When Pixar officially announced, back in 2014, that they were developing “Toy Story 4”, just four years after “TS3”, the general reaction was not enthusiastic. “Toy Story 3” was the perfect ending to this beloved series (which was then followed by a few sweet holiday specials). “TS4” is Pixar’s biggest risk to date. And the […]
Zac Efron has built his movie career on musicals and comedies. But after witnessing his performance as infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, serious dramas may be where he belongs. Efron is captivating and transformative in Netflix’s “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile”. The film is based on Elizabeth Kloepfer’s 1981 memoir, The Phantom Prince: My […]
In January 1972, Aretha Franklin, already a multi-Grammy, #1 hits pop superstar, decided, with her next album, she would go back to her roots. She joined forces with longtime friend/mentor/producer, Reverend James Cleveland, and the Southern California Community Choir on the gospel album “Amazing Grace”. The songs were recorded, over two nights, at the New […]
“Storm Boy” is based on a beloved 1963 Australian children’s novella. That story, set in the 1950s, was actually made into a movie in 1976. This version takes the original and wraps it inside a modern tale with similar themes. The combination makes for a moving and memorable film. Geoffrey Rush stars as Michael Kingley, […]
“Destroyer” director Karyn Kusama recently told Entertainment Weekly that she thinks actress Nicole Kidman just keeps getting better. It seems like Kidman’s been around for a long time (she did win an Oscar 15 years ago for “The Hours”). But the past two years have been a defining point in her career: another Oscar nomination […]
For the past six years, whenever I heard the title “Wreck-It Ralph”, I cringed. Those words would immediately trigger a flashback to November 2, 2012. That was the day I saw that film – that mean-spirited, flat, stuffed wall-to-wall, overly cute mess, jammed with pop culture references and characters – and little else. “Wreck-It Ralph” […]
The Coen Brothers were coined as “quirky” before “quirky” moviemaking became commonplace. For me their best early film (with apologizes to “Fargo” fans) is “Raising Arizona”. Some of their more recent efforts – “Burn After Reading”, “True Grit”, “Inside Llewyn Davis” and “Hail, Caesar!” – aren’t necessarily bad movies – but all of them fall […]
I’m a big fan of movies that allow an actor to step back into the role of an iconic character he/she played decades earlier. Recently “Creed” and “Blade Runner 2049” gave Sylvester Stallone and Harrison Ford the opportunities to reflect on Rocky Balboa and Rick Deckard, respectively, and provide new depth to those characters. Now, […]
This new documentary on the history and impact of game shows is hosted by Alex Trebek and features interviews with Pat & Vanna, Regis and the late Monty Hall. What is: “Game Changers”? If, like me, you’ve loved game shows your entire life, then “Game Changers” is a must-watch. This in-depth doc on one of […]
DC has produced numerous superhero movie flops over the years. “Teen Titans Go! To the Movies”, based on the popular Cartoon Network TV series, will make you both remember and forget that fact. This delightfully funny and incredibly smart parody is what Marvel’s “Deadpool” movies have tried – and failed – to be. The Teen […]