I really wanted to see 20th Century Women before the Golden Globes, but it didn't hit wide release until this weekend, so it just wasn't possible. The Academy Award nominations are announced this coming Tuesday, so that may have been a factor in the timing of the nationwide expansion. But will it get some nominations? ... Continue Reading →
When I first saw the opening seconds of the Patriots Day trailer, I briefly thought it was another, late-running trailer for Deepwater Horizon. Of course, it became clear that it was a film about the Boston Marathon bombing in fairly short order, but the similarities shouldn't be surprising. Both films star Mark Wahlberg and are... Continue Reading →
If the attendance at the screening I just attended is an accurate representation of the country as a whole, Hidden Figures is poised to be a big hit. Directed by Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent), the film adapts the true story of three African-American women (Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe) who are hired by... Continue Reading →
Here we have it. This is it. This is the reason I go to the movies. I go to the movies because, every once in a while, there's a film - an experience - like Lion. I often say that the ultimate goal of any film should be to make the viewer feel something. Anything. ... Continue Reading →
There's been a lot of buzz around Natalie Portman's performance as Jackie Kennedy in the appropriately-titled Jackie. In fact, there's been so much buzz around the performance that I've heard very little else about the movie. Obviously, I was aware that it follows Jacqueline Kennedy in the wake of President Kennedy's assassination, but, beyond that, I... Continue Reading →
(Disclaimer: Yes, I know it's now 2017. But if you look at the way I worded my goal for the 2016 March every single time, I stated that it was to see at least 100 2016 films in the theater, not to see at least 100 films in the theater in 2016. They are two very... Continue Reading →
Well, here we are with the final film that made my list of 10 Fourth Quarter 2016 Films to Be Excited About. There's certainly been a buzz around La La Land and it seems poised to be one of the two or three awards season darlings of 2016. Writer/Director Damien Chazelle made a huge splash... Continue Reading →
You may remember that I'm not a big fan of Illumination Entertainment's films, so far, and I especially didn't care for their shameless Toy Story clone (rip-off), The Secret Life of Pets. The lack of originality in that film was borderline insulting and, combined with the lackluster Despicable Me series, didn't fill me with much hope... Continue Reading →
Awards season continues on with Manchester by the Sea, a heartfelt character study about family, loss, and searching for any sort of love in a largely loveless world. This is the third directorial effort from Kenneth Lonergan (who also wrote the script) and is the highest profile of the three, putting him on the map and... Continue Reading →
I'm pretty sure I've seen the trailer for Passengers before almost every film I've seen for the last three months. That's okay, though, because I've been looking forward to it. It made my list of 10 Fourth Quarter 2016 Films to Be Excited About for a reason, you know. Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt are both genuine... Continue Reading →
The Movie March! 