Jon Harvey's Pocket Reviews

With all of the craziness in the news lately, it's hard to remember that it's that time of the year again: The Oscars. The time when we reflect on the magic that movies bring; when we are transported to other worlds, other lives, and other times. To give recognition to the blood, sweat, and tears that are poured into all of the films listed below, and some not listed. So I'm here to go over my picks for the best of each category. For the first time in thirty years, there will be no host, opting instead to have stars introduce each category.  The year 2019 was an amazing time for movies, some of them masterpieces. There are some surprising nominations and some surprising snubs as well. I will exclude categories in which I have not seen all of the films.  🏆  = What I Think Will Win   ❤   = My Pick Animated Feature Film How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World I Lost My Body Klaus ❤ Missing Link Toy Story 4 🏆 Pixar rules this ca...

Underwater feels like a modern homage to some of my favorite horror films of all-time. Despite a fun premise and some tense moments, the film ultimately falls short of anything more than a rental or a late night scare. On an oil drill deep in the Mariana Trench, seven miles underwater, a group of researchers become trapped when the rig implodes. As they find survivors and plan their escape, it becomes clear that something is hunting them. This is the last film released by 20th Century Fox, before Disney bought them and changed the name to 20th Century Studios. It was originally filmed in the spring of 2017 and was shelved. It could have something to do with alleged sexual assaulter and fake bomb threat caller T.J. Miller being cast as the comic relief. Whatever the reasons, the film feels like the end of an era as they move into a new one. After watching the trailer, you see the characters living going about their regular days before the mayhem begins. Unfortunatel...

Release Date: December 19, 2019 Director: J.J. Abrams Budget: $275 Million Screenplay: J.J. Abrams and Chris Terrio  With The Force Awakens , J.J. had created a comfortable return to a jumbled franchise. He opened Pandora's Box and let the internet run wild with theories. Who was Rey's parents? What was Snoke's real identity? Then came The Last Jedi , Rian Johnson's penultimate entry. It's an understatement to say that The Last Jedi was a controversial film. It left many fans angry, sad, and confused. What Johnson did creatively was to subvert everyone's expectations of explaining questions opened by Abrams. Who was Rey's parents? Nobody. What was Snoke's real identity? Doesn't matter because he's dead. Will Luke return to the fight and be a hero? No, he's turning his back on the force. I respect Rian Johnson's creativity to make something different, but unfortunately it backfired and went too far in many places. As a res...