It was November 19, 1863 that Abraham Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address which contained the words “from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain.” Lincoln’s mention of the … Continue reading
Add another movie to the “they’re remaking what???” list. I remember renting 1992’s “Candyman” on VHS tape from one of our local video stores. It was based on a Clive Barker short story and featured Tony Todd as the hook-armed title character. Unlike its two fairly crappy sequels, the original had a compelling social subtext … Continue reading
The oddly titled Spanish family drama “Live Twice, Love Once” isn’t shy about taking several familiar themes and movie tropes then tossing them all into one big pot. A debilitating disease, a strained marriage, secrets from past, an unlikely road trip. Just some of the well-worn story elements that find their way into the film. … Continue reading
Depicting a disability or condition of any kind offers a number of challenges for filmmakers. Showing sensitivity and empathy without falling over into exploitation is no easy task. And using it as a simple plot device can be problematic despite a movie having the very best of intentions. “The Night Clerk” straddles that fine red … Continue reading
If you’re looking for that warm, fuzzy Mother’s Day movie to treat your mom to, well….this ain’t it. “Run” is a psychological thriller that comes from Aneesh Chaganty. His last film was the fascinating technology/social media thriller “Searching” starring John Cho. That film was made for just over $850,000 but made over $75 million at … Continue reading
Dee Rees blew me away with her terrific Deep South period drama “Mudbound”. Her highly-anticipated follow-up couldn’t be a more different experience. “The Last Thing He Wanted” is what happens when a movie focuses too much on intricacy and not enough on coherence. As a result, not only does it lose itself but it loses … Continue reading
