Betsy Cizek

Baby Driver is a fun movie that does not disappoint. Ansel Elgort stars as Baby, and he is captivating. The character is very eccentric, having been in a car accident that resulted in both his mother and father’s death, he is left with a ringing in his ears that forces him to constantly listen to music with earbuds. He develops an almost savant-like accuracy as a driver with the help of his noise-...[Read More]

The Birth of a Nation is so heart-wrenchingly moving. A biography of the emancipation movement that began with Nate Turner, slave and preacher, a character played brilliantly by writer/director Nate Parker. The story begins in the antebellum South in 1809. Nate as a very young man is thought to be a leader that will do great things, having some unique marks that was felt only a leader would have. ...[Read More]

Indignation is the story of a complex young man that is beyond his years. Marcus, played by Logan Lerman, is dynamic in this role. When you experience the narrow views back in the 1950s, it’s difficult to imagine how different the world used to be having known only today’s socially acceptable views of tolerance in sexuality and religion. Young Marcus attends university in Ohio. Having ...[Read More]

The new thriller, Our Kind of Traitor, is worth the visit. Just the right amount of action, adventure, and intrigue. The dynamic cast was spot on and is sure to please. The story starts out with Perry (Ewan McGregor) and his girlfriend Gail (Naomie Harris) in a bit of a tumultuous relationship with Perry having to try and make amends after a sorted affair he had some time back. As chance would hav...[Read More]

The film Genius was not genius for me. It contained a wonderful cast and had enormous potential, but fell flat completely. I’m getting drowsy just thinking back on it. However, keep in mind that reviewing film is subjective. I did not enjoy Genius, which by no means infers that someone else might not enjoy it. So, in fairness, let me expound on what you can expect and you can make your own decisio...[Read More]

February of 1952 brought about an epic winter storm off the coast of Cape Cod, the Coast Guard made one of history’s bravest attempts at rescuing a split in half oil tanker (one of two ships demolished that evening). The new film, The Finest Hours is the account of those events. I had very high hopes for this film, based on true events. The Finest Hours having a wonderful cast, Chris Pine plays le...[Read More]

This late summer film, The Man from U.N.C.L.E. is inspired by the 1964-68 television series. Director Guy Ritchie’s take on the international spy team is surprisingly great! This is a quick-witted, not without some well-timed sarcasm, blast back into the 1960s world of the secret agent. Henry Cavill is brilliant As CIA agent Napoleon Solo. Solo is a former thief that is paying his debt to the U.S....[Read More]

It’s all about focus in the world of con artists and pick pockets. What expert swindler, Nicky Spurgeon played by Will Smith tries to convey to his intern Jess (Margot Robbie) is that you get your victim to pay attention to something else, while diverting them you go in and take whatever you want with them being none the wiser. If you are at all interested in human nature or body language you will...[Read More]

Exodus: Gods and Kings is unequivocally a technically savvy remake of the classic film The Ten Commandments (1956). The Ten Commandments was, for its day, pretty amazing in and of itself. Exodus: Gods and Kings is certainly not completely Biblically accurate, but what it lacks in authenticity it makes up for with an entertaining account of the Book of Exodus. Those that may have a problem with it ...[Read More]

What more can be said from a title like this. Dumb and Dumber To simply says it all. The film really is not a heck of a lot different that it’s predecessor Dumb and Dumber (1994). Okay, so this is the deal, if you’re a fan of the first film, you will most likely dig the second. It’s that kind of humor, where you wince at the grossness of any given shenanigan, but you follow it with a chuckle. Pers...[Read More]

The film, The Guest is truly all about Dan Stevens. Stevens plays David (aka The Guest). He is a most sinister cross between Ryan Gosling and Channing Tatum. This film is sure to catapult him into instant heartthrob status. I for one am looking forward to seeing more of him in the future. Stevens is not just a pretty face, but a quite believable character as well. The story begins with David payin...[Read More]

Let me just start out by saying I’m a huge fan of Melissa McCarthy, I absolutely loved her in Bridesmaids (2011). Unfortunately, the new film Tammy is not her best work. She plays pretty much the same role here that she has before, a tough but really mushy big girl that is forever getting into trouble. Tammy was written by McCarthy and her husband, Ben Falcone (who also has a small role and direct...[Read More]