Comedies built around a woman taking a vacation from her life remains a reliable subgenre of filmmakers. These stories absorb tropes in other genres, like the fish-out-of-water, and turn it into an exciting new tale. With hits like Mamma Mia, Under the Tuscan Sun, and Eat, Pray, Love, studios continue to build classics to this … Continue reading Review: ‘Mafia Mamma’ Leans a Little Too Far Into Camp
Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Boxtrolls’ Remains a 4K Technical Behemoth
LAIKA continually pushes its animators and artisans to break new ground. Coming off the success of ParaNorman and Coraline, LAIKA could have returned to grim stories. Yet instead, they decided to tackle a far more challenging story about false narratives and government corruption. The Boxtrolls also forced LAIKA to develop as visual storytellers, especially with … Continue reading Blu-Ray Review: ‘The Boxtrolls’ Remains a 4K Technical Behemoth
Bela Lugosi’s Undead Episode 3 – Hereditary (2018) – Directed by Ari Aster
Welcome back to Bela Lugosi’s Undead! We kick off our first A24 horror run with Ari Asters Hereditary. It’s Spooky Ryan’s favorite film of all time, and one of the most memorable theatrical films of recent memory. After premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, the film quickly took the world by storm. It became the … Continue reading Bela Lugosi’s Undead Episode 3 – Hereditary (2018) – Directed by Ari Aster
Review: ‘Knives Out’ Gives Rian Johnson Another Star-Studded Affair to Talk About
Following the tragic events of The Last Jedi, director and writer Rian Johnson needed a hit. The director's proven track record of excelling with original content earned him the right to play with a big franchise. It only made sense for him to get as far away from franchise filmmaking as possible. His followup, Knives Out roots itself firmly … Continue reading Review: ‘Knives Out’ Gives Rian Johnson Another Star-Studded Affair to Talk About
AJ’s Personal Ballot (If I Had an Oscar Vote) for 2018 Part 3: Acting and Directors
Alright! It's time for the big guns. Let's cover some great directors and great actors today! If you want to go back read Part 1 (the crafts) or Part 2 (Foreign, Documentary, Animated, Screenplays), they're both available for you at any time. Let's check in on AJ's nomination counts! AJ’s Nomination Count 7- Black Panther (2 Wins) … Continue reading AJ’s Personal Ballot (If I Had an Oscar Vote) for 2018 Part 3: Acting and Directors
Review: ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ Sings With Emotion and Love
Actors like Nick Offerman often do not get their due. Offerman was an integral piece of one of the great comedies of the past decade, yet never received an Emmy nomination. He consistently anchors indie comedies and dramas in supporting roles, such as The Kings of Summer or Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Yet anyone who has … Continue reading Review: ‘Hearts Beat Loud’ Sings With Emotion and Love