Author Archives
-
“The Good Shepherd” Blu-ray release is better left to pasture.
The Good Shepherd follows a young, dedicated, and occasionally merciless fictional CIA agent named Edward Wilson (Matt Damon). Tracking his early years at Yale in the secret Skull and Bones society to the failed Bay of Pigs invasion, the film… Read More ›
-
Find love, catharsis, and behind the scenes details within Chloé Zhao’s “Hamnet” on home video.
Oscar-winning director Chloé Zhao (The Eternals; Nomadland; The Rider) is a singular voice in filmmaking. Her work focuses on a naturalistic approach, making her films’ environments characters in their own rights. Some viewers could find that as nothing more than… Read More ›
-
Derek Cianfrance’s “Roofman” is far more character study than crime antics.
Director Derek Cianfrance is a filmmaker who is near and dear to my heart. His 2013 film The Place Beyond the Pines hit me on a deep emotional level with its themes of fatherhood and legacy. Even with its heavier… Read More ›
-
“The Housemaid” is a thrilling ride.
Director Paul Feig has come a long way from the comedic musings of Bridesmaids (2011), The Heat (2013), and Spy (2015). Starting in 2018, he pivoted into a campy thriller territory with A Simple Favor. The result of which delivered… Read More ›
-
David Cronenberg’s “The Shrouds” joins The Criterion Collection with a bare-bones Blu-ray release.
Director David Cronenberg (A History of Violence) is known to many as a director of “body horror” stories. Underneath that horror, those stories remain riddled with deeper, more profound themes. His latest film, The Shrouds (2024), now available via Criterion… Read More ›
-
“Blue Moon” is worth a ticket to ride for its lead performance and stage play approach
Director Richard Linklater’s films hold a deep personal connection to me. From the Before trilogy’s sense of love and yearning, to the mellow qualities of Dazed & Confused (1993) and Everybody Wants Some!! (2016), they show a serious directorial range…. Read More ›
-
“Bride Hard” steams itself into a mostly flat event.
On paper, certain movies have all of the ingredients that should prove to be a success. That includes a solid script, an engaging cast, and a capable director. Granted, that does not always mean it’s going to work out that… Read More ›
-
June Squibb runs away with another film as “Eleanor the Great.”
The career trajectory of actress June Squibb (Summer ‘03) has been fascinating to watch. While having worked in the industry for years, she first became a household name with 2013’s Alexander Payne film Nebraska which earned her numerous award nominations… Read More ›
-
Return to live-action Berk in the home release edition of “How to Train Your Dragon.”
This year’s live-action How to Train Your Dragon proved itself a box-office success. Audiences enjoyed traveling to this world of Berk in a new format, the film grossing over $600 million worldwide. While a technical marvel, it’s hard to know… Read More ›
-
“The Bad Guys 2” missteps with the second verse being the same as the first.
Upon its release in 2022, The Bad Guys proved to be a surprising smash hit. The reviews were quite positive, with praise on all accounts. This included the screenplay, voice performances, and very entertaining action. Add in a gross of… Read More ›
-
“Jurassic World Rebirth” strikes the tone for a fun summer action blockbuster.
The Jurassic Park series is one of the most profitable and beloved franchises in film history. There’s a sense of reliability in their fun nature, no matter the overall quality of the film. Steven Spielberg’s iconic 1993 film was revolutionary… Read More ›
-
“Brazil” gets even weirder and more entertaining with two versions of the film on its Criterion Collection 4K UHD release.
Director Terry Gilliam has always been a difficult talent for me to connect with. His films relish in a level of weirdness that never lands as intended. Movies like Time Bandits (1981) and 12 Monkeys (1995) never left a significant… Read More ›
-
“Drop” releases on home video with limited extras.
Director Christopher Landon is back with his latest feature, Drop, now on physical and digital. The story follows a therapist named Violet (Meghann Fahy), who starts dating again after her abusive husband’s death. Deciding to get back out there, Violet… Read More ›
-
Ana de Armas will be of service in “John Wick” franchise expanding actioner “Ballerina.”
How many successful action franchises do we have now? That’s a more complicated question to answer than one may think. That is, especially after the surprise 2014 revelation of a film that was John Wick. Besides revitalizing Keanu Reeves’s career,… Read More ›
-
Daniel Minahan’s adaptation of “On Swift Horses” delivers a compelling melodrama.
The beauty of film lies in its ability to evoke a specific era or environment. Whether in a quiet character drama or a large-scale spectacle, film can help transport an audience to a different time. Even if the quality (story,… Read More ›
-
Justin Kurzel’s true crime adaptation “The Order” comes home on Blu-ray.
The neo-western/crime drama has become a cinema staple. Early classic examples include Lone Star (1952), Hud (1963), and Paris, Texas (1984). More recent films like No Country for Old Men (2007), Sicario (2015), Hell or High Water (2016), and Wind… Read More ›
-
“Alien: Romulus” bursts out on digital with a worthy clutch of special features.
The Alien franchise has become a staple in horror and science fiction genres. Granted, after 1979’s Alien and 1986’s Aliens, the series had a rocky track record. Films like Prometheus (2012) and Alien Covenant (2017) had some hoping they could… Read More ›
-
“The Wild Robot” continues writer/director Chris Sanders’s run on delivering animated magic for all-ages.
The landscape of animated movies has been ever-changing. Over the years, animation has managed to pack a punch with audiences. Film franchises like The Lego Movie, Inside Out, and How to Train Your Dragon have emotionally stirred viewers to their… Read More ›
-
Join the tornado wranglers from the safety of your own space with the “Twisters” digital release.
The world of Twisters swept up cineplexes barely one month ago. The latest disaster epic tells the story of Kate Carter (Daisy Edgar-Jones), now working as a meteorologist, when a friend from her storm-chasing past named Javi (Anthony Ramos) comes… Read More ›
-
Crime drama “The Bikeriders” pulls up with a worthy home release.
The phrase “style over substance” is a common complaint regarding certain films. In these instances, some films can be so aesthetically pleasing that they lose sight of the story. Such films can craft well-drawn characters and a richly detailed sense… Read More ›