Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – The Road to Endgame

The Guardians of the Galaxy have returned in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a sequel that provides just as much action and fun as the first movie. The soundtrack for the sequel is provided by Awesome Mixtape #2.  This is the last gift that Meredith Quill (Laura Haddock) gave to her son, Peter (Chris Pratt), prior to dying in the first movie. For Peter Quill, he has never known who his father is.  Lo…

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 – The Road to Endgame"

My Favorite Films of Summer 2017

With an end to the 2017 summer movie season, it’s time to round up my favorite films of this summer.  While I was credentialed for both the Chicago Critics Film Festival, the Fantasia International Film Festival, and remotely covered a few films selected for the Flyover Film Festival, I am not including any of those films unless they’ve been released in theaters, video on demand, or Digital HD. I’ll start with the documentaries.  I’ve seen…

"My Favorite Films of Summer 2017"

Summer Winner: Comic Book Movies

Yesterday examined the summer losers.  Today, I’m looking at the summer winners at the box office.  The first winner over the sumer movie season: Comic Book Movies. This summer saw quite a few comic book films: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Wonder Woman, and Spider-Man Homecoming.  Where many studio films suffered over the summer with the critics, these three films were hits with both the critics and fans alike. Through Labor Day weekend, all…

"Summer Winner: Comic Book Movies"

The Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far

We’ve reached the halfway point of 2017 so that means it’s time to issue the Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far. The two films that really stand out to me at this point in the year are The Big Sick and Baby Driver.  I started writing this article prior to seeing The Beguiled when it opened in Chicago on Friday.  I debated a lot to myself about whether or not I should include…

"The Solzy Awards for Film in 2017 So Far"

Studio Tentpoles are hurting this summer

There’s no denying the power that Rotten Tomatoes has on making or breaking a studio tentpole. This is something that we’ve been seeing at the box office since the summer movie season started.  Studio tentpoles aren’t critic-proof no matter how many times these actors or filmmakers say that it wasn’t made for the critics.  Critics are people, too.  The first thing I ask myself when I start to write a screenplay is whether it’s a…

"Studio Tentpoles are hurting this summer"

Box Office: The Mummy tanks for Universal

Universal Pictures was hoping a reboot of The Mummy starring Tom Cruise would launch their Dark Universe franchise.  Unfortunately for the studio, critics and audiences alike panned the film. Starring Tom Cruise, the Alex Kurtzman-directed film finished this weekend in second place with an estimated $32.2 million at the box office.  In addition to Cruise, the film stars Annabelle Wallis, Sofia Boutella, Jake Johnson, Courtney B. Vance and Russell Crowe.  Taking into account the four…

"Box Office: The Mummy tanks for Universal"

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is Awesome and So Much Fun

The Guardians of the Galaxy have returned in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, a sequel that provides just as much action and fun as the first movie. The soundtrack for the sequel is provided by Awesome Mixtape #2.  This is the last gift that Meredith Quill (Laura Haddock) gave to her son, Peter (Chris Pratt), prior to dying in the first movie. For Peter Quill, he has never known who his father is.  Lo…

"Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is Awesome and So Much Fun"