Short Term 12 Is Still A Masterpiece

Short Term 12 remains one of the best films of 2013 and it was wrongfully snubbed of Oscar nominations, especially Brie Larson’s performance. I was late to watching Short Term 12 because the indie film was too small to open in my hometown. Despite winning major audience and jury awards at SXSW in 2013, it didn’t do much business at the box office. The film opened with a platform release, expanding to 75 theaters at…

"Short Term 12 Is Still A Masterpiece"

Ticket to Paradise Arrives on Blu-ray, DVD

Ticket to Paradise is now available for audiences to bring the George Clooney and Julia Roberts comedy home on Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital. What follows is my original review with some modifications: Ticket to Paradise reteams George Clooney and Julia Roberts as they try and stop their daughter’s wedding in the new romantic comedy. If you’re expecting to see Paradise from the classic John Prine song, I’m sorry to disappoint you. This film has nothing…

"Ticket to Paradise Arrives on Blu-ray, DVD"

Ticket to Paradise Reteams George Clooney, Julia Roberts

Ticket to Paradise reteams George Clooney and Julia Roberts as they try and stop their daughter’s wedding in the new romantic comedy. If you’re expecting to see Paradise from the classic John Prine song, I’m sorry to disappoint you. This film has nothing to do with Muhlenberg County, Kentucky. That said, it does star a Kentucky native in George Clooney. In watching the film this afternoon, he’s looking more and more like Nick Clooney everyday.…

"Ticket to Paradise Reteams George Clooney, Julia Roberts"

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"

Dopesick Is A Must-Watch Limited Series

Dopesick features powerful performances from Michael Keaton and Kaitlyn Dever in this must-watch Hulu limited series about addiction. This series, created by Danny Strong and based on Beth Macy’s book, humanizes the opioid epidemic in a way that I never thought could be possible. Through eight episodes, we’re watching things play out on several fronts: a small Virginia mining town, the DEA, Purdue Pharma, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia. It is…

"Dopesick Is A Must-Watch Limited Series"

Dear Evan Hansen Isn’t As Bad As Cats, Thank G-d

Dear Evan Hansen may not be the monstrosity of a movie musical that Cats was two years ago but exploiting suicide is unforgivable. While Dear Evan Hansen may have been a Broadway phenomenon, the film is not the cinematic event that it claims to be. Ben Platt isn’t going to become an EGOT winner on this film and it’s not his fault. He may have been the right age for the role when he was…

"Dear Evan Hansen Isn’t As Bad As Cats, Thank G-d"

Booksmart arrives on Blu-ray, DVD

Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut starring Kaitlyn Dever and Beanie Feldstein, Booksmart, is now available for viewers to bring home on Blu-ray and DVD. Make no mistake that this film is an instant high school comedy classic.  There’s already been a lot to be said about how the film should have been marketed better.  I’m not going to get into any of that.  What I do hope is that the indie comedy is able to find…

"Booksmart arrives on Blu-ray, DVD"

Booksmart: See It In Theaters

I instantly fell in love with the Olivia Wilde-directorial debut when I first saw Booksmart during the SXSW world premiere. It should come as no surprise that I decided to see the film a second time during one of the Chicago press screenings.  The jokes held up upon second viewing and reinforced my love for this film.  I already made the decision that I would be returning for a third round over the long Memorial…

"Booksmart: See It In Theaters"

SXSW 2019: Booksmart

With a strong focus on female friendship, Olivia Wilde’s directorial debut, Booksmart, is the next great classic high school comedy. It’s very easy to see the influence of a filmmaker like Amy Heckerling in watching this film.  She’s the filmmaker who directed both Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Clueless.  These two films inspired a generation and Booksmart is sure to follow. Both Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) may be best friends but they’re…

"SXSW 2019: Booksmart"

Sundance 2019: Them That Follow

From the outside looking in, the religious community that is depicted in Them That Follow could otherwise be understood to be a cult. Mara (Alice Englert) and Dilly (Kaitlyn Dever) are friends.  They live in a snake-handling Pentecostal community run by Mara’s dad, the fiery Pastor Lemuel (Walter Goggins).  Every now and then, they go to the local convenient store where Hope (Olivia Colman) works.  Much against her dad’s dismay, Mara has an interest in…

"Sundance 2019: Them That Follow"