Robin Hood: Do We Need This Film?

Robin Hood takes everything we know about the legend but leaves us asking the question as to whether or not the film is really necessary. Ben Chandler and David James Kelly’s screenplay takes us back to Hood’s days prior to living in the Sherwood Forest.  If there’s anything new offered to the audience, it’s the origin of Hood (Taron Egerton) and Marian’s (Eve Hewson) relationship.  Just as soon as we get to know the couple.…

"Robin Hood: Do We Need This Film?"

Blindspotting, Crazy Rich Asians arrive on Blu-ray

Both Blindspotting and Crazy Rich Asians arrive on Blu-ray and DVD today.  The home media release comes just days ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and Black Friday deals. Blindspotting was the very first film that I saw this past year upon arriving in Park City for the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.  I knew it was a special film as soon as the credits finished rolling.  If you missed the film in theaters, the release offers…

"Blindspotting, Crazy Rich Asians arrive on Blu-ray"

Roma: One of The Best Sound Designs Ever!

The sound design for Roma is so intricate that watching this film in anything other than a theater would not be doing proper justice to the film. Cleo (Yalitza Aparicio) is the film’s main focus.  She’s working as a live-in maid for a middle-class family living in Mexico City’s Roma neighborhood.  The family dynamics change when Señor Antonio (Fernando Grediaga) returns from a conference only to leave again.  This means that Sofia (Marina De Tavira), a mother of…

"Roma: One of The Best Sound Designs Ever!"

The Great Buster celebrates Buster Keaton

The Great Buster: A Celebration is a well-deserved cinematic tribute to Buster Keaton–one of the greatest silent comedy stars to have ever lived. Discussing the great silent comedy stars must include Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, and Harold Lloyd.  Interestingly, Keaton starred in College as a response to Lloyd’s The Freshman.  Where Lloyd starred as a freshman who played football, Keaton would play every other sport.  As for Chaplin, he directed Keaton in 1952’s Limelight.  This…

"The Great Buster celebrates Buster Keaton"

The Real Thing: Transgender Short Has Me In Tears

The Real Thing is about a soldier father and a transgender daughter but it may very well be the best short film that anyone will see all year long. I’ve seen a lot of short films this year starting with my coverage of the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in January.  Some are important in their own ways and some of them will never have their cinematic shots recreated without the use of CGI.  When it comes…

"The Real Thing: Transgender Short Has Me In Tears"

Burning Treats Women Like Sexual Fantasy

While there may be a deeper meaning behind Burning, the script has a serious problem with the treatment of women in the film. Burning focuses on aspiring fiction writer Jongsu (Ah-in Yoo).   His life isn’t really interesting to say the least.  His father’s troubles with the law have led him to move back to the Paju home in order to take care of the farm.  Needing financial income, he picks up jobs here and there. …

"Burning Treats Women Like Sexual Fantasy"

At Eternity’s Gate: Willem Dafoe is Magnificent

Three-time Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe is magnificent in his portrayal of late painter Vincent van Gogh in At Eternity’s Gate. Vincent van Gogh (Willem Dafoe) is an interesting art figure.  While he made his mark as a painter in the Post-Impressionism movement, he wouldn’t see fame during his lifetime.  Even though his fame came after his death, there’s something fascinating about seeing his story play out on the screen.  This story comes through largely on…

"At Eternity’s Gate: Willem Dafoe is Magnificent"

Denial tells Christine Hallquist’s story

Denial tells the story of Christine Hallquist on two different fronts as she becomes the first transgender CEO to transition in America. Life has a funny way of happening.  When Derek Hallquist started to direct this film, he was covering his father’s battle in transforming the Energy Industry.  While following his father around, the biggest bombshell was dropped that nobody would have foreseen.  When Christine Hallquist comes out as transgender, it changes the direction of…

"Denial tells Christine Hallquist’s story"

DOC NYC 2018: The Show’s The Thing

The Show’s The Thing: The Legendary Promoters of Rock pays tribute to the great concert promoters who helped pave the way for new territory in rock and roll music. What we know today as the rock concert is not what it was during the 1950s and 1960s.  Things more or less started to change in the 1960s.  This was when Bill Graham and Frank Barsalona entered the picture.  Frank Barsalona, who later started Premiere Talent Agency…

"DOC NYC 2018: The Show’s The Thing"

DOC NYC 2018: The Orange Years

The Orange Years: The Nickelodeon Story is a documentary that takes us back in time to the glory years of the Nickelodeon network. It’s no surprise to see Adam F. Goldberg attached to the documentary as an executive producer.  If his ABC series, The Goldbergs, is any indication, the man has a serious love for everything pop culture.  But enough about Adam, this film isn’t about him.  No, it’s about the slime–I mean, Nickelodeon. Nick…

"DOC NYC 2018: The Orange Years"