FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM [2016]

After a rather dull outing with Tarzan, director David Yates wisely returns to J.K. Rowling's cinematic Wizardry World with the first part of a prequel series, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them.
Inspired by Rowling's fictional Wizardry school textbook, set in the 1920's, the film follows a British wizard in New York City who accidentally lets loose a suitcase full of magical beasties of all shapes and sizes.
The film doesn't require you to know anything about the previous Hogwart's stories so it's easy to enjoy on it's own.  Though none of the characters aren't as instantly as memorable as the Harry Potter gang none of them are as irksome as some were either.  The plot hits a couple speedbumps in favor of dazzling you with bizarre creatures and their antics but when it's moving it really impresses with dazzling set-pieces and imagination.  It's not perfect but it makes me eager to see what worlds the expanded universe takes us to.

3½ No-Maj's out of 5

THE STANFORD PRISON EXPERIMENT [2015]

Based on real events, director Kyle Alvarez's The Stanford Prison Experiment, recollects a disturbing university behavioral experiment set in the '70's by psychology professor Philip Lombardo.
A mock prison is set-up where 24 students are randomly selected to play prisoners & guards as a psychological study of imprisonment, however it begins taking a life of it's own and the abusive tactics become very questionable as the subjects being losing a grip on reality.
The subject matter fires all sorts of questions of ethics and reasoning at the audience which will probably result in a wide variety of reactions to the film.  No matter how you feel about it, one can't deny Alvarez's wondefully effective use of the camera, colors and ever-building tension to keep the uneasiness constantly in the foreground.   Without a single weak link in the ensemble cast, everything is craftily glued together in such a way that it all holds together tight enough when it easily could have been a silly and/or boring disaster.

3½ sausages out of 5

TRAINWRECK [2015]

For the first time in his mainstream career director Judd Apatow makes a film he didn't write himself.  With a script by comedian Amy Schumer, Trainwreck refines both her and Apatow's knack for the crude, thoughtful and realistic characters like a match made in heaven.
A down-in-the-dumps city gal, who's never had a serious relationship in her life, begins having feelings for a successful doctor.
Essentially the film is a rom-com by all means but fans of Schumer & Apatow know they're not going to let it play like one.  Sure there's long stretches of hardly any laughter at all but that's alright when the characters are being developed during this down time.  In fact, Bill Hader just keeps getting better and better with each role I see him, leading me to believe he's well on his way to becoming a successful dramatic actor as well.  A well-paced film, with a few odd bumps in the road, is ultimately rewarding as you can't help but fall for the real human emotions it draws upon.

3½ Uptown Girls out of 5

THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER [2012]

Stephen Chbosky adapts his own coming of age novel, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower for the screen with a heartfelt sincerity.

The leading stars are all fantastic with the help from a strong supporting cast, noting Paul Rudd in a wonderful minor role as a high school English teacher.  It's the type of film that could have easily fallen apart with some miscasting or sentimental schmaltz but thankfully it stays true to who the characters are and their realistic reactions to the world around them. Flavored with a healthy dose of early 90's music and cultural references, the film is a constant reminder as my days as an outcast teenager struggling to find a comfortable spot among some sort of social circle. 

4 mix tapes out of 5

We Need To Talk About Kevin (2012)

Set to be released early next year, this dark, gritty, depressing-as-hell drama stars Tilda Swinton as a grief-stricken mother who reflects back on her son's trouble-ridden past, filled with anger and resentment. The character of Kevin is such an evil, conniving little shit, you can't help but sympathize with the poor woman. The conclusion is downright chilling. Tilda Swinton will earn accolades for her performance.

Note: I urge you to ignore publicity for this film, because every single synopsis I've seen includes spoilers. For shame.

4.5 inexplicable traces of red out of 5