Running with Beto goes behind the scenes of Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 U.S. Senate campaign as he sought to defeat Ted Cruz in Texas. As far as political documentaries are concerned, this film doesn’t break any new ground. It may be fascinating to watch but this is the extent. Even the film’s relevancy needs to be questioned in the sense of whether this is because of the senate race or presidential campaign. Last year, O’Rourke was…
"Running with Beto goes Behind The Scenes"
I instantly fell in love with the Olivia Wilde-directorial debut when I first saw Booksmart during the SXSW world premiere. It should come as no surprise that I decided to see the film a second time during one of the Chicago press screenings. The jokes held up upon second viewing and reinforced my love for this film. I already made the decision that I would be returning for a third round over the long Memorial…
"Booksmart: See It In Theaters"
Echo in the Canyon is a love letter to the folk rock music originating from the Laurel Canyon and became what we know today as the California Sound. It’s kind of funny when you think about it but the California Sound doesn’t happen without the British Invasion. Mainly, four lads from Liverpool who we know as The Beatles. Funny enough, Pet Sounds would influence Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Yet here we are focusing…
"Echo in the Canyon: California Sound at its Best"
Filmmaker Bob Byington and actress Kaley Wheless spoke with Solzy at the Movies about Frances Ferguson during the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. I sat down with the duo on the first Friday of SXSW before things became crazy. David Krumholtz, who co-stars as a group therapist, was supposed to join us but he wasn’t able to make it in time because of a flight delay. The two of you came up with the story for…
"Frances Ferguson with Bob Byington, Kaley Wheless"
Matthew Glave spoke with Solzy at the Movies over the phone last week about the upcoming lesbian dramedy Funny Story. While Sundance gets most of the attention during January in Park City, Slamdance takes place on historic Main Street. When I read about Funny Story last year, I knew it was one of those films that I needed to cover. I had the opportunity to meet with the cast and crew on the red carpet…
"Matthew Glave talks Funny Story"
Arrow‘s Emily Bett Rickards delivers the performance of a lifetime in Funny Story–a film that is now being released in theaters after a festival run. Walter Campbell (Matthew Glave) is all set to dump his much-younger girlfriend, Lucy, until she drops the bomb that she’s pregnant with his child. This sets Walter off into a mid-life crisis of his own as he tries to figure out how to tell his daughter, Nic (Jana Winternitz, who doubles…
"Funny Story: A Career-Best for Emily Bett Rickards"
It’s a whole new world for Aladdin as the animated classic is the newest film to receive the live-action treatment on the big screen. Much like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin stays true to the animated film in terms of plot. Aladdin (Mena Massoud) meets Agrabah Princess Jasmine (Naomi Scott) and falls in love with her thanks to an assist from the Genie (Will Smith). There’s the evil Jafar (Marwan Kenzari) trying to steal the…
"Aladdin: A Whole New World in Live Action"
Isn’t It Romantic? makes sure to hit all the romantic comedy cliches in an entertaining way complete with not one but two song-and-dance numbers. You can now bring home the film on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital! Being trapped in a romantic comedy is sure to be anybody’s worst fear. You know that the person you fall in love with is always going to be your best friend. It’s never going to be the deliciously attractive…
"Isn’t It Romantic hits Blu-ray, Digital"
The Spy Behind Home Plate is Aviva Kempner’s newest documentary that tells the true true story of catcher-turned-spy Moe Berg. Moe Berg may not be Hank Greenberg or Sandy Koufax but his story is unique for Jewish ballplayers. A year ago, the Paul Rudd-starring The Catcher Was A Spy premiered during Sundance. While that film does manage to tell Berg’s story in narrative form, the documentary goes the whole nine yards. While the biopic means…
"The Spy Behind Home Plate: Moe Berg’s Story"
Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation turns to archival footage to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the legendary concert. Woodstock was the brainchild of Michael Lang, Artie Kornfeld, Joel Rosenman, and John P. Roberts. What’s so fascinating is that this juggernaut grew out of plans to open a recording studio in Woodstock, N.Y. Things changed and soon they would plan for one of the hugest weekends in history. Think about it. Roughly one month after man would…
"Woodstock: Three Days That Defined a Generation"