Category: Movie Reviews

Movie Reviews

‘Everybody Wants Some!!’ – Linklater’s spiritual sequel to ‘Dazed and Confused’?

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In 1993, Richard Linklater wrote and directed the seminal ’70s hang-out flick, ‘Dazed and Confused,’ an immensely entertaining movie about the last day of school in an unnamed Texas town that launched the acting careers of the likes of Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Milla Jovovich, Parker Posey, and many more.  He’s back at it with ‘Everybody Wants… Continue reading ‘Everybody Wants Some!!’ – Linklater’s spiritual sequel to ‘Dazed and Confused’?

Movie Reviews

‘Manchester by the Sea’ – A Masterful Meditation on Grief, An Exercise in Pain?

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Writer/Director Kenneth Lonergan’s latest, the quiet family melodrama, ‘Manchester by the Sea,’ may be the most devastating film to receive awards attention this year.  Buoyed by an incredible, understated performance by Casey Affleck, surrounded by a stellar supporting cast, and featuring a unique flashback structure, it’s impossible to argue its’ artistic merit.  From an entertainment… Continue reading ‘Manchester by the Sea’ – A Masterful Meditation on Grief, An Exercise in Pain?

Movie Reviews

‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ – Making the Prequel Safe Again?

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The first experiment in the burgeoning ‘Star Wars’ franchise, the first test of Disney/Lucasfilm’s expansion of the brand, ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,’ manages to succeed on multiple levels.  The film and its’ director, Gareth Edwards (‘Godzilla’), were given a chance to play in the prequel sandbox, telling a standalone tale of the first… Continue reading ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ – Making the Prequel Safe Again?

Movie Reviews

‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ –Magical Extension to a Beloved Franchise, Cash Grab, or Somewhere in Between?

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One can imagine the collective sigh at Warner Brothers when the beloved cash-cow ‘Harry Potter’ franchise completed its’ run with ‘Deathly Hollows – Part 2’ back in 2011.  Almost every year for a decade, the movie studio had a reliable quality film to release, culminating in a finale that displayed a maturity that matched an… Continue reading ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’ –Magical Extension to a Beloved Franchise, Cash Grab, or Somewhere in Between?

Movie Reviews

‘Doctor Strange’ – The Marvel Cinematic Universe Takes a Trip?

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‘Doctor Strange,’ the latest comic book adaptation from Marvel Studios, proves yet again that the hit factory can take even the most esoteric material and create compelling, exciting entertainment.  Through spot-on casting and the most spectacular special effects yet seen in a super-hero film, the magical corner of this now sprawling universe is effectively introduced.  As the titular… Continue reading ‘Doctor Strange’ – The Marvel Cinematic Universe Takes a Trip?

Movie Reviews

‘The Girl on the Train’ – Damaged Hero or Unreliable Narrator?

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The latest movie adaptation of a best-selling page-turner with ‘Girl’ in its’ title (see ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’, ‘Gone Girl’), ‘The Girl on the Train,’ provides more than competent acting from its’ players and a compelling enough story to keep an audience rapt.  While it doesn’t quite reach the masterful heights of visual… Continue reading ‘The Girl on the Train’ – Damaged Hero or Unreliable Narrator?

Movie Reviews

‘The Magnificent Seven’ – A Pop-Western for the Modern Age?

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Director Antoine Fuqua (‘Training Day’) and his frequent star Denzel Washington collaborate once again for another high-budget, concept-tweaked remake with modern sensibilities in the newly released, ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ to mostly successful results.  It’s hard to criticize the idea of remaking the classic 1960 western of the same name, as that movie itself was a reimagining of… Continue reading ‘The Magnificent Seven’ – A Pop-Western for the Modern Age?

Movie Reviews

‘Hell or High Water’ – Modern American Crime Classic?

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Sometimes a film comes out of nowhere and just absolutely kills it on every level; the recent wide release, after a well-regarded limited release, of neo-western / noir, ‘Hell or High Water,’ is one such example.  Written by television character actor turned screenwriter, Taylor Sheriden (‘Sicario’), directed by English-born David Mackenzie (‘Starred Up’), and starring Chris Pine, Ben… Continue reading ‘Hell or High Water’ – Modern American Crime Classic?

Movie Reviews

‘Pete’s Dragon’ – Old-fashioned Remake or New Magical Classic?

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In a year marked by a number of remakes of inconsistent quality (‘Jungle Book’, ‘Ghostbusters’, etc.), Disney’s latest remake, ‘Pete’s Dragon’ stands out as the best by far.  Indie writer / director David Lowery (‘Ain’t Them Bodies Saints’) has taken only the basic idea of the original animation/live action hybrid (a popular trope of the… Continue reading ‘Pete’s Dragon’ – Old-fashioned Remake or New Magical Classic?

Movie Reviews

‘Lights Out’ – A Slight but Effective Horror Movie?

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Expanding on his short film, director David F. Sandberg creates an effective, if small in scope, horror feature, ‘Lights Out.’  The movie works well due to a defined (and quite scary) concept, decent acting, and assured direction in a few contained set pieces.  At a brisk 81 minutes, the movie wastes no time setting up… Continue reading ‘Lights Out’ – A Slight but Effective Horror Movie?