changes are things that make the story much better visually than in the written word. I don't think that fans of the book are going to be upset with the changes.

This is the kind of film everyone should see at some point. To see the issues of race, justice, social justice, and family play out this way is eye-opening. It is the kind of movie that might have the ability to move people out of their comfort zones and look at life through someone else's viewpoint. 

FIRST MAN

Rated: PG-13

Release Date: October 12, 2018

Director: Damien Chazelle

Stars: Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy, Jason Clarke

Plot: An intimate look at the first moon landing through the mind of Neil Armstrong

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

Every once in a while I will walk into a theater expecting one thing and end up seeing something completely different. FIRST MAN was one of those experiences. I thought it was going to be a spaceship movie filled with exciting scenes of fire, and explosions, and high tension. Instead I was treated to a very personal, emotional, and moving film that carried its power in an unexpected way.

That is not to say that there aren't some amazing action scenes in this movie. There are several scenes that will have you gripping the armrests and holding your breath. It is also the kind of movie you should see on the biggest screen with the best sound possible. You'll feel like you are taking off with the crew.

For those of you that know anything about Neil Armstrong, he was a man that never wanted to be in the limelight. He was very matter-of-fact in his approach to just about everything. He was soft-spoken, introspective, and a genius worthy of his success.

Ryan Gosling gives an award-worthy performance as Neil Armstrong. His quiet but strong and determined demeanor sets the tone for the whole film. Even though everything in his life is on the brink of catastrophic collapse at any moment, he keeps cool under pressure.

The whole movie feels like it is resting precariously on top of a pressure cooker about to explode at any second, but just as things look like it is all over Neil comes in and saves the day. Then he goes on about his business as usual.

I would also recommend this film to younger audiences (10-12 and up) who are interested in space exploration and history. The movie does deal with death and some very suspenseful moments, but the bad language is minimal, there are no other overt adult themes.

Even if you were hoping for an all-out action flick with this one, you should give it a shot anyway. It is a wonderful film that gives a whole new perspective on the space race of the 1960's and the people that made one of the greatest feats in human history happen.

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE

Rated: R

Release Date: October 12, 2018

Director: Drew Goddard

Stars: Jeff Bridges, Chris Hemsworth, Dakota Johnson, Cynthia Erivo

Plot: Several peoples' lives cross paths at the El Royale hotel on a night they wish they weren't there

Trailer

Clint Says: Wait until after opening weekend, but see this in theaters

If you are a fan of movies like THE HATEFUL EIGHT or FREE FIRE you should run as fast as you can to the theater to see this movie. It is tense and filled with mystery and suspense almost from the first minute.

The whole movie feels like you are pulling a rubber band tighter and tighter just waiting for it to snap. And when it does finally snap...wow...what a ride! It is brutal, unnerving, strong, and blunt. By the time it is over you'll be relieved because you need the break.

The acting is very good throughout the movie. This may be the best film of Chris Hemsworth's career. And it is also the first time I haven't been annoyed by the character played by Dakota Johnson. In fact, she was quite interesting.

The film is filled with great mysteries that are compelling, and the way that everything unfolds is intriguing and entertaining. Even though it is 2 1/2 hours long it never feels slow. In fact, I was surprised by how short it felt.

This is easily one of the best ensemble cast films of the year. If you can handle the violence and brutality of this film you should see it as soon as you can. You won't be disappointed.

A STAR IS BORN

Rated: R

Release Date: October 5, 2018

Director: Bradley Cooper

Stars: Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper, Sam Elliott

Plot: A Country star meets the girl of his dreams and watches her shoot to stardom as his world collapses around him

Trailer

Clint Says: Drop everything and go see this in theaters now

Very rarely is a movie any good that is written, directed, and starring the same person. Bradley Cooper did all three for this film and he has made it very clear that this film is the exception to the rule. Cooper's directorial debut is simply spectacular.

Lady Gaga gives a masterful and moving performance that will almost assuredly win her a lot of golden statues. Her chemistry with Cooper is nothing short of magical, her character arc is fascinating, and her voice is other-worldly.

Cooper is heart-breakingly wonderful as a musician on top of the world, but is one fall away from his whole empire crashing down. His character is deep and tortured, his flaws are sometimes endearing and other times horrific, and he is exhausted from constantly running from his demons. Cooper plays the role perfectly.

The story is thoroughly compelling and the pacing is wonderful. Even though the film clocks in at nearly 2 1/2 hours I never looked at the time, nor did my thoughts wonder away from the movie. I was totally committed to both of the main characters within the first five minutes of the film.

The film is made even better by its secondary characters. Sam Elliot, Andrew Dice Clay, and Dave Chappelle move the story along while giving us hints about the lives of the main characters, but they also give us some of themselves so that we care about them, too. These role could have been filled by lessor actors, but the film would have lost a lot of its power.

This is a great date night movie or a fun girl-night-out event, either way, get to the theater and see this film. It is entertaining, powerful, filled with great music (much of which was made in Nashville), and will fill you with all of the emotions.