‘Table 19,’ despite a refreshing concept to the rom-com formula, swing-dances around too many subplots to make itself worthy of your heartstrings.
‘Table 19’ plays like a quick cuddle, leaving you with your arms stretched out for more. Hear that? The sounds of thrashing wedding bells? The teary-eyed spectators? The joys of love, in its purest form? Well, neither can Table 19. Director Jeffrey Blitz, with story by Mark and Jay Duplass, attempts to inspire audiences with […]
‘The Lego Batman Movie’ is a sympathetic spin-off to Bruce Wayne’s tussled origins, allowing for both deep thoughts and even deeper belly laughs.
‘The Lego Batman Movie’ might bask in its own fun and games, yet finds an undertone as giftedly dark as its hero. It’s never easy building off of past success. That is, unless you have Legos as your building blocks. Director Chris McKay (Robot Chicken, Moral Orel) unleashes a spin-off that’s worthy of its very […]
Richie Keen’s ‘Fist Fight’ stands for a meaningful cause, yet gets knocked out in its rushed efforts to make us laugh (for better or for worse).
Charlie Day and Ice Cube go head-to-head in ‘Fist Fight,’ a comedy that tries too hard to play by the street rules. We all have a little “crazy” in us. However, it’s how we present such eccentricities that make them valuable down the road. Director Richie Keen (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Goldbergs) makes […]
Robert DeNiro stars in ‘The Comedian,’ a new comedy-drama that worries so harshly on its punchlines that its set-up feels unpleasantly forced.
‘The Comedian’ crams enough lousy stand-up to leave its audience sitting down. Everyone knows the story of the washed up has-been. Better yet, it’s become less of an archetype and more of a joke within itself. Let’s just think of The Comedian as “the joke that went too far.” Director Taylor Hackford (Ray, An Officer […]
‘Moonlight’ is a visual symphony, a three-act structure that conforms to the tragic bliss of feeling comfortable in your own skin.
Barry Jenkins delivers ‘Moonlight,’ an indie film as beautifully fragile as its subject matter. It’s easy to underestimate the light. We live in it day-by-day, never knowing its true potential on dreamers. Nonetheless, the longer we live in it, the closer that we are to the edge of the shadows. Moonlight, the newest feat by […]
‘The Founder’ is as persistent as its tragic hero, going against Hollywood aesthetic to bring McDonald’s hard-hitting alteration from family to royalty.
John Lee Hancock’s ‘The Founder’ is a unique biopic that doesn’t shy away from a double-edged truth. You’ve seen the Golden Arches. This shining symbol is notorious on a global scale, adding a layer of familiarity and comfort to even the most ill-prepared traveler. Then, almost instantly, the archway becomes an invitation, an alluring hand […]
‘Hidden Figures’ is a triumphant celebration of open-minded ethics, allowing for a visceral experience above it's not-so-hidden flaws.
Theodore Melfi brings us ‘Hidden Figures,’ an uncharted tale with a heart as large as its morals. When looking to the sky, it’s possible to miss what is directly in front of you. Acclaimed-director Theodore Melfi (St. Vincent) hopes to point out such missing pieces with Hidden Figures, a period piece about the unexposed truths […]
‘Rogue One’ gives an alternative approach and a breath of fresh air to the ‘Star Wars’ saga, since ‘The Empire Strikes Back.’
Gareth Edward’s ‘Rogue One’ reminds us that the force is in good hands, for better or for worse. I suppose nothing’s too far-fetched for a galaxy, far, far away… This past holiday season, director Gareth Edwards (Godzilla) brought global audiences Rogue One, a new feat in the most influential franchise ever filmed. The catch? It […]
‘Why Him?’ plays off a straightforward concept with an ensemble cast and a sentiment that runs deeper than most R-rated comedies in recent memory.
John Hamburg’s ‘Why Him?’ shadows its familiar themes with a heart of gold. For all the guilty pleasures in the world, this one feels a little less guilty. Director John Hamburg (Along Came Polly, I Love You, Man) brings audiences Why Him?, a romantic comedy that plays dirtier than most in its category. Nevertheless, there’s […]
‘Passengers’ takes an unconventional perspective on the future of space travel, only to leave it drifting in the wake of star-crossed lovers and dead space.
Director Morten Tyldum reaches for the stars with ‘Passengers,’ yet doesn’t exactly reach high enough. What does it take to be lonesome? This holiday season, director Morten Tyldum (The Imitation Game) invites audiences to stretch their boundaries of isolation with Passengers, an oddly-familiar endeavor into the mysterious unknown. Like the emptiness of the galaxy, there […]
