It’s a holiday weekend, and I’m trying to see if I can catch up on some couch time… It’s a given that sequels are rarely up to the task when it comes to matching up to their predecessor. The reasons why are a mystery–the same cast, same writers, director, etc. should all add up to […]
Allow me to do some level setting before I get into the heart of this review: I did not read comic books as a kid. I wasn’t ever a big fan of superheroes. I don’t know the backstory on all of them, nor have I learned about any of the strong storylines for the characters over […]
Indie films are hit-or-miss: sometimes, these limited-release movies are true gems. Sometimes, they’re just a waste of time. Hello, My Name Is Doris is one of those gems, for several reasons: Sally Field is amazing in this movie, the story and script is spot on, and the ending is brilliant. Doris is an eccentric, shy, […]
As I get older, I’m finding that I really appreciate movies that are well thought out, well written, well acted, and put together all of those pieces to feel effortless. By that, I mean that you can sit down and watch a movie and not feel challenged by it, not feel overwhelmed by it, but […]
It’s a well that Hollywood loves to mine: Nazi Germany during World War II. If anything screams pure evil, it’s Hitler and his army trying to take over Europe and the world. And frankly, it seems like there are still stories to tell from that time, including about the multitude of assassination attempts made on […]
There are remarkable films out there that do wonderful things with a very simple story, like this one: an Indian immigrant and his family make their way to France where they open a restaurant and he becomes one of the most celebrated chefs in Paris, but he finds fame lacking. But that is basically the plot […]
There is nothing that makes you feel old like going to a movie clearly not aimed at your demographic. And, truth be told, I’m not a huge action movie fan–sure, they’re eye candy and are usually really easy to watch–but there is a certain enjoyment to sitting in a comfy seat for a couple of […]
Let’s get one thing clear right off the top: I like Woody Allen films. I’ve even loved some of them, most notably his early stuff, but even Annie Hall or Manhattan, which didn’t fall in that slapstick category like Bananas or Sleeper. Blue Jasmine is the latest in a kind of romantic period for him–witness Midnight […]
The Steven Spielberg film Lincoln is exactly what you expect: a tight, interesting, well-written docudrama about an extraordinarily important but frequently over-simplified part of American history. So points for helping to bring that back to the forefront for those willing to watch it. But, surprisingly, it isn’t really that much about Lincoln. And while the Civil […]
I haven’t been to a movie on its opening day in ages. But for months, all of us here have been looking forward to the opening of The Lego Movie because…well…Legos, and it just looked hilarious. And it was. The story is about Emmet, an ordinary Lego living in a huge Lego city, following the instructions […]