What a delightful surprise to see a winner from a relatively new filmmaker, Prentice Penny, writer and director. We don’t usually think of a black middle-class young man with a future in his father’s business wanting to become a sommelier (not a Somalian, as envisioned by some in his circle). But Elijah (Athie) is a dreamer, and something […]
The most unusual technique in this film is that the life of the mother of one of the main protagonists is highlighted in accounting for a love story that transpires years later. It works because the mother’s personality and her decisions (advanced for the time) are so fascinating. Christine Eames (Adams) leaves her home (and the man
Peter Hedges’ (“Pieces of April”) new film has a genius teaser trailer showing Julia Roberts emotionally embracing her son, played by Lucas Hedges. The rest of the film and its many surprise narrative turns you will have to see for yourself. A string of films debuted about families dealing with addiction. “Ben is Back” is
In the hands of Wes Anderson, a stop-motion animated film with mostly dogs as characters and an allegorical theme will captivate children and adults without pandering to either. Probably by coincidence, writer-director Anderson, with the help of Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman, and Kunichi Nomura, employ themes of topical relevance today: government corruption, foreign influences on