As Star Wars fans wait as patiently as possible for Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Walt Disney Company CEO Bob Iger addressed the future of the space opera saga while speaking at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. “When we bought Lucasfilm, we were going to make three films — Episodes VII, VIII and IX,” the Disney CEO said. “We had to deal with tragedy at the end of 2016. Carrie appears throughout VIII.…
"Star Wars: Disney’s Bob Iger plans for Star Wars into 2030"
C2E2 will be bringing many fan favorites to Chicago during the weekend of April 21-23, 2017. Stan Lee and Frank Miller are the featured headliners next month as C2E2 takes to McCormick Place in the Windy City. Lee recently canceled an appearance at the Big Apple Comic Con in New York as a result of the flu but is expected to be making his final C2E2 appearance next month. Lee and Miller will headline a…
"C2E2 bringing Fan Favorites to Chicago in April"
Our childhood comes back to the big screen with the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast. The retelling stays true to the animated classic but fills in the plot holes that they were unable to do with the animated film. If it were up to me, Beauty and the Beast would also get a Best Picture nomination. Directed by Bill Condon from a screenplay written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos, the star-studded cast…
"Beauty and the Beast: Disney Does It Again"
Kong: Skull Island takes us back to the Vietnam War era to reboot everyone’s favorite gigantic primate. It may not match the original classic but the fast-paced story holds its own. Directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer) from a screenplay written by Dan Gilroy and Max Borenstein and Derek Connolly with the story by John Gatins, it’s not a movie that makes us wait a while for King Kong in the same way…
"Kong: Skull Island reboots King Kong in great fashion"
It’s one last time for Hugh Jackman as Logan’s story comes to an end in Logan, the newest installment of the X-Men franchise. Inspired by Old Man Logan, this film is very grounded and it’s not the typical superhero action film. It’s a powerful film and one really doesn’t need to see the prior films going into it as it’s a standalone pic in which one really doesn’t need to have seen the previous X-Men…
"Logan: One Last Time for Wolverine"
Everything is awesome-er in this Batman-themed spin-off to The Lego Movie. Will Arnett reprises his role as Batman in this family-friendly sequel that puts Batman v Superman to task. Depending on what animated fare is being offered by Disney and Pixar this year, this one is a sure contender for Best Animated Feature. Whereas the first film was brighter, the filmmakers do a good job at depicting Batman’s classic environment. Chris McKay directs from a…
"The Lego Batman Movie: Everything is Awesome-er"
Moonlight became the first LGBTQ movie to take home Best Picture at the 89th Academy Awards ceremony. Despite the chaos that ensued towards the end of the ceremony, this was a major win for LGBTQ Americans and filmmakers. It came just a few days before I marked 10 months of hormone replacement therapy. Just about every pundit predicted that La La Land would take home the Oscar for Best Picture. Myself included. I don’t consider…
"What Moonlight’s Best Picture Win Means To Me as a Transgender Woman"
Teachers multi-hyphenate Kathryne Renee Thomas spoke with me over the phone as the cast and crew were preparing to film the final seven episodes of the season. Danielle Solzman: How are things treating you out west? Kathryn Renee Thomas: Things are good. We’ve been super, super busy. Just trying to get everything in order. We’re starting to film the last seven episodes on Monday. We’re trying to get the last pre-production stuff we can do…
"My Interview With Teachers’ Kathryn Renee Thomas"
What’s so funny about the Holocaust? Nothing is really funny about it but director Ferne Pearlstein explores whether or not the Holocaust should be off-limits for comedy. If it’s off-limits what becomes of other controversial topics? What is considered to be too taboo for comedy? How soon is too soon to be talking about 9/11? In her interviews with survivors, we learn that those in the concentration camps turned to humor as a survival technique…
"The Last Laugh: What’s So Funny About the Holocaust?"
The 89th Academy Awards will be held this evening at the at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center in Hollywood. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the ceremony will air live on ABC at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT. My predictions follow. Best motion picture of the year: La La Land; Fred Berger, Jordan Horowitz and Marc Platt, Producers Performance by an actor in a leading role: Denzel Washington, Fences Performance by an actress in…
"89th Academy Awards: My Oscar Predictions"