Tom Hanks is enjoying an extended run of captaining films through peril. In his latest, Greyhound, the veteran actor leads a destroyer tasked with escorting a convoy during the Battle of the Atlantic. He gives yet another commanding performance in a thriller that makes the 91-minute runtime feel like a breathless half-hour. Set in the... Continue Reading →
Long takes are imperfect filmmaking. The choreography of cinematography over a scene or an entire film is a dance between the camera, actors, and the audience. Even though it can be viewed as a gimmick, it is a storytelling choice that dramatically alters the final product. When done well, the technique injects unique perspective into... Continue Reading →
Long takes are imperfect filmmaking. The choreography of cinematography over a scene or an entire film is a dance between the camera, actors, and the audience. Even though it can be viewed as a gimmick, it is a storytelling choice that dramatically alters the final product. When done well, the technique injects unique perspective into... Continue Reading →
Long takes are imperfect filmmaking. The choreography of cinematography over a scene or an entire film is a dance between the camera, actors, and the audience. Even though it can be viewed as a gimmick, it is a storytelling choice that dramatically alters the final product. When done well, the technique injects unique perspective into... Continue Reading →
Philadelphia's cinematic history is synonymous with Rocky, one of the best sports films ever made. The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon is not a close second. Released in 1998, the made-for-TV movie does not exactly rival sports flicks from the same era like Little Giants or Angels In The Outfield. The movie stars Tony... Continue Reading →
One of the toughest decisions every athlete makes is knowing when to hang up their cleats and call it a career. The baseball documentary Late Life: The Chien-Ming Wang Story, covers the final stages of pitcher Chien-Ming Wang and his attempt to return to the big leagues. The film is an intimate look at the... Continue Reading →
This post contains spoilers of Laura, Vertigo, and Gone Girl. A coincidental weekend binge of three movies produced an unintended similarity: a woman who is presumed dead returns halfway through the film. The women of Laura, Vertigo, and Gone Girl have their distinct traits, but each serves a unique purpose that reflects the era in... Continue Reading →
Netflix’s Spenser Confidential is an intersection of two well-traveled subgenres: Boston crime and revenge. The film adaptation of the popular private detective is now in its third incarnation as an action flick. The 2020 movie reintroduces Spenser with some notable tweaks. Spenser Confidential stars Mark Wahlberg, Winston Duke, and Alan Arkin. Spenser is a former... Continue Reading →
The trailer for Roland Emmerich’s 2019 film Midway presented a poorly construed treatment of World War II with hooky jingoism and disaster movie arcs. The film barely broke even in the box office, although it was vastly different from the 1976 movie Midway. That blockbuster was a top-grossing flick of its time, yet the substance... Continue Reading →
The second month of my quest to watch 100 movies in 2020 brought me to a movie with untapped depth: Steve McQueen's Widows. The 2018 film incorporates themes of urban poverty, independence, and political corruption into the story of a heist executed by reluctant participants. The ensemble film stars Viola Davis, Elizabeth Debicki, Michelle Rodriguez, Liam... Continue Reading →
