Author: Bill

I'm just the idiot in the back row of the theatre, hopefully enjoying things just as much as you. If so (and even if not), let's talk about it

I’d Rather Just Listen to AC/DC – The Current War

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's historical drama, The Current War, has had a post-production and release schedule almost as unpredictable and dangerous as the electrical pulses running through the crux of the main plot. Originally screened at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017, it was critically panned (31% on Rotten Tomatoes) and its wide release delayed indefinitely due … Continue reading I’d Rather Just Listen to AC/DC – The Current War →

Sit Back and Let The Boss Sing to You – Western Stars

"This is my 19th album, and I'm still writing songs about cars." So says the legendary Bruce Springsteen in the new music documentary/concert film, Western Stars, a performance of his latest album of the same name. Inspired by what he calls "Southern California pop music" infused with heavy country influences and his usual heartfelt empathy for … Continue reading Sit Back and Let The Boss Sing to You – Western Stars →

Pedro Votes for Himself – Pain and Glory

It is a rare thing that I get to see any national submissions for Best International Feature Film (formerly Foreign Language) before the Academy narrows the dozens of films down to the shortlist, and oftentimes I have to wait until the actual Oscar nominations come out and scramble. It's usually one of the last categories … Continue reading Pedro Votes for Himself – Pain and Glory →

This Film is Not Yet Watchable – November 2019

With the fall season in full swing, the jockeying for position for next year's Oscars kicks into high gear. We've already hit the deadlines and announcements for submissions in Animated Feature and International Feature. On November 21, we'll have the nominees for the Independent Spirit Awards, and in early December we'll get the Oscar shortlists. … Continue reading This Film is Not Yet Watchable – November 2019 →

To Kill a Squawking Bird – The Lighthouse

Director Robert Eggers burst on to the scene in 2015 with The Witch, quickly establishing himself as having an eye for genre, not to mention the ability to wring tremendous performances from his actors. Four years later, his follow-up, The Lighthouse, offers further proof of his skill, creating a chaotic, claustrophobic modern masterpiece anchored by two of … Continue reading To Kill a Squawking Bird – The Lighthouse →

And Now the Scariest Thing of All, Suburbia – The Addams Family

I've always been a fan of The Addams Family, though admittedly I've never read the comic or seen the stage musical. The old TV show, though? Loved it. The 90s movies? Loved them (and harbored a crush on Christina Ricci for a good 20 years). The cartoon series? Loved it. So yeah, I was already predisposed … Continue reading And Now the Scariest Thing of All, Suburbia – The Addams Family →

Who Will Replace the Spiders? – Animated Feature Submissions Announced!

We've hit the second milestone of this year's Oscar season, with the announcement of the 32 films vying for Best Animated Feature. As mentioned in the International Feature post, there have been some major changes to the rules for this year's Academy Awards. One of them pertains to this category, as the minimum eight movie … Continue reading Who Will Replace the Spiders? – Animated Feature Submissions Announced! →

How Many Ways Can You Say “Thank You?” – Jay and Silent Bob Reboot

Part of the reason I started this blog is so I could give people an honest, unfiltered opinion on movies, wholly removed from your standard critics, who largely fit into two categories. Basically they're either funded by the studios and their parent companies to generate pull quotes for advertising, or they're high falutin types who … Continue reading How Many Ways Can You Say “Thank You?” – Jay and Silent Bob Reboot →