O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is Another Coen Brothers Masterpiece

O Brother, Where Art Thou? is a genius 1930s Mississippi satire that is both heavy in folk music and uses the Odyssey for its plot. In a perfect world, I would have reviewed the Coen Brothers classic for its 20th anniversary in 2020. I apologize for missing the anniversary but am rectifying the situation now as I kick off something of a George Clooney retrospective series on Solzy at the Movies. I reviewed a number…

"O Brother, Where Art Thou? Is Another Coen Brothers Masterpiece"

Ghosted Reteams Chris Evans, Ana de Armas in Spy Comedy

Chris Evans and Ana de Armas have reteamed once again–this time in the new spy comedy, Ghosted, streaming on Apple TV+. On paper, the idea is predictable. A guy falls for a girl, gets ghosted, goes after her, and gets kidnapped before learning she’s a spy. It’s one of those ideas where, if put on screen, it really depends on the casting. Suffice it to say, they made great decisions in teaming up Evans and…

"Ghosted Reteams Chris Evans, Ana de Armas in Spy Comedy"

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Pushes Animation Into A New Direction

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio takes the classic story everyone knows and moves it up a few decades by dropping it into Fascist Italy. Before I dive into plot and such, let’s talk about the animation. Despite what some people might tell you otherwise, animation is film. It always has been and always will be. I delayed writing my review until after my second viewing of the new film. The film is even more impressive one…

"Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Pushes Animation Into A New Direction"

Old Henry Is An Old-School Western

Old Henry is an action-Western that feels like it could fit in perfectly with the old-school Westerns of the Classic Hollywood era. A widowed farmer, Henry (Tim Blake Nelson) and his son, Wyatt (Gavin Lewis),  allow a mysterious injured man, Curry (Scott Haze) to stay at their residence. Sure, it’s a bad idea in the Old West and they definitely don’t trust him. I mean, the guy is carrying a satchel of cash! Did he…

"Old Henry Is An Old-School Western"

Minority Report: Spielberg Tackles the Future

Minority Report might take place some fifty years after the film was shot but the film’s themes are still relevant almost twenty years later. This film marks the first collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise.  The film has audiences asking some important questions.  What if we knew what was going to happen in the future?  After you ask yourself the question, what if the person knowing this found out he was going to kill someone? …

"Minority Report: Spielberg Tackles the Future"

Toronto 2019: Just Mercy

Just Mercy is a star-studded legal drama directed by Short Term 12 director Destin Daniel Cretton and tells an important story. Harvard graduate Bryan Stevenson (Michael B. Jordan) could have gone anywhere after graduating.  After all, he received an array of job offers.  Rather than go for the money, Stevenson ops to help those who need it the most.  In this case, it’s the people sitting on death row in Monroe County.  After setting up…

"Toronto 2019: Just Mercy"

Angel Has Fallen: Somehow, We Got A Trilogy

I don’t know what we as a society did to deserve a Has Fallen trilogy but Angel Has Fallen certainly isn’t going to raise the bar. Aaron Eckhart does not return as President Benjamin Asher. There’s not a single mention of him in the film. In any event, Morgan Freeman’s Allan Trumbull is now the president. Serving as Trumbull’s Vice President is Martin Kirby (Tim Blake Nelson).  Gerard Butler also reprises his role as everyone’s…

"Angel Has Fallen: Somehow, We Got A Trilogy"

Sundance 2019: The Report

With some very strong acting performances, The Report follows a Senate staffer’s thorough investigation into the CIA’s Detention and Interrogation Program. Even though the film starts with the beginning of the investigation in 2009, the flashbacks date back to 2001.  Daniel J. Jones (Adam Driver) was tasked with researching the CIA while working as a staffer for U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.  This followed a 14-1 vote by the Senate Intelligence Committee.  As an…

"Sundance 2019: The Report"

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: Another Coen Classic

Taking us back to the days of the Old West, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is another classic from the minds of the Coen Brothers. The Western is one of the oldest genres in the book but it always makes for interesting material.  Even when we think that every possible scenario has been exhausted, someone comes about with a fresh take.  This is what the Coens do and they do it so well, I must…

"The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: Another Coen Classic"

Colossal, An Underrated Sci-Fi Comedy, Now On Blu-Ray

Colossal, the underrated sci-fi comedy released this past April is now available on Blu-ray and Digital HD. Written and directed by Nacho Vigalondo, the indie film stars Anne Hathaway, Jason Sudeikis, Dan Stevens, Austin Stowell, and Tim Blake Nelson. Produced on a budget of $15 million, the film did not do anywhere near where it should at the box office as it only brought in $4.3 million.  The comedy is one of my favorites this…

"Colossal, An Underrated Sci-Fi Comedy, Now On Blu-Ray"