Operation Finale (2018)

In the latter years that followed the "Holocaust", a team of Israeli intelligence agents of the "Mossad" track down one of the living post-war architects of the "Final Solution". Adolf Eichmann, one of Hitler's confidante's, avoided being caught for his crimes and escaped to Buenos Aries, Argentina with his family in hiding. One of the most astounding feats and unfathomable was that he used a fake name to successfully enter the country. It's one of the most thrilling historical films to date. This film is stunning and is a testament of time and justice for the Jewish people.

Director Chris Weitz and writer Matthew Orton craft a vividly captivating film. Weitz who so eloquently creates a stunning biographical narrative with authenticity and finesse that audiences will  truly appreciate the art of this compelling film and its very important role in history. Meanwhile, Orton crafts a screenplay that is filled with tension and relentlessness.

Leading the charge is Oscar Isaac (Star Wars: The Force Awakens). Isaac plays the leader of the mission, Peter Malkin. Isaac plays Malkin in an intense and emotional take on the hero of the Jewish people. Playing the mastermind behind the mask, is Ben Kingsley (Ghandi). Kingsley plays the war criminal in cunning fashion. He's conniving and an emotional manipulator. His take on Eichmann is one of the best performances in a film with historical purpose.

One of the most effective parts of this film is inclusion of real footage of the mission, trial of Eichmann and the killings during the "Holocaust". Including these important parts makes the film as accurate and real as possible. This can get a little graphic despite its PG-13 rating, but it's as effective if it wasn't included in the film or if it was more detailed to receive an R rating.

Keeping the film more dramatic is composer Alexandre Desplat. Desplat (The King's Speech), makes a score as thrilling and dramatic as the film itself. It's edgy and dramatic to the highest levels.

One of the most daring and courageous of historical events has come to audiences globally. The men and women of the US equivalent to the CIA, Israel's "Mossad", as heroes that stood the test of time and with a race against the clock to capture one of the most notorious men of the Nazi Germany- Hitlerian regime. This film services the Jewish people and the 6 million fallen, justice and peace, which was fought ferociously to obtain. Even for those who aren't personally impact by this tragedy will certainly feel empathy and renewed sense of hope after watching this breathtaking film.

Rate: A 

Director: Chris Weitz 

Starring: Oscar Issac, Ben Kingsley, Joe Alwyn, Nick Kroll, Lior Raz 

MPAA Rating: PG-13 (for disturbing thematic content and related violent images, and for some language) 

Runtime: 2 Hours 

Synopsis: Fifteen years after the end of World War II, Israel's intelligence agency Mossad and security agency Shin Bet - led by the tireless and heroic agent Peter Malkin (Isaac) - launched a daring top-secret raid to capture the notorious Eichmann (Kingsley), who had been reported dead in the chaos following Nazi Germany's collapse but was, in fact, living and working in a suburb of Buenos Aires, Argentina under an assumed identity along with his wife and two sons. Monitoring his daily routine, Malkin and his operatives plot and execute the abduction under the cover of darkness just a few feet from Eichmann's home. Determined to sneak him out of Argentina to stand trial in Israel, Malkin and Eichmann engage in an intense and gripping game of cat-and-mouse.

The Happytime Murders (2018)

It's muppets gone bad. From the son of Jim Henson, comes a downright awful and obnoxious comedy. With  adult comedic films on the rise since 2016's "Sausage Party", it hasn't gotten any better, with the exception of both "Deadpool" films, adult tailored comedic films have been no entertaining experiences. This is perhaps the worst film of the year, in my opinion.

This entire movie is just utterly cringe worthy. Yeah things might seem promising from the surfaces, but this film is just too much for the people working on this film. For director Brian Henson, this film is just putting the legacy of his father right down the crapper. Henson tries too hard to emulate the talents of his father, who unlike his son, has made quality content meant for adults. I give Henson kudos for trying to entertain audiences, but it's just excruciating to watch with it's 90 minute runtime.

The writing on the otherhand, is some of the worst ever in a comedy and is completely lazy. A bit forced at getting reactions from audiences and it fails at being a quality film for a comedy, which puts the comedy film genre to shame and look completely dead.

She could've done better. Funny woman Melissa McCarthy leads this troubled film in a bad and unworthy way. She has more talent than this film recognizes. Alongside her, A blue puppet and Maya Rudolph. This blue puppet is one of the worst parts of this film and Rudolph is just annoying in this film. Suffice to say, this film is a career low for McCarthy and Rudolph, who gave us "Bridesmaids". Such a 360 difference in both films.

