When I heard the song “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” as a kid, I always thought the Beatles were saying “Lucy in Disguise with Diamonds.” As the laughter of that admission subsides, and with my profound apologies to Mr. Lennon and Mr. McCartney, it occurs to me that my hearing problem applies quite aptly [...]
There’s a pivotal point in my cinematic history where a film, “Enemy of the State” so engaged me and disengaged me that I love to hate it. There’s a 1970’s level of paranoia in that film which intrigued me along with the use of technology to move the story forward. And then there’s Will Smith, [...]
"Joker" is the improbable convergence of a character study, comic book, and exploitation film. Depending on which of those genres you choose to judge it, the movie either soars or stumbles. The one constant is Joaquin Phoenix's enthralling performance. The movie takes place in Gotham City during the year 1981. Gotham City is suffering an [...]
Sometimes, the title of a film says everything about the story. A title like “The Death of Dick Long” says, to me at least, that we’re in for a rambunctious time of debauchery as dark secrets are exposed. In the case of “The Death of Dick Long,” director Daniel Scheinert is the story of a [...]
In the past year I have seen three different movies that have all tried to capture the magic of the original How to Train Your Dragon film. The first was Bumblebee, which made my top ten list last year. The second was How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (my review of it can be read here), which, while [...]
If the Latin title isn't a big enough clue, "Ad Astra" lands squarely in the cerebral and philosophical sub-genre of science fiction films. While the trailer does hint at a little action and mystery, they are simply window dressing to a film that somberly addresses depression, abandonment, and other existential questions. The film opens with [...]
It was such an odd experience, sitting in the theater watching Downton Abbey with a crowd of other Downtonians. Like many people, I've only ever watched Downton Abbey either by myself or with one other person. The raucous laughter that erupted often throughout the screening felt very strange, mostly because Downton isn't considered a comedy [...]
"Everyone loves your books, but they hate the endings" is a running joke in the movie that pokes fun at criticism author Stephen King has often endured. Whether it's meant to be reassuring or an excuse is difficult to ascertain. "IT Chapter Two" is competently made, but lacks the sincerity of the first. And the [...]
Taking a cue from Disney's playbook, Nickelodeon Kids has produced its first live-action adaptation of an animated series. But unlike the house of mouse, this adaptation isn't just a rehash of its source material. "Dora and the Lost City of Gold" adds a decade to the title character's age and utilizes the wit of comedic [...]
Eugenio Derbes has been a staple in Mexican pop culture for years. Besides his numerous tv and film roles, he’s done the Spanish dubbing for Donkey in the Shrek films, voices Glen in both Angry Birds movies, and is attached to voice the lead character in the upcoming Speedy Gonzales movie. Earlier this week, in [...]
