When I first heard that Quenton Tarantino was going to be making a movie that involved the Manson Family killings, I assumed the violence and blood would be overwhelming. But Once Upon a Time . . . in Hollywood turns out to be his least violent film. All of Tarantino?s films have an aspect of…
Donated by Elevation Pictures, Abominable tells the story of Yi (Chloe Bennett) who inadvertently discovers a yeti on her rooftop. Soon after finding him, Yi and her two friends embark on an epic quest to reunite the magical creature with his family. However, along the course of the perilous journey, the young adventurers must also…
In MARRIAGE STORY, estranged couple Charlie and Nicole, played by stars Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson bears their souls about the trauma and healing of divorce. Directed by Noah Baumbach, the film explores the major hurdles and subtle nuances that take place between a couple as they attempt to start new lives both separately and…
The comedic powerhouse that is Adam Sandler has yet again flexed his dramatic skills in the new film by Josh and Benny Safdie, Uncut Gems.? Some will recall Adam Sandler previously playing the strong dramatic role of Charlie Fineman in the 2007 film, Reign Over Me.? In Gems, Sandler completely embodies the lead role of…
Code 8 transports the viewer to an alternate reality where superpowers are a reality amongst the people yet are considered potentially dangerous to others and have been outlawed by the government. When Conner (Robbie Amell) discovers that his mother is tragically ill, he turns to a group of criminals, led by Garrett (Stephen Amell, Arrow) in order to…
Hala is the story of a young woman caught between two world?her parents? and the culture she has grown up in. It is a stereotypical coming-of-age story with the additional conflict of having to live by additional rules that grow out of her parents? values. But it also turns into not just about her yearning…
In KNIVES OUT, Rian Johnson draws the viewer into a world of diabolical murder and twisted intrigue. When aging mystery novelist Harland Thrombey kills himself after his 85th birthday, the police initially rule his death a suicide. However, after private investigator Benoit Blanc is brought in to question the cantankerous clan, he suspects that Thrombey?s…
Alice Woodard (Emily Beecham) is a single mother – and a bioengineering botanist designing a plant that emits pollen to bring joy in humans. (Yeah, right.) Instead, in this slow-burning horror flick from Austrian director Jessica Hausner, the plant causes insidiously dangerous side effects in the people around Alice and in one poor, accidentally abandoned…
Marriage Story examines the fallout of Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole?s (Scarlett Johansson) failed marriage as they begin divorce proceedings. Though both of them want to ?make this easy? and ?do what?s best for their son?, civility slowly begins to disintegrate by adding lawyers and looking out for their own interests. When Nicole moves from New…
Terrance Malick creates films that are spiritual experiences. Sometimes, it is more about the experience than story. (Personally, I love going through those experiences, but understand why some find it difficult.) In A Hidden Life, Malick creates an experience that relies on the real-life inspirational story of Franz J?gerst?tter, an Austrian conscientious objector during World…
