One man is preparing to call it quits in The Last Shift while training his replacement in a film that starts a conversation on social issues. Stanley (Richard Jenkins) is closing in on his final graveyard shift at Oscar’s Chicken and Fish. For this final weekend after 38 years, Stanley trains Jevon (Shane Paul McGhie) to take over the shift. Throughout the weekend, we learn more about the characters. For instance, Jevon is also a…
"Sundance 2020: The Last Shift"Month: February 2020
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"
Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) is the type of film that gives its viewers exactly what they want. Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) catches us up on what she’s been doing lately. The good news is that if you missed Suicide Squad, there’s nothing to fear. You get the origin story within mere moments before a break-up story. Hey, there must be a way to explain why the Clown Prince…
"Birds of Prey: A Mighty Fun Time"
Zola is a film that manages to bring A’Ziah King’s outrageous viral twitter thread to life in complete cinematic fashion. Zola (Taylour Paige) works as a waitress in Detroit when she first befriends a customer, Stefani (Riley Keough). Shortly thereafter, Stefani recruits Zola to join her on a weekend trip to Florida. Zola says yes to going on this trip, which will prove to be against her better judgement. The story only gets crazier from…
"Sundance 2020: Zola"
Tesla may not mark the first time that Nikola Tesla’s story has been brought to the screen but it is certainly the most innovative version. There are so many things that a Tesla film could focus on. However, this one is presented in the most comical fashion. We get Tesla singing into a microphone! There’s no denying that Ethan Hawke can sing but it was certainly a surprise. But on a serious note, the film…
"Sundance 2020: Tesla"
The Assistant focuses on the day in the life of one entertainment mogul’s junior assistant but there is more here than meets the eye. Jane (Julia Garner) gets her dream job. She wants to be a movie producer and honestly, there’s no better place to work. Or so she thinks. Jane might be doing everything you’d expect to see someone do in an office. However, things start to grow unsettling early on in the film. …
"Sundance 2020: The Assistant"
Parks and Recreation actress Aubrey Plaza manages to go for a career-best performance in the Sundance-premiering Black Bear. The lake house-set Black Bear takes us on a wild ride of twists and turns. Don’t worry–the film does deliver on its title by making sure the animal shows up in both parts. There’s no intermission but there is both a part one and part two. By the time that the film finishes, you’re going to need…
"Sundance 2020: Black Bear"
The recently premiered Downhill re-imagines Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund’s award-winning Force Majeure as an English-language comedy. Imagine going on a vacation and eating your lunch when an avalanche hits. What would it do to the family dynamics? For one American family on vacation, the dynamics get tested. Pete (Will Ferrell) and Billie Stanton (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) have taken their two boys with them for a week in the Alps. What looks like a fun family vacation…
"Sundance 2020: Downhill"
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"
Crip Camp is more than just a documentary on Camp Jened but a film about the drive to pass the Americans with Disabilities Act. I’m going to cut straight to the point here. Jimmy Carter’s presidential administration is not painted in a good light here. In fact, this film will only lead to angry feelings at Carter’s administration for what they didn’t do. No, the anger doesn’t go away. The George H.W. Bush admistration would…
"Sundance 2020: Crip Camp"