Archive for the 'Movie Reviews' Category
November 30th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Finding the right focus and exploring a character in interesting ways is what I enjoy when it comes to biopics. Jackie has the right idea. This is not a film about the life of Jackie Kennedy. It also doesn’t place her in a supporting role, so we can follow someone else around and observe her from afar. What this film does is much more effective. Jackie holds focus on the time surrounding the worst day of her life and what her state of mind was. The result is a dreamy, yet engaging feature.
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a Continue reading ‘‘Jackie’ Looks Into The Mind Of A Bereaved First Lady (Movie Review)’
November 25th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
At long lingering last this column reaches the end of a month long movie shaming festival for yours truly and I’m finishing the guilty pleasure series with a film that truly defies all normal entertaining cinematic comprehension – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This Boxing Day it’s me gloves to gloves against everyone as I divulge my undying love for a flick that has every bad movie cliché on the docket…and it just doesn’t matter. (Up yours Razzies!) Full of 80’s tropes (high hair, montages and leg warmers galore!), death defying dance numbers and two girls both good and bad it’s time to lay barren my affinity for the sizzling sequel that is….Staying Alive!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Staying Alive”’
November 21st, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
It seems as if there is something to praise for making the kind of movie that suggests the phrase, “They don’t make ‘em like this anymore.” Allied seems to be gunning for that reaction. The Robert Zemeckis-directed suspense drama is the sort of old-fashioned war/romance story that assumes you can enjoy it based on the straightforward narrative matched by big movie stars and impressive production values. There is not much in the way of enlightened nuance, but it hits the same sort of marks found in the films that inspired it. Does that mean there’s enough to support a viewing of this romantic mystery tale?
a Continue reading ‘It’s Love And War Between The ‘Allied’ (Movie Review)’
November 21st, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Moana is the 56th film from Walt Disney Animation Studios and continues on in a tradition that shows how the studio has built a firm reputation. Of course, more recent entries have really had to up their game in how the princess and princess-type characters are treated. It certainly shows in Moana, a mostly excellent adventure that’s so confident it almost veers too close to how in-the-know it is about what it plans to accomplish. That is hardly a criticism though, as the film is entertaining in all the right ways.
a Continue reading ‘AFI Fest 2016: Moana (Movie Review)’
November 20th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
It is irritating to see a filmmaker get close to putting something great out there, but still be ultimately undone by script issues. Split has the makings of a very clever and tense psychological thriller. A terrific turn from star James McAvoy certainly deserves plenty of praise. Still, for every new layer and reveal, there is a feeling suggesting how another look at this screenplay could have helped to better workout some of the old-fashioned ideas and configure a better resolve for the characters. Split does well to work in the moment as tense fun, but misses out on nailing what it promises in a better sense.
a Continue reading ‘AFI Fest 2016: Split (Movie Review)’
November 18th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
With only two more Friday’s left in November my four weeks of sheer and utter movie embarrassment is almost at an end so let’s finish off this second to last selection in the guilty pleasure series quick – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re going into deep, deep character clichés, cornball comedy and stereotypical scenarios for some pure gamey movie cheddar that most would consider sub-par cinema. But for yours truly all of the above B-movie badness is music to the ears with a tale of a man whose dream of finding the right woman comes true – even if she is made of wood, polystyrene and fiberglass. Where can I get a…Mannequin! Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Mannequin”’
November 18th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Manchester by the Sea is the equivalent of an arthouse blockbuster. It’s an impressively made drama from acclaimed writer/director/playwright Kenneth Lonergan about a man’s grief, while back in his hometown. It features reserved, but impressive performances from the likes of arthouse favorites Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams, with an expanded running time to make sure we follow all the moving parts to these characters and this story. Manchester by the Sea allows for more resonance when it comes to taking in the emotional payoffs of a feature like this. There’s also the universal nature to the film being shown, which means it has enough heart and humor to go along with the drama and make it ultimately quite rewarding.
