The Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2023 honor the best of the documentary films that were released during the past year. I’m a member of the Critics Choice Association’s Documentary Branch so I usually watch a good number of documentaries during the year. Instead of waiting until next week, I’ve decided to go ahead and announce the winners today. I’m not awarding a winner in the categories of biographical or sports this year because it’s…
"The Solzy Awards for Documentaries in 2023"
May December revisits a notorious scandal as an actress arrives in Georgia in order to research a role in an upcoming film. If the film’s plot sounds familiar, that’s because it’s basically the story of Mary Kay Letourneau. The main difference is that Gracie Atherton-Yoo (Julianne Moore) and Joe Yoo (Charles Melton) conducted their affair at a pet shop, not a school. In any event, Elizabeth Berry (Natalie Portman) has hit up their Savannah, Georgia…
"May December Revisits 1990s Scandal With Humor"
Randy Schoenberg and Matthew Mishory spoke with Solzy at the Movies about the new documentary, Fioretta, opening in theaters. The film traces back through 500 years of Randy’s ancestry across various countries in Europe. It says something about how the Jews were forced to move around from one country or another because of antisemitism. I had a lot more to say about the film in my review, of course. If you’re not familiar with Randy,…
"Randy Schoenberg, Matthew Mishory talk Fioretta"
The new film from Promising Young Woman filmmaker Emerald Fennell, Saltburn, is a film that will not be for everyone. I delayed writing my review because I wasn’t really sure what to say about the film. Truth be told, I still don’t know what to say about the film. What I can say for certain is that there are scenes in this film that will leave people cringing. That was certainly the case when I…
"Saltburn Won’t Be For Everyone"
Max announced the list of films, series, and specials that are coming and leaving the streaming service during December 2023. Max announces programming coming to the platform this December, including the HBO Original comedy special LEO REICH: LITERALLY WHO CARES?! (12/16), the comedian’s first solo stand-up special debuts this December. Following rave reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and an Off-Broadway run, this self-diagnosed important young mind faces the swirling uncertainty of our collective future, asking…
"Max: Coming and Leaving in December 2023"
Wish, the newest Walt Disney Animation Studios feature, celebrates 100 years of magic and wonder by bringing the Disney nostalgia. Please make sure to stay for the scene at the end of the credits. The other fun thing about the credits is how the film pays homage to the animated films that came before. Wish owes a solid amount to what came before. We see this through the decision to bookend the film with a…
"Wish: Disney Celebrates 100 Years of Magic and Wonder"
The troubles for Maestro started not with the first images of ethnic cosplay but as soon as Bradley Cooper won over Jake Gyllenhaal. I wish I could take credit for coining “ethnic cosplay” as a term but no, I can’t. It was used by a colleague after the release of first-look images in 2022. In my opinion, the remarks still hold up today. The push for authentic representation in Hollywood somehow does not include Jews.…
"Maestro: A Showcase of Ethnic Cosplay in Leonard Bernstein Biopic"
Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro backed up Oppenheimer filmmaker Christopher Nolan when it comes to owning physical media. Guillermo del Toro’s comments came on Twitter the other day: “Physical media is almost a Fahrenheit 451 (where people memorized entire books and thus became the book they loved) level of responsibility. If you own a great 4K HD, Blu-ray, DVD etc etc of a film or films you love… you are the custodian of those films…
"Guillermo del Toro, Christopher Nolan on Importance of Physical Media"
Following the TV premiere and DVD/VOD releases, Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul arrives on Blu-ray for Casablanca‘s 81st anniversary. Blu-rays and DVDs usually get released on Tuesdays. However, this film is an exception to the rule because its November 26 Blu-ray release coincides with the 81st anniversary of Casablanca premiering at the Hollywood Theater in New York City in 1942. I spoke with director Gregory Orr earlier this year about updating the 1993 documentary–which…
"Jack L. Warner: The Last Mogul Gets Blu-ray for Casablanca Anniversary"
Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike is over, actress Eve Hewson spoke with Solzy at the Movies about the new John Carney film, Flora and Son. Flora and Son premiered earlier this year during the 2023 Sundance Film Festival where fans were clapping along during the final song and gave the film a standing ovation when it ended. Hewson turns in a stupendous performance in the crowd-pleaser, which is one of my favorite films of the…
"Eve Hewson talks Flora and Son"