After her debut in SUICIDE SQUAD, fan favourite Margot Robbie gets her time to shine brightly in BIRDS OF PREY (AND THE FANTABULOUS EMANCIPATION OF ONE HARLEY QUINN). After stepping out from the shadow of her ex—the Joker—Quinn quickly finds herself in the cross-hairs of every hitman in Gotham, especially maniacal crime boss Black Mask… [Read More]
Birds of Prey: Emancipation with an Edge
‘Turns out I’m not the only dame in Gotham looking for emancipation.’ –Harley Quinn, Birds of Prey After the middling returns on Justice League, DC has broken away from their perceived Marvel-envy with a wide variety of films, ranging from the underwater epic Aquaman, teen-frenzied Shazam! and the dark and brooding Joker. With Birds of Prey, they continue the trend of well-written… [Read More]
6.18 Setting Off the BOMBSHELL of Truth
Back in 2016, after Megyn Kelly and Gretchen Carlson raised allegations about FOX Executive Roger Ailes, the fallout helped further survivors of sexual misconduct to speak out against their attackers sparking a movement that reverberated throughout the industry. Now, with his latest film, Bombshell, director Jay Roach attempts to give light on the truth of… [Read More]
Bombshell – Another #MeToo Moment
Workplace sexual harassment and abuse doesn’t qualify as “man bites dog” news. But in recent years it has become news because of the rich and powerful people involved. #MeToo has become the catchall term for such abuse, especially in the entertainment industry. Bombshell is based on the 2016 scandal that led to the ouster of… [Read More]
5 Days of Christmas GIVEAWAY #5: ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
Actor Rick Dalton gained fame and fortune by starring in a 1950s television Western, but is now struggling to find meaningful work in a Hollywood that he doesn’t recognize anymore. He spends most of his time drinking and palling around with Cliff Booth, his easygoing best friend and longtime stunt double. Rick also happens to… [Read More]
Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood – A Tarantino Fairy Tale
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… [Read More]
5.23 Living the Dream in ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
The year is 1969 and Hollywood is changing. Fading star Rick Dalton (Leonardo DiCaprio) has been forced to the sidelines as new stars like Sharon Tate are stepping into the limelight. Joined by his faithful stuntman who is closer than a brother but not as close as a wife, Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), Dalton tries… [Read More]
I, Tonya – Whose Truth?
When I saw this film at AFI Fest, it played to a packed house. It wasn’t one of the films I was especially looking forward to. But I found it enjoyable in the absurd humor and the idiocy of the characters.
Thursday at AFIFest
The final day at AFI Fest gave me a chance to finish off with two more films before I made my way home to a more reasonable schedule and eating habits. Both films played before good sized crowds for a Thursday afternoon. Claire Denis’s Bright Sunshine In (aka Let the Sunshine In) (World Cinema section)… [Read More]
Goodbye Christopher Robin: Identity Theft
In a time when people were famous just for being famous, a young boy’s father writes a book with him as a character. Soon, the whole world wants to know and meet the “real” Christopher Robin. Goodbye Christopher Robin is the story of the writing of the Winnie-the-Pooh books and how the success of those books impacted the young son of the author, A. A. Milne.
