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 ›
entertainment
‘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 ›
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 ›
Fantastic Actors and Where (Else) To Find Them: Recommendation List
Tomorrow the latest installment in the Harry Potter saga hits theaters with Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them. Since J.K. Rowling and Warner Brothers always make sure to cast high-caliber actors in their films – Eddie Redmayne, Dan Fogler,… 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 ›
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 ›
Yoga Hosers is a Kevin Smith Film You Can Take Your Kids To – New Release Review
Coming off the heels of a cross-country road show, Yoga Hosers, writer/director Kevin Smith (Mallrats/Dogma)’s second film in his True North Trilogy, will finally receive a nationwide release. Full of the juvenile slapstick humor Smith built an empire upon, Yoga… Read More ›
“Don’t Breathe” Redefines What Horror Can Be – New Release Review
From the creative team of Fede Alvarez and Sam Rami, who brought you Evil Dead (2013), comes Don’t Breathe, a claustrophobic suspense-filled horror-thriller that twists and turns all the way to the credits. Don’t expect a gorefest this time around… Read More ›
#Fav7Films, Part 2 – Recommendation
Since our Head Writer, Douglas Davidson, got to share his #Fav7Films, Head Editor Crystal Davidson decided to share hers in a Part 2 recommendation list. I enjoy playing hashtag games, whether on Twitter or Facebook. It only takes a few… Read More ›
#Fav7Films – Recommendation
Of the more recent hashtag games to take over social media, #Fav7Films is both incredibly fun and daunting. As a lover of storytelling, I try to find the good in nearly every movie. There are few films I haven’t completed… Read More ›
A Fresh Take On A Beloved Story: Pete’s Dragon – New Release Review
As the sun begins to set on summer, Walt Disney provides us with one more golden through director David Lowery’s reinterpretation of the 1977 classic musical Pete’s Dragon. Lowery (Ain’t Them Bodies Saints) shoves off the seafaring locale, the songs,… Read More ›
A Dark Promise: The Lotus Gun – Short Film Review
To herald the start of the fourth season of their Film School Shorts on PBS, northern California-based KQED has made the acclaimed short film, The Lotus Gun, available for instant streaming. Written and directed by Amanda Milius, daughter of John… Read More ›
Where’s The Rock n’ Roll We Were Promised? Suicide Squad – New Release Review
Suicide Squad, DC Films’ third live-action feature in the newly established DC Extended Universe, is intended to connect with audiences in a way Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice failed to. Batman V Superman, even months after its release, is… Read More ›
Take Downs Take Time – The Infiltrator Review
A shorter version of this review, originally published for CLTure, was posted on their site on July 14th, 2016. For most folks, everyday life is a series of innocuous moments: getting up, eating breakfast, kissing your family before you leave the house for work, the commute, the… Read More ›
Cinematic Shakespeare: The Films You Need To See
Growing up, there was no writer better than William Shakespeare. His words, while seeming fancy, were easy to understand and possessed a fantastic rhythm. Read one way, they inspired menace. Read another, delight. As I grew older, I learned that… Read More ›