When I reviewed Paddington 2 back in January, I made a huge mistake by saying the film would not be an awards contender. In my original review in January, I wrote the following about Paddington 2: “It may not be a contender.” The funny thing is, it IS a contender. Back in January, I was probably thinking along the lines as many film critics and box office analysts do. January is that barren month in…
"An Apology to Paddington 2"Month: December 2018
If there’s a list that I don’t like having to put together, it’s list of the worst films in 2018. I say this because cast and crews put hard work into their craft of making these motion pictures. Sometimes, the final result isn’t close to what we would like these films to be. There is one film that I gave a lot of thought to putting on my list. Ultimately, I chose not to do…
"The Worst Films of 2018"
Loosely inspired by a true story, Cold War (Zimna wojna) puts the spotlight on a love story where the couple keeps coming together no matter the odds. We’re introduced to Zuzanna “Zula” Lichoń (Joanna Kulig) and Wiktor Warski (Tomasz Kot) in Poland a few years after the end of World War 2. While the Cold War serves as a backdrop, we don’t see much of the government tensions in spite of the film’s title. There is…
"Cold War (Zimna wojna)"
Robert Zemeckis and Steve Carell team up in Welcome to Marwen but this story is better told as a documentary rather than narrative feature. The town of Marwen is a fictional Belgian town that Mark Hogancamp (Steve Carell) creates while recovering from the brutal attack. An artist in real life, Hogancamp loses many of his memories following the attack. Basically, an American fighter pilot, Captain Hogie (Carell), crashes during World War 2, gets attacked by Nazis,…
"Welcome to Marwen: The Downsizing of 2018"
The 2019 Sundance Film Festival has added a few more films to the schedule while also naming the films scheduled to open on Day One of the fest on January 24, 2019. The press release follows: Sundance Institute adds five feature films and a Special Event to the 2019 Sundance Film Festival’s robust slate of independent work today, alongside announcing the winner of the 2019 Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Prize, seven Day One films…
"Sundance 2019: More Features Added, Opening Night Announced"
The Alliance of Women Film Journalists announced the nominations for the AWFJ EDA Awards 2018 with The Favourite leading with 11 nominations. The winners will be announced on January 10, 2019. AWFJ BEST OF AWARDS These awards are presented to women and/or men without gender consideration. Best Film BLACKkKLANSMAN THE FAVOURITE GREEN BOOK LEAVE NO TRACE ROMA VICE Best Director Alfonso Cuaron – ROMA Debra Granik – LEAVE NO TRACE Yorgos Lanthimos – THE FAVOURITE…
"AWFJ Announces EDA Awards 2018 Nominations"
Second Act has some promising moments but the comedy starring Jennifer Lopez falls into cliche-filled traps that are otherwise disappointing. Ozone Park Value Shop assistant manager Maya Vargas (Jennifer Lopez) enters her 43rd year of life by being passed over for a promotion. It doesn’t matter how many innovative ideas she has because she does’t have the required college degree. Does one need the necessary degree when their own record shows that they can do…
"Second Act Can’t Overcome Cliches"
A few weeks ago, I contributed to the IndieWire critics survey and discussed how Eva Vives’ All About Nina for the most under-appreciated films of 2018. I’m not going to re-post what I wrote even though it’s a damn shame that Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s name is not a part of the conversation. I will say that even to this day, Winstead’s performance as Nina Geld is one of the best performances of the year. When I first…
"Mary Elizabeth Winstead is Awards-Worthy in All About Nina"
The Music Box Theatre in Chicago will close out 2018 and ring in the new year with a number of live-action Disney films, including Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Return to Oz, Newsies, Heavyweights, Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey, and 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. According to the Music Box Theatre, tickets will be as priced: $11 General Admission $9 Seniors $7 for Members & Kids under 12 Film and Showtime Information: BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS (Robert Stevenson,…
"Disney Films Come to the Music Box Theatre"
Travis Knight takes over for Michael Bay in the director’s chair while allowing Bumblebee to become the best live-action Transformers movie in the franchise. Once upon a time, Bumblee (Dylan O’Brien) had a voice. This was some thirty years before the war between the Autobots and Decepticons restarted on Earth. Years before Chicago got leveled because there’s some sort of obsession that filmmakers have with destroying the Windy City. Years before a Transformers film became the best…
"Bumblebee: The Best Transformers Movie By Far"