I especially love comic books and graphic novels that take chances or push the limits of the medium. Frank Miller’s Sin City graphic novels wowed fans of comics with their art, storytelling and noir style and feel. Those elements carried over to the film adaptation, still one of my favorite comic book ports to date. […]
A sudden, potentially fatal accident gives a hopeful classical musician a unique new perspective on life in If I Stay. Mia Hall (Chloë Grace Moretz) grew up as the black sheep in her musical family. Both of her parents were huge fans of classic rock. Her father, Denny (Joshua Leonard), was a member of a well-respected local rock […]
A young, would-be musician is asked to perform for an offbeat band whose eccentric singer stays hidden behind a fake head in Frank. Jon (Domhnall Gleeson) is your typical twentysomething who spends his days in a thankless, dead-end office job waiting for his big moment to arrive. The dream is to one day become a successful […]
As I get older, I find that it’s more difficult to get up the energy to even mow the lawn, let alone go off into battle or fight someone younger. I have immense respect for anyone who somehow pulls off these stunts in their golden years. Sylvester Stallone and crew face those kinds of challenges […]
Two elderly ex-brothers-in-law embark on an impromptu journey around the surreal landscape of Iceland in Land Ho! Newly-retired Texas doctor Mitch (Earl Lynn Nelson) needs something to break the monotony that now dominates his life. It’s time for something drastic — something that might also bring a new perspective and outlook. Retirement has only underscored his […]
Reboots of franchises can be a good idea if they’re done right. The recent Godzilla is a perfect example of how a reboot can still feel fresh and entertain audiences. I can’t be as positive about the reboot — is this the second or third attempt? — of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to coincide with the 30th […]
A young, aspiring Indian cook hopes to one day fulfill his mother’s dreams by becoming a great chef in The Hundred-Foot Journey. Hassan Haji (Manish Dayal) grew up surrounded by the aromatic ambiance provided by his family’s well-regarded Indian restaurant. His lifelong fascination with food came directly from his mother. She spent many long evenings […]
A small Midwestern town finds itself at the mercy of several catastrophic tornadoes in Into the Storm. Silverton High School is preparing for the graduation of its latest senior class. For the moment, the skies are clear, but rain looms on the horizon, threatening to dampen both the ground and the festive audience. Meanwhile, two […]
Boy meets girl. Boy falls for girl. Girl has boyfriend. Oh, boy. What If. Heartbroken Wallace (Daniel Radcliffe) decides to finally drag himself out of the doldrums by attending a friend’s party. His old college roommate Allan (Adam Driver) introduces him to his cute cousin Chantry (Zoe Kazan). Their banter quickly settles into a comforting […]
An Irish priest taking confessions is mortally threatened by one of his parishioners in Calvary. Every Sunday brings a litany of never-ending sins confessed to the local priest by his flock of imperfect penitents. Father James Lavelle (Brendan Gleeson) has heard it all over the years, but this session is different. The ominous male voice coming from […]
It has been an interesting summer for the major superhero movies. Things started off strong with Captain America: The Winter Soldier because it went beyond its superhero origin. I was disappointed by The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which felt more like a romance to me than a film centered on a comic book character. X-Men: Days […]
A group of outcast misfits bands together in an attempt to save us all in Guardians of the Galaxy. In 1988, a young Earth child was abducted and raised by a group of space pirates known as the Ravagers. Now grown, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) sets his sights on a small, highly-coveted orb that the Ravagers have […]