Quite honestly, “The Big Sick” should not work nearly as well as it does. Mixing comedy and a potentially terminal illness is a tricky tightrope to walk. “50/50” was able to do it tremendously well. Judd Apatow divided audiences and critics when he tried it with “Funny People.” Now as just a producer, Apatow has […]
It may be the start of the summer, but the fall festival season has gotten its first tease. Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the Opening Night Selection for the 55th annual New York Film Festival. It will be Richard Linklater‘s latest, the road trip movie “Last Flag Flying“. This immediately launches the flick […]
For over four decades now, Sam Elliott has been a reliable big screen presence and one of the industry’s best character actors. With a trademark mustache and voice, he is iconic in his own way. In the past few years, Elliott has begun writing a new chapter in his career, stealing the show with supporting […]
Welcome to the 2017 Awards Profile series, where we talk about high- and low-profile films coming to a theater near you at some point this year. We will analyze the potential for these films to be players for the Academy Awards, and while many of these have the potential to be recognized, many will not, […]
On the surface, it’s hard to find a more cravenly opportunistic project than “The LEGO Batman Movie.” After all, it’s not just a sequel to a wildly successful animated film that itself was based on a toy. It’s also a spin-off for perhaps the biggest superhero in pop culture. Money may be at the initial […]
This weekend, Robert De Niro returns to stand-up comedy, along with one of the most unsettling films in quite some time. That combination makes for the main highlights in an interesting slate of new releases. It’s a busy group on the indie front, so you’re not just limited this weekend to your local multiplexes! Best […]
This year, “Deadpool” was snubbed at the Oscars. Ryan Reynolds, who put over 10 years of blood, sweat and tears into this project, gave one of the most unique performances in recent memory. Tim Miller did a fantastic job directing, and Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick brilliantly wrote what many agree to be an artistic, […]
This weekend, a would-be 2016 award hopeful and a potential 2017 tearjerker join the post Academy Award nomination market. Expect a big bump for Oscar nominees like “La La Land” and “Hidden Figures,” plus potential legs for M. Night Shyamalan‘s hit “Split.” Now, let’s check out what new options this slate has to offer today: […]
This week, there’s another sorry slate of Blu-ray and DVD titles. The saving grace is really only the opportunity to revisit an Emily Blunt performance gaining late Oscar attention. Other than that, it’s rough. Today’s a day to really value the Vintage pick! PICK OF THE WEEK “The Girl on the Train” Emily Blunt could […]
Getting lost in space has long been a staple of science fiction cinema. Whether alone or with a crew/family/stranger, the coldness of deep space is inherently thrilling. Now, when you factor in an unexpected romance, that gives something like “Passengers” a unique spin. Mixed with a “Cast Away” in a luxury hotel type setting, there’s […]
This weekend, Natalie Portman shines as former First Lady Jackie Kennedy, while the rest of the new releases struggle to keep pace. Portman and “Jackie” are the clear class of the group, without question. Aside from that, it’s slim pickings for the most part, as last weekend’s releases continue to expand as well. Definitely make […]
This week, one of the very best films of 2016 hits Blu-ray and DVD, along with one of the weirdest, courtesy of Kevin Smith. You might say it’s a “hell” of a good slate. Today marks a special edition of the column too, as it functions also as a shopping guide with the holiday season […]
What a missed opportunity. All of the ingredients are found within “Allied” to result in a prime piece of Oscar bait. You have Academy Award winners in director Robert Zemeckis, as well as stars Marion Cotillard and Brad Pitt. Nominee Steven Knight penned the screenplay. The list goes on. And yet, “Allied” feels like a […]
It’s not often that a new release can feel like an instant classic. It doesn’t at all seem like hyperbole to write that “The Edge of Seventeen” is going to deeply speak to a lot of teenagers as the years progress. It has such a specific yet timeless message about the confusion of growing up. […]
This week, the lovable Dory gets her very own feature, which leads the charge of new releases coming to Blu-ray and DVD. The sequel to “Finding Nemo” is sadly one of the only things of note hitting today, which puts a damper on things. There’s also the little matter of what happened last week, but […]
The hits just keep on coming for Marvel Studios. The folks that can seemingly do no wrong have again taken a lower-tier superhero and spun gold. This time, it’s “Doctor Strange,” the latest edition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This is a trippy, psychedelic, and really fun introduction to the world of magic within Marvel’s realms. […]
Literally just a few days ago, this timely film, to our knowledge, did not even exist. Michael Moore‘s latest movie, the one man show “Michael Moore in TrumpLand” was shot less than two weeks ago and locked picture earlier in the week. I bring this up mainly to showcase what an insane turnaround this is. […]
2016 NEW YORK FILM FESTIVAL CLOSING NIGHT SELECTION: After years of development hell, filmmaker James Gray can let loose a triumphant howl of success. His passion project “The Lost City of Z,” playing as the Closing Night Selection at the New York Film Festival, is easily his best looking movie to date. It’s one of […]
