Communication Builds Our Community
Communication Builds Our Community
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Sinners, a horror film directed by Ryan Coogler of Black Panther fame, stars Michael B. Jordan in a standout dual performance as twin brothers Smoke and Stack. Set during Prohibition, the story follows the brothers as they leave Chicago and return to their Mississippi hometown to open a nightclub. The film's first act unfolds over the course of a single day, building anticipation for the club's grand opening. This section is rich in character development, allowing viewers to...
I really enjoyed watching the new Snow White movie, directed by Marc Webb and starring Rachel Zegler and Gal Gadot. This live-action remake pays homage to the classic Disney film while thoughtfully updating it to reflect modern sensibilities. It strikes a nice balance between nostalgia and fresh perspective. First of all, Gal Gadot-aka Wonder Woman-was fantastic as the Evil Queen. She brought just the right mix of elegance and menace to the role. One of the things I...
Novocaine is an action comedy film starring Jack Quaid, Amber Midthunder, Ray Nicholson, Betty Gabriel, Jacob Batalon, and Matt Walsh. Directed by Dan Berk and Robert Olson, Novocaine stars Quaid as Nate, a man with a rare condition that prevents him from feeling pain. Because of this, he's cautious, reserved, and a bit of a loner. He works at a bank, where he develops a romance with his co-worker, Sherry (Amber Midthunder). But when Sherry is kidnapped by bank robbers, Nate...
Anora recently took home five Oscars, and deservedly so. Written, edited, and directed by Sean Baker, this gripping film follows a sex worker who finds herself entangled in a whirlwind romance with the son of a Russian oligarch. What starts as a wild, impulsive marriage soon spirals into chaos. The film is both hilarious and deeply frustrating in equal measure-a testament to Baker's sharp storytelling. Mikey Madison delivers a standout performance as Anora, or Ani, a sex...
I enjoyed watching The Substance on Amazon Prime. Written and directed by Coralie Fargeat, it is a science fiction body horror film that stars Demi Moore, Margaret Qualley, and Dennis Quaid. This science fiction film follows Elisabeth, an aging actress played by Demi Moore, who is offered a mysterious substance that creates a younger version of herself, Sue, played by Margaret Qualley. The movie poignantly illustrates the painful reality for aging female actors in Hollywood....
This is an excellent movie-long enough to include an intermission but gripping throughout. Written and directed by Brady Corbet, The Brutalist stars Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, and Guy Pearce. Brody plays László Toth, a Holocaust survivor who moves to Pennsylvania to rebuild his life. The film follows him as he struggles with the separation from his family, adapting to a new culture and language, and processing the horrors of his past. Toth is an architect, more than just an...
I thoroughly enjoyed this remake of the classic vampire film. Though I haven't seen previous versions, this one stands strong on its own. The acting was excellent, with standout performances from Lily-Rose Depp, Nicholas Hoult, and Bill Skarsgård. Depp, in particular, delivers a captivating performance, especially in the physical aspects of her role. Directed by Robert Eggers, the film is set in 1840s Germany and revolves around a strange psychic connection between a young wom...
"A Complete Unknown" reveals many details of the early life and inspirations of Bob Dylan, one of America's most iconic musicians of the 20th century. Directed by James Mangold and starring Timothée Chalamet, Elle Fanning, and Ed Norton, explores the early years of Bob Dylan's rise to fame. Mangold, known for Walk the Line, which chronicled the life of Johnny Cash, brings a similar approach to Dylan's story. When I first saw the trailers, it took me a few viewings to realize...
The Fire Inside is an inspiring Olympics boxing movie that captures the grit, determination, and challenges faced by athletes on their path to greatness. I very much enjoy the Olympics and I watch them every time they come around. I probably watched this boxer but I have no personal memory of it. Directed by Rachel Morrison and starring Ryan Destiny and Brian Tyree Henry, the film tells the story of Claressa "T-Rex" Shields, a young woman from Flint, Michigan, with a...
"Baby Girl" is a captivating and somewhat erotic thriller which offered an interesting Christmas Day entertainment. Written and directed by Halina Reijn, stars Nicole Kidman and features Harris Dickinson and Antonio Banderas. Romy, a high-powered CEO played by Nicole Kidman, is seemingly happily married with two children, yet she finds herself unsatisfied with her relationship with her husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas). This is a bit hard to believe. Romy embarks on an affair...
This is a crime world movie but also a song and dance movie, a really weird combination now showing on Netflix.. This French film is directed by Jacques Audiard and stars Zoe Saldana and Karla Sofia Gascon and takes place mostly in Mexico. Rita is a prosecutor in Mexico and is frustrated with the legal system because all the criminals seem to get away with it. She is offered an opportunity to help a crime boss fake his death and transition as a woman so she can live her authen...
As someone unfamiliar with the Wicked Broadway show or its source material, I approached this film with a fresh perspective. While many viewers were drawn to the familiar characters and iconic songs, I watched this not knowing anything. Based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked offers a prequel to L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Directed by Jon M. Chu, the film stars Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba, the misunderstood "Wicked Witch of the West," and Ariana...
