Jason Isaacs and and Martha Plimpton in Franz Kranz's "Mass."Sundance Two couples enter a small room in a church. “It’s a secluded room,” utters the church employee. There’s a layer of ambiguity that surrounds this meeting. You know it’s a tragic event based on the social worker’s survey of the room. The sheer appearance of … Continue reading SUNDANCE REVIEW: MASS (2021)
SUNDANCE REVIEW: PASSING (2021)
Ruth Negga and Tessa Thompson in Rebecca Hall's "Passing" Sundance “We’re all of us passing for something or other, aren’t we?” Rebecca Hall’s inspiration in adapting Nella Larsen’s novel, Passing, didn’t come from her need to bring this rather artistic short story to life, but rather a strong connection to the material. Hall’s grandfather, a … Continue reading SUNDANCE REVIEW: PASSING (2021)
REVIEW: MALCOLM AND MARIE (2021)
John David Washington and Zendaya in Sam Levinson's 'Malcolm and Marie.' Netflix “You know what, Malcolm, if you're gonna treat me like an insane person and call me fucking crazy, the least you could do is do it without casually eating macaroni and cheese.” Director Sam Levinson comes back after his successful HBO drama, Euphoria. … Continue reading REVIEW: MALCOLM AND MARIE (2021)
REVIEW: NINE DAYS (2021)
Winston Duke as Will in Edson Oda's "Nine Days." “You are being considered for the amazing opportunity of life.” Many film from 2020 made us grieve, or at least had us trying to understand the meaning of loss in our lives. Nine Days, while dealing with the impact of loss, makes you feel fortunate to … Continue reading REVIEW: NINE DAYS (2021)
REVIEW: OUR FRIEND (2021)
Casey Affleck and Jason Segal in "Our Friend." Gravitas Ventures “I thought it was a story about Nicole.” “I thought so too.” When we’re young, we brag about having that BFF, or Best Friend Forever. We go to the movies together, and spend the night at each other’s house. But as we get older, our … Continue reading REVIEW: OUR FRIEND (2021)
REVIEW: WANDER DARKLY (2020)
Diego Luna and Sienna Miller in "Wander Darkly." Lionsgate “And one for tomorrow…” The stories of a crumbling relationship are nothing new to cinema. However, there’s something so compelling about the examination of a relationship through the eyes of one, or both people involved. Wander Darkly, takes that intriguing storyline, and pairs it with a … Continue reading REVIEW: WANDER DARKLY (2020)
REVIEW: ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (2020)
Amazon Studios “Brother, you could move mountains without lifting a finger.” As we see in today’s news, the police brutality, protests, and demanding of basic human rights, we turn to the stories of old, embracing those who fought for their rights and, in the process, stopped those who would infringe on those demands. One Night … Continue reading REVIEW: ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI (2020)
REVIEW: PIECES OF A WOMAN (2020)
Vanessa Kirby and Ellen Burstyn in Kornél Mundruczó’s 'Pieces of a Woman' BRON Studios “We need —we need some justice here!” “No, you need. That is what you want. That is what you need. That is your way!” It’s incredibly hard when someone loses a loved one. But anytime a mother loses her baby, it … Continue reading REVIEW: PIECES OF A WOMAN (2020)
REVIEW: FATALE (2020)
“I have to say, you are one very convincing liar.” Barbara Stanwyck, Lana Turner, and Gene Tierney. Besides these women being prominent figures of classic film, what do they have in common? At one time in their career, these actresses played a femme fatal — my personal favorite being Stanwyck in Double Indemnity. Their beauty … Continue reading REVIEW: FATALE (2020)
REVIEW: MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (2020)
Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman in 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' Netflix “One, two, you know what to do.” For those who love the blues of the early 1900s, you may know the “Mother of the Blues,” Ma Rainey — a sultry singer whose sorrowful lyrics, and swinging tempo, will get you to tap your foot. … Continue reading REVIEW: MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM (2020)
