Better than that academic boost, you will find a zealous movie that stands with decisiveness as one of the finest films of the year. The Tragedy of Macbeth seizes that prominence with precisely those two aforementioned traits: an inspired look and fire within the performers. There is no shortness of acting brilliance or production value perfection in every corner and millisecond of this picture.
Read MoreOne of the most dramatic of all meteorological phenomenon is fog. It can be used to ratchet up tension, conceal terrifying creatures, and even provide important characters with a suitably dramatic entrance. Spanning genres from horror to sci-fi, mist and fog are more versatile than mere set dressing. This infographic from Vaping Man shares the importance (not forgetting the scare-factor) that fog brings to the silver screen.
Read MoreDesigned by H.R. Giger and manifested by Oscar-winning special effects puppetry, the unforgettable xenomorph creature that debuted in 1979’s Alien lunged with more menace than suddenness. The acid-dripping extraterrestrial was an overpowering stalker. Fast-forward 38 years to Alien: Covenant, and the CGI-boosted effects capable today have accelerated the monster’s lethal velocity to an unhinged and downright bonkers level. Let me tell you, that’s a dandy of a jolt.
Read MoreWhen it comes to crime families in movies, any contenders and pretenders that want to be taken seriously are kissing the Corleone ring of “The Godfather” trilogy. That’s not happening with the Cutler clan in Adam Smith’s “Trespass Against Us.” As a mishmash of trailer park trash puffing their chests to operate with supposed principles, they occupy the polar opposite end of the glamorous spectrum of organized crime. Call them an “Irish fugazi,” if you will, complete with their own membership rings and cracks in the hierarchy.
Read MoreOne could say melodramas take preposterous human mistakes and play them for dramatic effect. They challenge the audience to interpret how you would act defiantly or morally differently in the same situation. These films do so while still compelling you watch in hope for any semblance of a happy ending. To understand “The Light Between Oceans” is to understand melodrama. The themes of melodramatic journeys are meant to be arduous. In the medium of film, the clinchers that aid in the ability to embrace and appreciate a melodrama are its tone and the acting performances. “The Light Between Oceans” flourishes to accomplish both benchmarks.
Read MoreI prefer to be strict enough with my mind and my heart to rank the best and not just give some alphabetical list. This was a difficult list to settle on for an order. After 84 films this year, I think I've seen all I need to see to give out a complete and legitimate "10 Best" list. Here are my picks and, in the spirit of this site, each of the "10 Best" are paired with their best life lesson. Enjoy!
Read More51st Chicago International Film Festival Highlight special presentation
When you have a film adaptation of a William Shakespeare play as arresting, brawny, and commanding as Justin Kurzel's "Macbeth," one has to throw the theater snob rant out the window. They are exactly like the "book is better than the movie crowd" only more under-served. We get it. No cinematic adaptation is ever going to satisfy everyone. My advice is get over the nit-picking and soak in a movie and treat it as a different medium entirely than the static stage. This new "Macbeth" is an event, not a play, and a darn good one.
Read MoreThe holiday months of November and December stand to close out a strong 2015. Some films debuting in October may have elected to take an early jump into the Oscar season, but it's here where the race really begins. Between the year-end blockbusters and the Oscar hopefuls, this 2015 holiday movie season is packed. Six of this website's "15 most anticipated films of 2015" are finally arriving. Here's a full preview of this season's upcoming films.
Read MoreHere is your lineup of upcoming films for the peak Oscar season months of November and December. Add these to your calendar or print and slip this list on the fridge. As always, release dates shift all of the time, so be aware. My full seasonal preview will be coming soon! Enjoy!
Read MoreAnnually, the Chicago International Film Festival houses some of the first opportunities to Oscar contenders and world-class films. With so many choices, what are the high-profile or can’t-miss films appearing at the year’s festival? Here are this website’s picks for the top 10 must-see films of the 51st Chicago International Film Festival.
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