Before watching the sequel, I revisited the 2000 classic, Gladiator. It's a timeless masterpiece that catapulted Russell Crowe to stardom. The film's epic scale, powerful performances, and gripping story remain unforgettable. Gladiator 2 is a legacy sequel, set and filmed many years after the original. Directed once again by Ridley Scott, the film stars Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, and Pedro Pascal. Connie Nielsen reprises her role as Lucilla. The sequel introduces Lucius,...
Here is a technological marvel, a testament to the innovative spirit of filmmaker Robert Zemeckis. The same team behind the Academy Award winning Forrest Gump returns with a film that explores the enduring power of place. Set in a single location, the narrative traverses centuries, following the lives of various families who have called this spot home. While the specific location remains somewhat uncertain, certain clues make it seem to be in Pennsylvania. However, the true ma...
While Venom: The Last Dance doesn't quite reach the heights of its predecessor, it still delivers a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. Directed by Kelly Marcel and starring the ever-charismatic Tom Hardy, this film continues the entertaining dynamic between Eddie Brock and his symbiote alter ego. The screenplay was co-written by Marcel and Hardy. The heart of the movie remains the comedic and often heartwarming interplay between Eddie and Venom. Like the other movies this...
Even though I don't have kids, I still enjoy a good children's movie-especially as I feel I'm still a kid at heart in many ways. Recently, I watched the animated film The Wild Robot and found myself completely drawn into its heartfelt story. Directed by Chris Sanders, this film features the voices of Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, and Kit Connor, with special appearances by Bill Nighy and Mark Hamill. The movie is based on Peter Brown's 2016 book and follows the journey of a...
Your Monster, written and directed by Caroline Lindy, is a quirky blend of horror, comedy, and drama. Starring Melissa Barrera, Meghan Fahy, and Tommy Dewey, the film delves into the tumultuous aftermath of a painful breakup. Inspired by Lindy's personal experiences, the film follows Laura, a woman recently diagnosed with cancer who is abandoned by her boyfriend, Jacob. Jacob is a musical theater director who has a show going on that he wrote with Laura's help. Seeking solace...
I recently watched Saturday Night, which focuses on the first taping of Saturday Night Live (SNL) back in 1975. Directed by Jason Reitman, it stars Gabriel LaBelle, Rachel Sennott, and Corey Michael Smith. I've never really watched SNL. I've seen clips here and there but never followed it regularly. However, I recognize its cultural significance as a groundbreaking show that helped launch the careers of numerous iconic comedians. Watching this film felt a bit like tuning into...
When Joker first hit theaters, it was a cultural phenomenon. Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Arthur Fleck, a troubled man teetering on the edge of madness, captivated audiences and sparked conversations about mental health and societal neglect. Directed by Todd Phillips, it masterfully depicted how a person struggling at the fringes of society could spiral into chaos, a tragedy that felt both deeply personal and disturbingly reflective of the world around us. Phoenix's...
White Bird is a World War II/Holocaust film set in Nazi-occupied France, centered around the experiences of children trying to survive under harrowing conditions. Directed by Marc Forster, the film stars Helen Mirren, Gillian Anderson, and Ariella Glasser. At the heart of the story, a grandmother recounts her childhood to her grandson, aiming to teach him about the importance of courage and finding one's voice in the face of injustice. Through her memories, we see her young...
Dennis Quaid delivers a compelling performance as Ronald Reagan in the biopic Reagan. The film, directed by Sean McNamara and based on Paul Kengor's 2006 book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism presents a celebratory portrait of the former president. Quaid captures Reagan's folksy charm and charisma, while Penelope Ann Miller provides a nuanced portrayal of Nancy Reagan. The film's production values are impressive, with convincing makeup and sets that...
The new movie Twisters is what is being called a legacy sequel of the movie Twister from 1996. Twisters is directed by Lee Isaac Chung and stars Daisy Edgar-Jones and Glen Powell. I recently watched the original Twister movie from 1996 starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton to prepare to watch this movie. Twister really set the stage for disaster movies. The plots for the two movies are pretty much identical. The only connective tissue between the two movies is the fact that the...
As a long-time Marvel fan, I was eagerly anticipating Deadpool and Wolverine. With the deluge of Marvel movies over the past few years, it's refreshing to have a single, standout entry this year. Surprisingly, I've missed the cinematic Marvel Universe, and this film felt like a much-needed reunion. The marketing leaned heavily into the joke that Deadpool is "Marvel Jesus," here to save the franchise, a reference many have seen in the trailers. This isn't just a clever...
Watching part one of Kevin Costner's 3-hour Western epic, "Horizon: An American Saga," is quickly realized that this is a movie that would have been better suited as a mini-series on a streaming service. There's simply too much going on. The film juggles three or four different plot threads, each with their own side plots, making it a bit difficult to keep track of everything. This project is very much Kevin Costner's brainchild. He financed the movie, wrote part of the...
"Inside Out 2" is a delightful return to "the interior of Riley's mind," this time navigating the turbulent waters of adolescence. This movie is certainly not as good as the original, but still I enjoyed it very much. In this new chapter we see the lead character Riley turn 13 and transition out of middle school. She starts to enter puberty as she goes off to hockey camp. Inside her brain we have the same characters from the last movie, although some have different voices,...
