There was no need for The Hunger Games: Mockingjay to be split into two different films if only to rake in more money at the box office. I’m reviewing both of these films together because I see zero way in which I can review them otherwise. While telling the story in two parts, it is still one comprehensive story. This splitting of films is nothing more than a cash grab no matter how you look…
"The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 and 2"Tag: Stanley Tucci
Based on the novel by Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games marks the tenth anniversary of its theatrical release in 2012. It’s hard to believe how much dystopian young adult novels/movies dominated the conversation over a decade ago. Nowadays, not so much or at least it certainly seems this way. While The Hunger Games ultimately gets to finish, we cannot say the same about a franchise like Divergent. It’s a shame because Divergent should have been…
"The Hunger Games Marks 10th Anniversary"
Marvel Studios’ What If…? takes what we know as the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) but delivers the animated action with a twist. The series draws on the Marvel Comics anthology series of the same name. Like the comic series, this is also an anthology series. We revisit key moments of the MCU through the eyes of Marvel newcomer Jeffrey Wright, who voices The Watcher, and see what would happen had characters done A instead of…
"What If…?: Animated Series Depicts A Different MCU"
Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway deliver commanding performances in The Devil Wears Prada, which marks its 15th anniversary. This is a film that really shows us what it means to be a personal assistant. For better or worse, assistants can go through a personal hell just to still be employed at the end of the day. Lauren Weisberger draws on her personal experiences working for Anna Wintour at Vogue in the semi-biographical novel of which…
"The Devil Wears Prada Marks 15th Anniversary"
The Terminal may not be the top of the line for filmmaker Steven Spielberg but the film still makes for compelling material when viewing. It’s fascinating to watch The Terminal in 2020, over fifteen years following its theatrical release. So much has and hasn’t changed when it comes to immigration. Because Krakozhia breaks out into civil war during his flight, the United States no longer recognizes the country. Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) basically becomes a…
"The Terminal: Spielberg Goes Back To Comedy"
Worth examines the cost of human lives in the true story of the efforts that went into launching the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. How much is life worth? Is a Fortune 500 CEO worth the same or more than a dishwasher? How do you breakdown the money when parents disapprove of their children’s lifestyle? This is really what it all comes down to with compensating victims and their families. When we first meet Kenneth…
"Sundance 2020: Worth"
Chris Evans embodies the spirit of Captain America as the Marvel Cinematic Universe introduces us to the super soldier from Brooklyn. A brief prologue in Norway introduces us to Johann Schmidt (Hugo Weaving) and his quest for the Tesseract. Shortly thereafter, we go stateside to Steve Rogers (Chris Evans) in New York. Rogers is a sickly young man but he’s not one to give up. It does not matter how many times the army turns him down…
"Captain America: The First Avenger – The Road to Endgame"
A Private War follows The Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin during some of the most pivotal moments of her career as a Foreign Affairs correspondent. The film starts out in Homs, Syria in 2012 before flashing back to London, 2001. While her bosses wanted to send her to one country, Colvin (Rosamund Pike) believed that the Sri Lankan Civil War was the more important story. Whatever the case, Colvin’s decision would get her placed in…
"A Private War: Marie Colvin’s Important Story"
With a stellar performance from Emma Thompson, The Children Act tells a moving story of a judge who must decide on life or death. British High Court judge Fiona Maye (Emma Thompson) is given the sole responsibility of well, choosing life or death for a minor. The minor in question is Adam Henry (Fionn Whitehead). He’s suffering from leukemia and is denying the hospital from giving him a blood transfusion. Even though it’s the very…
"The Children Act: Emma Thompson is Remarkable"
Final Portrait is a character study that takes us into the mind of what an artist goes through as they work to perfect their work. It’s the latest directorial offering from Stanley Tucci. The camera framing is absolutely beautiful with its handheld movements. Through his direction, Tucci makes some wise choices early on to hide the portrait of James Lord (Armie Hammer) even if audiences would beg for even just a glimpse of the master…
"Final Portrait: A Character Study"