A few eighth graders see their world change in A World Away when an overnight field trip takes them into another dimension. A quick prologue sets the stage for what’s to come before we find ourselves watching an eighth grade graduation. It’s here where Principal Garcia (Mary Lynn Rajskub) invites Thomas Landry (David DeLuise) to the stage for a raffle. A few lucky eighth graders will join him on an overnight trip to the Grand Canyon. …
"CIFF 2019: A World Away"Category: Movie Reviews
Missing Link is the newest addition to the Sasquatch Cinematic Universe and finds our west coast friend feeling lonely and wanting more. After a mission to find proof of the Loch Ness monster goes spectacularly awful, Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) finds himself on a new quest. This one comes as a response to a letter from someone. This someone believes that they know where to find the Sasquatch. Or as we otherwise know them:…
"Missing Link: A Sasquatch Cartoon"
Native Son is a compelling film with strong performances but I can’t help but feel that something is lost in updating the story for present day. Like the novel its based on, Native Son is set in Chicago. Instead of the 1930s, Suzan-Lori Parks updates the story for a contemporary telling. Is this a good idea? I don’t know. I haven’t read the novel written by Richard Wright so I’m not in a position to compare the…
"Native Son: Compelling, falls short"
Funny You Never Knew is a comedic documentary inviting us to rediscover classic TV comedians Imogene Coca, George Gobel, and Martha Raye. Fred Willard and Kevin Pollack serve as hosts of this documentary. The comedy duo watch clips about three comedians from the Golden Age of Television. Interspersed with interviews, of course. It makes for a fun approach much to the credit of director Andrew Hunt. At times, both Willard and Pollack host Classic Comedy Report…
"Chicago Comedy 2019: Funny You Never Knew"
Olympians takes a satirical look at Greek gods as if they decided to live as immigrants in America under the current administration. The premise here is that Zeus (Mel Brooks), Aphrodite (Meghan Sunder), and Ares (Samuel Hunt) have immigrated to America. They are basically locked up in a beautiful house because they’re illegal immigrants. Suddenly, Aphrodite finds herself arrested and thrown in jail. The cops essentially treat her like a Mexican immigrant especially with the accents…
"Chicago Comedy 2019: Olympians"
Originally premiering in Toronto, Unicorn Store makes for an impressive debut for actress-turned-first-time filmmaker Brie Larson. If you’ve seen Captain Marvel, you already know that Larson commands great chemistry with Samuel L. Jackson. When you see this film, you know why. It’s as if the two have them have continued from where they left off. Clearly, the two of them are not playing Carol Danvers and Nick Fury in this film. Nor is this a…
"Unicorn Store: Brie Larson’s Directorial Debut"
The Best of Enemies takes us to the early 1970s with racism running high in Durham, N.C. to tell the true story of an odd couple getting together. At first glance, neither Ann Atwater nor C.P. Ellis look like they could be friends. She’s an Operation Breakthrough activist while he owned a gas station and was also a member of the KKK. Maybe when pigs fly but for 1971 Durham, it would not make sense…
"The Best of Enemies: An Odd Couple"
Shazam! may not exactly be a campy superhero movie but once the action gets started, it’s clear that everybody is having a fun time. Shazam! introduces us to Billy Batson (Asher Angel/Zachary Levi). He’s been running away from foster home after foster home. When we first meet him, he’s looking for a Rachel Batson. He was separated from his mother when he went after a carnival prize and never saw her again. It’s because of…
"Shazam! is A Fun Superhero Movie"
10 Things I Hate About You remains a teen classic some twenty years after Touchstone Pictures first released the screwball comedy in theaters. Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the film’s release. The film is just as fun to watch now as it was two decades ago. I credit this–of course–to the chemistry between leads Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. They are but one equation in this ensemble-heavy film. This Taming of the Shrew retelling…
"10 Things I Hate About You marks 20th anniversary"
The Brink takes a vérité approach in following ousted Trump strategist Steve Bannon in his attempts to unite far-right parties in Europe. When Steve Bannon left his post after the Charlottesville incident, he decided to take his message on a global tour. Unbeknownst to him, his approach of nationalism turns into an anti-globalist message while touring Europe. Furthermore, this is a man who clearly has no idea what it means to dog-whistle anti-Semitism. I’m glad…
"The Brink follows Trump strategist Steve Bannon"