If you’re a movie lover like me, you’ve been going to the movies a lot in the last two months. In the late fall and early winter season we’re bombarded left and right with “Oscar movies” that are releasing just under the wire so they can be top of mind for voters come award season….
I have sometimes been called a film snob by people in my life and admittedly I can have some film snobbish takes. I will be sending those people this review so that they can see I still love a good old fashioned romantic comedy too! Generally speaking, romantic comedies are my guilty pleasure. Some can…
I must confess my potential biases at the start and declare that I’m a bit of a wrestling fan. I watched it when I was a kid, but fell out of it for a while. Eventually in around 2018 I started watching Japanese wrestling, including the Wrestle Kingdom pay per view with my brother. It…
It’s the holiday season which means we’re inundated with a bunch of films seeking some awards buzz before the Academy Awards early next year and my Scene card has been working overtime! I had the pleasure of seeing Poor Things twice now, but needed a second viewing to really form my feelings about the movie….
Napoleon was written by David Scarpa, directed by Ridley Scott, and stars Joaquin Phoenix as the titular Emperor of France. I’m a bit of a history buff and one of my big projects at the end of high school was to do a comprehensive report about Napoleon Bonaparte so I was very excited to see…
The author argues that “Godzilla Minus One” surpasses all previous Godzilla movies and criticizes Hollywood’s attempts at producing them. Praising the plot, character development, and visual effects of the Japanese version, the writer recounts the film’s impact on him, marking it as his favorite movie. The film takes place post-World War II, representing Godzilla as a force of nature; the depiction incorporates themes about Japan’s war-time attitudes and decisions. It’s recommended for the exploration of Japanese history, character drama, and monster movie aspects.
John Woo’s latest Hollywood venture, Silent Night, starring Joel Kinnaman, is a dialogue-lite revenge thriller set on Christmas Eve. The reviewer finds the film underwhelming, with a slow, tedious pace and uninteresting action scenes. Despite Kinnaman’s fine performance as a grieving father, the lack of dialogue is ineffective and seems forced. Despite Woo’s reputable filmography, the film lacks distinctiveness and fails to impress, being deemed not worth viewers’ time.
In 2023, Nicolas Cage starred in five films, including “Dream Scenario,” produced by the independent studio, A24. The film, featuring Cage as a professor appearing in people’s dreams, is a unique dark comedy/fantasy. Despite some thematic disconnect, the reviewer applauded the movie for its insightful commentary, original, dynamic visuals, and consistent humor. Cage’s performance, considered a highlight of his recent career, and successful collaboration with A24, made “Dream Scenario” a recommendable watch.
In 1978 John Carpenter gave us Halloween which has become synonymous with the season, from the iconic look of Michael Myers to the amazing soundtrack. Now we have Thanksgiving, which is Eli Roth’s attempt at creating the defining slasher horror movie of the (American) Thanksgiving season. Taking place in Plymouth, Massachusetts, the movie begins on…
“The Holdovers,” directed by Alexander Payne and starring Paul Giamatti, is a comedy-drama set in New England during the Christmas season of 1970. Giamatti plays an uptight professor at Barton Academy tasked with overseeing a group of students staying on campus during the winter break. The film is praised for its layered characters, humor, and touching moments, providing an experience that manages to be both hilarious and emotionally resonant. The reviewer considers it a potential addition to their regular Christmas movie rotation, balancing themes of family, loss, and depression with comedy.