If there's one word to describe Damien Chazelle's latest work, it would be, "gripping." That really is the best word I can come up with for First Man, his chronicle of the life of astronaut Neil Armstrong and the events leading up to the Apollo 11 moon landing. From the very beginning it is Chazelle's intent … Continue reading Riding Shotgun to History – First Man
If you've read this blog regularly, you know I am very much not a fan of remakes in general. In most cases, they're lazy, cheap, and an insult to our collective intelligence. That said, if there's a compelling reason, I will see a remade version of a classic film. Usually that reason comes in the … Continue reading The 4th Time’s Got Charm, But Not Much Else – A Star is Born
There's a reason that Disney fought so hard to bring Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, giving us the truly awesome Homecoming in the process. It's because Sony, which has owned the movie rights to the character and its franchise since the turn of the century, has basically ruined him. We got one decent movie (Spider-Man), … Continue reading One Big Gloppy Mess of Goop – Venom
Kevin Hart is a bit of a hit-or-miss for me. He's a brilliant comedian and performer, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. One minute he's tearing up the stage on any of his stand-up specials, the next he's a homicidal bunny. Some days he's the busiest man in Hollywood, seemingly popping up in every … Continue reading The GED is DOA – Night School
Reinaldo Marcus Green is a young director and producer, mostly known for shorts and some TV work. His latest, Monsters and Men, marks his feature-length debut, and was screened in competition at the Sundance Film Festival before being commercially released this week. Featuring a cast of mostly unknowns, Green has put out an amazing first feature, … Continue reading Stuck in the Middle with Truth – Monsters and Men
I think it can be generally agreed that Robert Redford is one of the greatest film actors of all time. Among his vast catalog is an array of classics, and you could have a wonderful debate as to the best of the bunch. Is it Jeremiah Johnson? All the President's Men? The Sting? A Bridge Too Far? For me, … Continue reading Sundance Rides Out One Last Time – The Old Man & The Gun
Released by Warner Animation Group and voiced by a cast of A-listers, the new cartoon, Smallfoot begins with an interesting concept - Yetis encountering humans as the stuff of legend, not the other way around - throws in a moral thread about questioning authority and encouraging self-discovery, and teaches lessons about acceptance and abandoning old prejudices. … Continue reading Don’t Get Stoned, Stay Woke – Smallfoot
Gonzo documentarian Michael Moore is no stranger to controversy. In fact he openly courts it. This oftentimes enrages his social and political opponents, and brings mixed results when it comes to the quality of his films. He received critical and audience acclaim for Roger & Me. He won an Oscar for Bowling for Columbine, then drew boos … Continue reading Nowhere to Go But Up – Fahrenheit 11/9
There's plenty of entertainment to be had when it comes to films about espionage, revenge, and basically anything related to World War II. There's even a nice bit of a Jewish/Israeli niche, in the form of films like Munich and The Boys From Brazil. And hell, when you've got such star caliber as Oscar Isaac and Ben … Continue reading You Should Probably Nazi This Movie – Operation Finale
When she first saw the posters, my girlfriend asked if we could go see the new film, A Simple Favor, as it seemed like a fun movie for her, even though she conceded that I might not like "a chick film." I agreed to go, but honestly, I wanted to, mostly because the film stars Anna … Continue reading No Good Deed Goes Unpunished – A Simple Favor
I Actually Paid To See This 