Review: "Bombshell" Lands With a Dud

Scene from Bombshell (2019)

With a better director (nay, a better script), Bombshell would've been a film brimming with such an urgency, defining the current Me Too Movement with its cross-section of topics ranging from journalism to presidencies to sexual harassment. The story of Fox News anchors bringing their boss to task for his bad behavior should be something that strikes a chord with viewers so much that they leave the theater vindicated that the bad guy got his due. Instead, it's an impersonal slog of a movie and one that lacks any urgency at all. What is found here is director Jay Roach's attempt at mattering by telling the story in the most boring, clinical way possible while still missing the point. It isn't about how well you know the story, but what it means to the people most being impacted by it. In some ways, it's the perfect embodiment of trend-hopping filmmaking that quickly exposes who hasn't seen it. Those who haven't will think it's important for what it's about, those who see it know better. It should be important, but alas... it's just desperate. 

The Trailer for "Bombshell" Shows Things Going Up for Oscar Potential

Scene from Bombshell (2019)

For those who follow modern politics very closely, there's a good chance that you have an opinion about Fox News - for better or worse. They remain one of the most influential resources in modern news, constantly being discussed as much for what they say as what their personal ethics are. With director Jay Roach's Bombshell, he decides to tackle one of the more notorious things that the news network was scrutinized for: the treatment of their female employees. The news itself was shocking when it was real, but with an all-star cast and a minimalist trailer, there's a tenseness that this new film will be a defining work not only for the ongoing Me Too movement but also an exploration of concepts like Fake News. If nothing else, it will help to add a human element to the story. 

Theory Thursday: "Atomic Blonde" is a Masterpiece

Scene from Atomic Blonde

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

Review: "Tully" Captures a More Personal and Funny Side to Being a Parent

Scene from Tully

If for no other reason than her Oscar win, writer Diablo Cody likely will never escape her debut script Juno. Its divisive use of flowery language both made her a distinctive voice and one whose grating presence felt false. No matter how many films she's made since, there's that legacy to overcome. With her latest Tully, it feels like a film that has multiple layers. On the surface, it's a personal story of motherhood that captures the struggles in ways that could only come from first hand experience. There's a defeated quality to the language, as if raising children are a metaphorical black hole. However, it's also a return to the world of children and pregnancy for Cody that sees her commenting not only on the parent's experience, but the naive one represented in title character Tully (Mackenzie Davis), whose youth and wealth of knowledge are reminiscent of a more scholarly Juno character. It's a film that may as well be about Cody's career, both on screen and off. It's the battle of one persona, and it's also her best work since 2007. 

A24 A-to-Z: #25. "Dark Places" (2015)

Scene from Dark Places

In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for ears to come.

A Look at "Atomic Blonde" and the Ongoing Need for a Best Stunt Performer Category

Scene from Atomic Blonde

Today marks Charlize Theron's 42nd birthday. Like all celebrities, it is fun to spend this day commemorating their great achievements in pop culture. After all, who could forget the scene stealing work in Mad Max: Fury Road, or the snarky brilliance of Young Adult? To say the least, Theron has been busy trying to start up an amazing comeback that'll likely define her as one of the most interesting, if not best, actresses of her generation. However, there is another topic that I would love to discuss regarding her recent work: Atomic Blonde. If you've seen it, you know how great her performance in the movie is. It also serves to raise the question: When will there be a Best Stunt Performer category at the Oscars?

Theory Thursday: "Young Adult" is Charlize Theron's Best Movie

Scene from Young Adult

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

Theory Thursday: "Prometheus" is Underrated

Michael Fassbender

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

Review: "Kubo and the Two Strings" is a Gorgeous Masterpiece

Scene from Kubo and the Two Strings

In an era where animated films are more likely than not to get the CG treatment, one has to wonder if these movies carry the magic that they once did. Beyond the rare exceptions like How to Train Your Dragon 2 or Inside Out, most fall into a formulaic, familiar style that make for an enjoyable experience, but leave plenty to be desired in the aesthetic department. It is in reasoning like this that Laika's latest Kubo and the Two Strings isn't just the best animated film of the year, but possibly one of the most exciting and revolutionary aesthetically of the decade. The blend of stop motion and CG animation unveils the potential for what cinema can be by telling the story of a boy named Kubo (Art Parkinson), a Monkey (Charlize Theron), and a Beetle (Matthew McConaughey) as they go on a mystical journey that explores the grand themes of imagination. If nothing else, it's the studio's most assured film since 2009's Coraline, and it may be their most ambitious yet.

Miller Promises a Black and White Version of "Mad Max: Fury Road" Soon

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

It is likely that you've seen director George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road. Almost everyone seems to agree, it's great. Even The Academy have gotten their adrenaline on by giving the film a whopping 10 Oscar nominations. However, what if I were to tell you that the colorful version that ended up making it into theaters is not the way that it was intended to be released? Well, for those who enjoy watching every film in an altered fashion (I know I do), prepare for Furiosa and the gang to come back in glorious black and white - just as Miller had always intended it to be.

