Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons It was only a matter of time until Michael Moore made a film in the era of Donald Trump. “Fahrenheit 11/9” is a title that’s an homage to arguably Moore’s best film, “Fahrenheit 9/11.” “Fahrenheit 11/9” has a great deal of anti-Trump footage that’s monotonous and […]
Author: Adrian Smajlaj
“Annihilation” sets new benchmark for sci-fi films
Photo courtesy of Geroges Biard, Wikipedia Alex Garland’s haunting, beautiful “Annihilation” is the first great sci-fi film of the year, and one of the best in years. Based on Jeff Vandermeer’s first novel of the Southern Reach trilogy, “Annihilation” is a challenging, amorphous thriller that will leave you rattled in […]
Young Math Genius Navigates Life in Family Drama
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, Flickr “Gifted” is a sweet and moving drama that centers around real, three-dimensional characters with daily struggles that many viewers can relate to. It truly is a rarity to see a film this personal and this intimate get made in an industry dominated by big-budget, […]
Werner Herzog’s Documentary is a Slow Burn
Photo courtesy of Nicolas Genin, Wikipedia Werner Herzog returns to the realm of documentary filmmaking with his latest movie, “Into the Inferno,” which is also his first Netflix exclusive. In the film, the acclaimed filmmaker Herzog grapples with the natural anomaly of volcanoes, delving into what they are, how they […]
Snyder’s Directorial Powers Unable to Rescue Catastrophic Clash
Photo by Gage Skidmore, Flickr Creative Commons After three years of colossal hype, Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” has finally arrived in theaters – but with an overstuffed script and a disastrous third act, “BvS” is far from great. However, its willingness to tackle mature themes of […]
No Clean Getaways in John Hillcoat Film “Triple 9”
Photo Courtesy of Georges Biard, Wikipedia John Hillcoat’s “Triple 9” is a pulpy, ultra-violent thriller of cops and robbers that’s reminiscent of films like “Heat” and “The Departed.” While “Triple 9” doesn’t achieve the standard of greatness that it sets out to meet, it’s still a fun and riveting piece […]
Michael Moore Returns with New Documentary
Photo Courtesy of David Shankbone, Wikipedia Controversial filmmaker Michael Moore returns to the screen in “Where To Invade Next,” his first documentary in six years. In a dream-like opening sequence, Moore is summoned to the Pentagon by the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss all of America’s fraudulent wars since […]
Spin-off Touches Gloves with Original
Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore, Wikipedia A throwback to the original “Rocky” conceived by Sylvester Stallone way back in 1976, “Creed” hits similar notes in terms of characters, story and style, but wisely finds its own path. “Creed” is the second collaboration between writer/director Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan; […]
All-star Cast Shines in ‘Spotlight’
Photo Courtesy of Gage Skidmore The uncovering of the Catholic Church’s systematic abuse of young boys and girls in January 2002 was amongst the biggest and darkest stories of the decade. Helmed by the “The Boston Globe’s” investigative journalist team, Spotlight, the scandal began with the Boston archdiocese and ended […]
Beloved Comic Strip Adapted With Same Style, Tone
Photo courtesy of Roger Higgins, Wikipedia From its humble beginnings as a comic strip in the 1950s, “Peanuts” has always been a heartfelt and dazzling cartoon series. Created by the late Charles Schulz, the beloved blockhead Charlie Brown and his buddies have delivered a number of timeless television specials over […]