Author Archive
Film Review – Hillbilly Elegy
Something went terribly wrong with Hillbilly Elegy (2020). There is too much talent in front and behind the camera to make something this overly dramatic, sappy, and emotionally empty. It plays like a satire of a movie aiming for award consideration instead of seeking an honest, authentic…
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Film Review – Run
Being a parent is a really hard job. You spend every waking second for years (even decades) feeding, cleaning, and paying for your child. One day that child will grow up to be an adult and will set off to be their own person. The…
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Film Review – Wolfwalkers
The animated film Wolfwalkers (2020) has a striking visual palette. The colors and line work have a sketched-out aesthetic, as though characters and environments are being conjured up as the story unfolds. Look closely and you can see the construction lines – you can see the brushstrokes…
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Film Review – Jungleland
Life is not easy for brothers Stanley (Charlie Hunnam) and Lion Kaminski (Jack O’Connell). They live on the fringes of society with no other family or friends to help them. Life is an endless struggle just to get through each day. When we first meet…
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Film Review – His House
His House (2020) operates on multiple levels. It’s a spooky haunted house story, an emotionally powerful character study, and a social statement on the trials and tribulations of immigration. The fact that it hits on all of these beats effectively is a testament to director…
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An Appreciation – Psycho (1960)
Few films stand as clear touchstones. Every so often, a work will leave such an enormous impact that it will cause a notable shift within the cinematic landscape. Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) is one of those films. It operates as a clear transitional point, drawing…
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Film Review – The Witches (2020)
As a kid, the family movies that left a strong impression on me were the ones that toed the line between being safe and outright terrifying. They weren’t straight horror films, but they didn’t shy away from presenting darker themes for younger audiences. Return to…
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Film Review – The Trial of the Chicago 7
Writer/director Aaron Sorkin’s The Trial of the Chicago 7 (2020) examines the real-life story of seven protestors put on trial following the infamous riots at the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Those accused of inciting violence came from different parts of the country…
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