If you didn’t know anything about Jeff Nichols’ Loving, the first few minutes of the film wouldn’t look any different than the beginning of a 1960’s love story between two people from small town Virginia. In his 5th film, Nichols (Mud, Take Shelter) tackles his first historical story, “an important story”, he says. While Loving […]
Ben Younger’s boxing film Bleed for This is not an awards contender despite debuting at Toronto’s film festival. While the best actor race might be a bit on the weak side, it’s not weak enough to include Teller (Whiplash, Fantasic Four), who continues to struggle for his place in the American box office market. Ben
There is no denying that Canadian Denis Villeneuve has emerged as one of the world’s most impressive rising directors. From “Prisoners”, to last years’ “Sicario”, Villeneuve films offer an experience that goes against the grain. His second consecutive female led story, “Arrival” will draw comparisons with “Sphere”, “Contact”, “Gattaca” and even “Interstellar”. “Arrival” stands on
What happened to Zoe Kazan’s career is not the most pressing question while watching The Monster. But you still have to wonder what happened to the writer/actress who seemed so promising back in 2012 with the lovely Ruby Sparks. The Monster is nothing more than a throwaway horror film, that feels more like experimental filmmaking
I think kids will really take to this animation with simple messages that will be meaningful to them, delivered in eye-catching, colorful visual effects. The message is basically pitting “look on the bright side of life” against “look out; they’re out to get you.” And further, that true happiness is inside all of us; it’s
Rainbow Time, written, directed, produced and starring Linas Phillips, is a mess in picturing a dysfunctional family using measures that serve to increase problems rather than solve them. Shonzi (Phillips)—because his name is Shaun and he loves Fonzi—is a sex-obsessed young man with no social skills and a ton of rage. He had a
What Barry Jenkins (Medicine for Melancholy) has created in Moonlight is nothing short of exquisite. Sure, it’s getting high praise from critics, breaking limited release box office records, and likely by the time general audience see this little indie they will wonder what the fuss is all about. There are two types of films that
The fourteenth comic book film released by Marvel Studios has a different cook in the kitchen, but unfortunately horror movie director Scott Derrickson is working with the same tired ingredients. Doctor Strange is a kaleidoscopic adventure that aims to present the standard superhero origin story in new light, or at least different colors. The cast,
Two-time Oscar winner Mel Gibson (“Braveheart”, “Apocalypto”) continues his 2016 comeback, this time back in the director’s chair, for the first time in a decade. “Hacksaw Ridge” is based on the equally incredible and humbling true story of WWII Conscientious Objector Desmond T. Doss. Gibson brings together his vast war film experience to embed the
Why are these films so bad, and why do they keep getting made? When Tom Hanks did the first “Da Vinci Code” (2006) film it was a hit because of the fandom with the books, but was poorly received. Hanks hasn’t been nominated for an Oscar since becoming involved with the Dan Brown adaptation franchise.