In many ways M. Night Shyamalan is a perfect representation of his hometown of Philadelphia. He's a foundational figure in modern cinema, with both a reverence for the traditions that made him and an idealism for what could be. Despite myriad talents, he often gets overlooked compared to other big city directors, never quite getting … Continue reading Life’s a Beach, Then You Die – Old
I confess that I am not much of a foodie, nor have I done all that much traveling in my life. I certainly would love to do more (Japan's been on my list for decades now), but the realities of work and expenses basically preclude a lot of what's out there. Not having a companion … Continue reading The Unknown Parts – Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
If you had told me that there would be a movie where Nicolas Cage plays a loner who goes on an obsessive mission to retrieve a stolen pig, I would 100% have believed you. If you told me it would be one of his finest performances ever in a thoughtful character study, and that it … Continue reading That’ll Do, Nic, That’ll Do – Pig
Experimentation is rare in mainstream film these days, as most studios are content to churn out the same franchise-based IP they've done for years in hopes of a quick payday. Even when they do take calculated risks, most of their avenues are derivative at best, aiming for commercial tie-ins and corporate synergy when it makes … Continue reading DownStream – Fear Street
The heist movie is a subgenre that's basically out of gas at this point, at least from a plot perspective. Pretty much every film follows a fairly standard pattern of a big idea, complications that could be easily foreseen with a bit of logical thinking, at least two betrayals, and an ultimate victor when it … Continue reading Stacking the Deck – No Sudden Move
Japanese anime films usually succeed or fail based on two key factors. The first is the sense of wonder. Even if a film doesn't have a fantastical or magical angle to it, the best anime works spark the imagination in unique ways, forcing the audience to think outside their normal parameters and paradigms as to … Continue reading The Coy and the Kawaii – Josee, the Tiger, and the Fish
Part of my major problem with this year's Oscar-winning documentary, My Octopus Teacher, was that it was in large part a vanity project, a form of self-therapy for the film's creator. I'm happy for the emotional breakthroughs he made, and the footage of the titular octopus was gorgeous, but it felt like watching something that … Continue reading A Cry in the Dark – The Loneliest Whale
Director Carlos López Estrada has three feature films under his belt so far, with a fourth coming later this year. He made his debut with Blindspotting, which was my favorite film of 2018. This year, he followed up with Raya and the Last Dragon, and later this year he'll put out his second Disney animated … Continue reading Poetic Social Justice – Summertime
Natasha Romanoff was always an underserved character within the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Introduced in Iron Man 2 purely as an object of hotness before pulling some decent martial arts, the majority of Scarlett Johansson's screen time as an Avenger has focused much more on her sex appeal than her utility as a superhero. It's still … Continue reading Too Little, Too Late – Black Widow
I love a good concert film. When music is celebrated in tandem with the people and history of a given moment, it's often sublime. I remember feeling that way with the Aretha Franklin Amazing Grace film and Bruce Springsteen's Western Stars over the last few years. Well, thanks to Ahmir Thompson, better known to audiences … Continue reading Hot Fun in the Summertime! – Summer of Soul (…Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
I Actually Paid To See This 