This year marks the 80th anniversary of the Babi Yar tragedy and Babi Yar. Context uses archival footage to remind people what happened. The following order was directed to the Jews living in Kyiv and its surrounding areas on September 26, 1941: All Yids of the city of Kiev and its vicinity must appear on Monday, September 29, by 8 o’clock in the morning at the corner of Mel’nikova and Dokterivskaya streets (near the Viis’kove…
"Babi Yar. Context – Cannes 2021"Category: Movie Reviews
Olga is about a teenage gymnast training for the European championship in hope of making the Olympics but her heart is elsewhere. The key to making a sports movie is balancing the sports side of things with the drama or comedy. In this film’s instance, it’s balancing with drama and at times, action. Elie Grappe–with co-writer Raphaëlle Desplechin–has a good grasp of the story he wants to tell from Olga’s (Anastasia Budiashkina) point-of-view. It’s one…
"Olga – International Critics’ Week 2021"
A Radiant Girl (Une jeune fille qui va bien) takes place in occupied France during 1942 but the film takes a unique approach to the Shoah. There are so many stories about the Shoah. When it comes to young women, Anne Frank’s story is a big one. But for Jews living in France, The Journal of Hélène Berr is also of prominence. This book is also listed in the credits and regrettably, this week is…
"A Radiant Girl – International Critics’ Week 2021"
McCartney 3,2,1 is a six-episode masterclass that is less biography about Paul McCartney and more of an intimate conversation. You’ll learn new things about Paul McCartney and the Beatles over the course of this three-hour ticket to ride. Over the course of six episodes, The Beatles legend breaks down songs from throughout his career. Nothing is off limits from his time with the Beatles through the Wings and then some. It’s kind of funny thinking…
"McCartney 3,2,1: A Paul McCartney Masterclass"
The Price of Freedom examines the National Rifle Association’s (NRA) past and how they politicized the second amendment. “The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun,” NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre, December 2012. Following the Sandy Hook tragedy, the NRA was silent for several days. And then, they finally held a press conference and well, it didn’t get any better for them. LaPierre…
"The Price of Freedom Explores the NRA and Guns"
Space Jam, a live-action/animation hybrid, makes its arrival on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary. Prior to Space Jam, most Looney Tunes features were just compilation pieces merged into one. This certainly isn’t the case here as the film features a complete story arc. It’s not so easy to blend live-action with animation but they manage to get the job done. We have live actors existing in the toon world and…
"Space Jam Arrives On 4K UHD For 25th Anniversary"
48 Hrs., the Walter Hill film starring Nick Nolte and Eddie Murphy, became the 19th title to join the Paramount Presents line on Blu-ray. This film kickstarted the buddy cop genre and cinema would never be the same. Even though a 1974 film predates it, history looks to the 1982 comedy as the first. But it’s fair to say that without 48 Hrs., there is no Beverly Hills Cop, Bad Boys, Rush Hour, and even…
"48 Hrs. Joins Paramount Presents Blu-ray Line"
The Time of Their Lives starts out during the American Revolution with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello playing romantic rivals. While the film may start out during the Revolutionary War, it soon jumps 166 years years ahead in time. This makes way for some pleasant laughs with being scared by electricity. Six years into the war, master tinker Horatio Prim (Lou Costello) seeks to free Nora O’Leary (Ann Gillis) out of indentured servitude to Tom…
"The Time of Their Lives: Bud Abbott and Lou Costello"
John Paul Jones, the biopic starring Robert Stack, may mean well but this film falls just a bit short in terms of mere entertainment value. John Paul Jones (Robert Stack) was the first major commander in the Continental Navy. He’s considered the Father of the American Navy along with both John Barry and John Adams. Unfortunately, his life came to a premature end at the age of 45 in 1792. There isn’t an argument that…
"John Paul Jones: Naval Hero Deserves Better Biopic"
The Tomorrow War might not star Will Smith but this sci-fi action film is in the same vein as previous Independence Day releases. As oddly as it sounds, The Tomorrow War is just the type of escapist entertainment we need coming out on the other side of the pandemic. Time travelers travel back in time from 2051 to disrupt a World Cup soccer game and give Earth an urgent message: a deadly alien species is…
"The Tomorrow War Would Make Will Smith Proud"