AFI Fest 2019: Lingua Franca

Lingua Franca happens to shine a spotlight on transgender representation by way of a film that places a strong focus on immigration. When it comes to transgender representation on screen, there is a right way and wrong way.  The wrong way is to make a character trans just for the sake of being trans.  It is in this instance that a trans character becomes–more or less–a gimmick and really doesn’t serve the film.  This is…

"AFI Fest 2019: Lingua Franca"

DOC NYC 2019: The Rabbi Goes West

The Rabbi Goes West is a documentary profile about Chaim Bruk, a Chabad Lubavitch rabbi, who ventured west to set up a Chabad center in Montana. So did you hear the one about the Chasidic rabbi that moved to Montana?  If you haven’t yet, you will now!  Co-directors Gerald Peary and Amy Geller follow Rabbi Chaim Bruk around Montana as he sets forth to make good on a promise.  The promise being that every Jew…

"DOC NYC 2019: The Rabbi Goes West"

DOC NYC 2019: Narrowsburg

Narrowsburg tells one of those stranger-than-fiction stories that could honestly make the translation from documentary to narrative feature. Think about it.  This is film is telling the story of a long con.  If you’re one of the people who lived it, it’s an experience that you probably don’t want to live through again.  Narrowsburg was going to be the “Sundance of the East.”  Or so the small town’s citizens were being told from festival organizers. …

"DOC NYC 2019: Narrowsburg"

The Report: Talking With The Cast

Jon Hamm, Annette Bening, and Adam Driver spoke about their characters in The Report during the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. Solzy at the Movies was one of a number of outlets to attend the press conference in September.  I first saw The Report during Sundance and it’s an important film with regards for American history.  In addition to the three actors, they were joined by writer-director Scott Z. Burns, producer Jennifer Fox, and former…

"The Report: Talking With The Cast"

Frozen 2 Goes Into the Unknown

Frozen 2 takes us into the unknown while continuing the adventure and diving into the history of Arrendale and why Elsa has magical powers. Following the cold open, the film cuts to present day where Queen Elsa (Idina Menzel) is hearing things.  We eventually learn that it’s the spirits calling her.  Strange things begin to happen when Air, Fire, Water, and Earth force the citizens of Arrendale to evacuate their kingdom.  One thing leads to…

"Frozen 2 Goes Into the Unknown"

Sundowners: Sundance Short Film Is Now Online

Sundowners, a nine-minute short film that premiered at Sundance in January 2019, is now available for viewers to watch online. I spoke with both Jessy Hodges and Anna Greenfield about the short film heading into the 2019 Sundance Film Festival.  Since Sundance, the core trio involved with the film have had a strong year.  Not only would Hodges be seen in HBO’s Barry but NBC picked up Indebted to series, which will premiere on February…

"Sundowners: Sundance Short Film Is Now Online"

The Good Liar Isn’t At The Level of Hitchcock

The Good Liar tries so hard to be an Alfred Hitchcock thriller to the point in which the film ultimately comes to fail on that particular level. Roy Courtnay (Ian McKellen) is a con man.  He meets Betty McLeish (Helen Mirren) by way of an online dating website.  If Roy gets his way, he’ll rob Betty of every dollar she’s worth.  Betty’s grandson, Stephen (Russell Tovey), has his suspicions of Roy but Betty shrugs it…

"The Good Liar Isn’t At The Level of Hitchcock"

Charlie’s Angels Offers Up Action, Comedy

Charlie’s Angels takes the Townsend Agency international in this very fast-paced action-comedy written and directed by Elizabeth Banks. After 40 years working with the Angels, John Bosley (Patrick Stewart) is retiring.  Under his leadership, the Angels have gone global.  There’s not just one team based out of California.  Instead, there are a several teams of Angels across the globe.  The film chooses to focus on Sabina Wilson (Kristen Stewart) and Jane Kano (Ella Balinska).  One…

"Charlie’s Angels Offers Up Action, Comedy"

Going Attractions: An Important Film Documentary

Going Attractions: The Definitive Story of the Movie Palace is a stark reminder of what we lose in the ever-changing cinema landscape. There are a number of historic movie palace theaters featured in the documentary.  Sadly, there are movie palaces no longer with us.  In some instances, they’ve been demolished to rubble.  In other instances, only the facade survived after preservationists spoke out.  Make no mistake that the business of going to the movies have…

"Going Attractions: An Important Film Documentary"

Disney+: The Streaming Wars Are Here

With today’s launch of Disney+ and Disney unleashing their film vault, it marks the real start of the streaming war with the likes of Netflix and Apple TV+. The key difference between Disney+ and Apple TV+ is that Disney has more options available.  It’s that simple.  They have an entire film vault unopened and then some.  Nobody is really subscribing to Disney+ because they want to watch some of the new things.  Well, they might. …

"Disney+: The Streaming Wars Are Here"