Guess What? Miller Will Be Making Those "Mad Max" Sequels After All

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

Today's a big day for director George Miller. For starters, his film Mad Max: Fury Road has the second most Oscar nominations. Considering how little it has in the way of prestigious fare like Spotlight or Brooklyn, it's a miracle and a surprise that his action film has managed to outdo them. Of course, this film has been doing surprisingly well against both critics and audiences, and even puts the future of Miller's crazy car franchise up for question. Will we be seeing more of Max and the gang in future films? Well, the answer looked to be a resounding no a few days ago. But today, in light of his second wave of success, the 70-year-old director clears things up. Turns out that he may be coming back after all.

"Mad Max" Director Won't Be Working on Any Sequels

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

For many, one of the highlights of 2015 was director George Miller's return to the world of Mad Max with the Golden Globe-nominated sequel Fury Road. Following the previous entry from 1985, it became the unlikely success story and fueled a new generation of fans to cheer on the godfather of car movies. With the series arguably at its peak since 1981's The Road Warrior, one could only expect Miller to produce more sequels, right? Well, there's some bad news that was announced recently. Whether or not Max lives on, Miller will not be there to direct them.

The "Kubo and The Two Strings" Teaser Shows Laika Continuing to Expand Their Style in Interesting Directions

Scene from Kubo and The Two Strings

There are few trailers for animated films that are as exciting as Laika Studios. The company that has revolutionized stop motion animation with digital effects and innovative story telling have done wonders by crafting family films that mix beautiful imagery with challenging stories. While the studio's output is small, three major films to date, each entry has shown at least some growth that proves why you should be taking them seriously. In the case of their latest, 2016's Kubo and The Two Strings, they come back to the game with one of their best teasers yet. From the team that brought you ParaNorman and The Boxtrolls comes their latest film, which looks to be just as innovative and challenging as everything they've done before. And that's a good thing.

Theory Thursday: Coma the Doof Warrior is the Worst Character in "Mad Max: Fury Road"

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

Welcome to a weekly column called Theory Thursdays, which will be released every Thursday and discuss my "controversial opinion" related to something relative to the week of release. Sometimes it will be birthdays while others is current events or a new film release. Whatever the case may be, this is a personal defense for why I disagree with the general opinion and hope to convince you of the same. While I don't expect you to be on my side, I do hope for a rational argument. After all, film is a subjective medium and this is merely just a theory that can be proven either way. 

Why I Don't Believe That "Mad Max: Fury Road" Will Get a Best Picture Nomination

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

There's no denying the unpredictable impact that director George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road has had on the zeitgeist. It's become its own cultural phenomenon with people adopting the lingo and calling Charlize Theron's Furiosa one of the greatest female characters of the year. It's a film made by a mad man and one that is just as entertaining as the notion. However, there's one thing that I could never quite get on board with. For everyone calling this the Best Movie of 2015, I don't think that it transcends to The Academy. While they have added Tom Hardy to their members list, their latest push to make it a Best Picture contender feels a little... off. It's fun, but I have trouble embracing this campaign as anything but wishful thinking.

Why I Think "Mad Max: Fury Road" is a Western

Scene from Mad Max: Fury Road

There is little doubt that by now, you have seen director George Miller's Mad Maxy: Fury Road, possibly even a few times. You have been overwhelmed by the beauty of each choreographed moment of anarchy. You remain on the edge of your seat as characters lunge from cars into uncertain safety. It's a spectacle made by a mad man. It definitely earns its place among the best films of 2015 and remains a controversial black sheep for the Best Picture race. However, there is one thing that I would like to plead with you that may not be abundantly clear: this film is largely a western. If that sounds a little baffling to you, allow me to explain.

Birthday Take: Charlize Theron in "Monster" (2003)

Charlize Theron in Monster

Welcome to The Birthday Take, a column dedicated to celebrating Oscar nominees and winners' birthdays by paying tribute to the work that got them noticed. This isn't meant to be an exhaustive retrospective, but more of a highlight of one nominated work that makes them noteworthy. The column will run whenever there is a birthday and will hopefully give a dense exploration of the finest performances and techniques applied to film. So please join me as we blow out the candles and dig into the delicious substance.

Review: "Mad Max: Fury Road" is a Bottled Version of Genuine Insanity

Back in 2008, a young director named Christopher Nolan released the highly successful The Dark Knight. It not only reinvented the superhero genre, but created the most iconic depiction of its main character. It posited that comic book movies could have more than silly action set pieces and basic plot structures. It was revolutionary in a way that has come to define modern film making. It has been years since a late entry franchise film has made a dent in the zeitgeist. Who is the latest to revolutionize the action packed visuals that may become cliche within the next 10 years due to overkill impersonators? If you were thinking of director George Miller's Mad Max: Fury Road, you may be onto something. It does to car movies what The Dark Knight did to superheroes: amplify its potential.