Bria Lou Reviews

Hey Guys x This year, I was really in two minds about doing Blogmas. In fact, a week ago, I had decided that I wasn't going to do it. This was for many reasons. For one, this year my blog has turned into a film review blog. And that was intentional, as writing film reviews is something that I want to do for a living, and a blog is an amazing portfolio. And also, deciding to blog every day of a month is something to take seriously, and I didn't want to half-arse a commitment, especially when that commitment is to my blog. So I was going to take the easy way out for myself and just blog as I have been for the year. But then I decided that actually, Blogmas is something that I love doing. It's the only thing that gets me into the festive spirit at this time of year, I always have fun doing it, and there's no real reason for me not to do it. So I'm doing Blogmas! I'm doing it exactly the same way that I did it last year. So there will be 12 Christmas/wi...

Hey Guys x So I'm uploading my November Faves really early this month. This is for a number of reasons that will be explained in the post that I put up tomorrow! But I still have a lot of stuff to talk about, so let's get on with it! Favourite Movie (1): Widows So, I reviewed this last week, and you can see my review HERE ! But to summarise that review, this was definitely one of the best films of 2018, and I say that knowing that there are over a month's worth of films to come until we finish the year. But this was fresh, original, amazingly filmed, perfectly directed... go and see this film! Favourite Movie (2): American Hustle I mentioned this film in my last favourites when I said that I was going through Bradley Cooper's filmography. This is a film that I had owned and knew about for a while, but for some reason I was never in the right mood to watch it. But anyway, I decided to put it on, on a whim, and found myself completely caught up in the story....

Hey Guys x I was really looking forward to this film. From the first time I saw it advertise, I added it to my 'To Watch' list, because it looked really intriguing and original and exciting. The trailer was great! Welcome to the Artemis - an undercover, members-only hospital specifically for criminals, run by Nurse Thomas (Jodie Foster) who has been dealing with criminals for the last 20 years. There are rules, and as long as everybody plays by them, the Artemis can continue to run peacefully. But one night, in the middle of dangerous LA riots, Nurse Thomas is forced to contemplate breaking her own rules. With multiple dangerous guests, and an even more dangerous outside world, will this be the end of the hospital? This film comes across as the typical 'what will happen if you break the rules' plot, but what makes it original is that it's wrapped in a criminal-based package. The audience have many different things to contemplate, so much so that breaking the...

Hey Guys x It's officially Christmas movie season! This is my first Christmas movie of the year (because I'm definitely not counting watching half of Home Alone 2 yesterday!) and I hope that there's many more to come! Abby Sutton (Kat Graham) is a photographer. But taking pictures of little kids sitting on Santa's lap isn't what she wants to do with her life. She wants to live more like her best friend Josh (Quincy Brown), who has been travelling the world with his own photography, but she doesn't have the courage to take the leap. However, when Abby's grandfather gives her an advent calendar for Christmas, she falls under the spell of religiously checking every single day. But is there something magical about the calendar? And if there is, did it lead her to single doctor Ty? This movie is the typical movie that we see all year around on the 'Hallmark' channel, but created out of an original premise. The idea of an advent calendar that may o...

Hey Guys x I think I first heard about this film sometime in February. I had been watching '12 Years A Slave' and went online to see what else the director, Steve McQueen, was working on. I saw this upcoming film, read the plot, and mentally made a note of it. So when it finally came around, I was so excited to finally see it. Four men pull off a heist. Just when they think that they're safe, they are killed in a shootout with the police. However, when they die, they lose the 2 million dollars that they had stolen. With the men dead, this debt falls to their wives, who have a month to find the money, or risk losing their lives. So, headed by Veronica Rawlins (Viola Davis) these women seek to repay the debt - by pulling off Veronica's husband's next heist. But will everything go according to plan? And if it doesn't, can the women find a way to save themselves before it's too late? This is an incredible film, with an incredible script written by Steve ...

Hey guys x So, here's my newest favourites post - tell me in the comments what were loving last month, and what you're loving this month! Favourite Movie (1): A Star Is Born I've already reviewed this film, and you can check my review out HERE ! But to my knowledge, it's the only film that I've gone to see in the cinema alone twice, just because I loved it so much. The cinematic release is pretty much ending, which I hate because I would have gone and seen it a third time. But it's in this post because I just completely fell in love with it, and I can't wait until it gets a digital release so that I can watch it over and over again! Favourite Movie (2): Battle Of The Sexes I waited for this to come out on the Sky Movies channels, so you can see why it took me so long to talk about it! I haven't decided if I'm going to do a proper review yet, but honestly if you get the chance to see this, see it! I didn't think it would really appeal ...

Hey Guys x This is a film that I had really been looking forward to. I read the book months in advance and completely loved it. If you want to read my review of the book, click HERE ! But just like the book, this film is about a girl called Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg). Starr lives as two different people - 'Williamson' Starr when she's at her practically all-white school, 'Garden Heights' Starr when she's at home, in her own neighbourhood. But one night, Starr witnesses her unarmed childhood best friend being shot dead by a police officer, and everything changes. When the opportunity comes to speak out, Starr is deterred from both sides. But can she decide which Starr she wants to be, and whether she wants to speak for her friend, and her community, before it's too late? One thing that this film did extremely well were the poignant speeches. Particularly towards the end of the film, there were small moments of magic, where the audience were hangi...

Hey Guys x I always go back and forth when deciding whether or not to review older movies, but I think I've decided that this is something I'm going to be doing. Starting with 'Burnt' (which is on Netflix UK, if you want to check it out!). Adam Jones is a chef, it's in his blood. After a downward spiral in Paris, he comes to London, taking over a restaurant and working his way to receiving his third Michelin star. But can he keep his destructive past behind him in order to achieve his goals? And what will happen when his time in Paris catches up with him? I loved this movie. The first thing it does well, is the way that each of the characters are portrayed. While there are many people working behind the scenes in the kitchen, the 5 or 6 main characters of the story are extremely fleshed-out, we know personal details about them, we understand who they are as people, and we become interested in each of their lives. What interested me about the movie was th...

Hey Guys x This is a film that came out a while ago in some places, but didn't seem to have a worldwide cinematic release, so it was probably missed by a lot of people, particularly in the UK. Telemarketer Cassius 'Cash' Green is stuck. He can't afford to pay his rent, and he couldn't be a worse salesman if he tried. That is, until he gets a tip from a co-worker. A tip that turns him from useless salesman to 'power caller' in a matter of weeks.When his friends organise a protest against their working conditions and low wages, Cash finds himself caught in the middle. And when he meets Steve Lift, a CEO who takes a liking to him, he is even more confused. Will Cash sell out his friends for the money that he makes as a 'power caller'? And is Steve Lift's business what it appears to be? This film has an extremely original concept. It's the kind of thing that, even after you finish watching the movie in its entirety, you can't...

Hey Guys x So, here's the latest MCU movie to hit screens. The Marvel Cinematic Universe has become a definite force to be reckoned with, and with its biggest offerings crushing box office records, it's nice to have these smaller solo-movies to enjoy throughout the year. It's been two years since the events of Captain America: Civil War, and Scott Lang has been on house arrest. He's been being a good dad, and keeping out of trouble. That is, until Hank Pym and his daughter Hope find their way back into his life. They believe they've found evidence that Hope's mother could still be alive, and if they're going to find her, then they need his help. But with just three days of house arrest left, and a new enemy on their trail, is this going to be their biggest mission yet? This second instalment of the Ant-Man franchise offers a lighter side of a cinematic universe that in the past year has dealt with heavy topics, up to and including the destruction of ...