Most people this weekend will be clamoring to see Black Panther. Honestly, I'll probably be one of them. It's going to be the first true blockbuster of the year. But there's another movie worth checking out if you get the chance (or if Black Panther is sold out), the latest claymation family feature from Nick Park (Wallace … Continue reading Prehistoric Footballers Bend it Like Bedrock – Early Man
I've been a fan of Clint Eastwood my entire life. I used to watch the Dirty Harry movies as a kid, I love High Plains Drifter, and I've really come to enjoy his work as a director. Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River, the man's hardly had a misfire. But over the last decade or so, there's been a noticeable … Continue reading Three American Heroes Save a Train… After 80 Minutes of Hokey Preaching – The 15:17 to Paris
Dear readers, I regret to inform you all that the beloved Helen Mirren has become the latest victim of the studio-dump-horror-film-for-a-quick-paycheck abyss, starring in the newly-released Winchester, which, I shit you not, revolves around the ghosts of gunshot victims being "saved" by being shot... again. Strap yourselves in. The Aussie-American project features Mirren as Sarah Winchester, … Continue reading Busting Ghosts by Shooting them in the Goddamned Face – Winchester
After its debut at the Telluride Film Festival in September, Scott Cooper's western odyssey, Hostiles, earned critical praise and got a limited release in late December, just before the deadline for Oscar eligibility. Unfortunately, after a month-long marketing campaign, the film was released nationwide today after being shut out of the nominations. After spending the afternoon … Continue reading Watching People Walk Many, Many Miles in Each Others’ Shoes – Hostiles
With just a few days to go before Oscar nominations come out, it's fitting to take a look at a film that is likely to pick up a few nods come Tuesday. The eighth film from writer/director Paul Thomas Anderson, Phantom Thread has been available in "select cities" (i.e. Los Angeles and New York) for a … Continue reading Daniel Day-Lewis Reaps What He Sews – Phantom Thread
It's mid-January, and this is the first official film of 2018 to get a look (the previous two reviews were technically 2017 releases). The winter months tend to be dumping grounds for the major studios - films they either don't believe will make money or just don't believe are any good. With the main focus … Continue reading Liam Neeson Meets a Stranger on a Train, and Some Other Movie References – The Commuter
There are basically two types of Steven Spielberg movie these days: One is historical drama where heroes use the power of words to change the world (think Lincoln, Schindler's List, and most recently Bridge of Spies), and the other is absurdist fantasy that seems to try to recapture the magic of E.T., including an unhealthy predilection for aliens and … Continue reading Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep Show Us How “Fake News” Did it in the 70s – The Post
Before I get started, let me preface by saying that I won't always do what I'm about to do, which is review a movie after it wins an award. For one thing, I want to be as current as I can possibly be with my reviews, and strictly speaking, In the Fade counts as a 2017 movie. … Continue reading How to Win a Golden Globe: Tell Nazis to Fuck Off! – In the Fade
I Actually Paid To See This 