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…
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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…
A merge of many powerful comedic talents in both leading and supporting roles, “Like a Boss” was much awaited and seemed set to succeed. However, despite the unique premise and star power, the rough dialogue and awkward pacing quickly make it clear that the cast themselves are much funnier t…
Outside of ABBA, most Americans are completely unfamiliar with the phenomenon known as the Eurovision Song Contest. Every year, countries from all over eastern and western Europe send a singer or singing group to compete by performing a live song, often displaying flamboyant costumes and ove…
While marketing and trailers may have implied that “The Invisible Man” is your average Hollywood remake, the film itself is anything but. With a superior cast and crew, the subtle camera work and direction are supported by Elisabeth Moss’ underlined performance of the downtrodden yet determi…
Pete Davidson rose to prominence on "Saturday Night Live" by occupying the same youthful, bashful-yet-biting space that Adam Sandler carved out with his many Weekend Update characters; the same archetype that Jimmy Fallon tried to replicate with lukewarm results. Davidson seems so shy that h…
When the national release of a movie coincides with the tragic shutdown of theaters nationwide, distributors were given one of two options: either delay the release to some later date, hoping theaters will be open then, or find another option to release your film to audiences. “Trolls 2: Wor…