American Made: Tom Cruise Brings Some Fun

American Made, reuniting director Doug Liman with actor Tom Cruise, offers more laughs than one expects from watching the trailer. Based on a true story, Cruise leads a cast that includes Domhnall Gleeson, Sarah Wright Olsen, E. Roger Mitchell, Jesse Plemons, Lola Kirke, Alejandro Edda, Benito Martinez, Caleb Landry Jones, and Jayma Mays. While Colonel Oliver North is most associated with the Iran-Contra affair, Barry Seal played the biggest role in the scandal and most…

"American Made: Tom Cruise Brings Some Fun"

The Good Place is Back for Season 2 and It’s Awesome!

The Good Place comes back tonight for an hour-long second season premiere on NBC and it’s an awesome good time! Created by Michael Schur, the sitcom stars Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, D’Arcy Carden, and Ted Danson. The first season ended on the craziest twist I’ve seen in a while: it turned out that The Good Place is actually The Bad Place.  Going into the new season, viewers know more about…

"The Good Place is Back for Season 2 and It’s Awesome!"

Grace McPhillips talks The Origins of Wit & Humor

Grace McPhillips stopped by Solzy at the Movies to talk about The Origins of Wit & Humor. Thanks for joining Solzy at the Movies today. How are things treating you? Grace McPhillips:  We are well and looking forward to winter for the first time in years! After over a decade in Chicago we moved south to the growing film market of Atlanta. Congratulations on your performance in The Origins of Wit & Humor. What attracted…

"Grace McPhillips talks The Origins of Wit & Humor"

Karisa Bruin talks The Origins of Wit & Humor, UberEx

Actress-writer-director Karisa Bruin recently spoke to Solzy at the Movies about her role in the recently released Chicago-set film, The Origins of Wit & Humor. Thanks for joining Solzy at the Movies today. How are things treating you? Karisa Bruin:  Hey Danielle, thanks for having me. Things are good. Congratulations on your performance in The Origins of Wit & Humor. What attracted you to the role of Debra? Karisa Bruin:  Thank you! I was really…

"Karisa Bruin talks The Origins of Wit & Humor, UberEx"

Jen Richards talks Easy Living, Transgender Opportunities in TV/Film

Jen Richards took some time over the weekend to talk to Solzy at the Movies about her role in Easy Living and transgender opportunities in TV and film. Thanks for joining Solzy at the Movies today.  How are things treating you? Jen Richards:  The sun is shining, I had fried chicken for breakfast, and the Clash just came up on my iPad, so I’d say things are treating me rather well. You’re co-starring as Danny…

"Jen Richards talks Easy Living, Transgender Opportunities in TV/Film"

69th Emmy Awards – WINNERS

The 69th Emmy Awards are airing tonight on CBS.  The winners will be posted as they come in. Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series: John Lithgow (The Crown, Netflix) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series: Kate McKinnon (Saturday Night Live, NBC) Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie: Laura Dern (Big Little Lies, HBO) Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series: Donald Glover (Atlanta, FX) Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: Saturday Night Live…

"69th Emmy Awards – WINNERS"

mother! – A Unique Movie Badly Marketed as a Horror Film

Darren Aronofsky’s latest film, mother!, is a unique film to say the least but it should never have been marketed as a horror film nor should it have had a wide release.  Spoilers abound… Written and directed by Darren Aronofsky, mother! stars Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer, Domhnall Gleeson, Brian Gleeson, and Kristen Wiig. With the exception of the big-budget Noah, Aronofsky is a filmmaker who specializes in art house films.  Much…

"mother! – A Unique Movie Badly Marketed as a Horror Film"

Character actor Harry Dean Stanton dead at 91

Harry Dean Stanton, a longtime character actor, has died at the age of 91 years old. Stanton, a Kentucky native, will soon be seen in Magnolia Pictures’ Lucky.  The film premiered earlier this year at the SXSW Film Festival and hit Chicago this past May during the Chicago Critics Film Festival, where it took home the Audience Award.  As I wrote about the film in my review this past May, it’s really a tribute to…

"Character actor Harry Dean Stanton dead at 91"

Jerry Before Seinfeld: The Comic is As Funny As Ever in Netflix Special

Jerry Seinfeld is as funny and observant as ever in Jerry Before Seinfeld, his first stand-up comedy special for Netflix. Before Jerry Seinfeld hit national fame by way of his appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on May 6, 1981, he could be seen performing in comedy clubs.  Jerry Before Seinfeld takes the comic back to The Comic Strip, where he first started performing in the mid-1970s.  It’s a change of pace from…

"Jerry Before Seinfeld: The Comic is As Funny As Ever in Netflix Special"

Major Announcement

As of Friday, the large majority of my film writing will be seen at Cultured Vultures.  This starts on Friday with my Home Again movie review.  This is a great opportunity for me when it comes to getting my work out there and I’m looking forward to working with the CV team. I will continue to post things here but those will be more or less a round-up of links that get published on CV.

"Major Announcement"