Watching Booksmart, the new teen comedy from Annapurna Pictures, you would not know that this is the directorial debut feature film for Olivia Wilde (Life Itself/House, M.D.). Nuts to bolts, Booksmart is a heat-seeking rocket of a film. It’s precise,… Read More ›
There’s a constant argument between generations about who had it worse vs. who had it better. The “always on” digital generation may scoff at the concept of their predecessors’ reliance on books for information, while the analog generation derides their… Read More ›
Having a transgender protagonist is something that hasn’t been explored much to in Hollywood movies, but Flavio Alves’s directorial debut, The Garden Left Behind, is an organic and interesting way of capturing an individual who feels misplaced and misguided. The… Read More ›
On the surface, legendary director Brian de Palma’s latest project, Domino, looks like it has solid potential to be a successful under-the-radar crime drama. With a cast including Nikolaj Coster-Waldeau and Carice van Houten of Game of Thrones fame, as… Read More ›
Biopics are tricky. Just ask 2019 Oscar winning films Green Book and Bohemian Rhapsody. For the former, the issue is telling the tale of a Black musician through the lens of his White companion. For the latter, the writers reconstructed… Read More ›
Intentions always come down to perception. Doesn’t matter how well you intended something to be, how an action or word is received almost always carries more weight. The destructive and rejuvenative power of intent is explored in a surprisingly deep… Read More ›
One of the biggest travesties during the annual Oscars celebration is the continued disregard for stunt work. Sure, studios and talent will rave about the incredible, death-defying work that Tom Cruise attempts in the latest Mission: Impossible film and franchises… Read More ›
For audiences, the blood-soaked tale of melancholic assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) has been told over the last five years. For the character, his adventures have been an on-going nightmare for only a few weeks. In that time, he’s suffered… Read More ›
A good dark comedy can be a blessing in disguise. It’s a way for an audience to embrace and enjoy the darker sides of themselves vicariously through the terrible acts of others. Even better, since it’s all imaginary, who cares… Read More ›
In 2008, writer Riley Thomas premiered his musical Stuck at the La Costa Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. From there, it moved to off-Broadway in 2012 before being commissioned as a film in 2016. With screenings taking place at festivals as… Read More ›
Depression lies. It whispers in our ears, penetrating our minds, until it resides in our hearts, turning all that’s good into ash. It tells us the worst we can imagine and removes all hope, convincing us that the world might… Read More ›
Simply hearing the name “Charles Manson” is enough to send a chill down the spine of most people even somewhat familiar with this disturbingly vile and despicable figure. Known as the infamous cult leader responsible for the deaths of nine… Read More ›
There’s a notion that bigger is always better. Creators of short films disprove this notion every day. The latest is Storm by writer/director Will Kindrick, currently screening in the short program section “Down to Earth” in 2019’s Tribeca Film Festival…. Read More ›
Let’s talk horror of the modern age. With the huge success of studio darlings like It, Us, and Halloween, as well as smaller, artsier films like Hereditary, The Witch, and It Comes at Night, there is a big discussion of… Read More ›
The fact that this film was created is a notable achievement in itself. Director Bobby Bala made remarkable sacrifices of time, energy, and financial stability to even make the science fiction short, The Shipment, a reality. Fittingly, the story itself… Read More ›
If you’ve ever seen one of director Zhang Yimou’s films, then you’re aware of his general aesthetic: beautiful colors, historical periods, and performances wherein feats of martial arts are as essential to communication as dialogue. His latest work, Shadow, contains… Read More ›
After an unprecedented 21-film lead-up, Avengers: Endgame, the culminating moment in what’s now been dubbed “The Infinity Saga,” is finally here. Audiences are coming to this film with a hope of closure after an emotionally devastating end to 2018’s Anthony… Read More ›
All art walks a line between reality and intention. This is made more complicated when the reality and intention the artist puts forth conflicts with that of the receivers. In many ways, the artist themselves becomes unimportant in comparison to… Read More ›
Whether you’re familiar with anime studio Madhouse or not, it’s likely you’ve seen their work: the hilarious and satirical adaptation of the One-Punch Man manga, 2008’s Batman: Gotham Knight, 2006’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, and many more. The… Read More ›
The story of Jesus of Nazareth may very well be the most famous biblical narrative of all time. Billions of people throughout the generations, across a wide array of races, religions, and cultural backgrounds are familiar with the essential elements… Read More ›