Since its release in 1987, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles has become a Thanksgiving tradition for families across the United States. Advertising executive Neal Page (Steve Martin) wants to return home to Chicago. He’s all set to get on a cab only to see it stolen out in front of his eyes by traveling salesman Del Griffith (John Candy). This sets up the inevitable conflict that arises between the two when they next meet at La…
"Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: A Classic"Month: November 2018
I’m changing it up this year with how I present my awards and as such, I’m presenting the Solzy Awards for Short Films prior to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It’s been a great year for film. When it comes to short films, I’ve seen some films that have blown me away. I’ve seen some films that I don’t think that anyone could have possibly imagined. Without any further adieu, here are the winners of this…
"The Solzy Awards for Short Films"
The Favourite is the wittiest film to date from director Yorgos Lanthimos and is brought to life largely by three strong women. The newest film from Yorgos Lanthimos takes place in the early 1700s. Queen Anne (Olivia Colman) holds the English throne at this time. She’s calling the shots while England and France are at war. The war being the War of Spanish Succession–which doesn’t end until 1714. While it’s safe to say that this film is a…
"The Favourite: Yorgos Lanthimos’s Best To Date"
Creed II doesn’t quite build on the legacy of Creed by as the newest installment continues to stick with the typical Rocky structure. It’s been three years since Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) stepped out of his father’s shadows and into the limelight. He’s still living in Philadelphia, where he trains with the great Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone). Creed’s relationship with rising music star Bianca Taylor (Tessa Thompson) is on the verge of being taken to the…
"Creed II Plays Things Too Safe"
Robin Hood takes everything we know about the legend but leaves us asking the question as to whether or not the film is really necessary. Ben Chandler and David James Kelly’s screenplay takes us back to Hood’s days prior to living in the Sherwood Forest. If there’s anything new offered to the audience, it’s the origin of Hood (Taron Egerton) and Marian’s (Eve Hewson) relationship. Just as soon as we get to know the couple.…
"Robin Hood: Do We Need This Film?"
Both Blindspotting and Crazy Rich Asians arrive on Blu-ray and DVD today. The home media release comes just days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and Black Friday deals. Blindspotting was the very first film that I saw this past year upon arriving in Park City for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. I knew it was a special film as soon as the credits finished rolling. If you missed the film in theaters, the release offers…
"Blindspotting, Crazy Rich Asians arrive on Blu-ray"
The sound design for Roma is so intricate that watching this film in anything other than a theater would not be doing proper justice to the film. Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) is the film’s main focus. She’s working as a live-in maid for a middle-class family living in Mexico City’s Roma neighborhood. The family dynamics change when Señor Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) returns from a conference only to leave again. This means that Sofia (Marina De Tavira), a mother of…
"Roma: One of The Best Sound Designs Ever!"
The Great Buster: A Celebration is a well-deserved cinematic tribute to Buster Keaton–one of the greatest silent comedy stars to have ever lived. Discussing the great silent comedy stars must include Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd. Interestingly, Keaton starred in College as a response to Lloyd’s The Freshman. Where Lloyd starred as a freshman who played football, Keaton would play every other sport. As for Chaplin, he directed Keaton in 1952’s Limelight. This…
"The Great Buster celebrates Buster Keaton"
The Real Thing is about a soldier father and a transgender daughter but it may very well be the best short film that anyone will see all year long. I’ve seen a lot of short films this year starting with my coverage of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in January. Some are important in their own ways and some of them will never have their cinematic shots recreated without the use of CGI. When it comes…
"The Real Thing: Transgender Short Has Me In Tears"
While there may be a deeper meaning behind Burning, the script has a serious problem with the treatment of women in the film. Burning focuses on aspiring fiction writer Jongsu (Ah-in Yoo). His life isn’t really interesting to say the least. His father’s troubles with the law have led him to move back to the Paju home in order to take care of the farm. Needing financial income, he picks up jobs here and there. …
"Burning Treats Women Like Sexual Fantasy"