Trying to somewhat subdue the film of its disgustingly abhorrent qualities, is composer Christopher Lennertz. He makes a groovy score but it's not enough to make this film better.

Save your money at all costs. This film does have promising looks outside, inside it's just plain nasty. This film is a try-hard and it ultimately fails miserably at being a comedic film. The fact this film was made shows Jim Henson is rolling in his grave.

Photo courtsey of STX Films

Rate: F 

Director: Brian Henson

Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Joel McHale, Elizabeth Banks and Maya Rudolph

MPAA Rating: R (for strong crude and sexual content and language throughout, and some drug material)

Runtime: 1 Hour and 31 Minutes 

Synopsis: No Sesame. All Street. THE HAPPYTIME MURDERS is a filthy comedy set in the seedy underbelly of Los Angeles where puppets and humans coexist. Two clashing detectives with a shared secret, one human (Melissa McCarthy) and one puppet, are forced to work together again to solve the brutal murders of the former cast of a beloved classic puppet television show.

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

The untold story of a Colorado Police Officer infiltrating the notoriously disgusting "KKK" in the 1970's, is now a deeply powerful and disturbing motion picture. Colorado Springs Police rookie, Ray Stallworth, sets out on an investigation of the local "KKK" chapter. Doesn't that sound crazy? It's an unbelievably gripping take on a very important event in history. This film is rich in craft and has a sometimes excessive political bias. BlacKkKlansman is an authentic and rich true story narrative that aims to show a piece of history that has, not only had an impact on America but a global one as this film is a monumental achievement in both film and society.

Infiltrating the director's chair, is director Spike Lee. Lee offers a film to audiences that is not only a movie of a historical event, but a film on social issues and political ideologies in America. Lee writes the film with edge and sensationalism that is unlike anything ever seen in a film of a historical significance. 

This film offers a cast that is jawdroppingly good. Playing Stallworth is the son of legendary actor Denzel Washington. John David Washington portrays him in a powerful, gripping and memorable performance. It's quite possibly one of the best lead male roles of the year.  Along for the ride, Adam Driver, who isn't only a Star Wars baddie, but a former US Marine. He makes playing Stallworths right hand man like it was easy, given his former occupation.

Co-starring in the film are: Topher Grace (That 70's Show) and Laura Herrier (Spider Man: Homecoming). Herrier and Grace give soulful performances. Grace playing David Duke and Herrier plays a local college student who is the president of the Black Student Union on campus. They give performances that embody the very definition of authentic and true. 

Bringing more edge to the film is the music. Terence Blanchard makes a string filled composition blend in the film and is a big part in the films intensity. 

This film is the kind of film that is spectacular but also hard to stomach, given its strong content- a film with mature and meaningful messages. I applaud Stallworth for his courageous and bold endeavors taking down hate. I also applaud Lee for telling a story that should be witnessed by audiences on a global scale. This film is definitely going to have negative and positive reactions from audiences. It's also a film that makes it the point of conversation amongst those who are old enough to remember this and those that weren't alive or old enough to grasp that this actually happened. This film was meant to be made, especially at a point in time where the film resonates perfectly into present day America and racial issues.  

Photo courtsey of Legendary Pictures

Rate: A- 

Director: Spike Lee 

Starring: John David Washington, Adam Driver, Laura Herrier, Michael Busemi with Ryan Eggold and Topher Grace 

MPAA Rating: R-(for language throughout, including racial epithets, and for disturbing/violent material and some sexual references) 

Synopsis: From visionary filmmaker Spike Lee comes the incredible true story of an American hero. It's the early 1970s, and Ron Stallworth (John David Washington) is the first African-American detective to serve in the Colorado Springs Police Department. Determined to make a name for himself, Stallworth bravely sets out on a dangerous mission: infiltrate and expose the Ku Klux Klan. The young detective soon recruits a more seasoned colleague, Flip Zimmerman (Adam Driver), into the undercover investigation of a lifetime. Together, they team up to take down the extremist hate group as the organization aims to sanitize its violent rhetoric to appeal to the mainstream. Produced by the team behind the Academy-Award (R) winning Get Out.

Runtime: 2 Hours and 15 Minutes