Collateral Beauty: It’s a Yawner

The last few years have not been kind to Will Smith and Collateral Beauty proves to be no exception. To be honest, this movie kept putting me to sleep repeatedly while I viewed it last night. If you want to see a movie that deals with loss and grief, please go watch Manchester by the Sea instead. David Frankel directs from a screenplay by Allan Loeb. The star-studded cast includes Smith, Edward Norton, Keira Knightley,…

"Collateral Beauty: It’s a Yawner"

2017 Golden Globe Awards: Quick Take Analysis

This morning, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced the nominees for the 2017 Golden Globe Awards for the films and television in the year ending in a few weeks. My own personal opinion of the HFPA not withstanding, there are some definite snubs on both the film and television fronts. With the films being separated into both comedy and drama, there can be some surprises that won’t otherwise be considered for the Oscars. I tend…

"2017 Golden Globe Awards: Quick Take Analysis"

22nd Critics Choice Awards: The Way Too Early Analysis

The Critics’ Choice Awards is usually one of the pre-cursors to February’s Academy Awards ceremony, airing on ABC. The 300-plus member Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) of television, radio, and online film critics voted on the awards and they usually do a better job than the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in my opinion. That being said, this telecast is one that tends to air in January rather than December. Hosted by comedian T.J. Miller, the…

"22nd Critics Choice Awards: The Way Too Early Analysis"

Moana: The Ocean Comes Calling

Moana is the 56th animated film to be released by Walt Disney Animation Studios and it continues the studio’s reign of animated hits as it enters Disney lore. Disney veteran directors Ron Clements and John Musker (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Princess & the Frog) directed the animated musical, set across the Pacific Ocean. They were joined by co-directors Don Hall and Chris Williams. The voice cast is led by Auli‘i Cravalho and Dwayne Johnson.…

"Moana: The Ocean Comes Calling"

Nocturnal Animals: A Cautionary Tale

Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal star as a divorced couple who go through psychological and emotional changes as their lives are explored in Nocturnal Animals. Written and directed by Tom Ford, the thriller was based on the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright. The cast features Amy Adams, Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Shannon, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Isla Fisher, Karl Glusman, Armie Hammer, Laura Linney, Andrea Riseborough, and Michael Sheen. Susan Morrow (Amy Adams) is married to…

"Nocturnal Animals: A Cautionary Tale"

Jackie: Natalie Portman is Superb in Kennedy Biopic

In her portrayal of former First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy, Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman is absolutely superb in Jackie. Portman disappears into the role and audiences forget that it’s the Oscar winner on screen. Portman leads a cast that also includes Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Richard E. Grant, Caspar Phillipson, John Carroll Lynch, Beth Grant, Max Casella with Billy Crudup and John Hurt. In Jackie, we are taken back to the final days of Camelot…

"Jackie: Natalie Portman is Superb in Kennedy Biopic"

Loving: A Loving Couple Takes On Virginia and Wins

Loving tells the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving (Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga), the interracial couple who took on Virginia and changed the United States Constitution. Negga’s performance in the role is strong enough to garner an Oscar nomination. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, the cast includes Edgerton, Negga, Marton Csokas, Nick Kroll, Terri Abney, Alano Miller, Jon Bass, and Michael Shannon. We are taken back in time to the late 1950s…

"Loving: A Loving Couple Takes On Virginia and Wins"

Miss Sloane: Jessica Chastain Drives the Film

Miss Sloane brings the second amendment debate to the big screen. In doing so, Jessica Chastain delivers a strong performance. Despite the December release, it’s not a film that will be earning many accolades. This isn’t to take anything away from Chastain–after all, she delivers the goods. It just shows how strong the competition is in 2016. Directed by John Madden from a screenplay written by Jonathan Perera, Chastain leads a cast that includes Mark…

"Miss Sloane: Jessica Chastain Drives the Film"

Moonlight: A Coming of Age Film for Everyone

Moonlight tells the story of one person during three acts of his life as he grows up in a troubled neighborhood in Miami. It’s a groundbreaking piece of cinematic film that should definitely see some Oscar nominations after the #OscarsSoWhite year that we saw as a result of the previous Oscar nominations. Written and directed by Barry Jenkins and based on a story by Tarell Alvin McCraney, moviegoers are treated to one of the strongest…

"Moonlight: A Coming of Age Film for Everyone"

Manchester By The Sea: Casey Affleck is Phenomenal

Manchester by the Sea is one of the best dramas to be released in 2016. As a Boston janitor who returns home to Manchester following the death of his brother, Casey Affleck delivers one of his strongest performances to date. He should receive his first Oscar nomination since 2007’s The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, the movie stars Affleck, Michelle Williams, Kyle Chandler, Lucas Hedges,…

"Manchester By The Sea: Casey Affleck is Phenomenal"