Defying the odds against Dinosaurs, Batman, James Cameron and even Marvel superheroes, Tom Cruise bet on himself and delivered; the highest-grossing domestic movie of the year, his career, and the highest-grossing film in Paramount Pictures’ history. It was also nominated for Best Picture, Screenplay and 4 other Academy Awards when that organization typically overlooks action…
Category: retrospective
Film Recommendations: The Best Films of 2022
10. Prey (20th Century Studios – Disney Plus) Director: Dan Trachtenberg (10 Cloverfield Lane) Going back to basics reversed the downslide this series was starting on after Shane Black’s misstep The Predator, and it performed so well at 93% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 71 on Metacritic. The only way it could have done better was…
Revisiting ‘Orange County’ 20 Years Later
Plot: An over-achieving high schooler’s life turns upside down when a guidance counsellor mistakenly sends in the wrong application to his only applied school: Stanford. One of those movies like “Ghost World” and “Legally Blonde” where the description can’t do justice to the experience. I heard some idle talk about how this movie was proof that…
Did Last of Us Part II Deserve Game of the Year? 2020: Gaming in Review
What does it say about the industry to reward The Last of Us Part II? Is it an endorsement of crunch? Back in March, Jason Schreier wrote about an industry problem that surrounds the game. Developer crunch. People working long hours, often unpaid overtime on games that are too long, are announced too early and…
Triggering Toxic Film Discourse
I am offended, not because of who I am, but because of what I love. In spring, a breakthrough Guardian article dared to suggest two outlandish things: that in my third year of Film Studies I likely had a girlfriend. And that if I loved film I would introduce her to it by sitting her…
2020 Oscar Nominations & Narratives
2020 Oscar Small Talk Conversation Pieces
A Bit on the Atrocious Nature of Fantastic Beasts 2
The one cool thing about Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (the two titles have nothing to do with each other) is all in the final trailer: The music, the special effects and production value. A blockbuster film franchise which can afford the best actors and has no excuse to suck; as incredibly well outlined by…
What is the BEST Version of Aladdin’s “A Whole New World?”
“A Whole New World” may very well be the greatest song of all-time. Featured in Aladdin (my favourite Disney movie) it won the Oscar and Grammy for Song of the Year. It is actually older than I am (as many good songs are). I have heard it hundreds of times and never tire of it,…
Can ‘Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker’ Finally Solve J.J. Abrams’ Mystery Box?
By William Hume (Twitter: @Serious_George) The most fascinating contradiction about Writer/ Director/ Producer J.J. Abrams is that he’s staked his entire film career on creating mysteries that lie within established branded boundaries. The Rabbit’s Foot – Mission: Impossible III Is Cpt. John Harrison Khan? – Star Trek Into Darkness (12) Rey’s Parentage – Star Wars:…
“A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms” Review: ‘Hell of a Night’
This was an unquestionably good episode of Game of Thrones, the best in years (qualified praise since there’s only been a handful of episodes), and this is what TV from a cultural standpoint is all about. Well received, good non-clunky fan service and payoffs. When a show can just film people talking in a dimly…
Does the 1982 Eddie Murphy classic “48 Hrs.” hold up today?
One of the only podcasts I listen to is The Rewatchables. Many film podcasts usually contain hosts with an infuriating lack of film knowledge and haven’t done their research, but each episode of The Rewatchables that I’ve listened to checks its references. In discussing Walter Hill’s 1982-directed, Joel Silver-produced, Eddie Murphy starring debut 48 hrs., host Bill Simmons in…
Name that Actress: Andrea Riseborough
I first noticed her in Oblivion (2013). I didn’t immediately think she was as attractive as Olga Kurylenko (Tom Cruise’s other love interest). Then I saw her make that ridiculous face while pointing in the trailer for The Death of Stalin (2017). After I noticed she was Emma Stone’s hairdresser in Battle of the Sexes…
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