THE TWO POPES: ONE OF THIS YEAR’S FINEST
One of the most unpredictable and satisfying films of the year, The Two Popes represents a collaboration of great talents: writer Anthony McCarten (The Theory of Everything, Darkest Hour), director Fernando Mereilles (City of God, The Constant Gardener), and two of…
QUEEN & SLIM: ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Comparisons to Bonnie and Clyde may be inevitable, but even with its faults Queen & Slim stands on its own. It’s sure to provoke an emotional response, especially from African American audiences. The film reflects a seething anger borne of police shootings we’ve…
FROZEN 2
I may not have been the biggest fan of Frozen but I certainly understood its widespread appeal. It offered not one but two princesses and a significant empowerment message for girls, an endearing comedy figure in Olaf, an unconventional leading man,…
A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Fred Rogers was by any measure a remarkable man. He was the subject of a superb documentary last year that won a large and appreciative audience. A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood doesn’t reiterate the same information and offers instead a…
FORD V. FERRARI: THE AUDIENCE WINS
Ford v. Ferrari has no ambition except to entertain, and it does so exceedingly well. That’s not something I take for granted. A great true-life story, a sharply written screenplay, superior production values, and a perfect cast are the basic…
THE REPORT: UNCOVERING HIDDEN TRUTHS
All the President’s Men was a game-changer when it came out in 1976 and remains a yardstick by which other topical true-life thrillers are measured. Writer-director Scott Z. Burns freely admits that he drew inspiration from that film and others…
MARRIAGE STORY: AN EMOTIONAL KNOCKOUT
Watching Marriage Story is a transcendent experience. I don’t know how someone puts such an intensely personal story on the screen, but Noah Baumbach has done it in a way that pierces your heart. I’ve never been through a divorce but…
