In promoting “Colossal”, star and executive producer Anne Hathaway has suggested that you should go into the film without knowing anything about it. After seeing “Colossal”, my suggestion is that you simply don’t go. I knew going in that “Colossal” was going to be a little quirky and unique. And I’m all for offbeat, experimental […]
“Going in Style” was a 1979 crime caper comedy that earned a special award at the Venice Film Festival for stars George Burns, Art Carney and Lee Strasberg. Three iconic veteran actors of this generation – Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin – have all earned their fair share of awards. But they won’t […]
Hollywood’s trend of making movies specifically for overseas audiences and box office continues with “The Great Wall” – a film made in China for a reported $150 million. It’s grossed $170M in that country since its December release. And while overseas moviegoers may be game for a goofy, outlandish “historical” monster movie, here in the […]
After attending an advance screening of “A Dog’s Purpose”, I learned of the TMZ video and controversy involving one of the dogs in the film being forced to perform a stunt on set, clearly against his will – and the dangerous situation that followed. The video is shocking and it’s not surprising that PETA and […]
“Passengers” could have been one of the movie events of the year. Director Morten Tyldum follows-up his inspiring, “The Imitation Game” with two of the industry’s biggest stars – Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt – in a sci-fi action/thriller that’s essentially “Titanic in Space”. But, much like that doomed vessel, nearly everything that could go […]
Clint Eastwood’s “American Sniper” and Kathryn Bigelow’s double-header of “The Hurt Locker” and “Zero Dark Thirty” all all examined the effects of the brutality, intensity and devastation of war on the modern American soldier (and Mel Gibson also did it masterfully in the recent “Hacksaw Ridge”). In “Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk”, two-time Oscar-winning Best […]
I thought the “Harry Potter” phenomenon was FINALLY over with 2011’s satisfying conclusion – “Deathly Hallows Part 2”. But Warner Bros. needed a new, non-superhero franchise. So, with the wave of a magic wand, spinoff prequel “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” has appeared. Although this is based on just one J.K. Rowling book, […]
Many thoughts were swirling around my head as I was watching “Storks”. The opening montage reminded me of the stork delivering baby Dumbo to Mrs. Jumbo in that Disney classic. Hearing Kelsey Grammer as the voice of the stork delivery company boss made me think of his role on the TV drama, “Boss”. I enjoyed […]
If ever there was an animated franchise that’s been milked for all it’s worth, it’s “Ice Age” (though I’m not sure if you could actually milk Wooly Mammoths). What began as a noble and heartfelt, Oscar-nominated original back in 2002 (the first feature from Blue Sky Studios) is now four sequels, three shorts and two […]
I’m not sure what the problem is. Kevin Hart is a very funny guy. He’s a great storyteller in his stand-up comedy routines. He’s highly entertaining on his talk show appearances. But when it comes to movies, while Hart is a box office draw and an incredible marketer, the results continue to be very disappointing. […]