Spaceballs: Mel Brooks’ Star Wars Spoof Marks 32 Years

Spaceballs, Mel Brooks’ celebrated classic spoof of Star Wars and similar sci-fi films, marks its 32nd anniversary this year. Planet Spaceball–led by the inept President Skroob (Mel Brooks)–is out of clean air so they’re heading to planet Druida to suck all the fresh air.  As soon as the opening crawl finishes, the camera tracks Spaceball One from the start of the ship all the way to the rear.  The ship is so huge to the…

"Spaceballs: Mel Brooks’ Star Wars Spoof Marks 32 Years"

Tomorrowland: An Underappreciated Disney Film

The futuristic Tomorrowland, starring George Clooney and Britt Robertson, is certainly an underappreciated Disney release. Frank Walker (George Clooney) takes us back to his childhood during the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.  Young Frank unsuccessful in selling his prototype jetpack to David Nix (Hugh Laurie).  Athena (Raffey Cassidy) hands Frank a Tomorrowland pin and gives him instructions to follow her to Walt Disney’s It’s A Small World attraction.  Next thing we know, he’s transported…

"Tomorrowland: An Underappreciated Disney Film"

Frameline 2019: Bit: An Instant Feminist Vampire Classic

Nicole Maines delivers a commanding presence in Bit as the film becomes the queer feminist vampire movie that we’ve been needing for so long. A brief prologue introduces V-Squad, led by Duke (Diana Hopper), before cutting to Laurel’s (Nicole Maines) Central Oregon High graduation.  Laurel’s still figuring out who she is in terms of what she wants to do with her life.  Before embarking on her future, she’s off on a road trip to visit…

"Frameline 2019: Bit: An Instant Feminist Vampire Classic"

Frameline 2019: Queering the Script

Queering the Script relives the important moments in queer television history while also diving into fandom and history behind some the terminology. The documentary packs a lot of punch into its ninety minute run time.  Make no mistake that this documentary could certainly be longer but then we’re looking at a three hour film.  Some of the things that director Gabrielle Zilkha manages to touch on are the history behind shipping and slash fiction.  The…

"Frameline 2019: Queering the Script"

Rom Com Fest 2019: Two in the Bush: A Love Story

While the concept is all too often lost in love stories on screen, Two in the Bush: A Love Story puts the polyamorous relationship front and center. When it comes to romantic comedies, it is never a good sign when somebody comes home early from work.  You can always assume that the worst is about to happen.  This is the case when aspiring documentary filmmaker Emily (Sarah Mitchell) comes home early.  Sure enough, Emily arrives…

"Rom Com Fest 2019: Two in the Bush: A Love Story"

Rom Com Fest 2019: Tracks

Tracks is a small little indie film that takes us across Europe while one couple figures out just where their relationship is supposed to go. Lucy (April Pearson) and Chris (Chris Willoughby) are both in somewhat of a pickle.  Neither of them really remember what it is that drew them to the other person in the first place.  So what do the two of them decide to do as a result?  They decide to take…

"Rom Com Fest 2019: Tracks"

His Girl Friday kicks off Rom Com Fest 2019

Newspaper screwball comedy His Girl Friday, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, remains one of the funniest comedy films of all time. The Morning Post editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant) learns early on that ex-wife and reporter, Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell), is set to marry Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy).  He’s not happy about their eventual move to Albany, N.Y.  Naturally, Walter does everything he can to prevent this from happening.  Thus, the comedy hijinks ensue.…

"His Girl Friday kicks off Rom Com Fest 2019"

Megan Amram talks An Emmy For Megan

Megan Amram, a writer for The Good Place, recently spoke to Solzy at the Movies in an interview about season two of An Emmy for Megan. It feels like you came out a winner after the first season of An Emmy for Megan because the Television Academy was forced to change the rules. Would you agree? Megan Amram: Absolutely. Literally hundreds of millions of people each year win Emmys, but only I have ever made…

"Megan Amram talks An Emmy For Megan"

Michael Lehmann talks Airheads at Cinepocalypse

Filmmaker Michael Lehmann spoke with Solzy at the Movies in a phone interview prior to Thursday night’s screening of Airheads to close out Cinepocalypse. Airheads will screen as the closing night selection of Cinepocalypse in honor of the film’s 25th anniversary.  How honored are you to be screening a 35mm print of the film? Michael Lehmann:  I am really jazzed about it.  I think that it’s a great way to see a movie.  Obviously, it…

"Michael Lehmann talks Airheads at Cinepocalypse"

Holy Lands: Family drama falls quite short

Holy Lands seeks to explore the dysfunction within one family but this story ultimately falls short in being a compelling film. When Jewish-American cardiologist Harry Rosenmerck (James Caan) sets off to become a pig farmer, the very move shakes up his entire family.  It’s not a shock to say that this move is very upsetting for his family.  His neighbor, Rabbi Moshe Cattan (Tom Hollander), is equally unhappy with the move to Nazareth, Israel.  Harry…

"Holy Lands: Family drama falls quite short"