Lion is one of the few inspirational true stories that translates beautifully on screen thanks to director Garth Davis and a strong performance by Dev Patel A Long Way Home, the book that the movie Lion is based on, is essentially devoid of emotion. That's not to fault the book's author and subject Saroo Brierley. He simply wasn't equipped with…
Packed with fun musical numbers and flashes of humor, Sing Street is enjoyable on both a superficial and emotional level. John Carney is obsessed with the power of music. It's what his last three films, including Sing Street, are about. Once talks about how music can communicate emotion and is a universal language. Begin Again explores the healing power of music. Carney is…
It's funny. The movie that I wanted Jersey Boys to be ended up appearing during the end credits when the cast got together to do a reprise of "Sherry" and "December, 1963". It was fun, energetic, and so wonderfully campy. However, the movie preceding this end credits scene never gains the momentum it needs to…
There's something to say for good filmmaking, and that's what The Revenant is — good filmmaking. It is a film that comes alive in its cinematography, editing, and sound. However, I think it's the restraint on these factors that takes it to great, and at times, impossible filmmaking. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by last year's…
Closet Monster is a unique take on the LGBT coming-of-age genre with a stellar performance by Connor Jessup The exploration of sexuality is a sub-genre that has emerged from under the glut of young adult coming-of-age stories. From Dee Rees' confident debut Pariah or Barry Jenkins' masterpiece Moonlight, the movies that encompass these themes are heartbreaking,…
That's Not Us is a summery relationship drama that feels relatable, which makes the fact that it's improvised more impressive Relationships live and die in those unspoken moments — when you’re not saying what you mean or you avoid speaking your feelings altogether. That’s what That’s Not Us concerns itself with. It’s an intelligent relationship drama…
In honor of Pride Month, we're taking a look at one of the best LGBT movies of the decade, Andrew Haigh's Weekend. It's hard to think of queer cinema of this decade without mentioning the film Weekend. Until Moonlight captured the collective consciousness of cinephiles and mainstream audiences alike, the defining film in the LGBT film canon could be traced…
Dir. by Robert Stromberg It's hard to review Disney's Maleficent without mentioning that the screening I went to ended with a hearty applause. The reason I feel it's necessary to point this out is because despite its clear flaws, this film is an absolute crowd pleaser. The audience bought into the world…
Hidden Figures delicately balances a racial drama with a biopic while also telling the story of the space race. The result is one of the most delightful movies of the year. It takes the right kind of movie to get a Thursday night crowd actually cheering in the theater. Well, Hidden Figures is that kind…
Part screwball comedy, part violent crime movie, I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore is an often hilarious strong debut by Macon Blair I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore can pretty much be summed up in its whimsical title. It leans on the worst of our society – an ozone killing car, another…
