Punch-Drunk Love, featuring one of the best Adam Sandler performances, marks the 20th anniversary of its theatrical release in 2002. Barry Egan (Adam Sandler) may be a bachelor and entrepreneur but he suffers from abuse at the hands of his seven sisters. Because of his background, it’s not uncommon for his rage and anxiety to surface. Shortly after we meet him on screen, Barry has an encounter with Lena Leonard (Emily Watson) after she had…
"Punch-Drunk Love Marks 20th Anniversary"
“Sr.”, a documentary about the late filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., follows him in the final years of his life and is a loving tribute. Chances are likely that you’re more familiar with Robert Downey Jr. than his father. Maybe you’re familiar with the filmmaker’s half-brother, Jim Downey, from his work on SNL. In any event, Robert Downey Sr. was making his mark on the American counterculture through his comedy movies in the 1960s and 1970s.…
"“Sr.”: An Irreverent Portrait of Robert Downey Sr."
Arsenic and Old Lace is the latest Cary Grant film to join The Criterion Collection with a restored 4K digital transfer arriving on Blu-ray. My original review from this past January: Arsenic and Old Lace, a black comedy directed by Frank Capra and starring Cary Grant, is just as funny now as it was in 1944. Shot over the course of eight weeks in late 1941, the film wouldn’t see the light of day until…
"Arsenic and Old Lace Gets Criterion Blu-ray"
Jon Stewart returned to classic form in the second season premiere of The Problem With Jon Stewart by calling out Leslie Rutledge. The season 2 premiere takes a look at “The War Over Gender.” I did not ask, want, or choose to be transgender but at the end of the day, all I want to do is just live my life! As Stewart takes at look at what’s happening among conservatives, he uses the moment…
"Jon Stewart Calls Out Transphobic Attorney General"
Jessica Radloff spoke with Solzy at the Movies about her new book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series. Radloff, a senior West Coast editor for Glamour, interviewed the key cast members (Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, Kevin Sussman), guest stars, and a number of creators/producers/writers, etc. throughout the twelve-season run. It’s fair to say that this book would not…
"Jessica Radloff talks The Big Bang Theory"
As awards season kicks into full gear, the Academy has declared Apollo 10 1/2 ineligible for its Best Animated Feature category. The news comes by way of IndieWire and features filmmaker Richard Linklater’s letter to the Academy. Linklater is in the right for speaking out because rotoscoping is a legitimate form of animation. The Academy is penalizing his film at a time when so many films are using CGI to animate their films. Nothing against…
"Apollo 10 1/2 Ineligible for Best Animated Feature – Oscars Watch"
The Sound of 007 is a documentary that spans 60 years of the music accompanying the many James Bond movies to grace the screen. There’s so much that one can do with a documentary about the music of the James Bond franchise. Do you focus on just the theme songs? Do you also decide to focus on the theme song and other aspects of the film scores? Thankfully, this documentary touches on the songs, the…
"The Sound of 007: 60 Years of James Bond"
Luckiest Girl Alive brings Jessica Knoll’s bestselling novel to the screen in a new film starring Mila Kunis and Finn Wittrock. On paper, Ani FaNelli (Mila Kunis) is living the dream life–she’s working for Women’s Bible magazine, has an amazing wardrobe, and a wedding on the horizon. What many people around her don’t know is that deep down, Ani is still dealing with repressed trauma from high school. This trauma comes back to haunt her…
"Luckiest Girl Alive Handles Sensitive Subject With Care"
Based on the beloved book series, Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile is a cute musical comedy about a singing crocodile and his family. I wasn’t familiar with the book series going into the film. All I knew was that it was a musical comedy. Let me tell you that when it comes to singing animals, this is nothing like the monstrosity that is Cats. Lyle doesn’t only win over the members of the Primm family but the…
"Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile: Crocodile Rock"
Pitch Perfect, a sleeper hit musical comedy, recently marked the tenth aca-anniversary of the film’s theatrical release in 2012. I still remember the first time that I saw this film way just over a decade ago. It was the end of September 2012. I had already been a fan of Anna Kendrick as a result of Up in the Air and knew Brittany Snow from watching American Dreams on NBC. It should go without saying…
"Pitch Perfect Marks 10 Year Aca-Anniversary"