This is an enthralling documentary on the life and career of Sylvester Stallone. He is so open in this doc, with compelling stories and such intelligent thoughts about moviemaking, the industry and his filmography. We go through so many of the movies that he’s written, directed and starred in over the years and the thought […]
“The Hill” is a based-on-a-true story sports drama co-written by Angelo Pizzo, who wrote 1986’s “Hoosiers” and 1993’s “Rudy”. Not a bad resume for the genre. The A-list actor headlining “The Hill” is Dennis Quaid, who’s starred in more than a dozen sports films, including “The Rookie”, “The Express”, “Any Given Sunday” and “Blue Miracle”. […]
Two former middle school besties who haven’t seen each other in nearly 30-years reconnect and end-up going on holiday together in the new French dramedy “Two Tickets to Greece”. Writer/director Marc Fitoussi’s film is intentionally set in those glorious pre-pandemic days of 2019 (there are a couple not so subtle nods to what’s to come). […]
The breathtaking, epic love story, “Weathering with You” was my favorite animated movie of 2019. Makoto Shinkai, the writer/director of that Annie nominee, as well as 2016’s acclaimed “Your Name”, returns with another triumph. “Suzume” is a spectacular anime adventure that makes you believe in the unbelievable. Bicycling to school one morning, the teen girl […]
Quality investigative journalism films (“Nightcrawler”, “Spotlight”, “The Post”, “She Said”) have been headline grabbers over the past decade. “Boston Strangler” — a fascinating, deep-dive into the infamous serial killer spree that paralyzed Boston and surrounding areas in the early 1960s — is a triumphant addition to the genre. This movie boasts the best performances and […]
The early 1970’s religious movement that captured the nation is resurrected in this inspired effort from Lionsgate and The Erwin Brothers. It’s the latest collaboration for the studio and filmmakers, who previously delivered box office hit “I Can Only Imagine”, along with powerful, faith-based dramas “I Still Believe” and “American Underdog”. “Jesus Revolution” is an […]
“Operation Mincemeat” is the Britain-based, true story, WWII drama of the 1943 secret operation to pull-off a massive Allied invasion of occupied Sicily. Or, as Colin Firth’s Naval officer Ewen Montagu says, “We’re going to play a humiliating trick on Hitler.” Firth headlines the year’s best ensemble cast to date. Montagu teams with fellow officer […]
“My Salinger Year” is one of the best movies of 2021 so far, highlighted by yet another showcase performances from Margaret Qualley. She was the shining star of 2017’s sinfully overlooked “Novitiate”. And she sparkled in her scenes with Brad Pitt in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”. In “Salinger”, Qualley plays 23-year […]
Up in the North Pole, Jolly Ol’ St. Nick is getting ready for his annual Christmas Eve trip around the world. This year is a bit different, though. Santa will need a negative COVID-19 test result before hopping in his sleigh. And he’ll need to provide the reindeer with masks (though, for safety purposes, Rudolph’s […]
Other than the title and lead actors, I knew nothing about “The Secrets We Keep” before I watch it. So, in order for you to be equally surprised by this Bleecker Street drama, I’m going to keep a lot of the plot details secret. But not my thoughts. Writer/director Yuval Adler proves you don’t need […]