“Dance First” is a unique title for a unique movie. This is a biopic drama about Samuel Beckett, the writer of many works, including “Waiting for Godot”. He’s played by Gabriel Byrne, who delivers an excellent performance. The film opens in 1969, in black and white, when Beckett wins the Nobel Prize for Literature. He’s […]
“Robot Dreams” was an Academy Award nominee this past season for Best Animated Feature, and it won the Annie Award for Best Independent Animated Feature. NEON gave it a limited release to qualify at the end of 2023 and screened it in select theaters nationwide for one night just before the Oscars. Now, one of […]
“Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” is one of my favorite movies of all-time. I like the 2005 Johnny Depp/Tim Burton version as well. (This latest “Wonka” with Timothee Chalamet… not so much.) I think Gene Wilder will always be remembered for playing Willy Wonka, along with many other films, including collaborations with Mel Brooks […]
The French film “Driving Madeleine” is primarily about two characters. Madeleine is 92 years old. She gets into a taxi cab with a driver named Charles, who’s 46 — exactly half her age. They go through Paris and must get from one place to another, and we soon realize there are going to be a […]
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 […]
Up in the North Pole, Jolly Ol’ St. Nick is getting ready for his annual Christmas Eve trip around the world. This year is a bit different, though. Santa will need a negative COVID-19 test result before hopping in his sleigh. And he’ll need to provide the reindeer with masks (though, for safety purposes, Rudolph’s […]
John Belushi was an original cast member of “Saturday Night Live”. He starred in two of the most iconic and quotable comedies of the past 50 years: “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers”. Most people are very familiar with his work and the circumstances surrounding his death. Did the world really need a new John […]
Writer/director Jeff Roda’s “18 to Party” is set in 1984 in Upstate NY. A group of 8th graders have gathered together outside a local club, hoping to get in. They all have different personalities and represent various cliques. Some are more “popular” than others. Some have more confidence than others. What they each seem to […]
“Bad Hair” is one of the coolest movies of 2020. It’s not the deepest or the smoothest, but it’s slick, fun and original. Props go to writer/director Justin Simien, who also penned many of the film’s original songs. This isn’t a musical, but it does take place in the music/TV scene of 1989. Cable channel […]
Yes, there have been an arena full of music icon documentaries made over the past few years. But trust me — this one tops the charts. “Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something” is a comprehensive and fulfilling look at the legendary singer/songwriter, who died in 1981 at the age of 38. It celebrates the […]