‘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 […]
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 […]
Despite an ensemble cast and the potential of an annual niche, ‘Office Christmas Party’ still struggles with the weight of its own unruly promise.
‘Office Christmas Party,’ in its best effort, replaces quick wit with grimy lumps of coal. It’s beginning to look like something we’ve seen before. Office Christmas Party, the newest efforts of tag-team directors Josh Gordon and Will Speck (Blades of Glory, The Switch), aims tall and ends up falling short. The holiday film holds the […]
Damien Chazelle lights up the big screen with ‘La La Land,’ a colorful feat in-line with Hollywood’s oldest tricks in the music book.
‘La La Land’ tiptoes around a familiar song and dance, but does so through visuals as enduring as its love arc. Here’s to the fools who dream. La La Land, the newest feature from director Damien Chazelle (Whiplash), is a shining emblem of old and new. The musical romance walks the perfect line of symmetry, […]
Kenneth Lonergan’s ‘Manchester by the Sea’ exploited the human condition for all of its flaws, resulting in one of the most compassionate films of the year.
Manchester by the Sea’ is equally sincere as it is conscious of its surroundings, making for great drama. With every death comes a chance of new life. And nothing feels more like a fresh slice of life than director Kenneth Lonergan’s newest film, Manchester by the Sea. Lee Chandler (Casey Affleck) isn’t your typical janitor […]
Disney’s ‘Moana’ is as much of a visual spectacle as it is emotional, using old Disney rhetoric to create a fresh perspective on the hero’s journey.
‘Moana’ stands triumphantly like a breath of fresh air in a time where we need her most. Sometimes, making waves holds more depth than riding them. Just ask Moana. This powerful contender in the Disney catalog is visually and spiritually stunning, with its footing in a universe too prodigious for even two measly dimensions. Nonetheless, […]
Even though Dreamwork’s ‘Trolls’ might riff off an all-too-familiar tune, it’s cloaked with a liveliness as animated as the film itself.
‘Trolls’ layers the same old song and dance with a beat that’s worth your time. What does it take to be genuinely happy? Well, for starters, allow yourself to be tickled pink. And Dreamwork’s newest animated feat, Trolls, does exactly that. Trolls shoots the infamous toy brand into film stardom, having them embrace their new […]
Director Ron Howard brings us the much-anticipated ‘Inferno,’ a formulaic three-quel that, despite all creative odds, plays too much by its own rules.
‘Inferno’ is a stale attempt for the ‘DaVinci Code’ franchise, feeling all too familiar to enjoy. Inferno is the third chapter into the realm of the DaVinci Code, the mystery-novel-gone-film-franchise that just can’t seem to escape the public eye. However, being such a strong creative force in an assembly-line industry like Hollywood, what makes this […]
