As I was trying to figure out how to start my review of Riley Stearns’ The Art of Self-Defense, which expands this weekend, I had to chuckle. It’s not because Stearns made a gorgeous dark comedy that I am chuckling. In fact, he did. The Art of Self-Defense opens in a small café with our […]
‘The Lion King’: Favreau’s Dramatic, Photo Real Reimagining Is Inspired
The first announcement of Jon Favreau’s The Lion King went as follows: “First, it was an animated film. THEN it was a Broadway Musical sensation. NOW it’s a photo-real reimagining –” <insert “record screech”>. Yes, this sounds like a classic tagline for a trailer or a poster advertising the latest film. The joke is also […]
‘Stuber’s’ Comedy Is All Heart In Familiar Buddy-Cop Genre
As the end credits rolled on Michael Dowse’s Stuber, I couldn’t help but feel a slight panic. The movie, which opens this weekend runs around 93 minutes. It has a gruff cop, played by Dave Bautista (Blade Runner 2049). It has an unintended victim, played by Kumail Nanjiani (The Big Sick). It has a stealthy […]
‘Midsommar’ Is A Horror Story Nicely Warped By Dark Humor
Before the release of Ari Aster’s Midsommar, a number of those who were interested in the film asked if the film had any resemblance to either version of The Wicker Man, which I have not seen. (I aim to see both versions in the near future.) Without having a frame of reference to the aforementioned […]
‘Yesterday’ Is A Quirky And Sometimes Inventive Comedy
Yesterday, from director Danny Boyle, is a fish-out-of-water story about a musician who, after a freak global power outage is the only one who knows The Beatles songs. The story tries to balance success and fame with romance, and it doesn’t always work. If you mention The Beatles to anyone, they instantly perk up. John, […]