JFK (1991)
The assassination of President John F. Kennedy on November 22, 1963 is one of the most polarizing events in United States history. Some people believe it was a coup d’état by insidious forces within the U.S. government. Others think it was the act of a lone gunman who had someContinue Reading
A Disturbance in the Force (2023)
If you’re a Star Wars fan and were old enough between the release of 1977’s Star Wars and 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back, you probably remember 1978’s The Star Wars Holiday Special. If you’re a Star Wars fan and weren’t born yet (or don’t remember that era,) you really needContinue Reading
Godzilla Minus One (2023)
Celebrating his 70th anniversary in 2024, Japan’s biggest movie star, Godzilla, comes roaring back in what may be his most brutal screen outing yet. Godzilla Minus One again reinvents the atomic-powered lizard. This time around, he rises from the ocean to torment a post-World War II Japan already reeling fromContinue Reading
The Holdovers (2023)
When The Holdovers began, I immediately thought I was watching a movie from the 1970s. The film opens with an old-style studio logo and a ratings card featuring a design I recognized from many trips to the drive-in the 70s. Scratches, dust, and imperfections, including crackling sound, were also present.Continue Reading
Sully (2016)
After watching Clint Eastwood’s Sully, two things came to my mind. First, Tom Hanks can play almost anyone and you’ll immediately believe that person is the best in their field, bar none. Secondly, he makes it look effortless. In Sully, Hanks plays Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, the pilot who landedContinue Reading
The Nines (2007)
When a movie uses flashbacks or flash-forwards, there’s usually a reason. A non-linear timeline can serve many purposes. It can hide sloppy writing. It can remind the viewer of what has happened previously. It can mask a plot twist. Or, as in the case of 2007’s The Nines, it canContinue Reading
Adrift (2018)
I’m a sucker for survival stories. Especially stories of people lost at sea who are forced to adapt, improvise, and apply their navigational and nautical skills to survive. 2018’s Adrift is a movie that tells such a story. An added bonus is that it’s true. (Well, it’s based on aContinue Reading