I’m all for Tom Holland and the Russo brothers spreading their creative wings and trying to do more than Marvel blockbuster films, but maybe they should choose better projects than this one. “Cherry” is based on the popular semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by Nico Walker. Tom Holland stars as an Army veteran who… Continue reading ‘Cherry’ Review: A Swing-and-a-Miss on Almost Every Level
“The Independents” is a semi-true story of the formation of the band The Sweet Remains, and stars the real-life members of the band Rich Price, Greg Naughton, and Brian Chartrand as fictionalized versions of themselves. Naughton also writes and directs, with Boyd Gaines, James Naughton, Keira Naughton, Kelli O’Hara, Chris Sullivan, George Wendt, and Richard… Continue reading ‘The Independents’ Review: Simple but Heartfelt
This film will be noted as one of the best of 2021, but is going to receive nominations for the 2020 awards season. Make it make sense. “Judas and the Black Messiah” tells the story of criminal-turned-FBI informant William O’Neal (LaKeith Stanfield) and his betrayal of Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton (Daniel Kaluuya). Jesse… Continue reading ‘Judas and the Black Messiah’ Review: Electric and Unmissable History Lesson
From the director of light-hearted family dramas like “The Blind Side” and “Saving Mr. Banks” comes… a dark noir centered on a series of unsolved murders. “The Little Things” stars Denzel Washington as a seasoned sheriff’s deputy who helps an LAPD detective (Rami Malek) solve a series of recent murders. Jared Leto and Natalie Morales… Continue reading ‘The Little Things’ Review: Both the Good and Bad of Crime Thrillers
This film’s entire message is “careful what you wish for,” and it rings true about the release of the film itself. “Wonder Woman 1984” is the sequel to the 2017 film, and features Gal Gadot returning to the titular role. Here, she and her long-lost love Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) must stop a businessman bent… Continue reading ‘Wonder Woman 1984’ Review: More Flawed Than Fun
2020 has been crazy, so there’s something comforting about a Pixar movie around Christmas to end the year. “Soul” follows a middle school music teacher (voiced by Jamie Foxx) with dreams of being a jazz musician who dies and must work with a young soul (Tina Fey) to return to Earth. Questlove, Phylicia Rashad, Daveed… Continue reading ‘Soul’ Review: Heart, Humor, and a Whole Lotta Jazz
As far as blatant rip-offs go, I’ve seen worse than this. “The Midnight Sky” is the latest directorial effort from George Clooney, based on the novel “Good Morning, Midnight.” The film follows a lone scientist in the Arctic (Clooney) who must journey to a radio tower to warn off a returning spaceship (containing Felicity Jones,… Continue reading ‘The Midnight Sky’ Review: You’ve Seen This a Dozen Times Before, So Why Not Once More?
Sometimes good intentions aren’t good enough. “All My Life” is based on a true story and follows a young couple (Jessica Rothe and Harry Shum Jr.) that must put their wedding on hold after one of them receives a cancer diagnosis. Kyle Allen, Chrissie Fit, Jay Pharoah, Marielle Scott, and Keala Settle also star while… Continue reading I Could Go ‘All My Life’ Without Every Thinking About This Film Again
I feel the amount of anticipation and pressure on this film and David Fincher to deliver can’t be understated. “Mank” is the latest film from director David Fincher, and his first since 2014’s “Gone Girl.” Written by his father Jack Fincher, the film follows writer Herman Mankiewicz (Gary Oldman) and his development of the script… Continue reading ‘Mank’ Review: A Witty and Meticulous Hollywood Homage
Chadwick Boseman, man, gone way too soon… “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” is based on the play of the same name by August Wilson, and follows “Mother of the Blues” singer Ma Rainey (Viola Davis) amid a stressful recording session one summer afternoon in 1927 Chicago. Chadwick Boseman also stars (in his final film appearance), with… Continue reading Chadwick Boseman Gives a Touching Swansong Performance in ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’
The Reel Deal 