2014’s sleeper hit John Wick ended with Keanu Reeves’s titular Wick walking off into the night, his mission of vengeance over. A satisfying film from start to finish, John Wick focused on the essentials for a great action film: a… Read More ›
In Theaters
Genuine and heartfelt, “A Dog’s Purpose” reminds why we love our furry friends.
It’s important to address the controversy that surrounds A Dog’s Purpose before moving forward. A video posted by TMZ on the 18th of January depicts two instances of a German Shepard under duress during production. The studio denies the allegations,… Read More ›
‘THE SPACE BETWEEN US’ is visually majestic and narratively predictable.
Many look up at the night sky and see boundless wonder waiting to be explored. In the vastness, there’s hope to find something greater than ourselves and what we know. For the few that have broken the bonds of gravity… Read More ›
Tense thriller ‘Split’ is a return-to-form for M. Night Shyamalan.
M. Night Shyamalan erupted onto the scene with 1999’s The Sixth Sense and has a string of semi-hits and full-on flops ever sense. For many, Shyamalan’s signature “twist” ending is a parody of what it once was because it has… Read More ›
‘Live By Night’ is a cool crime thriller when it doesn’t struggle under its morality.
Ringing phones, text alerts, and quiet chatter are all hallmarks of a disruptive audience at the movies. It’s disrespectful to those in attendance and disruptive to the narrative of the film. However, it’s also very telling of how said audience… Read More ›
“Hidden Figures” inspires hope for the future by revisiting the past.
An alternate version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on January 4th, 2017. When 20th Century Fox dropped the first trailer for Hidden Figures on August 14th, the Internet exploded after watching the jaunty first glimpse of director Theodore Melfi’s… Read More ›
“Manchester by the Sea” is a character study in love, loss, and heart-breaking grief.
Writer/Director Kenneth Lonergan is fascinated with the drama surrounding tragedy. Like his first two films – 2000’s You Can Count On Me and 2011’s Margaret – Manchester by the Sea’s focus is on examining grief and the ways it’s processed…. Read More ›
Cinematic adaptation ‘A MONSTER CALLS’ is an emotional roller coaster worth riding.
Based solely on the trailers, audiences know that some stories are going to be hard to watch. It’s understood that you’re going to be twisted, even torn, but it’s rare that a film actually rips you apart before piecing you… Read More ›
Ten Films From 2016 That Stuck With Me
It’s that time of year when publications and writers of all kinds put forth their lists for the best and worst cinematic productions of the year. Usually it’s compiled with the best-of-the-best. Films that are either clear Oscar bait or… Read More ›
“La La Land” Is A Celebration of Dreamers and Mad (Wo)Men
In the summer of 2015, writer/director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash) absconded with Oscar nominees Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling for a few weeks to film a song-and-dance film in the heat of L.A. Audiences finally got a glimpse of this secret… Read More ›
“Collateral Beauty” Asks Audiences To Recognize Our Universal Connectedness
Tis the season and that means cinemas are soon to be flooded with Dickensian tales of heartbreak and redemption. Collateral Beauty, the latest holiday offering, teams director David Frankel (Marley & Me) and writer Allan Loeb (The Space Between Us)… Read More ›
For Your Consideration, Part 1 – Recommendation List
As 2016 winds down, the race for the 2017 Oscars begins. That means new advertisements for movies you may have forgotten, re-releases in theaters, and even the occasional discount VOD access. Exposure is key to win nominations because if voters… Read More ›
Honesty, Heart, and Laughs Reside on “The Edge of Seventeen” – Review
An alternate version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on November 18th, 2016. Adolescence is a difficult time for us all. Our bodies change. Our friends change. Our interests change. For many, those changes feel less like the beautiful escape… Read More ›
Finding Our Humanity Sometimes Requires An Unexpected Arrival
An alternate version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on November 11th, 2016. Adapted from the novel Story of Your Life by Ted Chiang, writer Eric Heisserer (Lights Out) and director Denis Villeneuve (Sicario/Prisoners) flesh out the story to create… Read More ›
Coming To Theaters in November 2016
While there’s something to be said of the bombast of Summer, we often prefer the movies of Fall. Shifting toward character over spectacle, Fall films present introspective tales that match neatly with the cooling temperatures and changing of the seasons. Granted October’s… Read More ›
Unraveling the Mystery of the Accountant
An alternate version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on October 14th, 2016. There is nothing better than watching an actor – any actor – melt into a roll so completely that you forget what you’re watching is mere shadow… Read More ›
Youth in Revolt Loses Its Luster Without Purpose – American Honey Review
An alternate “Quick Hit” version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on October 14th, 2016. Writer/director Andrea Arnold‘s American Honey is lavishly decadent in its depiction of a group of teens who travel the country selling magazines door-to-door during… Read More ›
Tim Burton Brings To Life A Gothic Kid’s Tale In “Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children”.
An alternate version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on September 29th, 2016. Adapting stories from books requires more than just a best-selling story. It needs a director who can encompass the ideals of the author and bring the internal vision… Read More ›
The Well From Hell – Deepwater Horizon Review
An alternate version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on September 29th, 2016. April 20th, 2010, off the coast of Louisiana, a semi-submersible oil rig known as the Deepwater Horizon exploded, killing eleven people and causing the largest oil spill… Read More ›
‘Starving the Beast’ examines the raging war on U.S. higher education – New Release Review
One of the largest, most combative issues in the current election is the cost of an education in the United States. Some argue that the high cost of tuition is to blame for massive student debt. Others proclaim that the quality… Read More ›