Barbie takes center stage in Greta Gerwig‘s vivaciously pink and subversively delightful film, aptly titled “Barbie.” Forget what you thought you knew about this iconic doll because Gerwig’s fresh take on Barbie World will leave you both pleasantly amused and, in some cases, empowered. From the start, the film transports you to a mesmerizing pink-washed […]
In the hands of Wes Anderson, a stop-motion animated film with mostly dogs as characters and an allegorical theme will captivate children and adults without pandering to either. Probably by coincidence, writer-director Anderson, with the help of Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Kunichi Nomura, employ themes of topical relevance today: government corruption, foreign influences on
After her relentless on-screen presence, playing the same characters in every movie, Greta Gerwig makes her directorial debut. The original screenplay based on her love of home in Sacramento, is what you would expect from the “Mistress America” actress. Yet, somehow with Oscar nominated Saoirse Ronan (“Brooklyn”) playing a version of Gerwig, it’s far more
In her latest effort to finally win that coveted Oscar, Annette Bening, four-time Academy Award nominee, gives both a familiar performance, but one of her most subdued. From the life and experience of writer/director Mike Mills, 20th Century Women explores eccentricities within family as he did with his Oscar winning film Beginners (2010). This script
The South American perspective of Jackie Kennedy is apparently similar to a horror movie seen through the eyes of director Pablo Larraín. In his first English language film, the 40-year-old surprisingly molds Jackie in the same structure of fellow Chilean director Alejandro Amenábar’s The Others (2001). The vicious editing choices paired with the savage musical
Filmmaker Todd Solondz was the first director to truly scare me with a film. No he isn’t a horror director, but a button pusher. Solondz writes and directs with vivid and often taboo subject matter to shock the audience. His early work Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995) and Happiness (1998), were cult classics that put
The worst thing about Maggie’s Plan is that there isn’t enough screen time for SNL alums Bill Hadar and Maya Rudolf, who give such presence and entertainment to their supporting characters. Rebecca Miller’s film Maggie’s Plan is basically a Woody Allen film with fresh insight, delightful performances and a surprisingly toned down Gerwig. It’s no