Review: Cruella
Where to begin with an origin story about a villain who wants to use puppies as a coat. Well, you probably need to break down a very traumatic childhood. Cruella is a punk-rock heist movie that works to construct and deconstruct the psyche of a madwoman. Emma Stone owns the character. She brings a thoughtfulness […]
Review: Wonder Woman 84 not as wondrous as its predecessor
Well, #WonderWoman1984. Good thing it was free. Wanted to like it, but ultimately no emotional connection to any characters. Never felt jeopardy. The movie quite literally pulled its punches. As with all not so good films, poor writing undermined the spectacle. pic.twitter.com/az1fCIrcua — Daniel Rasmus (@DanielWRasmus) December 26, 2020 So that was my immediate reaction […]
Review: The Vast of Night. Not All Teenage Fear Derives from Being a Teenager.
Review: The Vast of Night. Two friends combine their curiosity and courage to figure out where the hell that sound is coming from. The sound is haunting. Two young people whose lives revolve around audio, one a radio operator, the other a telephone operator, connect to first confirm, then investigate the mysterious sound. Set in […]
The Parent Trap turns 22!
Released 22 years ago today, July 20, The Parent Trap remains a beloved movie and a 1990’s classic. This film has captured the hearts of romantic comedy fans for decades. The story is a special combination of the youthful vision of love and a family’s drive to find each other. The story follows two girls […]
Review: Palm Springs
What happens when the vacation never ends? Palm Springs answers that exactly as two wedding guests get stuck in an endless time loop reliving the same day over and over again. Without an end in sight, the two begin a relationship. Starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti, along with J.K. Simmons as a great bad […]
Review: Little Women
Many American classic books have already become feature films. Little Women is one such novel that has many big-screen adaptations. Little Women from Greta Gerwig is the latest interpretation putting a 21st-century spin on this late 19th-century story. The film received a Best Picture nomination and belonged amongst the best of 2019. Now out to buy and […]
Review: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. It’s Time To Look Forward.
Review: Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker A lot of pixels have been created and consumed about Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Reviews covered the gamut of disappointment and joy, ambivalence and disavowal, frustration and release. Skywalker is not without its moments, but those moments get short shrift from director JJ Abrams in what seems […]
Review: Marriage Story
The complexities of relationships are the cornerstone of great filmmaking. The best writers can craft characters with enough tension, drama, and engagement they can just sit in a room and talk. Noah Baumbach penned and directed a simplistic approach to complex characters. Marriage Story shares the details of divorce between two imperfect people, Nicole and […]
Review: Ford v Ferrari
Ford v Ferrari brings us back to a time of great American innovation. Before we trusted computer algorithms and data analytics to build the perfect systems, we trusted the feelings of an expert. This film brings us back to understanding how the American drive to win can create the greatest stresses, but can also create […]
Review: Knives Out
Who really killed Harlan? Why would someone kill an old man on his birthday? Who wants his money? I suspect foul play… Knives Out is an updated whodunit, yet carries all the tropes of classic caper tales. This film captures the essence of the mystery genre while adding in comedy. The story centers on the […]