To learn about U.S. history means to learn about the history behind The Clotilda, the last known and illegal slave ship, in Descendant. I’m going to be 100% honest here. I’m a student of U.S. history but I had never learned about The Clotilda when I was growing up. If a number of Republican politicians get their way, nobody will. There’s this segment of the American population that doesn’t want people to learn about America’s…
"Descendant – Sundance 2022"Category: Movie Reviews
Amy Poehler explores Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s legacy in the new documentary, Lucy and Desi, premiering at Sundance. Sundance audiences will get to watch the film before Amazon Studios releases on Prime Video in March. This film was one of my high priority films going into the festival simply because it’s about sitcom pioneers Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Well, this and the fact that Amy Poehler directs it. I’ve seen her narrative features…
"Lucy and Desi – Sundance 2022"
Framing Agnes is a unique introduction to transgender history as the film brings Harold Garfinkel’s gender health research to the screen. The feature film expands on the short by bringing on additional cast members. To say that the film is unique would not be an understatement. They utilize Garfinkel’s UCLA transcripts by presenting it in a form of a talk show. Meanwhile, the documentary takes us behind the scenes by talking with the cast members…
"Framing Agnes – Sundance 2022"
Fire of Love celebrates the love story between volcanologists Katia and Maurice Krafft through the archival footage they left behind. I’ve been on a natural disaster thriller kick of late so it’s only natural that I end my first day of Sundance with this unique love story. What a beauty it is! I mean, sure, it’s a sad ending with their deaths coming at the hands of a volcanic explosion at Japan’s Mount Unzen in…
"Fire of Love – Sundance 2022"
Oscar-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg makes his directorial debut at Sundance with the A24 film, When You Finish Saving the World. Evelyn Katz (Julianne Moore) runs a shelter for domestic abuse survivors. But when it comes to her home life, she struggles when it comes to finding a connection with her son, Ziggy (Finn Wolfhard). She only realizes this when a new family comes to her shelter: Angie (Eleonore Hendricks) and son, Kyle (Billy Bryk). Evelyn…
"When You Finish Saving the World – Sundance 2022"
Nearly a month after taking home a Solzy Award for The Other Morgan, filmmaker Alison Rich premieres Training Wheels at Sundance. Her sophomore short is a 15-minute comedy about a socially inept woman, Enid Yarmis (Alison Rich), renting a man, Ricky Mountain (George Basil), in order to prepare for another man, John. Hence, the film’s title! But anyway, that’s the gist of the film in a nutshell. Even though the website allows for discreet dating, Enid…
"Training Wheels – Sundance 2022"
Lindsey Vonn makes her directorial debut by profiling skiing icon Picabo Street in the new documentary, Picabo, streaming on Peacock. Vonn joins veteran filmmaker and U.S. Olympic Hall of Famer Frank Marshall in the process of stepping behind the camera. That being said, we also see a good amount of Vonn in front of the camera, too. What makes Vonn a good filmmaker and interviewer in the film is her relationship with Picabo Street. You…
"Picabo Profiles Skiing Icon Picabo Street"
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum brings the 1962 stage musical to the screen in the 1966 feature directed by Richard Lester. I spent last night watching the classic musical comedy in honor of Richard Lester’s 90th birthday today. After all, we should pay tribute to them while they are alive instead of waiting until they pass away. I’ve watched a number of Dick Lester’s films recently: A Hard Day’s Night,…
"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum"
Earthquake remains a classic disaster thriller even though the visual effects don’t compare with what is possible with today’s technology. Mark Robson assembles a true ensemble cast in the 1974 disaster thriller. By this point in time, disasters had struck the air and the sea in Airport and The Poseidon Adventure, respectively. It was only a matter of time before disaster struck the land. When disaster strikes, it’s almost always Los Angeles, San Francisco, or…
"Earthquake Remains A Classic Disaster Thriller"
Starring The Beatles, A Hard Day’s Night is the latest classic title to get a 4K Ultra HD upgrade from The Criterion Collection. Richard Lester, who also plays piano and turns 90 years old on January 19, approved the new 4K digital restoration. Fans have three different audio options to choose from: a monaural soundtrack, stereo, and 5.1 surround mixes supervised by sound producer Giles Martin at Abbey Road Studios. The sound mix is presented…
"A Hard Day’s Night: Criterion Releases 4K UHD"