The U.S. and the Holocaust: Essential, Timely, and Relevant

The U.S. and the Holocaust is an essential documentary on the Shoah and the documentary’s 2022 airing is as timely and relevant as ever. Every viewer is going to respond differently to this film. The imagery can be graphic at times but this was what life  was like for Jews under Nazi rule. The recent rise of antisemitism–and especially from celebrities of late–is a reason why people should watch this film. We now live in…

"The U.S. and the Holocaust: Essential, Timely, and Relevant"

Rosaline: A Witty Take on Romeo and Juliet

Rosaline, a new 20th Century Studios movie premiering on Hulu, features a witty take on the classic Romeo and Juliet story. The combination of Karen Maine, Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber, Kaitlyn Dever, and Shawn Levy is a match made in heaven. Because of the Jewish holiday calendar, I decided to save the film for my birthday and what a great decision it was. Seriously. Rosaline is the Romeo and Juliet film that I didn’t…

"Rosaline: A Witty Take on Romeo and Juliet"

Kate & Leopold Still Holds Up After 20 Years

Kate & Leopold, the fantasy rom-com starring Meg Ryan and Hugh Jackman, still holds up just over twenty years after its 2001 release. It’s hard to imagine a time in which Hugh Jackman didn’t receive first billing. Aside from the X-Men films, that is. But let’s travel back in time to 2001 during such an era. After working opposite Billy Crystal and Tom Hanks in a number of popular romantic comedies, Meg Ryan acts opposite…

"Kate & Leopold Still Holds Up After 20 Years"

tick, tick…BOOM! Honors Jonathan Larson

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s feature directorial debut, tick, tick…BOOM!, honors the work of the late Rent creator and composer Jonathan Larson. I’m going to be completely honest. I went into this film without really being familiar with Jonathan Larson’s (Andrew Garfield) work. Well, aside from the famous song from Rent. However, tick, tick…BOOM! is a project that didn’t know anything about in terms of music or stage play. But anyway, that didn’t stop me from enjoying the…

"tick, tick…BOOM! Honors Jonathan Larson"

What If…?: Animated Series Depicts A Different MCU

Marvel Studios’ What If…? takes what we know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but delivers the animated action with a twist. The series draws on the Marvel Comics anthology series of the same name. Like the comic series, this is also an anthology series. We revisit key moments of the MCU through the eyes of Marvel newcomer Jeffrey Wright, who voices The Watcher, and see what would happen had characters done A instead of…

"What If…?: Animated Series Depicts A Different MCU"

Sundance 2021: How It Ends

How It Ends is the existential comedy-drama (mostly comedy) filmed during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic that I didn’t know I needed. Liza (Zoe Lister-Jones) is on a mission to get to a party before the end of the world.  Joining her for the day is her younger self (Cailee Spaeny).  Because it is the last day on the planet, people can see her younger self.  This film takes place in some sort of metaphysical reality…

"Sundance 2021: How It Ends"

Saving Mr. Banks Goes Behind The Scenes

Inspired by true events, Saving Mr. Banks is a film that takes us behind the scenes of how Mary Poppins came to the big screen. The art of filmmaking is a painstaking process.  This is something I’ve learned not just through watching bonus features but reading biographies about classic Hollywood.  On paper, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the film.  It’s only when you dig deeper into the actual story where the film has its faults. …

"Saving Mr. Banks Goes Behind The Scenes"

The Call of the Wild: Buck Will Steal Your Heart

Buck will steal your heart as Jack London’s 1903 short novel, The Call of the Wild, comes to the big screen this weekend. Where prior adaptations have been from the human POV, this is very much Buck’s film.  The St. Bernard/Farm Collie mix, digitally created for the film by way of a St. Bernard/Shepherd mix named Buckley, steals the show regardless of the fact that he’s CGI.  This film takes us on his journey and…

"The Call of the Wild: Buck Will Steal Your Heart"

Godzilla: King of the Monsters arrives on Blu-ray

Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the third installment in Legendary’s Monsterverse, is now available for fans to bring home. The film joins 2014’s Godzilla and 2017’s Kong: Skull Island.  The film teases the next installment as it comes to an end: Godzilla vs. Kong. Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, and Millie Bobby Brown take over in leading roles because neither Aaron Taylor-Johnson or Elizabeth Olsen could return due to scheduling conflicts.  Meanwhile, the film borrows from…

"Godzilla: King of the Monsters arrives on Blu-ray"

Godzilla: King of the Monsters Is A Letdown

Godzilla: King of the Monsters may feature more of the titular anti-hero but the sequel’s script could have been stronger. With Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Elizabeth Olsen unable to return due to scheduling conficts, a new family takes over.  Monarch scientists Mark (Kyle Chandler) and Emma Russell (Vera Farmiga) split up as a result of the San Francisco incident.  However, the 2014 incident inspired Emma to revisit the bio-sonar prototype that they previously destroyed.  Emma’s plan…

"Godzilla: King of the Monsters Is A Letdown"