John Wick 2

This followup sequel to "John Wick" was a lot of fun in terms of flat-out brutal hand-to-hand combat, and gunplay, and pencil-play... LOL!  It's so over-the-top, you can't be help appreciate the commitment to this world of John Wick and company by the entire production team for this film.  Keanu Reeves is turning into this generation's Clint Eastwood (reminiscent of the Dirty Harry franchise in the 70s and 80s).

I give it 3 stars, or a grade of B.

Moonlight

This artfully shot coming of age film featuring a black character, Chiron, at 3 points in his life, first as a child, second as a teenager, and lastly as a young man struggling to find his place in a world that otherwise expects specific life choices given his circumstances.  Director Barry Jenkins imbues this film with lingering, poetic sweeps while furtively building the character's arc through the film running time.  There is a nice use of color all throughout the film, bolstering the mood and tension.  I think it starts out strong, but gets a little narratively weak by the 3rd act. 

I give it 3 stars, or a grade of B. 

Underworld: Blood Wars

Well, Kate Beckinsale is back for another installment of the Underworld franchise. All I can say is that when your films are reminding me of story beats from the "Twilight" franchise, it's probably time to put a fork in it. LOL!

I give it 2 stars, or a grade of C.

Elle

Paul Verhoeven is back with "Elle", mostly a psychological drama that kicks off with a middle-aged woman, Elle (Isabella Huppert) in the midst of being assaulted (physically and sexually) in her own home by a masked man. Then the story peels away the layers of this woman with details from her distant past, and the previous decades of her life. Lots of twisty windings in this tale. Very European in flavor (French-language film).

I give it 3 stars or a grade of B.

Hidden Figures

I enjoyed it. Math and Science > Racism.

I give it 3 stars, or a grade of B.

Patriots Day

I thought, ultimately, it was an engaging look at the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, and what was involved in bringing the perpetrators to justice.

I give it 2.75 stars, or a grade of B-.

La La Land

I thought there'd be more singing and dancing in the film, going by some reviews, but it was not so. I kinda wished Gosling and Stone were better singers, but their on-screen chemistry is good. The story was average. I kept asking myself, "Don't they text each other?" LOL! But it'll probably win a lot of technical awards.

I give it 2.75 stars or a grade of B-.