A Good Person Has All The Feelings

Florence Pugh delivers one of the best performances of her career as Zach Braff’s A Good Person will leave audiences with all the feelings. A Good Person is not an easy film to watch. It deals with injuries, grief, and the trauma that comes with both of them. You can make the argument that there’s something of a happy ending but this two-hour-plus film does not have an easy path in reaching the point. But…

"A Good Person Has All The Feelings"

Sundance 2020: Horse Girl

Horse Girl features a superb performance from writer-star Alison Brie while the film also has something to say about mental illness. Sarah (Alison Brie) works at an arts and crafts store with Joan (Molly Shannon).  While it pays the bills, Sarah would rather be taking care of her favorite horse or watching her favorite supernatural TV show.  Much to the dismay of roommate Nikki (Debby Ryan), of course.  Nikki does her best to get Sarah…

"Sundance 2020: Horse Girl"

Sundance 2020: Promising Young Woman

If there’s a film that you should go into without watching a trailer or reading reviews, Promising Young Woman is that film. The large majority of filmgoers will have until mid-April December before they can see this film.  As a result, I’m going to be extra careful in writing about this film.  It’s a film that ought to be treated like that of a Marvel or Star Wars film.  Go into it knowing very little…

"Sundance 2020: Promising Young Woman"

Private Life: A Very Personal Film

Netflix brought Private Life to the Sundance Film Festival for its world premiere and while it is a very personal film that gets into what people go through for the IVF process, it isn’t one that will appeal to everyone. Kathryn Hahn has been a versatile comedic performer for years but writer-director Tamara Jenkins has written a role for the actress that gives us an emotional but strong performance as Rachel Biegler. Rachel has been…

"Private Life: A Very Personal Film"

Frameline 2018: Wild Nights with Emily

Wild Nights with Emily offers a look at poet Emily Dickinson with an approach that only writer/director Madeline Olnek can tell. Through her role in Other People and the Sundance-premiering Private Life, Saturday Night Live alumnus Molly Shannon has proven to have a wider range as an actress.  Her role as Emily Dickinson proves to be no different in what may very well be one of the best lesbian comedies in years. Through Olnek’s script,…

"Frameline 2018: Wild Nights with Emily"

Half Magic: A Very Feminist Comedy About Sex

To put it in simple terms, Half Magic is a very feminist comedy about sex. Written and directed by Heather Graham, the film stars Graham, Angela Kinsey, Stephanie Beatriz, Thomas Lennon, Luke Arnold, Jason Lewis, Alex Beh, Michael Aronov, Molly Shannon, Rhea Perlman, and Chris D’Elia. Honey (Graham) is an aspiring writer and she’s at a complete standstill in both her personal and provate lives.  Tormented since she was ten years old by the words preached by Father…

"Half Magic: A Very Feminist Comedy About Sex"

The Layover is A Hot Mess, Not Worth the Time

The Layover is a hot mess from start to finish and so full of cliches but one can’t help from watching it. Hornsby and Krall have written for It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia but this film doesn’t live up to even that sitcom’s standards.  These women are among of the most poorly-written female characters that I’ve ever seen.  You almost have to feel bad for Kate Upton after her being cast in The Other Woman. …

"The Layover is A Hot Mess, Not Worth the Time"

Fun Mom Dinner: A Fun Adventure

Fun Mom Dinner seems like it might be another version of Bad Moms but it is nowhere near as raunchy. Directed by Alethea Jones from a screenplay by Julie Rudd, Fun Mom Dinner stars Katie Aselton, Toni Collette, Bridget Everett, Molly Shannon, Adam Scott, Rob Huebel, Adam Levine, and Paul Rust, with a cameo appearance by Paul Rudd. Given the screenplay was written by Paul Rudd’s wife, Julie, a cameo appearance seemed to be a…

"Fun Mom Dinner: A Fun Adventure"

The Little Hours: One of The Most Hysterical Films of 2017

The Little Hours returned to Chicago two months after its appearance in the Chicago Critics Film Festival and is one of the funniest movies of the year.  Writer/Director Jeff Baena and star Aubrey Plaza were on hand for a Q&A session at two of screenings this weekend. Written for the screen and directed by Baena, the film stars Alison Brie, Dave Franco, Kate Micucci, Aubrey Plaza, John C. Reilly, Molly Shannon, Fred Armisen, Jemima Kirke,…

"The Little Hours: One of The Most Hysterical Films of 2017"