Continue reading ‘Hometown Drama In ‘Manchester By The Sea’ (Movie Review)’
November 17th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
In addition to being a talented journeyman director, 2-time Oscar winner Ang Lee has shown a profundity for technical ambition in his films. 2003’s Hulk, flawed as it, could still be considered one of the more ambitiously made superhero films of the modern age. Life of Pi is one of the few films in this post-Avatar world to properly utilize 3D as more than just a monetary-based gimmick. Now we have Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk, a dramatic satire focused on a young Army specialist and how he deals with newfound fame back in 2004 America, following a heroic act while fighting in Iraq. For this, Lee went with the whole shebang, shooting at 120 frames per second in 3D at 4K HD resolution. That is wild just to think about, but the results are a film that is not only overly familiar from a story standpoint, but lacks the essence of what makes me appreciate cinema.
Continue reading ‘‘Billy Lynn’s Long’ Walk Away From Cinema (Movie Review)’
November 17th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
Still in the midst of catching up on end of the year fare (saw a whopping six movies previously missed in the last few days alone!), there’s only a trio of flicks up for dissection this week. (The Edge of Seventeen and Nocturnal Animals were not made available to yours truly, but thankfully covered by my fellow website cohorts!) So keeping a few indie nuggets alive are a dramatic doc, a strange thriller and a revenge flick that’s not standard stuff. Check out the Encapsulated Movie Reviews of Peter And The Farm, The Similars and Elle below! Continue reading ‘Encapsulated Movie Reviews – Three New Indie Titles’
November 17th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
So Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them was rather delightful. Imagine that? After a successful and unprecedented series of Harry Potter films, the choice was made to develop a spin-off series and this first entry delivered. Not being personally connected to the book series or all that familiar with Potter lore in general, this felt like a “we’ll see” type of situation and see I have. Working well to deliver on setting, spectacle and charm, this film exists in a blockbuster world where films have to play to nearly all audiences and does so without compromise. There are some issues here and there concerning how to balance a couple stories, but it did little to take away from the joy felt in seeing this wizarding world be brought back to life.
Continue reading ‘Where The Wild ‘Fantastic Beasts’ Are (Movie Review)’
November 17th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Writer/director/fashion designer Tom Ford has certainly proven he knows how to dress up a scene and his characters. Nocturnal Animals presents multiple scenarios, be it characters at home or in the middle of something out of a Cormac McCarthy novel, which feel lovingly crafted for one to observe every detail, as if reading an intense description from a book through one’s eyes. Ideally the style does not overtake the narrative presented and while this film indeed has some strong components to tell an engaging story within the moment, I can’t help but shake a sense of emptiness. Never mind how uncomfortable some of the events in this layered revenge tale managed to make me feel, there was more a nibble than a bite when it came to the impact of Nocturnal Animals.
Continue reading ‘‘Nocturnal Animals’ Show Its Stylish Teeth (Movie Review)’
November 16th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Edge of Seventeen falls under the category of one of the many types of films you expect to get in a given year. This is a coming-of-age comedy drama about a teenager navigating the socially awkward experience that is high school. Generally, when you see good versions of these types of movies come out, John Hughes is among the references to come to mind. It makes sense, as you have a central teen character speaking with confidence and solid dialogue, despite being a mess of emotions. This film does not exactly break any new ground, but it does have its share of charm, thanks to some strong performances.
