THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What’s the most beautifully animated film ever made?
Much to my surprise, I was the only participating critic in this week’s survey to cite a Disney movie, and a classic one at that. As you’ll read in my contribution, I can’t get over the depth from the backdrops in Sleeping Beauty. I do love that Loving Vincent inclusion. That very much in the running for this vote.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What film has most defied your expectations, either for better or for worse?
I harp often about unreasonable expectations. Between giving up trailers and really trying to bring a little more objective grading into subjective criticism, I’ve come to hate the term “expectations.” I really stretch to stay neutral at all times. That said, having zero expectations is impossible, which means, like this week’s question, plenty of movies will surprise me from what they were billed to be. For my answer this week, I dug back to 1999 and picked out a silly movie that really won my over, cheese and all.
Read MoreLook! It’s the other Captain Marvel movie! In a quick turnaround after Marvel took it’s turn in March, the “comic council” of film critics united again to say our own magic words. Kicking the Seat’s Ian Simmons crossed the Skype-streams to put the wizardry of Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews and myself together for a heck of a super-spirited podcast. Enjoy!
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Is “elevated horror” a real thing"?
I’m not a horror film regular or connoisseur, but I know and appreciate a good horror film when I see one. I know “elevated horror” has become a buzz term, as evidenced by David Ehrlich’s survey this week, but I think the unlabeled idea of it has been around since the beginning of the genre. I consider it’s a compliment, which puts me in the slim minority this week on the dais.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is the best documentary about the American political system?
Documentaries are not my strong suit. I’m a big An Inconvenient Truth mark, but I wouldn’t call that a documentary about the American political system just because of the presence and olive branch policies of former Vice President Al Gore. Ava DuVernay’s 13th also has scope beyond the business and posturing of D.C., but the political threads run farther and deeper, making it my worthy pick this week.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Who is the greatest movie cat of all-time?
Eschewing the rest of the trollish buzz surrounding Captain Marvel, I really appreciated that David Ehrlich picked a lighter question this week. In honor of the scene-stealing “Goose” from that new Marvel entry, we critics were asked to elect a top feline. Honestly, it was hard not to just picked the marmalade-colored Flerken. It took a little soul-searching (and Google searching) to remind myself of the toilet-flusher himself.
Read MoreNot waiting for any S.H.I.E.L.D. clearance of sign from Thanos, Kicking the Seat’s Ian Simmons convened the “comic council” of film critics for the new Captain Marvel starring Brie Larson. Our Skype-tied dais puts their cosmic, warped, and warped cosmic thoughts on the record. Enjoy myself, Ian, David Fowlie of Keeping it Reel, and Emmanuel Noisette of Eman's Movie Reviews as we celebrate and critique the latest Marvel dynamo.. Enjoy our extremely entertaining back-and-forth chat!
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Who is the best villain so far this century?
Gosh, this one was a hard one. For every obvious Heath Ledger Joker from The Dark Knight or Javier Bardem’s Anton Chigurh from No Country For Old Men, you could site anything Philip Seymour Hoffman in from Mission: Impossible III to Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls and still land on a good pick. I emphasized the dastardly and went smaller with J.K. Simmons’ Oscar-winning antagonist from the masterful Whiplash.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Who should play James Bond after Daniel Craig is done?
Between Connery, Moore, Dalton, and especially Brosnan, I credit my mother for making me a James Bond fan. Though the Mission: Impossible franchise is on quite a run, I still consider Ian Fleming’s character king of the spy game. With Daniel Craig north of 50 and rumored to be done, the decadent tuxedo will be open to a new actor soon. I think I know just the guy and it’s an eclectic choice.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK'S QUESTION: What is one silver lining of this year's awards season, and why?
The 2018-2019 awards season has been a contentious and challenging up-and-down chore. Unpredictable one moment and inflexible the next, it was hard to find what David Ehrlich was looking for. Then I remembered the stature and history of Spike Lee and what a win for him would mean. I found my answer right there.
Read MoreNotable and notorious IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich recently put out a social media call for film critic peers to join a weekly survey to discuss movie topics, answer questions, and highlight their work. Representing Every Movie Has a Lesson, I, along with over 50 other emerging and established film critics including some of my fellow Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle members, accepted the invitation to participate. I'm honored by the opportunity, and I hope my responses are chosen each week.
Read MoreNotable and notorious IndieWire film critic David Ehrlich recently put out a social media call for film critic peers to join a weekly survey to discuss movie topics, answer questions, and highlight their work. Representing Every Movie Has a Lesson, I, along with over 50 other emerging and established film critics including some of my fellow Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle members, accepted the invitation to participate. I'm honored by the opportunity, and I hope my responses are chosen each week.
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