Why is it so hard for Hollywood to get the story of King Arthur right? Cinematic adaptations of Arthurian legend go all the way back to a 1904 silent film based on Wagner’s 1882 opera “Parsifal,” but very few of them have captured what makes the story special in the first place. Films like “Camelot” […]
Film Review
Posted inCulture
Inside Amy Schumer
Snatched is a trainwreck
Sometime after her popularity exploded during the first season of her show, Amy Schumer became not just the most popular female comedian in years, but also a feminist icon almost overnight. She fought back against misogynist culture by not allowing the typical body shaming of the Hollywood elite to change her looks, and her sex-positive […]
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Special Education
Gifted almost finds the heart of mathematics
It can be very surprising how lovely something so simple can be. “Gifted” is predictable, formulaic and deeply flawed, but the combination of perfectly calibrated performances and some honest and charming character work make the film a lovely piece of cinema, at times. The movie doesn’t do anything differently than dozens of other family dramas […]
Posted inCulture
Wack Mirror
The Circle screams at social media
The only reason the film adaptation of “The Circle” will be remembered is because it’s the final screen appearance of the actor Bill Paxton after his untimely and shocking death. Not to be overly harsh, but the film is so forgettable that discussing it feels like time that could be better spent focusing on the […]
Posted inCulture
We Are Groot
Marvel Studios adds art to commerce
I’ve been reviewing Marvel movies for as long as I’ve been writing about cinema. Truthfully, the Marvel Cinematic Universe is not quite 10 years old (dating back to 2008’s “Iron Man”), but it has completely reshaped how blockbuster movies are written and directed. The staggering number of superhero movies released every year might be easy […]
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Gigantic
Colossal is the Citizen Kane of Monster Movies
Don’t read this review. Sorry, I don’t mean to tell you what to do, but one of the true joys of cinema I have had this year was watching “Colossal” without knowing anything about it. As the plot continued to escalate and become darker and entirely unpredictable, I realized I was watching one of the […]
Posted inCulture
Start Looking at ‘Tomorrow’
It’s only a day away
At the beginning of “Tomorrow,” a new environmental documentary by French filmmakers Mรฉlanie Laurent and Cyril Dion, the message seems incredibly alarmist. The filmmakers bring in a pair of scientists who say that we have 20 years to start turning things around when it comes to climate change or else the world will face another […]
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Shoot ‘Em Up
Fire fight aims low
After “Pulp Fiction” came out in 1994, action films were basically reinvented for years to come. As soon as Quentin Tarantino unleashed his masterpiece, filmmakers attempted to capture that same lightning in a bottle by making movies combining sudden violence with characters spouting pop-culture heavy dialogue over hyper-stylized imagery. Films including “Things to do in […]
Posted inSpecial Issues & Guides
Earth Day Movies
Edu-tainment for everyone
Sometimes the best way to celebrate a holiday is to become more educated about important issues surrounding that special day. Hey! Is it Columbus Day? Then learn more about how this country was founded. It’s never a bad idea. So, for this year’s Earth Day, here are a few films that can help educate and […]
Posted inCulture
The Fate of the Franchise
The new “Fast” trips over its own feet and tries to save the planet
It’s OK to like “The Fast and the Furious” movies. Even if you like them un-ironically, there’s nothing to be ashamed about. I mean, some of them are terrible (I’m looking at you, numbers two and four), but even the worst of the series are still wildly entertaining and better than your average guilty pleasure. […]