“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 […]
A coach gets into trouble, suffers a career setback, and has to redeem himself — both professionally and personally — in an unusual environment. It’s a sports movie cliche as old as the peach basket… and the exact set-up of the latest effort in the genre: “Champions”. Woody Harrelson plays Coach Marcus. He an assistant […]
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 […]
When I first heard about “80 For Brady”, one thought crossed my mind (along with, as a diehard Philadelphia Eagles fan, why would anyone want to make a movie about Tom Brady?): Is this concept based on a true story? And I learned the answer is Yes – sort of. Five Massachusetts women of a […]
“Maybe I Do” stars six celebrated actors, paired-up in three groupings: – Richard Gere and Susan Sarandon (who previously co-starred together in “Shall We Dance?” and “Arbitrage”) play the older couple involved in an affair, which is now in its fourth month. – Emma Roberts and Luke Bracey (leads in 2020 Netflix rom-com “Holidate”) play […]
When “Searching” was released in 2018, it made a little noise at the box office. Some moviegoers were intrigued by its unique, but faulty, point of view. A dad (John Cho) uses his missing daughter’s computer webcam to try and track her down. Nearly the entire movie takes place on this screen, with various windows […]
James Cameron released “Avatar” in December 2009, 12 years after his previous film, the powerhouse “Titanic”. “Avatar” was not the first major 3D release of the modern era (there were plenty of animated films already showcasing the technology). But its gigantic success put cartoon dollar signs in the eyeballs of every studio exec. In early […]
Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans” is inspired by the iconic director’s childhood and early love of seeing and making movies. It’s a drama filled with conflict, pain, and characters feeling sad and depressed. Ironically, it’s also one of the lightest dramas I’ve ever seen in recent years. Maybe that’s because the film is replete with corny, […]
Bill Nighy has charmed audiences on stage and screen for more than five decades, particularly in his native England. He became a household name to U.S. audiences with his role as singer Billy Mack in 2003 rom-com “Love Actually”. Memorable characters in two “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” installments followed, along […]
Riding the popularity of recent murder mystery films such as “Knives Out” (and the upcoming sequel), the “Murder on the Orient Express” and “Death on the Nile” remakes, and the generically titled “Murder Mystery”, comes a more tongue-in-cheek approach to the whodunit genre. Agatha Christie’s play “The Mousetrap” has been performed continuously in London’s West […]