Live By Night

After reading a few of my movie reviews, you'll probably learn that I like a good "shoot first, ask questions later" movie. Remember when I reviewed Gangster Squad on here four years ago? I find it hard to believe that movie was reviewed almost exactly four years ago. It's also hard to believe the amount of times that Ben Affleck has mysteriously found his way on to my site. I'm not his biggest fan, but I have enjoyed him in both Gone Girl in 2014 and The Accountant last year.

Even though Affleck is the star in his latest film, Live By Night, he's certainly not the best part about it. That accolade would have to go to the beautiful scenery. And maybe he played a part in that, too, considering that he directed this movie as well. The plot: Prohibition in the 1920s is in full force, but the gangster-run speakeasies are looking to make bank off selling illegal liquor. Joe Coughlin (played by Affleck) is an outlaw with two interests: being a criminal and being in love. Coughlin gets involved with the two biggest mobsters to make a name for himself not only in Boston but in Tampa, too.

Live By Night is great when it comes to the comedic timing of the side characters like Chris Messina who plays Affleck's sidekick or Matthew Maher who plays a Ku Klux Klan member and a thorn in Affleck's side. And you really can't deny the powerful performance of Elle Fanning's Loretta Figgis -- a junkie turned proselytizing evangelist. But for the most part, when those characters aren't in the scenes, the movie practically falls flat. Zoe Saldana doesn't do enough and Sienna Miller does too much.

Because of my affinity for gangster-style films (and Zoe Saldana), I am probably rating this one heart higher than I normally would. I don't think you need to see this movie in theaters, but it would be a fun Friday night watch at home.

Live By Night - opened 1/13:
Rating: ♥♥♥

OTHER MOVIES:

• Split - opened 1/20: M. Night Shyamalan has come back with a bang! He really needed to revive his career after giving us great films but then following them up with terrible nonsense. If you're into thrillers then you have to go see Split. James McAvoy kills in the role of a person with more than 20 personalities. It really is a fantastic thrill ride. Rating: ♥♥♥♥
• A Dog's Purpose - opened 1/27: If you're not a dog person then there's no real reason for you to see this movie. But being that I own two dogs, the previews for A Dog's Purpose really tugged at my heartstrings. The movie, itself, was super predictable, but I knew that it would be going into it. It's not supposed to do anything special but make you cry at all the cute dog parts. And it totally succeeded at doing so. Rating: ♥♥♥
• Even though I haven't seen these, I do hear really good things about Moonlight, Manchester By the Sea and Lion. I think I've already seen all the other Oscar best picture nominees except for Hacksaw Ridge. I can tell you that I fell asleep during Arrival, but that's not because the movie was bad. It's because it was 1 A.M. I think it's actually a pretty good film. Fences has the best performances of all the nominated movies; Hell or High Water is just a solid, solid movie; Hidden Figures gives you everything you want in a movie; and La La Land is fabulous, but now seems overrated after how well it did at the Golden Globes. I honestly have no idea which film will win! Do you?

THREE MOVIES I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT:

• Logan
• The Power Rangers
• The Girl With All The Gifts