Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace takes us all the way back to the start of Anakin Skywalker’s story as the saga begins. Long before there was ever a Darth Vader to taunt the galaxy, there was a young kid named Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) living in the Outer Rim territories on Tatooine. All young Anakin wanted to do was to escape this planet and become a pilot. Life isn’t easy, my young…
"Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace"Category: Movie Reviews
Mel Brooks Unwrapped is the result of almost forty years of interviews between the legendary actor-writer-comedian and BBC’s Alan Yentob. If you’re looking for a groundbreaking documentary that offers something new to say about Brooks, it’s not going to be found in this comedy special. You’ll have better luck by watching the American Masters documentary a few years ago. This isn’t to say you won’t have a fun time because you most definitely will! It…
"Mel Brooks Unwrapped Airs on HBO"
Terrence Malick’s World War II period drama, A Hidden Life, is one of those lengthy films that feel every single minute of its three-hour run time. When it comes to a director like Malick, he’s not for everyone. Take it from someone who came away from The Tree of Life thinking it was one of the worst films of the year. Listen, the cinematic visuals of the Austrian scenery can be breathtaking. However, this doesn’t…
"A Hidden Life Is Every Minute Of Its 3-Hour Run Time"
Jumanji: The Next Level appropriately raises the stakes as the game takes all the major players to the next level upon their return. If you read nothing else, please do not immediately leave as the credits begin to role. There is a mid-credits scene. It’s been two years since the previous adventure. While some things have changed, the core four have remained friends. So what happened to lead us to where we find ourselves today? …
"Jumanji: The Next Level Raises The Stakes"
Richard Jewell takes us back to the immediate aftermath of the Centennial Park bombing during the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Imagine saving the lives of hundreds of people celebrating during a concert. This is what one security guard was doing on a late summer night in July 1996. In spite of this, the FBI saw him as the lead suspect in their case. It would be roughly three months before coming to conclude that…
"Richard Jewell Revisits 1996 Atlanta Bombing"
Bombshell features a powerhouse ensemble of actors with some of the best performances to grace the big screen during the calendar year. We all know the story. Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) sued Roger Ailes over sexual harassment and the dominoes started to fall. Sure, Roger tried to get all of the Fox News women to rally behind him but not everyone was on board. Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) had her own frustrating experiences with Ailes…
"Bombshell Features A Powerhouse Ensemble"
QT8: The First Eight is a feature-length documentary paying tribute to Oscar-nominated filmmaker and cinephile Quentin Tarantino. Everything started with Reservoir Dogs in 1992. After its midnight premiere during Cannes, history would forever change. This was the breakthrough. Michael Madsen shares some interesting insight into the film’s wardrobe especially with the all-black clothing. The film is told in three distinct chapters: The Revolution, Badass Women and Genre Play, and Justice. It’s a reminder of the…
"QT8: The First Eight Honors Quentin Tarantino"
The Rocketeer is the type of film that should certainly benefit from being able to gain a new life that that it’s available on Disney+. Stunt pilot Cliff Secord (Bill Campbell) happens to come across a rocket-powered jet pack after crashing his Gee Bee racer. The discovery was made alongside mechanic A. “Peevy” Peabody (Alan Arkin). Little do the two of them know just how much trouble this rocket will get them in. The rocket…
"The Rocketeer Gets A New Life On Disney+"
The Two Popes takes a look at tradition verses reform in this look at the differences in approach from Popes Benedict XVI and Francis. This is a film that features top-notch acting performances from both Anthony Hopkins and Jonathan Pryce. Even for a Jewish person such as myself, I didn’t feel that this was a film looking to teach us about religion. Instead, it’s an examination of two people with a differing approach to issues…
"The Two Popes: Tradition vs. Reform"
Queen and Slim is a thought-provoking thriller that will have movie goers looking at the outlaws-on-the-run in a different perspective. Tonally, there is a lot to say about this film. The film starts out with us sitting in on a Tinder date between a retail employee (Daniel Kaluuya) and a criminal defense attorney (Jodie Turner-Smith). That she is a criminal defense attorney lends an extra layer to what unfolds shortly thereafter. Take it as what…
"Queen and Slim: A Thought-Provoking Thriller"