by Lewis Robinson
Superhero movies are all the rage nowadays. While this popularity can be partially attributed to excellent stories and characters, the action scenes must be given credit. Superhero flicks have some of the best action sequences ever made. So, if you're a lover of onscreen battles, here are three superhero movies with legendary action scenes.
Read MoreLast night, the Hollywood Critics Association, founded by Scott Menzel, bestowed their fifth annual film awards in Los Angeles at the Avalon Hollywood. I am a newly elected member of this fine group and I’m endlessly impressed by the quality, impact, and diversity of this year’s winners. CODA was the Best Picture recipient next to acting winners Andrew Garfield, Kristen Stewart, Troy Kotsur, and Ariana DeBose. The HCA put on an excellent event. Someday, you’ll find me at that awards show covering them in person! Someday!
Read MoreIf cannot tell already after nearly 50 episodes of the Cinephile Hissy Fit podcast that I co-host, Will Johnson is the big personality and the star of the show. Sure, I may cuss more and have a few more credentials and feathers in my film critic hat, but Will is the beating heart of our show. He was highlighted to show that very power this week with an interview in the Phoenix New Times written by Ashley Naftule.
Read MoreAfter leading the field with nine nominations, The Power of the Dog emerged as the top winner with three CIC awards. The Netflix western drama won for Best Studio film and earned three trophies for Jane Campion, one as a producer of the film and the other two for her direction and adaptation of Thomas Savage’s novel. In the other top tier, the heartwarming AppleTV+ film CODA won for Best Independent Film.
Read MoreLeading all films with nine formidable nominations is Netflix’s The Power of the Dog, directed by Best Director nominee Jane Campion. The dramatic western also received nominations for Best Studio Film, Best Actor for Benedict Cumberbatch, Best Supporting Actor for Kodi Smit-McPhee, Best Supporting Actress for Kirsten Dunst, Best Ensemble Cast, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Musical Score. Following next was the Warner Bros. epic Dune with eight nominations and CODA’s six nominations representing AppleTV+.
Read MoreWizard Brands, Inc. is proud to announce that the 23rd edition of its flagship national event, Wizard World Chicago, will officially make its triumphant return on October 15-17, 2021, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. As a sign of tremendous good faith in this COVID era, all tickets purchased for the originally scheduled event in 2020, also postponed from August 2021, will be honored. Event tickets, photo op, autograph appointments and more are available online right now at the Wizard World website.
Read MoreI was approached recently for my third collaboration opportunity with Quality Comix, a successful comic sales website which puts out their own editorial content alongside their marketplace. Working for a tangent website of Urban Parks, the edutosr there were looking for the best Boston movies. From a big list of possibilities, I picked out a good five to contribute to their list: Good Will Hunting, The Thomas Crown Affair, The Verdict, The Town, and Spotlight. They came to the right place. Check out your boy!
Read MoreMa Rainey’s Black Bottom, directed by George C. Wolfe and adapted from August Wilson’s stage play, dominated this year’s CIC Awards, winning seven of its nine nominations. Topmost, the Netflix original film was named the Best Studio Film in a tie with another offering from the streaming leader, Best Director winner Spike Lee’s Da 5 Bloods. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom also won awards for adapted screenplay, lead actor, lead actress, ensemble cast, costume design, and makeup.
Read MoreLeading all films with an impressive nine nominations is Netflix’s Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom helmed by Best Director nominee George C. Wolfe and starring acting nominees Chadwick Boseman and Viola Davis. Following next with seven nominations each was David Fincher’s Mank and Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7, both also hailing from Netflix. In all, 45 different films are represented with nominations for the 2020 CIC Awards.
Read MoreMy website was approached recently by the home buying website Redfin and their blogging area through writer Mike Cahill. They were looking for contributors to offer some insights on home theater setups to be included in a collected piece. Funny thing is, I’m not fancy. I don’t own a single 4K device or even a big screen TV either. What I do have is a 1080p-enabled DLP projector and a big blank white wall. That setup makes a 120-inch picture that costs half as much as a super-nice TV half that screen size. Call me a home cinema MacGyver because I’ll take that kind of look and savings. I impart a little of that recommendation in Redfin.
Read MoreI was approached recently for my second collaboration opportunity with Quality Comix, a successful comic sales website which puts out their own editorial content alongside their marketplace. They were working on a long-form article on the challenging history of superhero diversity. The people at Quality Comix enjoyed my perspective last time on Joker and wanted a contribution on Black Panther in respond to the passing of star Chadwick Boseman for their collected piece. I was happy to oblige speaking about that movie’s vast importance. Check out your boy!
Read MoreAs part of SoxFest 2020, the Chicago White Sox will be promoting this August’s "Field of Dreams" game against the New York Yankees, presented by GEICO, in Dyersville, Iowa at the site of the famous and beloved 1989 movie. On Friday, January 24th at SoxFest, fans can join Chicago Indie Critics members Leo Brady of AMovieGuy.com and myself for a seminar discussing Field of Dreams and its significance to the White Sox organization. Come out and support the White Sox, the excellent movie, and the Chicago Indie Critics!
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