Denzel Washington delivers a volcanic performance in his latest directorial effort, Fences, while the magnificent Viola Davis counters with her own blistering piece of internalized acting; the two artists literally explode off of the screen. Efficiently directed by Washington, the film was adapted for the screen by playwright August Wilson, whose original, Pulitzer-winning effort was…
White Bird in a Blizzard is something unique – a touching coming of age story, a tense and unpredictable whodunit with a dynamite final twist, a study of marital discord, and a time capsule back to the late 80’s, all of it filtered through some surrealistic touches and flights of fancy for good artistic measure….
Uninterested in being a straightforward biopic and all the more enjoyable because of that fact, Don Cheadle’s impressionistic and time-jumping portrait of iconic jazz artist Miles Davis, appropriately titled Miles Ahead (the title of his 1957 album), is a celebration of its subject while still presenting a warts and all narrative that focuses on the…
The DeLorean Time Machine is the most iconic car in movie history but over the years the car itself was on the verge of heading to the scrapyard after decades of harsh weather, manhandling and souvenir hunters taking bits and pieces along the way. Back to the Future writer / producer Bob Gale, Universal Studios…
The Big Lebowski is a favorite comedy for so many people because it speaks to everyone’s inner “Dude,” and it balances various forms of comedy – physical, verbal, visual, spiritual, existential – in a way that few other films have successfully pulled off. This was the last movie I think anyone would have expected from…
It’s a miracle that this movie ever got made, especially when considering it was released in 1998. Dark City is Alex Proyas’ masterwork as a filmmaker, a concoction so startling and unique which has helped to set it apart from so many other genre efforts from throughout the years. So few films are allowed…
The 2004 sports drama Miracle craftily and persuasively recreated the famous United States vs. Soviet Union hockey game where the Americans pulled one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history, beating their heavily favored opponents in the medal round, which would send Team USA to collect a rather unexpected gold medal. Kurt Russell delivered one…
La La Land is a giant burst of primary color fun, a widescreen musical that marries romantic comedy with aspirational drama, and if it’s not quite the movie I was expecting overall, it’s certainly a bold and memorable motion picture. Writer/director Damien Chazelle, working in a totally different tempo than his previous film, the razor-sharp…
I can’t believe that Bad Santa (or Badder Santa, whatever version you prefer) is almost 15 years old. It’s one of the funniest films that I’ve ever seen. It never gets old. It only gets funnier with each viewing. There’s a diseased sense of misanthropy running through the rotted heart of this cheerfully vulgar film,…
Manchester by the Sea is everything you have heard it to be and more. The backflips done by critics are totally warranted, and while this won’t be a film that everyone will appreciate, for this viewer, it represents the finest that storytelling can offer, and a complete confirmation that its writer/director, Kenneth Lonergan, is the…
t’s A Wonderful Life remains a stone cold classic of American cinema. Masterwork goes without saying; the very definition of unforgettable. Frank Capra knew how to mix true sadness with true uplift, and when you look back on the film now it’s sort of easy to understand why it wasn’t met with universal acclaim and…
Brad Bird’s wonderful film The Iron Giant has a ton of honest and genuine heart to match its retro animated style, and despite not finding a blockbuster theatrical audience, has become both a cult and family favorite for those looking for a film with a serious message and that still packs prime entertainment value. Released…
Released in limited theatrical markets last August, the rather stunning WWII espionage thriller Anthropoid deserved a much higher profile. Co-written, produced, and directed by Sean Ellis (the brilliant Metro Manila), who also served as his own astute cinematographer and nimble camera operator, this riveting piece of work tells the true story of Operation Anthropoid, which…
Matthew Ross, a former reporter for Variety and editor of Filmmaker magazine, has crafted an intense psychosexual drama with Frank and Lola, a film that might not necessarily be as believable as it wants to think that it is, but at the same time, features extremely strong performances from Michael Shannon and Imogen Poots, with…
The film i’ve been looking forward to all year, hoping and praying that The Force Awakens can be quickly forgotten, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is finally here. Directed by Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) the story takes place before that of the first Star Wars movie made way back in 1977. The empire is…
Earlier this week I had the pleasure to attend the first ever UK screening of Split. The latest film from Director M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable). Known as the king of twists M. Night didn’t disappoint with this one, James McAvoy puts in without a doubt one of the most complex, compelling and…
