00s Movie Review - Street Kings

Director: David Ayer
Genre: Drama/ Thriller/ Crime/ Action
Runtime: 85 minutes
Year: 2008
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Forest Whitaker, Hugh Laurie, Chris Evans, Common, Amaury Nolasco, Naomie Harris, Terry Crews, Cedric the Entertainer, Jay Mohr, John Corbett

Description: An undercover cop (Keanu Reeves), disillusioned by the death of his wife, is implicated in the murder of an officer (Terry Crews) and must struggle to clear himself.

Review: Detective Tom Ludlow has a bad reputation when it comes to doing police work by the book. Ludlow’s motto is: shoot first, ask questions later. Even in his latest case, in which he managed to save two girls, the suspects don’t live to tell the tale. Fortunately, Ludlow can count on the protection of his superior, Captain Jack Wander. But then it turns out that Ludlow’s former partner, Detective Terrence Washington, is planning to rat him out. That could cost Ludlow his job. And so he takes matters into his own hands an decides to teach Washington a lesson. The Washington gets involved in a brutal crime and the trouble truly begins. Captain James Biggs smells trouble and starts investigating Ludlow.  
Two things really spoke to me: the script was co-written bij James Ellroy, whom we now as the writer of “L.A. Confidential”. Second, the great cast, including solid actors such as Forest Whitaker, Keanu Reeves, Hugh Laurie and Chris Evans.
The tension and intrigue builds nicely as Ludlow gets further and further into trouble, with some really strong action scenes. The film has a twist, but it’s not very surprising or original. And because some characters we don’t really get to know very well, their personality changes seem a bit implausible.
The acting, however, is very solid. Whitaker in particular. The visual aspect of the film is also strong, a good visualization of South Central L.A.
“Street Kings” is a solid police thriller, that sadly had to suffer the obligatory plot twist. But overall, it’s a good film that never loses your attention.

Rating: 3,5/ 5

Movie Reviews - To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You

Director: Michael Fomignaro
Genre: Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 101 minutes
Year: 2020
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Jordan Fisher, Anna Cathcart, Janel Parrish, John Corbett, Holland Taylor

Description: Lara Jean (Lana Condor) and Peter (Noah Centineo) have just taken their relationship from pretend to officially official when another recipient of one of her old love letters enters the picture.

Review: After the popular film “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”, there of course had to be a sequel. The first film was a fun and easy watch, especially for a teen audience. But can the sequel live up to the hype of the first?
In “To All the Boys: P.S. I Love You” Peter and Lara Jean are a couple and they are very happy together. But then there is John Ambrose, one of the boys that received an old love letter written by Lara Jean. And that’s the moment where Lara Jean starts doubting her feelings, because John Ambrose is such a sweet and nice guy. Who will she eventually chose?
Lana Condor and Noah Centineo returns as Lara Jean and Peter, who again convince us of their chemistry. They are a real cute on-screen couple. Centineo is your typical teen heartthrob.
The story of “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You” is less original and just a simple romance story of a love triangle. But for the targeted audience, it’s yet another fun feel-good romcom.

Rating: 3 / 5

10s Movie Review - To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Director: Susan Johnson
Genre: Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Runtime: 99 minutes
Year: 2018
Starring: Lana Condor, Noah Centineo, Janel Parrish, John Corbett, Anna Cathcart, Andrew Bachelor, Tresso Mahoro, Madeleine Arthur, Emilija Baranac, Israel Broussard, Kelcey Mawema, Julia Benson

Description: A teenage girl's secret love letters are exposed and wreak havoc on her love life.

Review: “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” is a Netflix original film and it’s based on the young adult book written by Jenny Han. It’s a romantic high school drama and the perfect chick flick for an evening, when you’re in to something easy to watch. It’s a feel-good film like many others in the genre.
We meet Lara Jean. Every time she falls in love, it ends in nothing. Each time she wrote a letter to the boy to close that chapter in her life. She writes everything on her mind, addresses the envelope, closes it and keeps the letter in a box under her bed. But one day, that box is gone and so are the letters. Someone has send out the letters.
To Lara Jean, those boys receiving the letters is the worst thing. Josh is one of them, but he also happens to be her older sister’s ex-boyfriend. And then there is Peter Kavinsky, a guy that never really noticed Lara jean. He thinks, the letter can come in handy, because he wants to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. Peter and Lara jean decided to have a fake relationship.
“To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before’ is a fun, no-brainer and it’s definitely a feel-good film. It was a fun watch, but it’s probably not a movie I would watch again.

Rating: 3 / 5