“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 […]
You may know Julie Delpy as an actress and star of the much beloved “Before” trilogy with Ethan Hawke. (She also received Oscar nominations for co-writing two of those installments.) But Delpy is also an established and highly-respected director. Her latest feature (#7) is “My Zoe”, which she also wrote and stars in. Delpy plays […]
“Silk Road” is based on real life events, first brought to light in a 2014 Rolling Stone article. You may recall that piece or the news stories from that time. If not, you will certainly remember the players and their plights after watching this taut, timely thriller. Nick Robinson stars as computer whiz Ross Ulbricht. […]
“The Mauritanian” has received two Golden Globe nominations for stars, Tahar Rahim (relatively unknown to American audiences) and acting legend Jodie Foster, who’s making a comeback with this film. The recognitions are well-deserved, particularly for Rahim. His portrayal of suspected 9/11 terrorist Mohamedou Ould Salahi holds this ‘based on a true story’ intellectual thriller together. […]
“Supernova” is writer/director Harry Macqueen’s second film. He brings together two acting heavyweights — Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci — for this heavy, set in the UK drama. Firth’s Sam (a celebrated pianist) and Tucci’s Tusker (a successful author and astronomy aficionado) have been a couple for a long time. They decide to take a […]
Will Frances McDormand pick-up Oscar #3 — three years after she won for “Three Billboards”? “Nomadland”, a passion project for her and writer/director Chloe Zhao, is an early favorite in multiple categories in this delayed awards season. The film is set in 2012 and stars McDormand as Fern. After losing her job, her husband and […]
Director Steven Soderbergh has been in a rough patch of late. His last four movies were all misfires (either with critics, at the box office, or both). And his 2011 drama “Contagion” has been quoted and viewed more than he ever intended. However, Soderbergh’s latest, “Let Them All Talk” (available on HBO Max), is one […]
“Sound of Metal” is one of the best movies of 2020. It’s also one of the top movie experiences of recent years. Riz Ahmed (“Nightcrawler”) gives a thoroughly commanding performance as Ruben. He’s a recovering addict and drummer in a heavy metal band fronted by girlfriend Lou (Olivia Cooke). Years of exposure to loud music […]
“Ammonite” is the story of 19th century British fossil collector and paleontologist Mary Anning. She runs a tourist shop in Dorset, Southwest England, with her elderly mother. But her passion is searching for rare rocks and marine fossils in the cliffs along the English Channel. Her discoveries have made her famous in the collector community. […]
The trend of studios picking-up movies previously in limbo continues. Paramount, the studio that helped give Margot Robbie her big break with 2013’s “The Wolf of Wall Street”, is now distributing her latest film. “Dreamland” first screened in April 2019 at the Tribeca Film Festival. The setting is 1935 Texas. 17-year-old Eugene (played by Finn […]