Ad Astra Review: Startlingly Beautiful with one of Pitt’s Best Performances

Ad Astra Review: Startlingly Beautiful with One of Pitt’s Best Performances

Man is a solitary creature. If there is anything to take from James Gray’s loving and lovingly strange 2001: A Space Odyssey hat tap, it’s the aching hole inside individuals that no amount of exploration or discovery can fill. That may not be particularly comforting to fans of human scientific advancement, but its combination of…

Downton Abbey Review: Continuation, Repetition, Encapsulation

Downton Abbey Review: Continuation, Repetition, Encapsulation

Continuation. Repetition. Encapsulation. In the realm of TV translation to film, these are the three potential options for what the audience will receive. A continuation of the story from its last episode, potentially with greater stakes and changes to the status quo on offer. A repetition of the most loved storylines in order to achieve…

It Chapter Two Review

It Chapter Two Review

It Chapter Two is a glorious mess. When the decision was made to split Stephen King’s It into two films, it seemed a sensible choice. The novel is over 1,100 pages long, and even the space of two lengthy films couldn’t possibly cover everything. King’s novel not only dives into the characters of the Loser’s Club…

Joker Review: Joaquin Phoenix Astounds in Todd Phillips Film

Joker Review: Joaquin Phoenix Astounds in Todd Phillips Film

It’s a rare occurrence when you watch a film and realize that you’ve spoken out loud about it before it’s over. I apologize to the person sitting next to me, but I think he totally understood. There was a moment while watching Joker when the screen went black and a breathless “wow” came out of my…

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Review: A Proper Introduction to Horror for Kids

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark Review: A Proper Introduction to Horror for Kids

I still remember the illustrations. Drawn originally by Stephen Gammell, I remember the feeling of my breath seizing as I stared at the screaming scarecrow on the cover of Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and thinking to myself, “Nope.” It would be a couple more years until I would actually conquer my fear and…

The Lion King Press Conference: Here's What We Learned

The Lion King Press Conference: Here’s What We Learned

With the highly-anticipated movie opening in theaters this week, we recently got a chance to attend The Lion King press conference. Participating were director Jon Favreau, Donald Glover (Simba), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Scar), Alfre Woodard (Sarabi), Seth Rogen (Pumbaa), Billy Eichner (Timon), JD McCrary (Young Simba), Shahadi Wright Joseph (Young Nala), Dr. John Kani (Rafiki), Keegan-Michael Key…

Stuber Review

Stuber Review: The Kumail Nanjiani and Dave Bautista Action Comedy

Stuber feels almost revolutionary in a summer where every film seems to have earth-shattering stakes and where the simple pleasures of a good belly laugh and solid chemistry between actors happy to be there seem like the movie staples of a bygone era.  To whip out an old critic’s cliché, they really don’t make them…

The Lion King Review

The Lion King Review: Should You Check Out This Disney Remake?

Before I start this The Lion King review, I want to address something so you know where I stand. There has been some discussion online lately about whether or not people are fans of Disney live-action remakes. Though I’ve enjoyed reading both sides, I have loved some and not others. I’m also okay with changes…

Midsommar Review: Let the Festivities Begin

Midsommar Review: Let the Festivities Begin

It’s difficult not to compare Ari Aster’s Midsommar to his previous film, Hereditary; in both, Aster uses grief as an entry point into explorations of horror and despair. In the case of Midsommar, that grief hits directly and quickly as Dani (Florence Pugh) is given some devastating news that destroys her world as she knows it. Her…

Toy Story 4 Interview: Ally Maki Discusses Giggle McDimples

Toy Story 4 Interview: Ally Maki Discusses Giggle McDimples

Ally Maki has been making a name for herself in the entertainment industry in recent years with her work on TBS’s Wrecked, Marvel’s Cloak & Dagger on Freeform, and as Ikumi on Dear White People. Now she will be joining the Toy Story universe with her role as Giggle McDimples in the sequel, Toy Story 4. I had…