For the past few months, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has been slowly killing its Oscar telecast. It's been death by a thousand cuts: a host controversy has plagued the entire season; the inclusion of milquetoast crowdpleasers as legitimate contenders also seem particularly egregious in a year where there has been wonderful … Continue reading The Academy Awards are Dying From Self-Inflicted Wounds

Widows is the rarest of major studio films, a strictly adult-oriented thriller with very little in the way of pomp and circumstance, directed by Steve McQueen with attention to performance over plot. It's a showcase for an incredible, and incredibly deep, roster of acting greatness. While it may not carry that intensity all the way … Continue reading WIDOWS is a Rare, Engaging Thriller for Adults

The Standoff at Sparrow Creek could be compared to Quentin Tarantino's breakout 1992 hit, Reservoir Dogs. The setup is similar: dangerous men are brought together in the wake of a crime - in this case, a mass shooting at a public event that should remain unnamed - each one suspecting the other of being the guilty party, … Continue reading THE STANDOFF AT SPARROW CREEK is a Focused Thriller That Demands Your Attention

As the early reviews for Glass, M. Night Shyamalan's much-anticipated third piece of his Philly superhero trilogy, began to trickle in, I was hit with a sinking feeling. I believed the reports, and bought into the claim that Shyamalan had gone off the rails again, and that Glass was a failure. It always seemed like … Continue reading Resist the Hate: GLASS is a Terrific Dose of M. Night Shyamalan Indulgence

Of all the wonderfully bizarre and idiosyncratic Terry Gilliam films we've gotten over the years, none have been accompanied by as much heart, as much earnestness, and as much expertly calibrated saccharine emotion as his 1991 urban fable, The Fisher King. The film, written by Richard LaGravenese, was the first time Gilliam, a member of the … Continue reading Scenes I Love: Percy Serenading Lydia in THE FISHER KING

I didn't see as many new movies in 2018 as I have in years past, and I never see as many as I want. That's what the combo of kids and life does, but the trade off is certainly worth it. For one thing, I saw more animated films this year, and great family flicks … Continue reading My Favorite Films of 2018