“Avatar: The Way of Water,” the much-anticipated sequel to James Cameron’s 2009 blockbuster “Avatar,” is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant masterpiece that builds upon the themes and world-building of its predecessor.The story, set several years after the first film’s events, follows Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) and his family, who have settled into a peaceful […]
Before it premiered, there were hopes that Francis Lee’s new film would put Kate Winslet in the race for next year’s best actress Oscar. Hopes were dashed though after the reviews from this year’s virtual Toronto Film Festival, labeling it as dry, mute, and bleak. The fan fiction element of the story tries to balance facts
My continued complaint with filmmakers is they don’t watch enough other films. “Blackbird” might have been an award-worthy, groundbreaking new take on the terminally ill/assisted suicide moral dilemma if a handful of other films on the same subject hadn’t gotten their first. Roger Michell (“Notting Hill,” “My Cousin Rachel“) isn’t known for originality, in fact,
Justin Timberlake’s character describes himself as “poetic by nature”. He is of course taking on the Woody Allen persona in the filmmaker’s new flick. The poetry fades quickly in Wonder Wheel as it opens on the most beautiful images of 1950’s Coney Island. A smorgasbord of color for the eyeballs, you don’t know where to
Israeli director Hany Abu-Assad might have missed more romance survivor films than he should, before undertaking The Mountain Between Us. There’s a lot of good work in the middle of this film, particularly thanks to Oscar winner Winslet (Steve Jobs, The Dressmaker) and Idris Elba (The Dark Tower, Beasts of No Nation). The remote isolation
Think of a Lifetime movie, but with Oscar winners and nominees. That’s what director David Frankel’s Collateral Beauty amounts to. If you have never seen a Lifetime film, it’s a network that produces movies that are often contrite, more focused on getting an emotion out of its audience, regardless of the means or accountability in
Jocelyn Moorhouse returns to film after almost twenty years away from the director’s chair. The Dressmaker is an odd film in structure, subject matter and presentation. Moorhouse describes the film as “Unforgiven with a sewing machine”. What looks like a film about a young woman returning to her miserable dusty Australian town to find love
I have a good hunch why Triple 9, which was shot a couple of years ago, landed a soft release. Not the best social climate to promote a film about corruption and deadly cops. Still director John Hilcoat, known for his dark, moody and ensemble casts, assembles an intense thriller even if plot logistics and
There are so many films and TV movies about Steve Jobs, that it’s becoming difficult to keep track of them all. The latest, Steve Jobs, written by Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin (Moneyball, The Social Network) might be the most unique and intelligent look into the life of the modern day genius. While the film
Each year the New York Film Festival showcases the magic that movies can make. This year’s 53rd edition offers a rich preview of films to anticipate later this fall as well as some important lessons for any moviemaker to consider. Take a look.