Adnerb the Movie Nerd

Movie reviews from a middle school teacher's perspective

Get Out

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Who knew that Jordan Peele could write and direct a horror-thriller that brilliantly skewers race relations in modern America?  Well I am here to tell you that he can AND he did!  Get Out is highly entertaining and heart-pounding from beginning to end.  Daniel Kaluuya plays Chris, a sensitive black man who  agrees to accompany his white girlfriend to her family’s estate for the weekend.  Chris  find some creepy goings on as the parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener) and perhaps even his girlfriend, may have sinister intentions.  Peele’s script is top-notch and infused with wit and unexpected but welcome humor.  Chris’s best friend played by Lil Rey Howery is a delight as the TSA agent who doesn’t give up on his friend.  If Alfred Hitchcock were alive today, this is the kind of movie he might have made.  Well done Mr. Peele!

Split

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It is nice to see M. Night Shyamalan directing a movie that rises above some of his recent movies, like “The Last Airbender.”  “Split” harkens back to some of Shyamalan’s earlier movies like “Sixth Sense” and “Signs” and the more recent “The Visit”.  This is a well-done thriller that keeps you guessing.  The tour de force performance of James McAvoy would be compelling even in a movie of lower calibre.  His character has 23 (or perhaps 24) distinct personalities all trying to materialize and dominate the others.  Whether he is playing nine year old Hedwig or refined Patricia, McAvoy is compelling and creepy.  The plot revolves around three abducted girls who are being held by one of the personalities.  In the meantime, the original personality is being treated by Dr. Fletcher, played as somewhat dimwitted (she makes some poor decisions in my opinion) by Betty Buckley.  Of course Mr. Shyamalan will appear in a small role, but the surprise is the cameo at the very end of the movie.  No spoilers, but you will not understand the cameo if you haven’t seen some of M. Night’s earlier works.  If  you like psychological thrillers, I recommend you give this one a try.

The Girl on the Train

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I enjoyed Emily Blunt a lot in this movie.  She plays the alcoholic Rachel, who takes a train every day into NY city; and happens to pass  the very house she chose with her ex husband, that he, his new wife and baby  live in. They have a nanny, who turns out to be the wife of a neighbor.  While watching from the train, she observes some shenanigans. When the nanny disappears, the mystery  begins.  Emily Blunt’s Rachel was drunk that night and had got off the train to confront the nanny.  She wakes up at home, covered with blood and bruises.  She has no memory of what happened.  A detective, played by the always intriguing Allison Janney, investigates.  Then the nanny is found dead! Rachel has been violent before, could she be a murderer?  Things are not what they seem though, as all the main characters appear to be hiding something.  Even though there are some plot holes, and everything doesn’t exactly add up, it doesn’t harm the flow of the story, and Emily Blunt’s performance ties the whole movie together.  I read the book when it first came out and thought at the time it would make an interesting movie;I was not disappointed.