Leaving the theater, one of my movie companions remarked, “What a happy, feel-good movie.” And that’s a perfect way to summarize Yesterday. It’s sweet and endearing. You don’t think too deeply. (Although I wanted to for some aspects, the movie doesn’t give you time to.) And overall, at the end, all is right with the…
How could this not be a fantastic film? You’ve Woody. And Buzz. And the rest of the gang. You’ve perfect childhood imagination. You have danger and suspense. You have sprinkles of romance. Deeper, you have a quest to understand who you are and where you fit in and why you are *you* among the others…
For the first time, a super hero movie is nominated for Best Picture. This might be the first time too so many people under the age of 15 have seen a Best Picture film. This makes me happy. So too did watching Black Panther. I should start with a couple of confessions: First, I am…
How is this in any Oscar Category other than six entries in live action shorts? The Ballad of Buster Scruggs is not a feature-length film. Instead, it’s a series of six short films. Okay, so apparently this means it’s an anthology film because each of the six is tied together in theme: the American west.…
This film is beautiful. It’s heartbreaking, but it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful in how it’s told, in the love of family, in the belief in others, in tenderness. It’s beautiful visually. It’s beautiful to experience. It’s also, though, heartbreaking in the reality that is injustice. And discrimination. It’s heartbreaking in the reality of hate-filled people. It’s…
Like most movies I see, especially this time of year, if a film is up for a major award, I purposefully avoid any reviews or other information about the film. I usually go in knowing only what I might have seen on a preview. And I’m so pleased when a film delivers something particularly interesting. The…
“He’s shell-shocked, George. He’s not himself. He may never be himself again.” Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk is not a movie about dialogue, but that line from the film certainly says a lot about the movie and about those who will survive being trapped at Dunkirk. This movie is bleak. It’s wonderfully filmed. But it is bleak.…
It took us a while to decide on a family movie for Christmas Day. Wonder disappointed no one. I cried, yes, and yes, I cried multiple times. But most of those tears were ones based on a warmed heart. Wonder is a year-in-the-life of Auggie. Auggie is the child who (if you’ve seen any previews…
To say that Mad Max is not my typical film, well, unless this is your first rodeo reading my reflections, you already know that, and seeing this posted here, you’re likely as surprised as anyone that this is included in my viewing. Okay, so not so fast, perhaps. Yes, I have to admit that this…
As this movie ended, I turned to my movie companion, remarking, “That was fun!” And that’s pretty much my summary of this film. It’s just pure, simple, *awful*, fun. Fun? Awful? Well, yes. See, it’s also profane, violent, silly, sexual, refreshing, vulgar, and more—sometimes all at the same time. I belly-laughed loudly, and I forgot…
Ah, the Coen Brothers. Such diversity they have. Even when I look at my favorite films* they wrote, those are vastly different from each other. As is their latest, Hail, Caesar!, being in its own category. So let me be honest: the film made me feel not smart. Okay, that goes too far. But what I…
Ex Machina called to me as a film to see in the theater, but life got busy, and I didn’t make it. But I finally caught up with it let month on DVD. I’m glad I did not miss it entirely. And to be fair, I’ll admit that it’s been a few weeks since I…
I’m not sure if Tarantino has mellowed or improved or reined in what before felt like too-scattered, too-off-key, too-*too* something films, but I’ve very much enjoyed his last two flicks, this most recent being The Hateful Eight. Please don’t misunderstand me: this is still very much a Tarantino film; his signature is all over it…
Fates and Furies was an interesting read—written first from the perspective of the husband in this complicated relationship, then from the perspective of his wife. Their love seemed to take hold early with a brightly glowing flame, but as with many things that look so easy on the surface, darkness and secrets lingered underneath. The book…
What fun! Amy Poehler and Tina Fey deliver a silly, raunchy, sweet film that was a perfect escape for a couple of hours. And I watched it with my sister, which made it even better! I’ll borrow the words a friend used in describing the movie—that although the plot did not completely hold up as…