There was a time Oliver Stone took risks and punched harder with his filmmaking style and history-challenging investigation efforts through compelling dramatization. The 70-year-old self-described dramatist used to stir provocative emotions and drop jaws with grand revelations. Those days feel like a distant memory with "Snowden."
Read MoreANNUAL UPDATE: I'm here for an editorial on the anniversary of 9/11 to showcase a few movies, both serious and not-so-serious, that speak to that day whether as a tribute, remembrance, or example of how life has changed since that fateful day. Enjoy!
Read MoreThe definition of "marvel" can be given as a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means "something that causes wonder, admiration, or astonishment." When used as a verb, marvel means "to wonder of be curious about." Several aspects about the true story behind "The Walk" spell out both definitions of marvel. Just hearing about the daredevil feat orchestrated by Frenchman Philippe Petit, walking for an hour on a high-wire 110 stories up across the former twin towers of the World Trade Center, evokes a "He did what?!" head-turning reaction where you acknowledge the wonderment and want to learn more. While not perfect, "The Walk" astonishes enough visually bringing this historic stunt to life to captivate movie-going audiences.
Read MoreUPDATED: September 11, 2015 with updated and new movie inclusions (after original post on the 10th anniversary in 2011) and a new section of faded and relaxed sensitivity. I plan to make this an annual post and study.
Read MoreAfter the traditional summer movie season of blockbusters, the following fall movie season tends to be a lull and a letdown before the next round of event films and the awards contenders fill up the months of November and December. September is normally filled with rejects that weren't big enough for summer and not good enough for the holidays. With Halloween capping October, the darker stuff tends to fill that month. That's been the trend but the climate is shifting like the season. It is with great surprise that this fall movie season, on paper, is shaping up to be truly legitimate.
Read MoreThank you for all of your patience with my long month of August travel for work. Things are slowing down and I'll be catching up soon. Looking ahead, the 2015 fall movie season is just around the corner. My full and complete preview will be coming soon, but here's a calendar and checklist of the upcoming season's releases. Print this, slap it on the fridge, or fill you calendar!
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