Fiddler on the Roof: PLEASE Don’t Remake It

Fiddler on the Roof is a classic movie musical and one of the best musicals of all time, which should be reason enough to not remake it. I don’t lie in that I am very picky when it comes to watching musicals, be it on stage or the big screen.  But when it comes to classic movies, they ought to be left untouched.  In this case of Fiddler, what more needs to be said?  Listen,…

"Fiddler on the Roof: PLEASE Don’t Remake It"

SXSW 2020: Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time

Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time utilizes both interviews and archival footage to tell the definitive story of the Laurel Canyon music scene over two parts. Echo in the Canyon is just one part of the story.  What documentary filmmaker Alison Ellwood does is tell a story through mixing interviews with archival footage.  The end result is a beautiful documentary.  It isn’t without its sadness given the time period.  The film also serves as a…

"SXSW 2020: Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time"

Frank Marshall talks Laurel Canyon

Frank Marshall recently spoke with Solzy at the Movies over the phone about Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time and provided updates on Jurassic World and Indiana Jones. How did you first become attached to Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time? Frank Marshall: Well, this is an idea that Michael Wright, who runs Epix, and I came up with about four or five years ago when Michael was running Amblin. That’s where it first started…

"Frank Marshall talks Laurel Canyon"

Alison Ellwood talks Laurel Canyon

Documentary filmmaker Alison Ellwood recently spoke with Solzy at the Movies about the upcoming Epix documentary series, Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time. How did you first become attached to Laurel Canyon: A Place in Time? Alison Ellwood: It’s a project that I actually wanted to do over 20 years ago when I lived in Los Angeles. I was a big Doors fan for many years and was researching that and discovered the Laurel Canyon…

"Alison Ellwood talks Laurel Canyon"

The Ten Commandments: A Flawed Epic

While Cecil B. Demille’s The Ten Commandments (1956) is hailed as an epic, the lengthy film does not come without its own flaws. Starting tonight through sundown on Saturday evening, Jews living in the diaspora will be celebrating Shavuot.  The holiday celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.  Inside Israel, the holiday will end on Friday.  In any event, shuls are closed and thus, The Ten Commandments may also feel like appropriate viewing…

"The Ten Commandments: A Flawed Epic"

The High Note Hits In The Middle

A overworked assistant with dreams of being a music producer reaches a potential turning point in her career in The High Note. Late Night‘s Nisha Ganatra takes the helm behind the camera.  After taking us behind the scenes of a late night writer’s room, we now get to experience the life of a musician and those who surround her.  Well, more so on at least one person who surrounds said musician.  In this particular instance,…

"The High Note Hits In The Middle"

Hitler in Los Angeles by Steven J. Ross

Hitler in Los Angeles: How Jews Foiled Nazi Plots Against Hollywood and America tells the incredibly true story of Jews fighting back against Nazis in LA. Leon Lewis and Joseph Roos are American heroes.  You might not know their names and that’s perfectly okay.  Truthfully, I didn’t know their names either.  However, I’m perfectly glad to finally rectify this. There were some pretty damning moments while reading this book.  Given the state of the United…

"Hitler in Los Angeles by Steven J. Ross"

Space Force: The Comedy Satire for the Trump Era

Steve Carell and Greg Daniels have reteamed following The Office to bring us Space Force, a ripe comedy satire for the Trump era. Steve Carell–playing four-star general Mark R. Naird–is the perfect guy to lead the United States Space Force.  Naird dreamed of running the United States Air Force.  Alas, those dreams were not meant to be.  So now, Mark, his wife, Maggie (Lisa Kudrow), and their daughter, Erin (Diana Silvers), leave the comfort of…

"Space Force: The Comedy Satire for the Trump Era"

The Deer Hunter: Best Picture Winner Arrives on 4K

The Deer Hunter, the Oscar-winning Best Picture of 1978, is now available on 4K Ultra HD with a new collector’s edition from Shout! Factory. In addition to taking home Best Picture, the film won another four Academy Awards, including Best Director (Michael Cimino), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Christopher Walken), Best Sound, and Best Film Editing.  Meryl Streep would also take home her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.  The film would also…

"The Deer Hunter: Best Picture Winner Arrives on 4K"

SXSW 2020: I Will Make You Mine

I Will Make You Mine is a semi-sequel but writer-director Lynn Chen seeks to tell a stand-alone story by focusing on three different women. While the film is a semi-sequel to two previous films, writer-director Lynn Chen writes the script with a new angle.  Despite being a semi-sequel, the film is meant to serve as a stand-alone story.  However, I should suggest that you probably have some familiarity with characters going into a viewing.  I…

"SXSW 2020: I Will Make You Mine"