Godzilla versus King Kong is a concept that does not need much justification. They’re massive animals who destroy cities, and even though you have to shrink Zilla or add a few hundred feet to Kong’s stature to make it work, audiences deserve to see these beasts battle on the big screen. In 1…
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Ever since Disney transitioned from 2-D cell animation to computer-generated animation, they’ve fiddled with their Disney Princess formula. “Frozen” eschews a romance for a story about sisterhood, “Moana” introduces the legend/quest element to the mix, and with “Raya and the Last Dragon,” we…
Chloe Zhao paints a moody landscape of the American West with her new film “Nomadland.” Her latest project, now available to stream on Hulu, captures the lives of communal travelers who willingly live their final years on the road. They work odd jobs to supplement whatever income or Social S…
Emerald Fennell’s debut feature “Promising Young Woman” is a pitch-black comedic tragedy that will certainly divide audiences but keep them talking for weeks. The film deals with difficult subject matter like sexual assault, misogyny and revenge porn, and it takes a hard stance against abuse…
Pete Docter has become the emotional guy over at Disney’s Pixar. Starting with “Monsters Inc” but fully realized with the devastating “Up” and the complex yet tender “Inside Out,” Docter’s voice within the studio — generally known for its emotional storytelling — is singular and impactful. W…
The core of every great story is a character arc. For this reason, most screenplays focus on a point where the main character learns something about themself or the world they inhabit. In this regard, nothing could be more immediate and personal than the story of a man’s journey from rock mu…
Sweet, delightfully cheesy, and fun, Hulu’s newest release “Happiest Season”, is a sweet, funny Christmas rom-com. Starring Kristen Stewart and Mackenzie Davis as the leading couple, the film is a perfect, escapist holiday flick. Charming and idyllic, “Happiest Season” finds itself right at …
Aneesh Chaganty’s latest thriller, the Hulu original film “Run,” combines the claustrophobic intensity of “Misery” and “Rear Window” with the complicated and sometimes over-the-top mother/daughter dynamics of “Mother Dearest.” These influences come together to form a 90-minute potboiler that…
Recently released to Netflix with much anticipation, “The Devil All the Time,” based upon the book of the same name by Donald Ray Pollock, follows the story of a boy and his family in a small town in the middle of the 20th century. With Tom Holland as the lead character, the strong supportin…
Netflix recently revived Mart Crowley’s groundbreaking play, “The Boys in the Band,” one of the first productions to portray gay characters living gay lives and discussing contemporary gay issues. After premiering off-Broadway in 1968, William Friedkin (“The Exorcist”) directed the film adap…
A modern interpretation of the classic Daphne Du Maurier novel and much respected 1940 film adaptation, Netflix’s “Rebecca” brings little more to the table than gorgeous sets and costumes. Like many Netflix films before it, the sleek and unimpressive editing, script and direction do the film…
The niche video streaming service Shudder, a subscription-based app dedicated to horror content, presents us with their latest original film, “Scare Me,” an atypical horror-comedy released just in time for Halloween.
Marvel’s “The New Mutants” was intended to be released just before movie theaters shut down in an attempt to stop the spread of coronavirus. Marketed as a darker, more mature spin-off of Marvel’s “X-Men” series, the “New Mutants” was highly anticipated. With a crew of well-regarded Hollywood…
Arthur Jones's documentary “Feels Good Man" weaves a narrative web that ties together the separate worlds of independent comics, meme culture, the dark web, political psyops and the rise of a new wave of American fascism.
Released to Amazon Prime Video on Aug. 14, “Sputnik” is presented as a classic man versus alien story through a Soviet era lens. A double entendre, the title’s a clever reference both to the Russian spaceship and the word’s literal meaning of “companion” not to subtly hints at the terror to …
It’s been 24 years since Alex Winter and Keanu Reeves starred as their signature characters, Bill and Ted. The duo surprised audiences and critics with their ’80s teen sci-fi comedy “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” which was initially shelved for two years before its 1989 release date…
“An American Pickle” is the new high-concept comedy that has recently premiered on HBO Max. This quirky picture employs broad, folkloric plot mechanics to discuss the importance of cultural identity and the way it shifts through intergenerational social standards. For the children and grandc…
A modern take on the classic haunted house films of days gone by, “You Should Have Left” gives the classic haunted-house horror the Airbnb treatment. Starring Kevin Bacon and Amanda Seyfried, the two deliver equally compelling performances as a couple finding themselves in rough waters. Buil…
“The Old Guard,” a straight-to-Netflix action movie starring Charlize Theron, feels like a movie from another time. I’m not talking about a time before comic book adaptations were a thing, but rather, a time when properties based on comic books were embarrassed to identify as such. Films lik…
In our house, I always end up with leftover bread. Whether it’s hot dog or hamburger buns, or just the last few slices of a loaf of wheat or challah bread. Often, it is too much for just the two of us. So instead of it going to waste, I make one of my favorite treats — my simple bread puddin…
