Becoming, the newest Netflix original documentary is less of a biographical doc and more of one that follows former First Lady Michelle Obama on her book tour. Documentary filmmaker Nadia Hallgren follows the former First Lady during her 34-city book tour. Documentaries have a way of capturing life as it is. In this instance, Becoming may just be an example of life as it used to be. The packed arenas and bookstore signings are likely…
"Becoming: Netflix doc focuses on Michelle Obama"Category: Movie Reviews
The Oscar-nominated Foreign Correspondent was Alfred Hitchcock’s first large-scale international thriller to be released in theaters. The New York Morning Globe appoints Johnny Jones (Joel McCrea) to serve as a foreign correspondent under the name Huntley Haverstock. On assignment to interview Universal Peace Party leader Stephen Fisher (Herbert Marshall), Jones encounters Dutch diplomat named Van Meer (Albert Bassermann). Meanwhile, he meets Fisher’s daughter, Carol (Laraine Day), at the party. When Van Meer is shot at…
"Foreign Correspondent: An International Thriller"
Even though Psycho isn’t as terrifying under today’s cinematic standards, the film stands out as one of Alfred Hitchcock’s finest achievements. There’s something to be said about the relationship between Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) and his mother. You could say that the son is too obsessed with his mother–which explains the film’s third act. This relationship isn’t too far away from another son and mother in 1949 gangster drama White Heat. It may be hard…
"Psycho: Alfred Hitchcock’s Greatest Film"
Extraction, the new Netflix thriller starring Chris Hemsworth as a black market mercenary, is no simple trip to the dentist. When we first meet Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth), it’s in the middle of shootout and you’re about to fear the worst. But before anything else can happen, the film takes us back to a few days before. Yes, it’s one of those films. Not necessarily a bad thing but it’ll be some time before we…
"Extraction Is No Trip To The Dentist"
Love Spreads is an exploration of the creative process when the pressure is mounting on band members to put together another album. Following the end of their first tour, the members of Glass Heart head to Rockfield Studios to record their sophomore album. The trio–and their band manager–are couped up there in an effort to create some music. Like any sophomore effort, the pressure is on and for singer-songwriter Kelly (Alia Shawkat), it starts to…
"Tribeca 2020: Love Spreads"
The Best Years of Our Lives is an Oscar-winning classic about three servicemen readjusting to life following World War 2. Three returning veterans, Fred Derry (Dana Andrews), Homer Parrish (Harold Russell), and Al Stephenson (Fredric March), meet when flying to their home in Boone City. All of them aren’t doing well when it comes to readjusting to post-war life. Al, with a family and two children, may be in the best position as he returns…
"The Best Years of Our Lives: A Classic"
Love Wedding Repeat probably isn’t the wedding that you want to RSVP yes to but the film certainly has its moments throughout. We all could use a comedy right now. I’m not going to go after this film too because the cast is giving it their all. It certainly has its moments, of course. Not many moments–to be fair–but they are there. You just have to look hard enough. Granted, some of these moments are…
"Love Wedding Repeat Has Its Moments"
This Is Stand-Up pulls back the curtain and dives into the psyche of what really makes our favorite stand-up comedians who they are. The listed comedians featured in this documentary also read like a Who’s Who of comedy. You name them and said comedian is very likely to be featured. This certainly isn’t to say that someone’s going to be missed here and there. Not all the big names are included. This is a film…
"This Is Stand-Up Pulls Back The Curtain"
Argo tells an incredibly true story of how the CIA used a fake science-fiction film to rescue six American diplomats during the Iran hostage crisis. “This is the best bad idea we have, sir,” Jack O’Donnell (Bryan Cranston) tells C.I.A Director Stansfield Turner (Phillip Baker Hall). “By far.” The best bad idea not only saves six American lives but manages to win an Oscar. A few of them, actually. The fact that the CIA turns…
"Argo: This Is The Best Bad Idea We Have"
Dolphin Reef takes us on a journey to the Polynesian Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean as we follow a pair of Pacific bottlenose dolphins. Echo is a three-year-old Pacific bottlenose dolphin. He’s still young and has so much more to learn. Much to the dismay of mother Kumu, he just wants to explore the coral reef and its inhabitants. Like with any environment, there’s an ecosystem and everyone has their part. Though I should…
"Dolphin Reef: A Trip to the Polynesian Islands"