Hamilton: Award-Winning Musical Hits Disney+

The award-winning stage musical, Hamilton, about the Founding Father hits Disney+ on Friday just in time for the Independence Day holiday weekend. “I am not throwing away my shot!”  “No one else was in the room where it happened.”  “Talk less, smile more.” Unless you’ve been living in cave during the past several years, you’re probably familiar with Lin-Manuel Miranda.  If In the Heights didn’t make him a household name, Hamilton certainly did.  This is…

"Hamilton: Award-Winning Musical Hits Disney+"

Apollo 13 Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Apollo 13, the Oscar-winning* film about the NASA rescue mission, is just as inspiring of a film as it marks the 25th anniversary. This flight was supposed to be nothing more than a routine flight.  America had just set foot on the moon in both July and November 1969.  Jim Lovell (Tom Hanks), Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon), and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton) were supposed to be the third group of Americans to land on the…

"Apollo 13 Celebrates 25th Anniversary"

The Country Bears Still Rock in 2020

The Country Bears is an underappreciated Disney film but this old-school film still rocks it nearly eighteen years after its theatrical release. Much like The Blues Brothers, this is a film that requires a fundraiser.  In this particular instance, the fundraiser is a concert to save Country Bear Hall.  Taking a cue from the 1980 musical comedy, the band isn’t together and needs to be reunited.  This is where Beary Barrington (Haley Joel Osment) comes…

"The Country Bears Still Rock in 2020"

Tenet: An Open Letter to Christopher Nolan

It is not worth the cost of more lives by releasing Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Tenet in theaters during the rest of the year. We all want to save the art of going to the cinemas for a movie but it isn’t going to be like this.  Listen, I miss going to movie theaters but I’m not about to walk into a theater anytime soon.  Even if we have a universal policy of face masks at…

"Tenet: An Open Letter to Christopher Nolan"

My Spy: Action Comedy Is Mediocre At Best

My Spy, the action comedy starring Dave Bautista, is set to launch on Amazon Prime Video after bypassing theaters because of the pandemic. After a few releases delays, the film is finally getting released.  If you’re looking forward to catching this on the big screen, I’m sorry to say that this won’t be happening.  Maybe it’s for the best because the spy comedy is a mediocre installment to the genre.  I was fortunate enough to…

"My Spy: Action Comedy Is Mediocre At Best"

Netflix: What’s Coming and Leaving in July

Netflix announced the titles of films and television series that are coming and leaving the streaming service in the month of July. PODCASTS Our Award-winning podcast Behind The Scenes returns with an all new season in July. Subscribe here to be the first to know what shows we will cover. Strong Black Lead’s Okay Now Listen continues every other Thursday, with an in-depth discussion between Scottie Beam and Sylvia Obell about what’s blowing up their…

"Netflix: What’s Coming and Leaving in July"

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga completely wastes its talent in one of the worst films of the year heading into the midway point. This film was never going to be on Will Ferrell’s greatest hits.  It certainly will not be featured on the list of Rachel McAdams’ greatest roles.  The two reunite with their Wedding Crashers director but are unable to replicate on that film’s success. It’s not a good sign when…

"Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga"

Irresistible: Jon Stewart Is No Stranger to Satire

Irresistible takes everything we love and hate about politics at the national level while moving the focus down to the local level. In this well-meaning comedy, writer/director Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show, reteams with former correspondent Steve Carell.  Stewart is no stranger to politics so it comes as no surprise that he’s made a satire on the subject.  This is the type of film that hits it on the money and this…

"Irresistible: Jon Stewart Is No Stranger to Satire"

Ninotchka: Greta Garbo’s Penultimate Film

Ninotchka, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, stars Greta Garbo in her first screen comedy in the era of sound but it would be her second-to-last film. The film is notable for a few reasons.  For one, it teams Lubitsch with Garbo.  Two, it’s the second of two Lubitsch films that featured the writing team of Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder. All in all, the film would go on to earn four Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best…

"Ninotchka: Greta Garbo’s Penultimate Film"

9to5: The Story of a Movement

Oscar-winning filmmakers Julia Reichert & Steven Bognar look back at the history of the Working Women’s Movement in 9to5: The Story of a Movement. Make no mistake that the American Factory filmmakers are contenders once more.  The movement inspired hit film 9 to 5, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in December.  Appropriately, Dolly Parton’s song is played during the closing credits. It’s often said that you can’t know where you’re going until you know where…

"9to5: The Story of a Movement"