Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio takes the classic story everyone knows and moves it up a few decades by dropping it into Fascist Italy. Before I dive into plot and such, let’s talk about the animation. Despite what some people might tell you otherwise, animation is film. It always has been and always will be. I delayed writing my review until after my second viewing of the new film. The film is even more impressive one…
"Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio Pushes Animation Into A New Direction"Tag: Cate Blanchett
TÁR–starring Cate Blanchett in an Oscar-worthy role–is a film that has a lot to say about holding people accountable for their actions. The basic gist of the film is that Lydia Tár (Cate Blanchett) is the groundbreaking conductor of a major German orchestra. When we first meet her, she’s sitting down in conversation with Adam Gopnik during The New Yorker Festival for way longer than other filmmakers would allow. The EGOT winner is essentially living…
"TÁR: A Film About Holding People Accountable"
The School for Good and Evil brings filmmaker Paul Feig into the world of fantasy in this adaptation of Soman Chainani’s book. This film is unlike anything Feig has done before. Fantasy is not a genre that you’ll find in Feig’s filmography. His filmography is heavy on comedies more than anything else. That said, he’s no stranger to a visual effects-heavy film after directing Ghostbusters: Answer the Call. The fantasy genre, as anyone knows, is…
"The School for Good and Evil Hits Netflix"
Martin Scorsese successfully gives the biopic treatment to Howard Hughes with a superb performance from Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator. This is the second annual year in which I watch a film that Thelma Schoonmaker worked on for her January 3rd birthday. Last year, I decided on Gangs of New York, a film which is celebrating the 20th anniversary this year. Schoonmaker’s work in this film is what earns her a second Oscar. The other…
"The Aviator: Another Martin Scorsese Epic"
Guillermo del Toro shies away from the supernatural to present an updated take on Nightmare Alley in this noir thriller. The gist of the film is that Stanton Carlisle (Bradley Cooper) befriends a clairvoyant Zeena Krumbein (Toni Collette) and her mentalist husband, Pete Krumbein (David Strathairn), at a traveling carnival. Stanton takes advantage of what he learns to break free of the carnival alongside Molly Cahill (Rooney Mara). Before you know it, he’s conning the…
"Nightmare Alley: A Noir Thriller"
Adam McKay is a genius behind the camera as Don’t Look Up takes the satire to the next level with one of the best ensemble casts ever. Please stay until the end of the credits. There is a mid-credit and post-credit scene. This film has talent on the same level as It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World while reaching satire at the levels of both Dr. Strangelove and Network. Like those films, Don’t Look…
"Don’t Look Up: The Best Picture of 2021"
The Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection arrives in 4K Ultra HD just in time to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Raiders of the Lost Ark. On June 12, 1981, movie goers were introduced to a new hero of the screen when Harrison Ford donned the fedora and whip. It’s funny though. The character only came about because Steven Spielberg wanted to direct a James Bond film. Alas, James Bond would not be in the cards for…
"Indiana Jones 4-Movie Collection Arrives on 4K UHD"
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, the long-awaited fourth film, takes the iconic hero well into the Cold War years. The film moves forward almost in real time after an 18-year layoff. It’s 1957 and given the Cold War at hand, the KGB also replaces Nazis as the villains. Leading this particular group of villains is Soviet agent Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett). Spalko kidnaps Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) and George “Mac”” Micale…
"Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"
Where’d You Go, Bernadette brings the bestselling novel to life in a comedy that ought to remind artists how important it is to create. Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchett) could have had it all. Before dropping off the face of the planet, the architect won a MacArthur Grant. Living in Los Angeles would have been a dream. Yet she packs it all up to move to Seattle where she now lives with daughter Bee (Emma Nelson)…
"Where’d You Go, Bernadette Brings A Book To Life"
Thor: Ragnarok is Marvel’s most fun film and raises the bar as Thor teams up with Hulk to save Asgard. It’s been 2.5 years since Thor (Chris Hemsworth) left to look for Odin at the end of Avengers 2: Age of Ultron. Meanwhile, Hulk (Mark Ruffalo) was seen departing for who knows where following the attack on Sokovia. Thor: Ragnarok‘s awesome cold open featuring Thor and Surtur sets the tone of the film with both…
"Thor: Ragnarok – The Road to Endgame"