For the second year in a row, the best film of the year comes out at Christmas. “La La Land” stars Ryan Gosling as a jazz pianist who falls in love with an aspiring actress (Emma Stone) in Los Angeles. John Legend, Rosemarie DeWitt and J.K. Simmons also star as Damien Chazelle writes and directs.… Continue reading ‘La La Land’ a Gorgeous Film Celebrating Dreams
This film is the Anakin Skywalker of video game movies. It was supposed to be the Chosen One, the film that would finally make video game movies good and bring balance to the cinematic universe, but instead it turns out to be a bland origin story that betrays the very people that put their hope… Continue reading ‘Assassin’s Creed’ the Worst Video Game Movie of 2016, and 2016 had ‘Warcraft’
Great performance, great real-life story, meh film. “Jackie” stars Natalie Portman as the titular character of Jackie Kennedy, and follows her retelling of the days after her husband’s assassination in 1963. Peter Sarsgaard, Greta Gerwig, Billy Crudup and John Hurt also star as Pablo Larraín directs. There are plenty of examples of great actors giving… Continue reading Portman Great as ‘Jackie’ but Script Lets Her Down
Will Smith really needs to fire his agent. “Collateral Beauty” stars Smith as a grieving man who copes with the passing of his young daughter by writing letters to love, death and time. Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, Helen Mirren, Edward Norton, Michael Peña and Naomie Harris also star as David Frankel directs. The trailers for… Continue reading ‘Collateral Beauty’ an Emotionally Manipulative Misfire
Finally, a 2016 blockbuster that isn’t a let down! “Rogue One” is set between Star Wars Episodes III and IV and focuses on the rebels’ plans to steal the designs to the Death Star. Felicity Jones, Ben Mendelsohn, Mads Mikkelsen, Riz Ahmed and Forest Whitaker all star as Gareth Edwards directs. I’m not the biggest… Continue reading ‘Rogue One’ One of Best ‘Star Wars’ Films to Date
Well Casey Affleck may not be as cool or Batman-y as his older brother Ben, but he’ll be able to hold a Best Actor Oscar over him once awards season wraps up… “Manchester by the Sea” stars Affleck as a Boston janitor who becomes the guardian of his nephew after the death of his brother.… Continue reading ‘Manchester by the Sea’ Emotionally-Layered and Darkly Amusing
Finally, a film that features the excitement of an actual office Christmas party, but with all the laughs of an actual office Christmas party (so to say not much of either). “Office Christmas Party” is about exactly what its title would suggest and features an ensemble cast (including Jason Bateman, Olivia Munn, T. J. Miller,… Continue reading ‘Office Christmas Party’ as Fun as Real Company Gathering
Subtlety can be a film’s largest strength or biggest weakness, and in this case it’s both. “Loving” tells the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, an interracial couple in 1960s Virginia who fight to have the marriage laws of the United States changed. Joel Edgerton and Ruth Negga star as the couple alongside Nick… Continue reading ‘Loving’ is Well Acted but Too Subtle for its Own Good
It’s like “Café Society,” only worse. “Rules Don’t Apply” marks the cinematic return of Warren Beatty in his first acting role since 2001’s “Town & Country” and directorial effort since 1998’s “Bulworth.” Beatty stars as Howard Hughes and the story follows a contract driver (Alden Ehrenreich) and actress (Lily Collins) who are employed by Hughes… Continue reading ‘Rules Don’t Apply’ a Boring, Disappointing Return for Warren Beatty
I mean, at least it’s better than “The Hobbit” or “Star Wars” prequels… “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is the first of five (five!!) films of the spin-off prequel Harry Potter series that follows Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), the author of the animal guide students at Hogwarts will eventually use. Katherine Waterston, Dan… Continue reading ‘Fantastic Beasts’ a Comforting but Flawed Return to Harry Potter
