Well, turns out “Dominion” being the “end of the storied franchise” lasted all of three years… “Jurassic World Rebirth” is the seventh installment of the “Jurassic Park” series, and a light reboot to-boot. Directed by Gareth Edwards, it follows a group of mercenaries (Scarlett Johansson, Mahershala Ali, Jonathan Bailey, Rupert Friend, and Ed Skrein) who… Continue reading ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ Review: An OK Return to Formula
The 2018 awards season has been nuts. Films like “First Man” that seemed built to get Oscar nominations crumbled and then the likes of “Bohemian Rhapsody” went from a probable Best Actor nominee to getting nods for Best Picture and Editing, as well as a likely Acting win. Yes, it has been crazy but it… Continue reading 91st Academy Awards Predictions: Who Will, Could, and Should Win
Unrelated fact: Tobey Maguire is the best Spider-Man we’ve ever had, and the Sam Raimi trilogy is the best superhero series ever put to film. Ok. On with the review. “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is an animated telling of the titular character (the ninth in as many years). It features Shameik Moore as Miles Morales,… Continue reading ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ isn’t Perfect, but it’s Colorful and Poignant
The guy has won an Oscar, yet somehow I feel we still don’t appreciate Mahershala Ali as much as we should… “Green Book” is the true story of bouncer Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen), who in 1962 drove classical pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) around the Deep South during a concert tour. Peter Farrelly directs and… Continue reading Two Perfectly-Cast Leads Make ‘Green Book’ Something Special
If nothing else, I got a slight chuckle here from the mini “Moonlight” reunion between Mahershala Ali and Janelle Monáe. “Hidden Figures” is the true story of the group of African-American females who helped NASA with the mathematics leading up John Glenn’s 1962 orbit of Earth. Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner,… Continue reading ‘Hidden Figures’ a Safe, By-the-Numbers Biopic
Who would have thought a coming-of-age story could be so original? “Moonlight” follows Chiron, a gay African American in Miami, through three stages of his life (youth, teen and adult) and the struggles he faces to figure out who he truly is. Trevante Rhodes, Ashton Sanders and Alex Hibbert star as the three incarnations of… Continue reading ‘Moonlight’ a Well-Acted and Masterfully Shot Drama
They say all good things must end. In the case of the “Hunger Games” franchise, the mediocre must finish, as well. “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2” (gosh, that is a pain to type) is the fourth and final film in the “Hunger Games” franchise (until they decide to give it a prequel/sequel/reboot, because,… Continue reading ‘Hunger Games’ Saga Ends on a Whimper With ‘Mockingjay – Part 2’
The Reel Deal 