The Business of Film and Entertainment
Written by: Victoria Alexander
It builds to a sensational, illuminating scene between Johansson and Driver, then slips when Driver, who does have a strong singing voice, uses the film to audition for a Broadway musical. It’s tough to make a film about marriage. You … Continue reading
Written by: Victoria Alexander
All hail the triumphant return of Sarah Connor. They got it right. Let’s ignore the ridiculous previous – financial, rather than heroic, attempts to keep the franchise going – and just say here is the sequel to that money-making name … Continue reading
Written by: Victoria Alexander
Brilliant and astonishing. See Joker and there is no need to see any other movie in 2019. Joker is a brave and daring film. Joaquin Phoenix as Arthur Fleck/Joker creates a fully realized unique character. The screenplay by director Todd … Continue reading
Written by: Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Associate Editor
Crown Vic (Joel Souza, 2019) 2 out of 4 stars. A police thriller with few police and fewer thrills, Crown Vic nevertheless offers a few rewards for the patient viewer, though these come wrapped in a derivative package that recalls Antoine … Continue reading
Written by: Christopher Llewellyn Reed, Associate Editor
For Sama (Waad al-Kateab/Edward Watts, 2019) 4 out of 4 stars. A documentary that combines the first-person narrative of a video essay with an unflinching account of the humanitarian crisis in war-torn Syria, For Sama follows its co-director and subject, Waad … Continue reading
Written by: Hannah Tran
End of the Century (“Fin de siglo”) (Lucio Castro, 2019) 3 out of 4 stars. We’ve seen this story before. Two characters meet by chance while on a getaway in a European city and end up passing time there with … Continue reading
Written by: Rob Goald, Senior Editor
The Cheerful Subversive’s Guide to INDEPENDENT FILMMAKING By Dan Mirvish Routledge/Taylor & Francis A Focal Press Book New York 2017 Learning how to produce ultra-low-budget feature films is a demanding and complicated task. Even earning a bachelor’s degree in Film, … Continue reading
Written by: Christopher Llewellyn Reed
In Lower Manhattan, bordered on the west by the Hudson River, the east by Broadway, the north by Canal Street, and on the south by the World Trade Center site, lies the neighborhood known as Tribeca (formerly spelled “TriBeCa,” each … Continue reading
Written by: Stan Popovich
Many celebrities deal with the pressures of Hollywood on a regular basis. Here are some suggestions on how to manage the stresses and anxieties of dealing with peer pressure when working in Hollywood. 1. Know Where You Stand. Ask yourself … Continue reading
Ford v Ferrari (James Mangold, 2019) 3½ out of 4 stars. As the endless barrage of superhero movies continue to dominate the theaters during the summer months, James Mangold’s Ford v Ferrari brings back the invigorating feeling of blockbusters of yesteryear in … Continue reading
The Good Liar (Bill Condon, 2019) 2 out of 4 stars. Nothing more satisfying than seeing a criminal get their just desserts. A simple call to the police is fine, I guess, but the more elaborate the reveal of the … Continue reading
Honey Boy (Alma Har’el, 2019) 3½ out of 4 stars. One of the best decisions writer and star Shia LaBeouf (Borg vs. McEnroe) made in the run-up to Honey Boy was hiring someone other than himself to direct. He may or … Continue reading
Charlie’s Angels (Elizabeth Banks, 2019) 2½ out of 4 stars. Before I start this review, I must state a caveat: I have not seen any of the previous entries in the “Charlie’s Angels” universe, including the original TV show. So, … Continue reading
Doctor Sleep (Mike Flanagan, 2019) 2½ out of 4 stars. A perfectly acceptable, if not particularly remarkable, adaptation of a book I haven’t read – Stephen King’s eponymous 2013 sequel to his 1977 The Shining – Doctor Sleep is mostly involving throughout its (long) … Continue reading
Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops (Jenifer McShane, 2019) 4 out of 4 stars. Jenifer McShane’s new documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops begins with the statistic that 1 in 5 Americans has a mental-health diagnosis. Then – bam! – we cut … Continue reading
Marriage Story (Noah Baumbach, 2019) 4 out of 4 stars. An alternately comedic and heartbreaking tale of divorce, Marriage Story begins with two passionate declarations of love, from each participant in the impending drama. Charlie (Adam Driver, BlacKkKlansman) goes first, delivering … Continue reading
The Irishman (Martin Scorsese, 2019) 1 out of 4 stars. Based on Charles Brandt’s 2004 true-crime nonfiction book I Heard You Paint Houses: Frank “The Irishman” Sheeran & Closing the Case on Jimmy Hoffa, Martin Scorsese’s latest sprawling mob epic, … Continue reading
Parasite (Bong Joon-ho, 2019) 4 out of 4 stars. Parasite, from South Korean director Bong Joon-ho (Snowpiercer), is a film with, and about, many layers. A parable about the wages of capitalist sins masquerading as a story of a long … Continue reading
