The Terminal may not be the top of the line for filmmaker Steven Spielberg but the film still makes for compelling material when viewing. It’s fascinating to watch The Terminal in 2020, over fifteen years following its theatrical release. So much has and hasn’t changed when it comes to immigration. Because Krakozhia breaks out into civil war during his flight, the United States no longer recognizes the country. Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) basically becomes a…
"The Terminal: Spielberg Goes Back To Comedy"
Stars Fell on Alabama, a film with a Hollywood twist, is the first romantic comedy film to be released in theaters or VOD in 2021. Before I dive into the film, you should know that there are short clips during the credits. Aside from this, there is a post-credits tag. The other thing to know about the film is it is set during 2019. This way, you don’t have to scream about so many people…
"Stars Fell on Alabama Plays Within Rom-Com Rules"
Gangs of New York may have a lot to enjoy about the film but at the end of the day, it is a flawed epic and well short of being a masterpiece. In many ways, this is the history of New York City according to Martin Scorsese. The script itself is based on Herbert Asbury’s The Gangs of New York. However, it gets an original screenplay nomination because they drift so far from the book’s…
"Gangs of New York Is A Flawed Epic"
The coming-of-age apocalyptic adventure comedy, Love and Monsters, is now available for audiences to watch on physical media. Content Warning: there are several nerve-wracking scenes involving a dog. In most instances, we don’t know what is going to happen. I don’t like watching films where the dog dies so I’m going to let you know what happens. When the film came to an end, the dog was very much still alive. Thank G-d. Some of…
"Love and Monsters Comes Home On Blu-ray"
The Opening Act is a fictional account depicting the harsh realties that come with trying to make it in the business as a stand-up comedian. Writer-director Steve Byrne injects some of his own real-life experiences into the script. Byrne has been in the industry for two decades so basically, he’s calling friends and casting them in the film. This aspect certainly shows through in the production. It honestly feels like one agrees to this kind…
"The Opening Act: Stand-Up Comedy Isn’t Easy"
There’s something about the need to repeatedly return to Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, and and the chaos of Isla Nublar during the pandemic. I don’t know what it is about the films and the animated series that keeps drawing me back this year. Maybe it’s my love of dinosaurs? Or maybe it’s the fact that I’m so desperate for a vacation. Outside of the shlep to Evanston for kosher food, I only go a quarter…
"Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, and The Chaos"
Minority Report might take place some fifty years after the film was shot but the film’s themes are still relevant almost twenty years later. This film marks the first collaboration between Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise. The film has audiences asking some important questions. What if we knew what was going to happen in the future? After you ask yourself the question, what if the person knowing this found out he was going to kill someone? …
"Minority Report: Spielberg Tackles the Future"
While Yearly Departed featured a top-notch roast, a special musical sequence included everything we said goodbye to in 2020. The biggest surprise of all, and spoiler alert to anybody who didn’t watch yet: Christina Aguilera sings “I Will Remember You” during the In Memoriam tribute to everything we said goodbye to in 2020. This sequence is no different than the Oscar or Emmy telecasts. Unfortunately, you have to be paying special attention to see everything…
"Yearly Departed: In Memoriam for 2020"
Always departs from the rest of Steven Spielberg’s 1980s filmography in that the film goes for sentimentality more than anything else. It’s not uncommon for Spielberg to release multiple films in the same year. The summer saw Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. While there is some nice action in the aerial scenes in Always, the two films couldn’t be further apart. Maybe this is why it has taken me until now to watch Always. …
"Always: My Least Favorite Steven Spielberg Film"
Yearly Departed, the new all-star comedy special premiering on Amazon Prime Video, roasts the dumpster fire that is the year 2020. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here to bid farewell to this dumpster fire year. Qubi came and went faster than you could say MoviePass! Sorry, not sorry! I’m going to include a photo to break between writing because of possible spoilers. But honestly, I recommend watching before reading. This is really the best way…
"Yearly Departed Roasts The Dumpster Fire Of 2020"