Clint Eastwood has made a pattern of examining real-life American heroes late in his career. American Sniper and Sully take rather understated looks at people who are known for their deeds, and the way those deeds end up affecting their psyche. And Eastwood’s newest film, Richard Jewell, follows yet another American hero, who was wrongly […]
‘Knives Out’ Cleverly Plays With The Murder Mystery Formula
Writer-director Rian Johnson, who’s responsible for taking Star Wars in a bold new direction with The Last Jedi, has made a career out of putting his distinctive fingerprint in a variety of genres. From the film noir/high school drama pastiche of Brick to the time-travel assassin concept of Looper, Johnson has shown an uncanny ability […]
‘Marriage Story’ Is A Profoundly Human And Exceptionally Acted Look At Divorce
Divorce isn’t exactly a subject that sounds enticing or inherently cinematic. But writer-director Noah Baumbach, who’s known for crafting films that deal with various aspects of the human condition with a balance of humor and drama, seems the perfect creative force to give that story life on film. And Marriage Story, his latest film about […]
‘A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood’ Honors Fred Rogers’ Spirit With Warmth And Creativity
Marielle Heller directed one of the more underrated films of last year, Can You Ever Forgive Me? starring Melissa McCarthy, which was a biopic about a relatively under-the-radar author’s attempt at forgery. Her newest film, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, involves a popular figure who is anything but under-the-radar. Fred Rogers is undoubtedly one […]
‘The Report’ Is A Little Too Exposition-Heavy To Have A Significant Impact
In the politically contentious times of today, films about whistle-blowers are beginning to have increasing prevalence. The desperate search for truth against insurmountable corruption and lies is a story that is as timeless as ever. The Report sees writer/director Scott Z. Burns tackling the story of one Senate lead investigator’s deep dive into the immorality […]