a Continue reading ‘A High-Strung Teenager’s Life On ‘The Edge Of Seventeen’ (Movie Review)’
November 16th, 2016 by Brian White
Nocturnal Animals is a flick I knew nothing about weeks ago. I never heard of it before so when the press screening invite arrived in my inbox it was very much a surprise to me. I saw that Amy Adams was in it and decided to give the trailer a spin. She has been in everything else this year (BvS, Arrival) so why shouldn’t I continue rolling with her like we’re besties. The theatrical trailer looked very promising and rather Texan (in reference to the cowboy hats and scenery). However, what sealed the deal was the fact that Oblivion‘s Vika (Andrea Riseborough) is also in it. She’s one of my favorites so I signed up without anymore knowledge than that! Therefore I decided to give it a try and the next six paragraphs you’ll spend with me below sums up exactly how my time was with Amy and the rest of the star studded cast of Nocturnal Animals. Continue reading ‘Nocturnal Animals Is A Modern Day Masterpiece (Movie Review)’
November 13th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
It would be interesting to account for the number of big moments found in all of Jim Jarmusch’s films. Paterson is the 12th feature film from the acclaimed indie director and it continues to show Jarmusch’s focus on existential drama, with an absence of much in the way of impactful moments. Give or take some gunfights found in Dead Man or Ghost Dog, the director’s style has always evoked a sense of minimalism. Featuring lead characters and their contemplative sense of self, surrounded by others who are more high energy and loaded with various idiosyncrasies, Paterson finds a way to balance a sense of repetitiveness with what kind of profound discovers can be made from jotting down poetry concerning what life has to offer. The film is slow, long and uneventful. I loved it.
Continue reading ‘AFI Fest 2016: Paterson (Movie Review)’
November 13th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
The Salesman is another signifier of the kind of quality to expect from Iranian writer/director Asghar Farhadi. Sure, many of his films are bound to draw comparison to his acclaimed 2011 masterwork, the Oscar-winning A Separation, but having seen several of Farhadi’s films at this point, it is clear the man knows his way around gripping drama. Working to underplay his skill as a director, his films are not so much about clever cinematic construction (although there’s an argument to make there), as they are a careful examination of pure human response to what regular life brings upon people. Sometimes it can be unfair, sometimes different, but Farhadi’s The Salesman is just another look at what can come from circumstance.
Continue reading ‘AFI Fest 2016: The Salesman (Movie Review)’
November 12th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
Miss Sloane is the kind of film that can be championed, but called into question at the same time. On the whole, the film is a well-acted political drama that leans heavy on some pulp qualities. The film does away with overt statements arguing for specific causes, with the exception of calling out accountability and making a case for women in positions of power, who can be just as cold and calculating as men. That is still the kind of film that is not seen all that much and Miss Sloane does what it can to make its case, while providing some entertaining twists and turns along the way. I only wish the film was as smart as it thinks it is.
s Continue reading ‘AFI Fest 2016: Miss Sloane (Movie Review)’
November 12th, 2016 by Aaron Neuwirth
It takes a lot to make a dramatic feature, based on a true story, into something that hits in the right ways. Because a drama can have the intent to strike at certain chords to ideally generate emotions, there is often a level of manipulation to consider. Lion concerns the story of a lost Indian boy, who loses his family, gains another and then searches to find what he has lost. That is the sketch of a tale that will likely draw up various emotions, but the key is to earn it. The film’s success largely revolves around how it carefully navigates this story’s big moments that go from a more visceral adventure to a cerebral study of loss. It pays off big, as the film is quite the effective drama.
Continue reading ‘AFI Fest 2016: Lion (Movie Review)’
November 11th, 2016 by Jason Coleman
This week sees the continuation of the guilt ridden purge of questionable cinematic outings by yours truly in an attempt to enlighten and embarrass equally – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! For those who are old school board game junkies like me, the guilty pleasure selection below won’t come as a complete shock. (For the rest of you I feel your crappy movie pitchforks at the ready!) Combining the basic elements of an old Hasbro game in some creative and clever ways and matching it with some stylish direction, kick ass music and a little alien invasion scenario to boot, this is one big budget flop that I simply (and previously silently!) adore. Place your ships, grab your pegs and get ready to hit or miss with my shameful fav…Battleship!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Battleship”’
Finding the right focus and exploring a character in interesting ways is what I enjoy when it comes to biopics. Jackie has the right idea. This is not a film about the life of Jackie Kennedy. It also doesn’t place her in a supporting role, so we can follow someone else around and observe her from afar. What this film does is much more effective. Jackie holds focus on the time surrounding the worst day of her life and what her state of mind was. The result is a dreamy, yet engaging feature.
