Avatar: The Way of Water: You’ll Love It Or You Won’t

After years of talking about the film, James Cameron’s Avatar: The Way of Water is finally arriving on the big screen in theaters. Here’s the thing about Avatar: you’re either a fan or you’re not. How one feels about the first movie will more or less be the way one feels about the second. I would have been fine just watching the 2D version of the film. Maybe it’s because of where I was sitting…

"Avatar: The Way of Water: You’ll Love It Or You Won’t"

Viper Club Never Reaches Full Potential

In spite of the material’s importance, it felt as if Viper Club was lacking something in getting across the film’s message. Make no mistake that it’s a bummer that Viper Club isn’t a better film than it should have been.  This is a film who tells the story of emergency room nurse Helen Sterling (Susan Sarandon).  While the Oscar winner is fine actress and does what she can with the material, her performance alone isn’t enough…

"Viper Club Never Reaches Full Potential"

TIFF 2018: The Land of Steady Habits

Based on the book of the same name, The Land of Steady Habits is more comedy than drama in this newest film from Nicole Holofcener. When we first meet Anders Hill (Ben Mendelsohn), he has retired from working in finance and is sleeping with other women after divrcing his ex-wife, Helene (Edie Falco).  Okay–so he’s a womanizer.  At first, a totally unlikable character, we’re finding ourselves gravitated towards rooting for him.  It makes so sense–I know–but this…

"TIFF 2018: The Land of Steady Habits"

SXSW 2018: Outside In (Dir. Lynn Shelton)

Featuring strong acting performances, Outside In is a character study exploring the struggles of a man upon his release from jail. With films like Your Sister’s Sister, director Lynn Shelton has set a reputation of being at her best when her films combine comedy and drama.  Outside In plays more to the dramatic side than comedy.  This isn’t to say it’s a bad film because it most assuredly is not but it’s a film that…

"SXSW 2018: Outside In (Dir. Lynn Shelton)"

Landline: Sisters bond through Family Secrets and Lies

Landline takes us back to the 1990s as Obvious Child director Gillian Robespierre re-teams with writer/producer Elisabeth Holm, and actress Jenny Slate. Directed by Robespierre from a screenplay by Elizabeth Holm and Gillian Robespierre, Landline stars Jenny Slate, Edie Falco, Abby Quinn, Jay Duplass, Finn Wittrock, and John Turturro.  Chicago native Gigi Pritzker is one of the produces for Odd Lot Entertainment. Dana Jacobs recently became engaged to Ben (Duplass) and she finds herself dealing…

"Landline: Sisters bond through Family Secrets and Lies"

Megan Leavey: Kleenex Not Included

Megan Leavey is based on a true story about the war hero and her dog, Rex.  If your eyes aren’t watering by the final frame, you’re watching the wrong film or you simply don’t have a heart.  Take it from me, you’ll want to bring some Kleenex. Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite from a screenplay written by Pamela Gray and Annie Mumolo & Tim Lovestedt, Meagan Leavey stars Kate Mara, Ramón Rodríguez, Tom Felton, Bradley Whitford,…

"Megan Leavey: Kleenex Not Included"