‘A Complete Unknown’, starring a transformed Timothy Chalamet as a young Bob Dylan, is the latest biopic to play with the form. Rather than a biography told from birth to death, or in the case of Dylan, birth to his current status as an always evolving troubadour, James Mangold’s film captures a key moment in… Continue reading ‘A Complete Unknown’ – Is It Really Just All About the Music?

Sean Baker is a filmmaker who finds dignity in what many might deem despair (‘Tangerine’, ‘The Florida Project’, ‘Red Rocket’). His flawed characters are always presented as humans first, and the choices they make, no matter how ill-advised, come from a place of reason for these particular people. One can imagine him watching a Hollywood… Continue reading ‘Anora’ – Sean Baker’s Interpretation of ‘Pretty Woman’?

Twenty-Four years ago, Ridley Scott delivered ‘Gladiator’, a film of such magnitude that it continues to resonate. It’s rightfully revered as a true modern classic that harkens back to the sword and sandal genre films of old, but executed at the highest level of action craft. Its stars delivered the screenplay’s iconic dialogue with perfection,… Continue reading ‘Gladiator II’ – Double the Cast, Half the Original Movie?

The 2024 movie year hasn’t really been one of great many surprises, but director Edward Berger and his impeccable cast have somehow created a compelling and dramatic story surrounding the secretive process of anointing a new Pope. The film is staged as a microcosm of dueling ideals that resonate in a world divided along conservative… Continue reading ‘Conclave’ – Is It Possible to Wring Suspense & Drama From a Pope Vote?

It’s still hard to believe that there now exists a sequel to Tim Burton’s 1988 weirdo classic ‘Beetlejuice.’ It’s even harder to believe that the movie is again directed by Burton, stars Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara returning to their iconic roles, and that the filmmakers actually brought in Jenna Ortega as Ryder’s… Continue reading ‘Beetlejuice Beetlejuice’ – Return to Form, Blatant Cash Grab, a Little of Both?

There’s a reason the ‘Alien’ franchise is so enduring – the first two films, 1979’s ‘Alien’, and 1986’s ‘Aliens’, are true classics and the epitome of blockbuster masterpieces. Through the years there have been a few iterations of follow-ups. First were the two auteur driven continuations of the Ellen Ripley saga, 1992’s ‘Alien3’, aka David… Continue reading ‘Alien: Romulus’ – A Freaky, Slimy Return to Franchise Roots?

Anyone who was depending on ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ to “save” the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Disney can claim a partial victory. Financially the film is an enormous hit – Deadpool himself proved prescient with his “Marvel Jesus” self-dub as ‘D&W’ has surpassed “The Passion of the Christ” as the highest grossing R-rated movie of all… Continue reading ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ – A Spoof of a Funeral Dirge for the FOX Marvel U?

It’s a testament to the original ‘Twister’ movie from 1996 that its conceit of a romance among the rugged world of storm chasing could be simultaneously remade and updated almost 30 years later as a big screen thrill ride in “Twisters.” The new film starring rising actors Daisy Edgar-Jones (‘Normal People’) and Glen Powell (‘Top… Continue reading ‘Twisters’ – A Throwback in the Best Way?

Starting with the immensely entertaining one-two horror punch of ‘X’ and ‘Pearl’ in 2022, writer/director Ti West and actress Mia Goth, who’s also his creative partner for this series of films, bring their saga to a close (?) with ‘MaXXXine.’ If the first two movies were their odes to grimy 70s grind house and ‘Oz’… Continue reading ‘MaXXXine’ – Mia Goth & Ti West Do It Again?