Dunkirk

Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster hit practically promises guaranteed wins at the 2017 Oscars.  Harry Styles debuts as a British soldier caught up in the 1940 evacuation of Dunkirk, France, a mission that spans one hellish week that pushes the bounds on human determination.  In a movie with more dramatic stares than actual lines of dialogue, Nolan beautifully conveys emotion in ways not previously seen in modern cinema.  The Uproar emphatically recommends seeing Dunkirk and awards it our top rating of five stars.  Rating ✰✰✰✰✰

Wonder Woman

It’s good to see this latest comics-based action film take a new direction.  It would have been easy to follow the formula of the 51 DC and Marvel Superhero films made within the last decade.  But in the film’s title role, Gal Gadot plays a strong female lead who does not patronize the genre but rather embraces action for what it is.  Gadot teams up with Chris Pine to stop the Germans from creating a deadly, new chemical weapon. Wonder Woman combines epic takedowns of WW1 German soldiers with fleshed out characterization and a simple, uncomplicated plot.   If you’re looking for a movie that is both fun and refreshing, Wonder Woman is for you.  ✰✰✰✰

Annabelle: Creation

Proving that slower horror flicks can actually succeed, Annabelle: Creation is a must-watch for horror fans keeping up with the Conjuring franchise. Serving as a prequel to the three record-breaking Annabelle films, Creation provides the backstory for the iconic doll that haunts the girls of the Mullins orphanage and the nightmares of brave film watchers.  Breaking away from the stereotype that all horror films are simply jump scares and plot twists, Annabelle: Creation goes further by exploiting emotion and clever cinematography to keep watchers either at the edge of their seats or hiding behind their hands. Reader beware: Even the most hardcore horror fans will be spooked — but still satisfied. ✰✰✰✰

The Dark Tower

The Dark Tower finds itself in the company of films such as Eragon, Percy Jackson, and Avatar: The Last Airbender that show little allegiance to their source material.  With a cast of Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey, it may seem hard to do wrong, but cheesy dialogue and vague storytelling let down fans of the epic eight-book Stephen King series.  Those who have not read the books will be left utterly confused, and those who have will be left utterly disappointed.  Issuing a strong DO NOT WATCH rating, we declare Nikolaj Arcel’s Dark Tower the biggest flop of the summer. ✰

The Uproar’s Quintessential Summer Movie: The Sandlot

To find the perfect summer movie, look no further than The Sandlot.  The 1993 hit perfectly encapsulates the nostalgic feeling of summer freedom.  Little Scotty Smalls is told by his mother to literally get in trouble and make some friends, in whatever way possible.  Scotty and his ragtag group of friends represent an idealized American childhood — no matter one’s race, shape, skin color, or age, summer is the best time to live your younger years, go on adventures, and get in a little bit of trouble.  The Sandlot is a unique film that seems not to have aged one bit in two decades.  It continues to capture the magic of summer break in a way that very few other movies can.