The endearing brilliance of Little Women is earned in those quaint sways and movements as much as, if not more than, it is by its crests of high drama. With masterful leadership and bold thematic choices applied to well-worn ideals, Greta Gerwig continuously captures an uncanny vibrancy out of a literary setting that otherwise would be frozen in stagnant despair. Every fiber and morsel of this movie swells with this sense of spirit to embed radiance in resiliency.
Read MoreThis past week, I was pleased as punch to be a guest on the CinemaJaw podcast, hosted by fellow Chicago Indie Critic members Matt Kubinski and Ryan Jagiello. On Episode #447, all three of us just got out of Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story and, boy, did we have feelings. As per tradition, the Top 5 segment was for each of us to list our best break-up, separation, and divorce movies. An extended trivia segment followed later centered on Tom Hanks. Enjoy their excellent show!
Read MoreFor James Mangold’s sterling sports film, take your thesaurus toolbox and dump out all the synonym wrenches for the word “hubris.” This is a thrilling race of arrogance as much as it is one of high-performance automobiles. The acts of vanity, audacity, chutzpah, conceit, cockiness, insolence, nerve, pomposity, and exceptionalism fill every metallic and non-metallic element. All of this tuned-up and torqued testosterone makes for a one hell of an entertaining show.
Read MoreThis new film is a wise and modest update to one of Disney’s best romances of its Silver Age. By utilizing actual dogs, many of which are rescued pets at that, with a mild computerized varnish, feels more tangible than fake in one of these Disney re-imaginings for the first time in a long time. This restraint of creative prudence is what defines its humble disposition and winning achievements. All year long, its mainstream blockbuster peers tried every costly artificial and technological height to be a blaring chorus of bells and whistles, when all that was really needed were some cute, real animals backed often by a swanky band.
Read MoreIn a film of perplexing puppetry like this, the most engrossing quality of Knives Out is character creation. Half of that strength happens on the scripted page where writer-director Rian Johnson has created a deplorable and decadent cobweb of villainy. The other half of that draw comes from the ingenuity of the assembled ensemble. This cluster of spidery characters could have been stock archetypes played by obvious actors. Instead, there’s nuance dripping like venom from thirsty fangs all over the performance stage of Johnson’s cinematic charade.
Read MoreBy the time the exhalation of the final minute of those 210 is reached, Frank remains in that same setting. Age has done its job on him and us in the audience. The sizzle has been squelched and the thrill is gone. The exquisite ruminations on display for over three hours build The Irishman into what feels like a conclusive coda for all of the veteran artists involved. Yet, the meandering pace of what all transpires reverberates with a slender essence no better than a hospice bedtime story.
Read MoreAnyone who has seen John Cena hamming it up, getting slimed, or both at his hosting gigs or talk show appearances knows he has the capacity to be the ripped glute of many a joke. Anyone who has followed his massive work with The Make-A-Wish Foundation knows he’s got a genuine and gigantic heart. John Cena is cut with cuteness and has all the charm necessary for Playing With Fire. The fact Cena can squeeze heartfelt smiles and laughs, whether covered in some mess or wearing a My Little Pony half-shirt, is more than good enough for a family-friendly movie option for the upcoming holiday season.
Read MoreI had the honor and pleasure this past week to join the war-movie-loving hosts on the Feelin' Film Podcast talking about a true underseeen throwback geme: 1990’s Memphis Belle directed by 90s hitmaker Michael Caton-Jones. This podcast plane ride was celebrating Veteran’s Day week in conjunction with the new Midway movie arriving in theaters this week. Memphis Belle was a worn-out VHS childhood favorite of my brother and me. Patrick had that lifelong affinity as well and Aaron, the former Navy man, had nothing but respect
Read MoreThose beautiful and gracious moments, slowed way down in between all the hustling hilarity in Jojo Rabbit, let you know exactly where the heart of this movie truly lies underneath the scathing satire. It is in the benevolence of helping people rather than warring with them. The titular young boy needs every ounce of such affection and the combat boots of Waititi’s movie are the clown shoes. Gusto meets gravitas in one of the most oddly poetic and beautifully brazen movies you may ever see.
Read MoreOne does not have to dig very far on an internet search to find pressing current issues in American’s public education system. In an eye-opening and apropos way, there are so many that Education Week magazine maintains an active A-Z list to sort and track them. You could sing “The Alphabet Song” and ring a bell on just about every letter for matching examples from the real-life inspiration of Miss Virginia chronicling the emergence of school advocate Virginia Walden Ford.
Read MoreAnyone who seeks to own this version of The Lion King is doing so with a “how did they do that?” curiosity. The technical brilliance is its biggest selling point. That interest is answered very well by this disc release. Unlike its Pixar and Marvel offerings, Disney compiled a legitimate look into this re-imaginings wholly revolutionary bells and whistles. This movie will look gorgeous on your high-end television at home.
Read MoreNothing about this place, its natural topography or its man-made constructs, looks, sounds, or feels comely. The disquiet is palpable. All the atmosphere is there in Robert Egger’s torturous and pin-pricking thriller. The unfortunate struggle is that the suspense ends there. There is not enough compelling story, mystery, or perversion to fill or overwhelm this eerie environment. All of the portending, however attuned it is to its sense of art, registers as pretentious.
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