Empire Of Light Review – gloriously shot and well-acted but Sam Mendes’ script feels largely contrived

Cinema is having a celebratory year in 2022, with three big studio films proclaiming to be a love letter to the movies: The Fabelmans (Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical story), Damien Chazelle’s Babylon (about Pre-Code Hollywood) and you could even say Downton Abbey: A New Era is a nod to the transition from silent films to talkies. …

Continue reading Empire Of Light Review – gloriously shot and well-acted but Sam Mendes’ script feels largely contrived

Trailer + Poster Spotlight – The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan starring Eva Green, Vicky Krieps and Vincent Cassel

I know there have been a bazillion Three Musketeers adaptations but hey, I've actually never seen a French version with French actors. There is a 1953 French-Italian version that I've never seen, and there are probably others given that Alexandre Dumas is one of the most celebrated French writers. Well, Pathe has just released the …

Continue reading Trailer + Poster Spotlight – The Three Musketeers: D’Artagnan starring Eva Green, Vicky Krieps and Vincent Cassel

FlixChatter Review: Causeway (2022)

Billed as a Jennifer Lawrence comeback vehicle (her last leading role was Red Sparrow in 2018), this is a quiet, reflective role about a former soldier dealing with PTSD. There is a lot of that going on as her character Lynsey has a lot to ponder about her family and what she wants to do …

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FlixChatter Review: Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

Despite numerous versions out there, this is the first adaptation of the erotic romance by D. H. Lawrence that I've seen. The book was banned for obscenities in five countries, including the US. Per Brittanica.com, it remains one of the few novels in English literary history that addresses female sexual desire. Not having read the …

Continue reading FlixChatter Review: Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

Trailer Spotlight – Harrison Ford is back in Indiana Jones 5: Dial of Destiny (2023)

Woo wee!! Color me surprised, pleasantly surprised that is. To be honest, I was mostly meh about the latest Indiana Jones installment, mostly because The Kingdom of Crystal Skull is such an abomination (see this list of unnecessary blockbuster sequels). I also think at 80 years old, Harrison Ford is practically a relic himself!  But …

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Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio (2022) – a dark, twisted, and mesmerizing modern classic

I have to admit that I could barely remember if I’ve seen any adaptation of Pinocchio. It’s odd I know, considering how many incarnations there are, whether animated or live-action. There are varied interpretations of this classic fable based on the children’s novel by Italian writer Carlo Collodi, but what’s consistent is that he’s constructed …

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The Fabelmans (2022) review – Spielberg’s earnest origin story isn’t quite magical but still enjoyable for fans of his work

Spielberg’s films are often told from the point of view of children or feature kids prominently. So it’s no surprise that his semi-autobiography loosely based on his childhood is told through a fictional boy Sam ‘Sammy’ Fabelman during his formative years. Even the most casual moviegoers who don’t pay much attention to the film industry …

Continue reading The Fabelmans (2022) review – Spielberg’s earnest origin story isn’t quite magical but still enjoyable for fans of his work