Jay Roach’s latest directorial film Bombshell has something in common with Smucker’s Magic Shell. You remember Smucker’s….you pour it over your ice cream and it becomes a crunchy shell. I don’t know about you, but I always thought the shell ruined the pleasure of ice cream, just as I felt at the beginning of Bombshell… Continue reading Tale of Two Shells: Bomb & Smucker’s Magic
Category: drama based on a true story
Richard Jewell, What a Gem!
Do you care if a movie strays from a historical tale IF it is a well told story? I guess I’ll find out after I write this review as I had avoided the articles about the controversy after finding a key piece of plot surprise that I did not want to know about the actual… Continue reading Richard Jewell, What a Gem!
Almost Toxin, West Virginia
Mark Ruffalo deserves some credit. He could choose pretty roles at this point in his career, fun stuff like all comic book movies or even hold out for the ninth Tarantino, but no, Ruffalo has consistently chosen movies he finds important: Spotlight, Foxcatcher and now the well written and directed “Black Waters”. “Black Waters” details… Continue reading Almost Toxin, West Virginia
Inside Game, A Tremendous Rebound
Say what you might about the B level soundtrack and some of the clunky performances, Inside Game (directed by Randall Bantinkoff and written by Andy Callahan) has the true to life gritty feel of a quality reality show. It’s the perfect movie for sports fans, especially NBA fans, a hot topic right now considering that… Continue reading Inside Game, A Tremendous Rebound
Ford V. Ferrari…Plastic Bumpers & Loose Screws
Ok, I need a mechanic..ya see, I’ve got this car and it looks great (Christian Bale, Tracy Letts) and has a tremendous history (the life story of Ken Miles is truly compelling), HOWEVER, the freakin’ thing seems to sputter. Jez and John-Henry Butterworth co-wrote the script and have done super work on Black Mass and… Continue reading Ford V. Ferrari…Plastic Bumpers & Loose Screws
My New Number One Movie of the Year: Honey Boy
Results may change after some thought, but after seeing Honey Boy over the weekend in NYC, it’s my number one film of the year. In fact, when you think about it, the film has a great horse name, hence my top three finishers in this year’s ‘race’ are: 1. Honey Boy 2. The Lighthouse 3.… Continue reading My New Number One Movie of the Year: Honey Boy
Pain & Glory: Espera un Minuto
Excuse me Senor, while I respected and ‘enjoyed’ the thorough story telling of Pain & Glory, I have to scream out ‘espera un minuto’ as far as all the accolades the film has received. Willem, Shia and Joaquin all did mucho more acting in The Lighthouse, Peanut Butter Falcon and Joker respectively and deserved the… Continue reading Pain & Glory: Espera un Minuto
Just four years later, bet it wouldn’t be made: True Story
I wondered if Rupert Goold was one of those writer/directors that critics just don’t like after many disparaged “Judy”, a movie I found quite moving. Hence, I watched “True Story” from 2015 which Goold co-wrote with David Kajganich (from A Bigger Splash!!!) based on the book by former New York Times Reporter Michael Finkel. Cue… Continue reading Just four years later, bet it wouldn’t be made: True Story
Standing Ovation: Zellweger as “Judy”
Typically I’d start out by praising a director of a tremendous film like “Judy”, but this screenplay calls for a standing ovation for dialogue. Realistic and witty, Tom Edge (and the original stage playwright Pete Quilter) I hope will win professional awards for their yeoman’s work. Director Rupert Goold also deserves high praise for a… Continue reading Standing Ovation: Zellweger as “Judy”
Dear Stanley, ‘Final Portrait’: a masterpiece!
Looking to broaden my film community, I looked longingly at Selby Library’s Film Group Meeting which was showing “Shine”, the Australian movie for which Geoffrey Rush won an Oscar. Alas, I could not attend due to work, but thought I’d check out the protocol there on the off chance their discussion lasted longer than my… Continue reading Dear Stanley, ‘Final Portrait’: a masterpiece!