2016 New York Film Festival: It takes a while to get into the rhythm that filmmaker Jim Jarmusch wants to establish with “Paterson.” Reflecting poetry as much as anything else, he manages something very unique. This is a film almost entirely about vibe – albeit alongside a captivating lead performance. It’s a risky proposition, but one […]
2016 New York Film Festival: The mark of a true auteur is when you watch a film of theirs and revel at how only they could have executed it in just that way. A prime example of this is Pablo Larraín‘s latest film, the pseudo biopic “Neruda.” As much a low-key thriller as a true look […]
This weekend, an Oscar hopeful biopic and a surprise horror sequel highlight the new releases. Both are hitting theaters along with a small collection of other titles, making for an interesting grouping. Considering how it’s the middle of September, the change in the air is palpable – not just weather wise, either. The movies are […]
Folks, Oliver Stone is back. “Snowden” is not only the filmmaker’s best work in some time, it manages to do something fairly difficult. It maintains Stone’s righteous indignation and love of conspiracy while still focusing solely on telling a compelling story. Stone isn’t preaching to the choir or yelling on a soapbox, but merely delivering […]
There’s a fine line to be walked when a film attempts to capture the cultural, political, and societal zeitgeist while also telling a genre story. When it doesn’t work, you wind up with something that just rings completely false through and through. When it works though, you get something special, a bit of cinema that […]
Usually, when a title also sums up a movie, it’s in a negative or at least overtly punny way. Not so with Captain Fantastic, since the word fantastic is right at the tip of your tongue when the film ends. I had almost no expectations going in to this one, which made it even more […]
Growing up, I would parrot lines of dialogue from movies, comedy records, and stand up routines. It was a way to connect with adults, while just being fun. I’m sure I’m not alone in doing this, either. Imagine though, that it was your only way of communicating, or if you’re a parent, that it’s the […]
I try to avoid hyperbole whenever possible, but I sincerely believe that Anthony Weiner is one of the most enthralling subjects of a political documentary that I’ve ever seen. He’s a classical tragic character, only thrust into shame due to modern technology. Weiner is a doc that leans into this, almost by accident, making for […]
Legendary filmmaker Woody Allen is often cited, both positively and negatively, for cribbing liberally from his own back catalogue. With his latest outing Café Society, which just debuted at the Cannes Film Festival, he’s instead opted to utilize the feel of his prior works, with fantastic results. Not only is this just a supremely entertaining […]
Comedian Demetri Martin has tried his hand at acting before, but not only does his debut filmmaking feature Dean show a whole new side of him in that regard, it also puts him forward as a writer and director well worth watching. This is an accomplished, funny, and surprisingly emotional dramedy that sneaks up on […]
Welcome to the 2016 Awards Profiles series, where we talk about high and low-profile films coming to a theater near you at some point this year. We will analyze the potential for these films to be players for the Academy Awards, and while many of these have the potential to be recognized, many will not […]
Welcome to the 2016 Awards Profiles series, where we talk about high and low-profile films coming to a theater near you at some point this year. We will analyze the potential for these films to be players for the Academy Awards, and while many of these have the potential to be recognized, many will not […]
At this point, whenever filmmaker John Carney puts out a new musically themed movie, you should just assume that an absolute delight is coming your way. He first came on to our radar with the Academy Award winning Once, before fading away for a bit until 2013’s delightful Oscar nominee Begin Again. Now, he’s once […]
Welcome to the 2016 Awards Profiles series, where we talk about high and low-profile films coming to a theater near you at some point this year. We will analyze the potential for these films to be players for the Academy Awards, and while many of these have the potential to be recognized, many will not […]
Conversation, or the lack thereof in many cases, hangs over almost all of Demolition, the new film from director Jean-Marc Vallee opening this weekend. Whether it’s star Jake Gyllenhaal or supporting players like Chris Cooper, Judah Lewis, and Naomi Watts, the characters in this Bryan Sipe penned movie struggle to explain themselves and what’s going […]
Welcome to the 2016 Awards Profiles series, where we talk about high and low-profile films coming to a theater near you at some point this year. We will analyze the potential for these films to be players for the Academy Awards, and while many of these have the potential to be recognized, many will not […]
I want to hang out with Richard Linklater. If the filmmaker’s life is anything like the semi-autobiographical hang out movies Dazed and Confused and now the spiritual sequel Everybody Wants Some, he leads a charmed existence. More importantly though, Linklater has found a way to extract the essence of his experiences and give us some […]
