Us (2019)

Directed by Jordan Peele

Written by Jordan Peele

Starring Lupita Nyong'o, Winston Duke, Elisabeth Moss and Tim Heidecker

This new psychological thriller is the newest creation from the great mind of Jordan Peele, who brought us Get Out. Us works on so many levels, and will keep you speculating on the meaning behind everything. Peele gives a nod in many scenes to films that have inspired him, like The Shining-- and like The Shining this film will keep you guessing on the edge of your seat. 

The story follows Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong'o), her husband Gabe (Winston Duke) and their two kids Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan Alex). The family returns to the beachfront home in Santa Cruz where Adelaide grew up. Being back to her childhood home isn't all great memories for Adelaide, as she went missing when she was a little girl after wandering away from her parents on the boardwalk into a fun house. While trying to relax with her family and their friends the Tyler's (Tim Heidecker and Elisabeth Moss), Adelaide can't help but shake the feeling that something is going to happen. Her worries become a reality when four doppelgängers break into their house in the middle of the night, ready to wreak havoc on the family. 

Wether it was paying homage to movies from the past with a reference from Home Alone or with a brief scene of the family's car driving through the hilly forest to their vacation home, much like the Torrance family in The Shining driving to the hotel-- Peele left us with lots of fun easter eggs to unveil. There is so much speculation to be pondered with the meaning behind this sinister group of doppelgängers harassing this seemingly nice, middle-class family of four. A movie that from the trailer looks like a simple home invasion thriller like The Strangers, is really much more. Maybe Peele is trying to show us how we as a society view foreigners in our own country like invaders in our own home, when they're really no different than us. 

This film left the actors a fantastic opportunity to shine, while playing two versions of themselves. Duke as Gabe is a goofy dad who shows off some mighty comedic chops, unlike his first big role in Black Panther, but as his evil counterpart we see a big, silent monster who stops at nothing to try and harm his adversary. Both the children in this movie do such a good job playing the two roles. Evan Alex's doppelgänger, Pluto, is an animalistic demon who likes to play with fire and Joseph's Umbrae is a creepy version of her own self who can run laps around Usain Bolt. Perhaps the best performance from the movie though is Lupita Nyong'o. As Adelaide she is a worried mother who is suppressing some serious childhood trauma, but as Red she is terrifying. She wields a pair of sharp scissors and wide curious eyes, assisted with a raspy breathy voice that will make your skin crawl. I would be shocked if there wasn't already Oscar gossip for her performance. 

The cinematography and score really add to the element of horror in this film as well. You can tell that Jordan Peele is really flexing his horror movie biceps with Us. Seeing what he will come up with next after his first two big hits, now that will be interesting. 

8/10

Black Panther (2018)

Directed by Ryan Coogler 

Written by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole

Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby 

Starring Chadwick Boseman, Lupita Nyong'o, Danai Gurira and Michael B. Jordan

"Wakanda Forever"

The tag line of the movie, the fictional African nation, and 2018? This movie was easily one of the best films of 2018 and of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Fans of Marvel movies and movies alike can all join hands in praise for this wonderful adaptation by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole. 

After the events following the tragic death of his father King T'Chaka, T'Challa (Michael B. Jordan) returns home to the isolated but highly technologically advanced country of Wakanda, where he is to be crowned King. Taking throne may not be as simple of a task as anticipated, with factions within Wakanda threatening to fight the King for his spot. Black Panther must team up with members of the Wakandan special force called the Dora Milaje and C.I.A. agent Everett K. Ross (Martin Freeman) to prevent disastrous annihilation to Wakanda. 

The fictional African metropolis of Wakanda may be one of the most fascinating aspects of this movie, being disguised as a deprived third-world country that does not accept any sort of aid-- once you fly past a hidden barrier made of vibranium (the country's gold mine) you discover it is far more advanced than any other country in the world. While the plot of this movie is very interesting to follow, and the set design of the fictional country is amazing, the characters are by far the best part of the whole cinematic experience. Chadwick Boseman as King T'Challa/Black Panther is a very likable lead character. He has such conviction and pride for his country and will stop at nothing to protect it. Behind every successful man however is a team of badass women. T'Challa's younger sister, Shuri is played by a new-comer Letitia Wright and she plays the gadget girl, who is also this witty super genius. Okoye (Danai Gurira) is one of the members of the Dora Milaje, and has a blind devotion to the King and Wakanda that is admirable. I've barely scratched the surface with these character, as there is a slew of other a-listers and new-comers that make this movie what it is. We have Angela Bassett as the Queen of Wakanda, Lupita Nyong'o as Nakia-- T'Challa's love interest, Forest Whitaker as a village elder of sorts, Daniel Kaluuya from Get Out finds his way in there too. 

When talking about the cast though, we cannot leave out the fantastic Michael B. Jordan, who plays one of our villains, Killmonger. They really dive into the origins of Killmonger which actually makes you feel some remorse for him as the villain trying to take over Wakanda. Jordan gives us a really strong performance in this role, and makes for one of Marvel's best bad guys. 

Black Panther received a very deserving 7 Oscar nominations and 3 wins including a nomination for Best Picture-- making it the first super-hero movie to be nominated for Best Picture. Two of the wins at the ceremony came for its production design and costume design, in which the women who who 

won made history for being the first winners of color for these categories. This factoid just adds to the pile of what makes this movie so great. The amazing characters, the action, the music and the diversity. 

8/10