24th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards Nominations

The nominations were announced this morning for the 24th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards with The Favourite leading the field with 14 nominations. Black Panther and First Man follow with twelve and ten nominations, respectively.  Mary Poppins Returns, A Star is Born, and Vice tie each other with nine nominations.  Roma picked up eight nominations.  Finally, Green Book has seven nominations. “The films of 2018 have been some of the most culturally impactful in recent history,” said BFCA…

"24th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards Nominations"

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse features many surprises and prevents the superhero genre from going stale by injecting a fresh bite. This is one of the biggest films of the year in which I suggest going in completely cold.  It means not reading reviews or watching trailers until after seeing the film.  I say this because we’re not without the typical surprises.  However, some of this comes by way of the voice roles not provided in…

"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse"

Kendall Goldberg talks When Jeff Tried To Save The World

Writer-director Kendall Goldberg joined Solzy at the Movies in an interview to discuss her recently released film, When Jeff Tried To Save The World. Congrats on the release of When Jeff Tried To Save The World.  How did it feel to be able to bring this film home to Chicago just before the film is available for audiences everywhere? Kendall Goldberg:  Thank you!  It was an incredible feeling, but also slightly difficult to put into…

"Kendall Goldberg talks When Jeff Tried To Save The World"

Mission: Impossible – Fallout hits Home Video

One of the best films in the Mission: Impossible to date, Mission: Impossible – Fallout is now available for customers to bring home! Synopsis: On a dangerous assignment to recover stolen plutonium, Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) chooses to save his friends over the mission, allowing it to fall into the hands of a deadly network of highly skilled operatives intent on destroying civilization. Now, with the world at risk, Ethan and his IMF team (Simon…

"Mission: Impossible – Fallout hits Home Video"

Back Roads: Alex Pettyfer’s Debut Shows Promise

Emotions run high but Back Roads shows a promising start for Alex Pettyfer’s directorial career in his first opportunity behind the camera. The film is set two years after Bonnie Altmyer (Juliette Lewis) is sent to prison for killing her husband.  This leaves her son, Harley (Alex Pettyfer), in charge of his three younger sisters.  It’s not easy for this family in rural Pennsylvania. The theme of abuse runs very strongly through the film.  It’s…

"Back Roads: Alex Pettyfer’s Debut Shows Promise"

Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes

Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes explores the life of Fox News founder Roger Ailes while tackling the sexual harassment that brought him down. “It’s easy to make somebody into a monster.  It’s hard to see that you’re on that path, too.” The above are the words that we first hear as soon as the film documentary starts.  What’s most surprising is that they come out of the mouth of former Fox News…

"Divide and Conquer: The Story of Roger Ailes"

When Jeff Tried to Save the World

A bowling alley manager rises up to the challenge in Kendall Goldberg’s feature directorial debut, When Jeff Tried to Save the World. Let’s get one thing out of the way first.  This film may be set at a bowling alley but it is not a bowling movie.  It’s a film about rising up to the challenge of saving the things we love the most. The World in the film’s title refers to Winky’s World rather…

"When Jeff Tried to Save the World"

Clara’s Ghost: An Exaggerated Look At The Elliotts

Clara’s Ghost, the feature directorial debut from writer-director Bridey Elliott, offers audiences an exaggerated glimpse into the lives of one of America’s most comedic families.  The supernatural comedy makes for a solid first feature from the younger Elliott daughter as she makes her return to Sundance two years following the premiere of the short film, Affections. Ted Reynolds (Chris Elliott) is a comedic actor and he’s worried that he is no longer as popular as…

"Clara’s Ghost: An Exaggerated Look At The Elliotts"

The Solzy Awards for 2018

It’s the end of the year so that means that it’s the time of year to announce the Solzy Awards for 2018. This has been another great year for film.  As a result of film festivals more so than living in Chicago, I’ve seen more films than ever before.  This comes after setting a personal best in 2017 with 264 films.  At the end of November, I had seen 422 feature films–all first viewings! While…

"The Solzy Awards for 2018"

Mary Queen of Scots: Fit For A Queen

Mary Queen of Scots may span a few years of the queen’s life but actress Saoirse Ronan delivers a commanding performance as Scottish royalty. Saiorse Ronan is proving to be an unstoppable force as an actress.  Her role as the late Scottish Queen proves to be no exception.  While her performance is great, my only beef with the film is how they don’t really bother aging the queen in appearance.  Mary arrives back in Scotland…

"Mary Queen of Scots: Fit For A Queen"