This is a movie like many we’ve seen before about the blatant racism of the Deep South during the time of the early civil rights movement in the early 1960’s. It’s based on the memoir (The Wrong Side of Murder Creek: A White Southerner in the Freedom Movement) of Bob Zellner a young man at the time […]
In what is easily one of the best-acted films of Ron Howard’s directorial career, “Hillbilly Elegy” joins the ranks of films like “August Osage County,” “Fences,” and “The Fighter,” exploring the contentious side of family life. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, Howard is a surprising choice to direct, as his films typically have
Oscar winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin is one of the few that can make a thriller out of people sitting in a room. In many ways his latest, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”, uses some of the same techniques that won him the Academy Award for writing “The Social Network”. The drama about seven protesters
Too young to remember writer, feminist, and political activist Gloria Steinem? This film by Julie Taymor (“Frida”), based on Steinem’s autobiography, not only documents her achievements but her struggle along the way. Taymor doesn’t give you a run-of-the-mill biopic, which is based on Steinem’s recent book. “The Glorias” aims for the details you don’t know
“Misbehavior” tackles a large portion of London’s women’s liberation movement of the early 70s, beginning with a scrappy group that infiltrated the Miss World Pageant in 1970. Screenwriters Rebecca Frayn and Gaby Chiappe give so many of the characters their own point of view moments, that sometimes it’s unclear exactly whose story is being told
Finally, a somewhat uplifting VOD release for the Stay Homer’s desperate for new feature film content. Although “Military Wives” missed the prime Mother’s Day release window, Peter Cattaneo’s (“The Full Monty”) film shines a light on the often unsung heroes of the military: Wives and their resilience to support those defending freedoms. Based on a
Another film that came and went from at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival that is finding its way to a wider audience thanks to the pandemic is “Hope Gap”. Based on writer/director William Nicholson’s own experience (and adapted from his play), watching his parents go through a divorce late in life. “Hope Gap” is
You might have seen the disappointing 2003 flick “Ned Kelly” that’s more historically based. Even though “True History of the Kelly Gang” is far more fictionalized, it is also far more compelling. The first of the canceled theatrical releases that truly deserved to be seen on the big screen, it’s also the first VOD release
Cory Finley gets a gentleman’s C for his new film “Bad Education”. It debuted at The Toronto International Film Festival back in September to a mediocre reception, including my own. The film wasn’t picked up by any Hollywood studio, but then made a deal with HBO to be released as a movie on their channel.
Clint Eastwood’s latest film “Richard Jewell” is as slow and steady as they come. It’s not boring, the opposite actually. This is a very engaging film thanks mostly to the authentic performances. Paul Walter Hauser exploded on the scene in “I, Tonya” playing Shawn Eckhardt, the man eventually arrested in connection with the attack on