Photo Credit (Greety Images)

It makes complete sense that movie critics would discuss major setbacks. You’ll want to get on the laptop and discuss it if you’ve been waiting months for a movie to come out and then it’s disappointing. Not nearly as much is spoken about pleasant surprises. These films typically receive a brief remark along the lines of “they’re better than they looked,” and that’s about it. This time, we’ll honor the most unexpectedly excellent films of the year.

Megan Leavey

Simply put, Kate Mara hasn’t been that successful lately. Kate has been unfortunate enough to star in Fantastic Four, Captive, Man Down, and Transcendence, while her sister continues to appear in highly regarded shows. Although she has been in a few good films, her leadership skills have been called into question. Her most recent film, Megan Leavey, seemed promising.

It seemed like the idea of a war film about a woman and her dog would be both endearing and tragic. It was difficult to get your hopes up too high, though, because films like Megan Leavey also run the risk of becoming manipulative melodrama.

Megan Leavey is never overly dramatic or manipulative. It’s only a skillfully written story about a soldier and her dog’s unique bond. Above all, it has Kate Mara’s best performance to date. Although Mara never gave the impression that she was a lousy actress, her talent at choosing parts has hurt her in the past. It’s understandable that folks weren’t ready to overlook Megan Leavey right away. Though it’s not the sole highlight, Kate Mara is the film’s strongest element. There are many breathtaking scenes in the movie, along with a well-written narrative and likeable supporting cast.

Even if it’s not quite Oscar-worthy, this military drama is fantastic. We might finally get to see Mara’s full acting potential if she can continue to produce films like this. Although it is evident that she is a very talented performer, her films have been a hindrance. Let’s see what is ahead.

Split

Although The Visit was a slight improvement over Shyamalan’s typical dreck, it wasn’t enough to make him a better director. Ultimately, the man exposed us to films such as The Last Airbender and The Happening. To win back the trust of the millions of people he let down over the last ten years, it would take much more than a small victory. Fortunately, when Split came out, viewers got what they wanted. One of the best-reviewed films in Shyamalan’s history is his most recent work, which is about a man who has two distinct personalities. You’ll understand why once you’ve seen it through.

McAvoy’s groundbreaking performance is largely responsible for the success. Take a look at Split if you want to watch an actor demonstrate his range. Few actors are able to portray each of the divided egos as well as McAvoy does. He will make you laugh, frighten you, and leave you wanting more. Although a little disorganized, Shyamalan’s script is nevertheless more coherent than any of his most recent works. Because of all the other good aspects, it is readily forgiven when it veers into old ground in the last third.

The climactic “twist” opens the door for more films, thus Split’s characters will undoubtedly reappear in the future. It’s strange to be anticipating a Shyamalan sequel, but at this point, it seems like everything is conceivable. Although it has regrettably been eclipsed by more notable horror films by this point, the film is still fantastic from beginning to end. Regardless of your thoughts on the director, it’s easy to endorse this film.

Valerian

There are reviews for Valerian everywhere. It received a perfect score from RogerEbert.com, although the New York Daily News called it a film that “never goes anywhere.” To put it another way, you might not always enjoy it.

If viewers are prepared to put their brains at the door, Luc Besson’s return to science fiction is tremendously entertaining, despite the fact that it is a little clumsy (which is why the reviews are so bad). The dialogue is inconsistent, the characters lack depth, and the plot is generic. Although Valerian shouldn’t be a decent film in theory, it is worth seeing because of its amazing worldbuilding and action-packed plot.

When Luc Besson is being innovative, he performs at his peak. The absurdity and excess of The Fifth Element make it such a unique film. It sets itself apart from the competition by effectively demonstrating to viewers that it can only be produced by one extremely special director. Additionally, Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets seems like a film that could only have been produced by Besson’s insane imagination. Rihanna performing a shape-shifting exotic dance would only be seen in a Luc Besson science fiction film. Put differently, this is genuinely the product of a visionary director.

For additional evidence, one need just look at the director’s breathtaking universe or worlds. From the start, it’s clear that a lot of effort was made to give the settings a sense of life. Viewers will encounter many species, languages, and planets over the more than two-hour adventure. Besson’s creativity is on full display, and it’s breathtaking.

There are plenty of viewers who will enjoy Valerian for what it is, but for some, the aforementioned problems are enough to spoil the experience. It never aspires to be highbrow science fiction like Ex Machina or Predestination. Instead, its goal is for visitors to appreciate the surroundings and have a nice time.

Sleight

The critical and commercial slam dunks of WWE Studios aren’t exactly well-known. The studio that produced Jingle All the Way 2 and The Marine 5: Battleground is difficult to trust. At first look, Sleight, their most recent project, also didn’t seem to be a winner. It has an unidentified director, a ridiculous idea, and a tone that seems disorganized. Sleight is a strong drama with a tremendously skilled cast and a ton of heart, even though everything else seems to be against the film.

There are two regrettable flaws in the film. People will be turned off by the slow pacing, particularly if they were expecting what the trailers showed. The film was portrayed in the trailers as an action-packed crime film. Actually, it’s more akin to a family drama. Secondly, the narrative of an underdog attempting to provide for their family has been overdone. Even with the twist of the street magician, Sleight feels cliched at times. These two problems keep Sleight from becoming a cult favorite in the future.

It’s still a far better film than it ought to be, though. Seychelle Gabriel and Jacob Latimore gave their performances their all. The two leads are always there to make things interesting when the plot lags. The fact that the film genuinely has a big heart also helps. Despite its regrettable reliance on cliches, the movie consistently manages to feel authentic. Finding a film that feels positively authentic is wonderful because so many of them feel like after-school specials.

Sadly, Sleight’s lack of advertising and low budget rule out its popular success, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t merit notice. Given how close it is to becoming amazing, the film is undoubtedly annoying to see. Fortunately, it has enough merit to be worthy of your attention for ninety minutes. It’s obvious that this was made by an amateur, but it also shows how passionate the filmmaker was. Most viewers should be satisfied with that.

Girls Trip

Almost immediately following the uncannily similar Rough Night was Girls Trip. Rough Night didn’t do well at the box office, and it didn’t get much better reviews. Girls Trip, on the other hand, was an unquestionable commercial and critical triumph. What gives, then? Why is Girls Trip such a great film when the two films appear to be nearly identical? In actuality, there are multiple answers to that query. There is a much-needed scene stealer, the script is better, the cast has better chemistry, and many comedy clichés are avoided. Surprisingly, the movie avoids the same faults as its competitors.

To be honest, there was some chemistry among the Rough Night cast members. They actually appeared to enjoy themselves greatly while on film. Simply said, they don’t enjoy themselves as much as the women in Girls Trip. Together, Latifah, Smith, Haddish, and Hall form a kind of dream team for comedy. It’s difficult to picture the film with just one different actor. Every actress feels essential.

Of course, one actress is able to surpass her co-stars. The least well-known of the group, Tiffany Haddish, is a true gem. Her ability to play off of her co-stars is impressive, and her comedic timing is impeccable. She is insufficient to keep the entire film cohesive, though. The cast members’ ability to collaborate makes this film such a treat.

Perhaps the film’s greatest strength is its chemistry, which also works well with a hilarious storyline written by Tracy Oliver and Kenya Barris. Although their film was not particularly original, it did contain a number of consistently funny jokes and unexpectedly poignant dramatic passages.

Girls Trip tries to avoid reminding viewers that this idea has been used before since it knows where it shines. People may forget that this is a mashup of Bridesmaids, The Hangover, Rough Night, and a ton of other films if the laughs keep coming. The lack of originality scarcely seems like a problem as long as the audience is laughing.