Trailer Spotlight: Ridley Scott’s GLADIATOR II–the spirit of Maximus lives in Paul Mescal’s Lucius as he unleashes hell on Rome

I haven't done a trailer spotlight for ages, and there just haven't been any upcoming films that get me pumped like Gladiator II. So let's just get to it, shall we? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rgYUipGJNo Whoa!! What a jolt of energy to see this trailer in the morning! Ok, so I'm not crazy about the use of rap …

Continue reading Trailer Spotlight: Ridley Scott’s GLADIATOR II–the spirit of Maximus lives in Paul Mescal’s Lucius as he unleashes hell on Rome

A pair of musicals to look forward to this December 2023: The Color Purple + Wonka

Two of the first three Hollywood films my late mom introduced me to when I was a tween were musicals, My Fair Lady (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965) so naturally I have a soft spot for musical movies. I do have to admit though that I have not seen the original films of …

Continue reading A pair of musicals to look forward to this December 2023: The Color Purple + Wonka

Trailer Spotlight: AMERICAN FICTION – Jeffrey Wright stars as a frustrated novelist in this publishing world satire

One of my most-anticipated movies out of major Fall film festivals this year has got to be AMERICAN FICTION, which happens to be a directorial debut from writer/director Cord Jefferson. Based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett, it's essentially about the consequences of turning one's art into a simple commodity. Jeffrey Wright stars as …

Continue reading Trailer Spotlight: AMERICAN FICTION – Jeffrey Wright stars as a frustrated novelist in this publishing world satire

FlixChatter Review: ASTEROID CITY – Wes Anderson’s first foray into sci-fi is soulless + overly self-indulgent

You know what to expect when you go see a Wes Anderson movie, as his shtick is persistent across all his work there are endless spoofs of a bunch of classic movies done in Wes Anderson style. I have not seen all of his work but I love The Grand Budapest Hotel, Fantastic Mr Fox, …

Continue reading FlixChatter Review: ASTEROID CITY – Wes Anderson’s first foray into sci-fi is soulless + overly self-indulgent

FlixChatter Review: FAIR PLAY – A tense + twisted corporate thriller that makes your skin crawl

There’s been a ton of buzz around this film since this film premiered at Sundance and became the highest sales coup when Netflix bought it for $20 Million. It’s especially notable that this psychological thriller is a directorial debut from a female filmmaker, Chloe Domont. The story is set in a world of high finance …

Continue reading FlixChatter Review: FAIR PLAY – A tense + twisted corporate thriller that makes your skin crawl

FlixChatter Review: THE CREATOR (2023) – a visually arresting sci-fi that challenges us whether AI is truly the enemy

It’s quite uncanny that this film’s release coincides with the week when the Writers Guild of America (WGA) finally reached a deal with AMPTP where much of the contract stipulations pertain to Artificial Intelligence. Writers, as well as many in the creative industry, have valid reasons to fear, or at least worry about their jobs …

Continue reading FlixChatter Review: THE CREATOR (2023) – a visually arresting sci-fi that challenges us whether AI is truly the enemy

FlixChatter Review: The Saint of Second Chances (documentary) – a playful redemption story that’s so much more than baseball

Let me begin this review with a confession that I have never actually watched a baseball game in its entirety. I went to a Twins game 30 years ago and went to a Saints game for the first time last August, I think I spent less than 5 minutes watching the game itself. Needless to …

Continue reading FlixChatter Review: The Saint of Second Chances (documentary) – a playful redemption story that’s so much more than baseball