Here we go again: “Synchronic” is yet another 2020 time travel movie. Unfortunately, it’s not a good one. Directors Justin Benson (who also penned it) and Aaron Moorhead needed a “Total Rewrite”. The set-up is fairly tolerable. Following a bizarre but memorable open, we meet New Orleans paramedics Steve (Anthony Mackie) and Dennis (Jamie Dornan). […]
Writer/Director Cooper Raiff has created a breakthrough movie about college, college students and the college experience. Sound impossible? How about if I add that Raiff is also the lead actor in “Shithouse”. And that Raiff is only 23-years-old and this is his feature film debut in all three roles. The title refers to one of […]
“The Boys in the Band” was a groundbreaking 1968 stage play. Two years later, it became a film from “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist” director William Friedkin. In 2018, the play arrived on Broadway with an all-star cast, including Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and Andrew Rannells. Now comes a new film version […]
“Eternal Beauty” is an extremely personal movie for writer/director Craig Roberts. And it may hit close to home for you, as well. Roberts’ film is based on his own life experience, growing-up in family with a member who struggled with mental illness. Sally Hawkins plays main character Jane (as an adult). Jane is a paranoid […]
In “The Last Shift”, Richard Jenkins plays Stanley. He’s worked at the same Dearborn, Michigan fast food restaurant for the past 38 years. But Stanley’s finally ready to move on. He’s made plans to head down to Florida to care for his elderly mother. But that’s easier said than done. Less than a week before […]
“Kajillionaire” is one of 2020’s toughest movies to like. There’s so much that writer/director Miranda July does to prevent us from believing this story and attaching ourselves to the characters. The film’s only authentic feature is that it’s centered around grifters: scam artists who secretly steal in order to provide for themselves while taking advantage […]
Bruce Dern is the artist and fellow Oscar nominee Lena Olin is his wife in the simply titled, “The Artist’s Wife”. This isn’t a follow-up to the 2011 silent, black-and-white Oscar winner, but it comes close to being as unnecessary as that film would be. Art is subjective. But I’d be surprised if anyone outside […]
Traditionally, movies that adapt or borrow from real-life situations tend to include some unbelievable elements for overblown, dramatic intent. “Infidel”, which is based on true events, doesn’t rely on such antics. Instead, this is one of the most authentic-feeling films of 2020. Doug (Jim Caviezel) is a Christian journalist and blogger living in Washington D.C. […]
Other than the title and lead actors, I knew nothing about “The Secrets We Keep” before I watch it. So, in order for you to be equally surprised by this Bleecker Street drama, I’m going to keep a lot of the plot details secret. But not my thoughts. Writer/director Yuval Adler proves you don’t need […]
Director Roger Michell has tackled a variety of topics in his films: movie star romance (“Notting Hill”), TV news (“Morning Glory”), FDR’s fascination with hot dogs (“Hyde Park on Hudson”) and now… assisted suicide. “Blackbird” is a remake of the 2014 Danish film “Silent Heart”. Susan Sarandon plays Lily. She’s a wife and mother for […]