Ever since the submissions for the Oscar for Animated Feature were announced last month, the scramble has been on to see as many of these films as possible. The more commercial fare is easy, but there are a good deal of independent and foreign films in the mix as well, very few of which will … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts: Toontown, Part 1
It's all but impossible to follow up Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece of horror, The Shining. It's beyond telling that no one's even tried until now, nearly 40 years after the original release. When you have such a definitive entry in the genre, it is a fool's errand to try to live up to it. So in that … Continue reading Doesn’t Shine As Brightly, But Still Good – Doctor Sleep
There are currently 15 people in the entertainment industry who have completed the illustrious EGOT cycle, winning a competitive Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award (plus a further six who've accomplished the feat with non-competitive awards). Of this elite group, the youngest to complete the achievement is Robert Lopez, who won his first Oscar in … Continue reading She Talks to Angels – Harriet
After the release of American History X, Edward Norton read Jonathan Lethem's novel, "Motherless Brooklyn," and immediately secured the movie rights. It took over 20 years, but the passion project has finally come to fruition. Starring, writing, and directing the film, Norton wears many hats (including a MacGuffin one) in this throwback to the classic film … Continue reading A New York Noir with Modern Implications – Motherless Brooklyn
One of the old jokes about the entertainment industry is how a TV show like Hogan's Heroes got green lit. The telling varies, but it basically boils down to imagining a pitch meeting where someone goes, "It's set in a Nazi POW camp... AND IT'S A COMEDY!" I was thinking about that gag a lot as … Continue reading The Reich Stuff – Jojo Rabbit
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
"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
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
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
It's a little odd to wait so many years between an original film and its sequel, but every once in a while it happens, and oftentimes with positive results. Take for example last year's hit and Oscar nominee Incredibles 2. The sequel to Brad Bird's beloved family tale set against the backdrop of superhero culture was … Continue reading More Rules, Less Drool – Zombieland: Double Tap
I Actually Paid To See This 