In the opening narration of “Kubo and the Two Strings”, our young hero asks of us, “If you must blink, do it now.” Turns-out – it’s difficult to take your eyes off the screen while watching one of the most visually striking and emotionally intense movies of the year. “Kubo” is the latest stop-motion animated […]
“The Meddler” is writer/director Lorene Scafaria’s extremely personal follow-up to her innovative 2012 indie “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World”, which featured Steve Carell and Keira Knightley finding humor, and each other, on the cusp of the Apocalypse. For her latest film, Scafaria turns to a more low-key, but just as enriching […]
“Zootopia” is unlike any Disney animated movie I’ve ever seen. Going in I wondered, “what is it about this talking animal adventure that will make it stand out from all the others?” The answer: a seven-person story team that’s crafted an extremely human tale set in an incredible animated world. “Zootopia” is actually a big-budget, […]
Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara give two of the most powerful performances of the year in the “forbidden” romantic drama “Carol”. Director Todd Haynes (“Far from Heaven”, “I’m Not There.”) captures the elegance and beauty of falling in love in 1950s New York. This is a simple, but thoroughly moving film. Blanchett embodies the title […]
When Blue Sky Studios, the makers of the “Ice Age” franchise, announced they were going to tackle the world of Charlie Brown and Co. with a CGI “Peanuts” movie, the expression “Good Grief” was heard loud and wide – the general opinion being: Why mess such beloved characters? But, 65 years after the comic strip […]
Ten years ago, Anne Hathaway played the personal assistant to high-strung fashion magazine mogul Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) in “The Devil Wears Prada”. Now, a decade later, Hathaway is the passionate, stressed-out, bike-riding-at-the-office boss of her own successful online fashion company and 72-year-old Robert De Niro is “The Intern” – though he quickly becomes much […]
UK-based Aardman is one of the most reliable animation studios operating today. Practically every feature and short they’ve produced has been a winner, led, of course, by their iconic creations – “Wallace & Gromit”. Now, with its first film since 2012’s non-stop laugh fest “The Pirates! Band of Misfits”, Aardman brings British TV animation staple […]
The documentary “Amy” powerfully chronicles the successful and sad life of singer Amy Winehouse, who died in 2011. The Grammy-winning Jazz artist from England rose to fame with her “Back to Black” album and hit songs such as “Rehab” and “I Heard Love Is Blind”. However, her personal life was more often in the spotlight […]
“Ted” was “Family Guy” creator Seth MacFarlane’s first feature film, co-writing and directing the tale of a foul-mouthed teddy bear who comes to life. Saying the film was a success is an understatement, so it’s no surprise that – 3 years later – we have “Ted 2”. What is surprising is that this sequel is […]
Disney’s animated “Cinderella” was released in 1950. Now, 65 years later, as part of The Mouse House’s current trend of remaking/reimagining classics from the vault (which will continue over the next few years with new versions of “The Jungle Book”, “Pete’s Dragon” and “Beauty and the Beast”), veteran director Kenneth Branagh brings to life the […]