The Court Jester Gets Blu-ray for 65th Anniversary

The Court Jester, the 1956 musical starring Danny Kaye, recently arrived on Blu-ray for the first time through the Paramount Presents line. Writing in his Classic Movies Guide, film critic/historian Leonard Maltin refers to the musical comedy as “one of the best comedies ever made.” In the 1950s, every studio was doing what they could to compete with the rise of television.  For Paramount, this meant releasing films in the superior VistaVision format.  Here is…

"The Court Jester Gets Blu-ray for 65th Anniversary"

Super Bowl LV: The 2021 Movie Trailer TV Spots

While some advertisers are sitting out, studios are using Super Bowl LV to launch movies by reminding you that they still exist in TV spots. A number of TV spots will be featured during the course of tonight’s big game.  The question I’m asking is whether or note their current release dates hold. Prior to the game, Universal Pictures released TV spots for both F9 and Nobody.  F9 is the ninth chapter in the Fast…

"Super Bowl LV: The 2021 Movie Trailer TV Spots"

Cherry: Apple Failed Russo Brothers, Tom Holland in Awards Campaign

While Cherry is due out in late February, Apple failed both the Russo brothers and Tom Holland in the film’s awards campaign this season. Formal reviews are still under embargo.  What this article details is how Apple truly failed this film in terms of campaigning for awards.  Put it this way: as critical as I was with Warner Bros.’ rollout of Wonder Woman 1984, I’m more critical when it comes to Apple making it so…

"Cherry: Apple Failed Russo Brothers, Tom Holland in Awards Campaign"

Sundance 2021: The Sparks Brothers

Edgar Wright brings Ron and Russell Mael’s story to the screen in The Sparks Brothers and their impact on rock music after 50 years. There’s a chance that you’ve probably never heard of Sparks.  But what you don’t know is that they are an inspiration to your favorite band.  Or at least one of them, anyway.  Ron and Russell Mael’s story starts in California.  It later takes them across the pond to the United Kingdom. …

"Sundance 2021: The Sparks Brothers"

Sundance 2021: Wild Indian

Wild Indian is a compelling thriller about a Native American who has essentially rebuilt his life in order to move beyond his past. Makwa (Michael Greyeyes) has long since moved away from the reservation where he grew up.  It isn’t only that he grew up there but he covered up a classmates murder decades earlier.  But here’s the thing about covering up a murder, nobody is ever really safe.  Even if one thinks they are…

"Sundance 2021: Wild Indian"

27th SAG Awards: Screen Actors Guild Nominations

The 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards nominations were announced by Lilly Collins and Daveed Diggs on Instagram. The SAG Awards are one of the pre-cursors to focus on heading into the Oscar nominations announcement because they have the biggest overlap with the actors’ branch of the Academy. One quick takeaway is that critics and the SAG-AFTRA voting body have a very different take on Hillbilly Elegy.  Hillbilly Elegy’s gain is Amanda Seyfried’s loss.…

"27th SAG Awards: Screen Actors Guild Nominations"

Malcolm and Marie: A Bona Fide Awards Contender

Malcolm and Marie isn’t just a comment on filmmaking but it’s a film that takes the best advantage of creativity during a pandemic. I’ve seen a few films so far that have been shot during the Covid-19 pandemic.  Or they were finished after the pandemic.  In any event, this film takes the prize.  THIS is how you direct and produce a film during a pandemic.  Every aspect of production was completed between April and September…

"Malcolm and Marie: A Bona Fide Awards Contender"

Writers Guild Awards: First Round of WGA Noms

The Writers Guild of America (WGA) announced the first round of award nominations ahead of the 2021 Writers Guild Awards on March 21. The feature film nominations will be announced on February 16. Final voting will runs February 19-March 5, 2021. Los Angeles and New York – Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) have announced nominations for outstanding achievement in television, new media, news, radio/audio, and promotional writing…

"Writers Guild Awards: First Round of WGA Noms"

Sundance 2021: Misha and the Wolves

Misha and the Wolves tells the story of Misha Defonseca in this-really-happened documentary that is truly stranger-than-fiction. Misha Defonseca was only 7 years old when her parents were arrested and taken by the Nazis.  They were taken to Auschwitz.  Sadly, we all know what happens next.  You cannot blame her for doing what she can to survive.  From watching films like Defiance, we know that many Jews would turn to the woods and hide.  Misha…

"Sundance 2021: Misha and the Wolves"

Sundance 2021: My Name is Pauli Murray

My Name is Pauli Murray, the newest film from Julie Cohen and Betsy West, introduces a new generation to the social justice activist. The film is a tight 91 minutes (including the credits, of course) but hits on all the main points.  Going into the film, I didn’t know much about Pauli Murray.  To be fair, I had never even heard of them until I saw that Cohen and West were making this documentary.  In…

"Sundance 2021: My Name is Pauli Murray"