Vice: Give Christian Bale The Oscar Right Now

For his role as Vice President Dick Cheney in Vice, actor Christian Bale is on the way to another Oscar for Best Actor in Adam McKay’s newest film. While the current administrations’s activities make us long for the days of the Bush Administration, Vice reminds us that maybe this should not be the case.  Roughly two hours, this film is a study of Cheney’s lust for power.  When he gets the call from George W.…

"Vice: Give Christian Bale The Oscar Right Now"

If Beale Street Could Talk is Beautifully Directed

Beautifully directed, If Beale Street Could Talk is able to raise the bar on what we come to expect from writer-director Barry Jenkins. If you didn’t notice it with Moonlight, Barry Jenkins has a way with telling a story on camera.  If Beale Street Could Talk further enhances his work as a storyteller.  Jenkins puts so much care into the film even if it’s James Baldwin’s words that he adapts on screen.  We especially see…

"If Beale Street Could Talk is Beautifully Directed"

They Shall Not Grow Old: Peter Jackson’s WW1 Doc

Using innovative technology, director Peter Jackson takes us back in time to the days of World War 1 in a new documentary, They Shall Not Grow Old. While most of us see a black-and-white world when we watch World War 1 footage, the reality is quite different.  The reality is that the 1910s were very much a world in living color.  We don’t tend to see this in the archival footage of the day because…

"They Shall Not Grow Old: Peter Jackson’s WW1 Doc"

The Quake: An Emotional High-Stakes Thriller

The Quake is able to offer us a low-budget Norwegian thriller that is certain to have audiences on the edge of their seats. The film starts out with a news report on the findings of the Geiranger Comission.  This is–of course–a reference to the fim’s prequel.  Where Geiranger was the main setting in 2015, the 2018 sequel moves all the action to Oslo.  In any event, we meet up with geologist Kristian Elkjord (Kristoffer Joner) again. …

"The Quake: An Emotional High-Stakes Thriller"

The Mule Misses More Than It Hits

As far as storytelling goes, The Mule is a missed opportunity in that the new Clint Eastwood film misses more than it hits. The film’s opens with Sunnyside Meadows Flower Farm owner Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood) taking home the gold medal at the 2005 National Daylily League Convention.  Unfortunately, Earl would rather be accepting the award than being there for his daughter, Iris (Alison Eastwood).  It just so happens that Iris is getting married and Earl…

"The Mule Misses More Than It Hits"

Mary Poppins Returns Captures The Spirit

Featuring all new music and a completely different cast, Mary Poppins Returns is able to beautifully capture the essence of the 1964 film. Taking place some 24 years following Mary Poppins, a lot has changed.  Michael Banks (Ben Whishaw) lives with his three children at 17 Cherry Tree Lane.  The widowed Michael has three young children: Anabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh), and Georgie Banks (Joel Dawson).  Jane Banks (Emily Mortimer) has her own flat…

"Mary Poppins Returns Captures The Spirit"

Bird Box Has Quiet Place-esque vibe

Bird Box paints a bleak dystopian future but there’s something about Sandra Bullock’s performance that makes us care about what’s happening. Where A Quiet Place forced people into silence lest they die, Bird Box forces one to close their eyes while outside.  Imagine a world in which you can’t even appreciate the sunlight while inside.  This is the world that novelist Josh Malerman creates and screenwriter Eric Heisserer adapts for the big screen. Following Malorie’s (Sandra…

"Bird Box Has Quiet Place-esque vibe"

Mortal Engines Lacks The Needed Combustion

Mortal Engines forgot to fuel up somewhere because this film takes us all over the place to the point that we’re not even sure what just happened. A quantum energy weapon took humanity to the brink of extinction in what is known as the Sixty Minute War.  All that remains are the predator cities and static settlements.  If this is our future, we need to come together to prevent it from ever happening.  There’s not…

"Mortal Engines Lacks The Needed Combustion"

Aquaman Rises From The Depths

It wouldn’t be unfair to say that Aquaman is a step up from Justice League because there are many films that could qualify as such. As far as the credits go, there’s a mid-credits scene but there’s no scene at the very end of the credits. We don’t immediately meet Arthur Curry (Jason Momoa).  We go back to the beginning when Atlanna (Nicole Kidman) washes ashore, where she’s rescued by Tom Curry (Temuera Morrison).  This leads…

"Aquaman Rises From The Depths"

Smallfoot available on Home Video

Starring the voices of Channing Tatum, James Corden, and Zendaya, Smallfoot is now available to bring home on physical home media. Sasquatch has seen quite the interesting year dating back to the tail end of 2017.  This came in the form of various feature films.  By the end of 2018, the year of Sasquatch would not be limited to just live-action alone.  An animated film would join the Sasquatch Cinematic Universe come September 2018. Migo…

"Smallfoot available on Home Video"