Produced, directed, and co-written by Lee Chang-dong, South Korea's entry for the Foreign Language Oscar, Burning, is a clever piece of artistic filmmaking, seamlessly blending elements of romantic comedy with suspense and mystery. Featuring a three-lead cast that play off each other commendably, Lee is able to weave a tantalizing story full of visual metaphor and … Continue reading Let the Sunshine In – Burning
There's a small knickknack in my mother's house that's been there ever since we moved from Delaware to upstate New York in 1996. It's essentially a framed postcard with an inspirational message, like a cross-stitch sampler that hadn't actually been stitched. It says simply, "Home is not a place, it's a feeling." She has another … Continue reading They’ll Steal Your Heart and Your Wallet – Shoplifters
Before we get into the actual plot and artistic elements of Creed II, there are two things I have to point out that bugged me in the film that have no real bearing on the story, but are just betrayals of fact. And also, as this was a good, fun, movie, I want to get the … Continue reading Round 2, Really Round 8, Leans Heavily on Round 4 – Creed II
In 2012, Wreck-It Ralph was my favorite movie of the year. I knew it only had a chance to be nominated for Animated Feature at the Oscars - which it did, losing out to Brave - but it hit very close to home for me. I was in a pretty dark place at the time (lonely, miserable, self-loathing), … Continue reading Disney Uses IP to Address the Meaning of Friendship – Ralph Breaks the Internet
This week, I had the distinct pleasure of watching a charming movie about an unlikely friendship formed across racial lines via the roles of chauffeur and passenger. No, it wasn't Driving Miss Daisy. That was 30 years ago. Also, this film isn't a pandering piece of maudlin dreck (okay, it's not that bad, and it won … Continue reading Drive Your Heart Out, Miss Daisy! – Green Book
I caught a little bit of flack earlier this year (and not just the playful kind from my girlfriend) over my insistence to NOT see Ocean's 8. I stand by my decision, and I still allow for the possibility of seeing it if I am given a compelling reason. Basically, my choice boiled down to three … Continue reading A Women’s Heist Film That Actually Deserves to Exist – Widows
Gender and sexual identity has been a major source for Hollywood stories for the better part of the last three decades, and it would be fascinating to see the evolution of LGBT characters in film over that span. It's also instant Oscar bait for those involved, as sexual diversity is a big box check during … Continue reading God’s Not Here, But Your Son Is – Boy Erased
I had a lot of issues with the first entry in the Fantastic Beasts series two years ago, and the latest film sadly exacerbates them. I've been a Harry Potter fan since the first movie came out, and I've watched them and read the books obsessively for the better part of my adult life. This includes … Continue reading Accio My Money Back! – Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald
In 1992, id Software released Wolfenstein 3D, a computer game that essentially created the first-person shooter genre of modern gaming. In it, an American spy escapes from the titular castle (the game being the third in the Wolfenstein series), shooting his way through Nazi hordes, traversing secret passageways, and ultimately destroying dangerous (fictitious) German military experiments, including an … Continue reading The Closest We’ll Get to a Great Video Game Movie – Overlord
Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is a timeless classic of children's literature, and its 1966 TV cartoon adaptation a staple of holiday programming. In fact, for any of us over the age of 20, it's likely that the book and the TV special are the core exposures we've had to the story. It's … Continue reading How Illumination Stole Christmas – The Grinch
I Actually Paid To See This 