Writer/director John Carney knows how to make music shine in his movies. His breakthrough 2007 drama “Once” featured the Oscar-winning song “Falling Slowly”. Tunes performed by Keira Knightley and Adam Levine rocked in “Begin Again”. And “Sing Street” is one of my 20 favorite films of the past 10 years. So my expectations were high […]
“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”. […]
If you don’t count this past February’s “Marlowe” (which was much more of a slow-paced drama than an action film), it’s actually been 16-months since the last Liam Neeson thriller. So, I guess we were due. Here comes “Retribution”. The first thing writer Chris Salmanpour and director Nimrod Antal had to decide was what to […]
“Jules” is “E.T. AARP”. Milton, a 78-year-old small-town Pennsylvania resident (played by Ben Kingsley) discovers a spaceship in his backyard. Milton’s first instinct is to call 911, which he does — but, of course, the operator doesn’t believe him. Soon an alien emerges from craft. From the start of the film we’re led to believe […]
Netflix and A24 team-up for the compelling documentary, “The Deepest Breath”. The film takes a deep dive into the extreme—ly dangerous world of freediving, through the lives of two of the sport’s most iconic participants. Director Laura McGann begins by introducing us to multi-world record holder Alessia Zecchini and safety instructor/trainer Stephen Keenan using archival […]
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). […]
Jennifer Lawrence is known for starring in R-rated comedies. She won an Oscar for her performance in one (“Silver Linings Playbook”) and was nominated the next year for her work in another (“American Hustle”). But “No Hard Feelings” is Lawrence’s entry into the *raunchy* R-rated comedy genre, and it’s not where she belongs. Lawrence plays […]
Marvel legend Stan Lee lived to the age of 96. He created some of the most iconic comic book (turned big screen) characters of all-time. He appeared in many of the movies. And he was the face of the entertainment company for most of his life. Stan Lee is one of the most well-known media […]
“Being Mary Tyler Moore”, HBO’s new documentary on the legendary actress/comedian, opens with clips from a 1966 interview between Moore and talk show host David Susskind. He’s on the attack, questioning the value of women in society and, specifically, Moore’s character on “The Dick Van Dyke Show”. Moore fights back confidently, defending Laura Petrie and […]
“Stay Awake” is family drama centered on two brothers who are trying to figure out what’s best for themselves — and their mother, who’s addicted to prescription drugs. Both Steffan Fin Argus, who plays older brother Ethan, and Wyatt Oleff, as high school senior Derek, deliver breakthrough performances. Their complex characters are portrayed with a […]