Even though I very much enjoyed Top Gun: Maverick, there are two inspiring movies about military service that genuinely my heart this year. The first is The Inspection, which tells the true story of a gay man serving in the Marine Corps, despite the prejudice and adversity he faces. The other is another true story… Continue reading DEVOTION
Category: Banner Slideshow
Austin Film Festival 2022: THE INSPECTION
Writer/director Elegance Bratton uses his first narrative feature film to tell his true story. Bratton, who had a rough life as a gay man raised by an ultra-conservative mother, found himself homeless and struggling to survive as a young adult. Totally lost and not knowing what to do with his life, he decides to enlist… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: THE INSPECTION
Guillermo Del Toro’s PINOCCHIO
Guillermo del Toro and co-director Mark Gustafson have decided to adapt one of the more legendary fairy tales that has fueled the imaginations of children since it was first published in 1883. Now while Disney has reigned as what was previously considered the definitive version of the story for decades, that doesn’t mean that it… Continue reading Guillermo Del Toro’s PINOCCHIO
BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS
Alejandro G. Inarritu is perhaps one of the more interesting filmmakers Mexico has ever produced. In fact I have enjoyed several of his movies. Amorres Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, and Birdman are all films I regard highly. The Revenant is actually the first of his features where he slightly began to love me. And now… Continue reading BARDO, FALSE CHRONICLE OF A HANDFUL OF TRUTHS
Fantastic Fest 2022: MISSING
Fantasia International Film Festival, and Fantastic Fest where I was able to view the film on the big screen. The film captivated me from start to finish and I know it is one of the films from Japan that I will recommend to my film loving fans – especially those who enjoy international films. This… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022: MISSING
SOFT & QUIET
Written and directed by Beth de Araújo, this film can leave you speechless with some of the dialogue during the meeting led by the elementary school teacher, Emily (Stephanie Estes), and later when that and similar dialogue is utilized in a public setting, with no immediate witnesses. I know by the end of the film… Continue reading SOFT & QUIET
THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING
The wedding/romantic comedy, The People We Hate at the Wedding from director Claire Scanlon (‘Brooklyn Nine Nine’ TV series episodes) is an adaptation by screenwriters Lizzie Molyneux-Logelin and Wendy Molyneux of Grant Ginder’s 2017 novel of the same name. I have not read this novel and cannot say how close the script is to the… Continue reading THE PEOPLE WE HATE AT THE WEDDING
Fantastic Fest 2022: THE MENU
The Menu is an impeccable work of art. It is an experience that tantalizes its audiences in ways that only they can comprehend after savoring its deliciousness days and months after it has been tasted. Now, I know that sounds rather pretentious, but that isn’t actually the case here. Or at least in my case,… Continue reading Fantastic Fest 2022: THE MENU
SHE SAID
All The President’s Men, Spotlight, The Post. All of these are films I hold in high regard about real stories where journalism makes a difference in matters that concern us. She Said comes pretty damn close in its telling of the story of how two journalists of the New York Times helped bring to light… Continue reading SHE SAID
Austin Film Festival 2022: SAM & KATE
If one were to look upon the poster for this film, it would be easy to assume that Sam & Kate tells a lengthy story of two lovers/spouses through the course of their relationship. How can anyone not expect that? Casting Dustin Hoffman, Sissy Spacek, Hoffman’s son Jake, and Spacek’s daughter Schuyler should easily deceive… Continue reading Austin Film Festival 2022: SAM & KATE