If there's one thing that's consistent with the works of Alex Garland over the last decade, it's that much of what we see is open to interpretation. How soon did Ava become fully self-aware and turn the tables in Ex Machina? What really took place beyond the Shimmer in Annihilation? How much of Jessie Buckley's … Continue reading The Snap – Civil War
It's always interesting to me when an actor becomes a director. Whether it's a master like Clint Eastwood or someone switching their own genre paradigms like Jordan Peele, there's something truly intriguing in seeing how the skill set of being in front of the camera transfers to duties behind it. What will their visual style … Continue reading Started from the Bottom – Monkey Man
This past Sunday marked a year since my mother died. For the most part I think I've handled things as best as can be managed, but I confess it hasn't gotten "easier" to deal with the fact that she's gone. Part of that is because I hadn't come up with a proper way to honor … Continue reading LANGUAGE! – Wicked Little Letters
Right off the bat, I should apologize for the relative lateness of this month's column. Today, April 5, is the first day of the month for new theatrical releases, and typically I have this piece out well in advance of that. However, two variables came into play that I did not expect. One is that … Continue reading This Film is Not Yet Watchable – April 2024
Even though I made fun of the trailer for Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire, and apparently poked the bear so hard that trolls were suggesting I end myself as penance, I do dedicate myself to being as fair as I can possibly be to every movie I see. I've had a lot of gripes … Continue reading Earth Isn’t the Only Thing That’s Hollow – Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire
In many ways, you can look at the Ghostbusters franchise as the comedy version of Jurassic Park. We had one groundbreaking, timeless entry that changed the way audiences look at film, followed by decades of attempting to recapture that same magic, sadly with diminishing returns for all but the most hardcore fans who dig themselves … Continue reading Breaking Containment – Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Like Michael Jackson before me, for 40 days and 40 nights I was covering this year's Academy Awards, as well as reviewing new films and closing out the critiques of everything that was in my 2023 backlog. Unlike Michael Jackson... you know what, I won't even make the obvious joke. That's because, honestly, at this … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Postmortem
The Oscar Blitz is an annual tradition I look forward to with much anticipation and excitement. However, when the ceremony is over, there's only one thing I want to do - turn my brain OFF. Usually I do that through a well-earned good night's sleep. But since I had work the next day, and because … Continue reading Dummy Bear – Imaginary
There's a rich vein of content that can be derived from the harsh realities of our economic system. The stereotype of the "American Dream" feels ever more unattainable in the 21st Century as prices go up, the wealth gap widens, and government forces are easily bribed into taking no action. My late mother and I … Continue reading The Fine Print – American Dreamer
It's finally time! The categories have been broken down, the votes have been cast, and all the idiotic questions about who someone is wearing have been asked. It's time to get down to brass tacks and hand out the gold. It's the 96th Academy Awards! We're mere minutes away from the beginning of the ceremony, … Continue reading Oscar Blitz 2024 – Live Diary
I Actually Paid To See This 