The Way, Way Back: A Poignant Coming-of-Age Story

The Way, Way Back is a poignant coming-of-age story and marked the 10th anniversary of its theatrical release this past summer. This film is a case of awards making a difference. Searchlight considered going forward at one point in 2007. However, it wasn’t until Nat Faxon and Jim Rash won an Oscar for their work on The Descendants for things to start falling into place. That was what ultimately sealed the deal when it came…

"The Way, Way Back: A Poignant Coming-of-Age Story"

The Creator Is Visually Stunning But…

The Creator features visually stunning visuals but the new Gareth Edwards sci-fi thriller gets into very familiar territory. Spoiler warning: some spoilers may follow. Five years after his wife’s–Maya (Gemma Chan)–disappearance, Joshua (John David Washington) gets brought in by Colonel Jean Howell (Allison Janney) to find and kill the Creator. Supposedly, Maya is still alive. You see, the Creator is behind the advanced AI technology with the capability to end the war. There’s a war…

"The Creator Is Visually Stunning But…"

Juno: Witty Comedy Marks 15th Anniversary

Juno, the rare comedy to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture, marks the 15th anniversary of its 2007 theatrical release. Diablo Cody wrote one of the funniest screenplays of 2007. Fifteen years after its release, Juno still holds up as one of the funniest movies released in the early 2000s even as it plays differently in 2022. In terms of casting, it could definitely be better on the diversity front but this is where…

"Juno: Witty Comedy Marks 15th Anniversary"

The People We Hate at the Wedding Is Hysterical

The People We Hate at the Wedding is the dysfunctional family comedy that brings the laughs ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend. Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin and Wendy Molyneux’s script is based on Grant Ginder’s bestselling novel of the same name. Every family has their flaws–whether we choose to admit it in front of our friends or not–but this film takes flaws to the next level. In this comedy, you have siblings who do not have the best…

"The People We Hate at the Wedding Is Hysterical"

Bad Education Available On Blu-ray

Hugh Jackman turns in a career performance as a superintendent in Bad Education and the film is now available on Blu-ray. My original film review from the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival: Bad Education features a star-studded cast and tells the incredible true story about what transpired in a prestigious Long Island school district. When Hilltop Beacon reporter Rachel Bhargava (Geraldine Viswanathan) looks into some expense reports for an upcoming Roslyn School District project, she…

"Bad Education Available On Blu-ray"

Drop Dead Gorgeous Arrives on Blu-ray

Four years after Warner Archive first issued Drop Dead Gorgeous on DVD, the cult classic finally makes its arrival on Blu-ray. The Blu-ray itself is short on special features.  There’s an opportunity to add on some supplemental materials.  Instead, all we are left with is the theatrical trailer.  No commentary or where they are now features.  Aside from this, they use a new 1080 master to present the film.  What follows is my full review…

"Drop Dead Gorgeous Arrives on Blu-ray"

Bombshell Features A Powerhouse Ensemble

Bombshell features a powerhouse ensemble of actors with some of the best performances to grace the big screen during the calendar year. We all know the story.  Gretchen Carlson (Nicole Kidman) sued Roger Ailes over sexual harassment and the dominoes started to fall.  Sure, Roger tried to get all of the Fox News women to rally behind him but not everyone was on board.  Megyn Kelly (Charlize Theron) had her own frustrating experiences with Ailes…

"Bombshell Features A Powerhouse Ensemble"

Toronto 2019: Bad Education

Bad Education features a star-studded cast and tells the incredible true story about what transpired in a prestigious Long Island school district. When Hilltop Beacon reporter Rachel Bhargava (Geraldine Viswanathan) looks into some expense reports for an upcoming Roslyn School District project, she finds something else.  Together with her dad, David Bhargava (Hari Dhillon), the two of them realize that there’s more here than meets the eye.  Appropriately, they look into it.  One thing leads…

"Toronto 2019: Bad Education"

10 Things I Hate About You marks 20th anniversary

10 Things I Hate About You remains a teen classic some twenty years after Touchstone Pictures first released the screwball comedy in theaters. Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the film’s release. The film is just as fun to watch now as it was two decades ago. I credit this–of course–to the chemistry between leads Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger. They are but one equation in this ensemble-heavy film. This Taming of the Shrew retelling…

"10 Things I Hate About You marks 20th anniversary"

Sundance 2019: Troop Zero

A young Georgia girl aims for the stars in the funny and poignant Troop Zero despite the odds being set against her every single step along the way. Christmas Flint (Mckenna Grace)–daughter of attorney Ramsey Flint (Jim Gaffigan)–has big dreams that lead to outer space.  We see this in the way that she looks up to the stars at night in 1977.  For now, she has to settle for just being a small town girl…

"Sundance 2019: Troop Zero"