FlixChatter Review: GLADIATOR II (2024) – The cast brings their A-game but this sequel is heavy on CGI spectacle, light on logic + emotional resonance 

It’s been 24 years since Gladiator was released and it remains one of my favorite movies of all time. I rewatched it recently and it still holds up exceptionally well. It starts strong and ends with equal fortitude. The hero’s journey is complete with Maximus’ death, as he sacrificially saves Lucilla, her son Lucius, as …

Continue reading FlixChatter Review: GLADIATOR II (2024) – The cast brings their A-game but this sequel is heavy on CGI spectacle, light on logic + emotional resonance 

TCFF 2024 Review: BLITZ – Saoirse Ronan is luminous in Steve McQueen’s impeccably-crafted but emotionally underwhelming WWII drama

Blitz tells the tale of a group of Londoners navigating life during the bombings of World War II in the 1940s. Written and directed by Steve McQueen, the film opened with a fiery inferno right from its opening scene. Firefighters desperately try to put out the blaze that engulfs a row of houses, one of …

Continue reading TCFF 2024 Review: BLITZ – Saoirse Ronan is luminous in Steve McQueen’s impeccably-crafted but emotionally underwhelming WWII drama

TCFF 2024 Review: La Cocina – a visceral cinematic experience set in a bustling kitchen boldly explores power & class dynamics

La Cocina (aka The Kitchen) immerses viewers into the world of a bustling kitchen, The Grill, in NYC’s Times Square. It’s also an American immigrant story as it opens with a young woman Estela (Anna Diaz)  on a ferry to Manhattan she sneaks in through the side door and slyly manages to land a job …

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FlixChatter Review – VENOM: The Last Dance (2024) – Tom Hardy bids farewell to his chatty, bombastic symbiote in a whirlwind of crazy fun

I came into the Venom franchise quite late as I just didn’t care for it initially, despite being a big fan of Tom Hardy. Then I saw the mid-credit scene of Spider-man: No Way Home featuring Hardy’s character Eddie Brock with his alien parasite in a Mexican bar talking to a bartender played by Ted …

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Special Guest Post: 10 Great Scary Movies For Children At Halloween

Guest post by Dan Stephens of Top 10 Films Get ready to grab your blankets, snuggle up, and settle in for a night of delightful frights with these family-friendly scary movies! There's nothing quite like the thrill of a spooky movie night, where the whole family can gather around the screen, popcorn in hand, and …

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TCFF 2024 Review: CONCLAVE – Ralph Fiennes delivers his finest performance in this engrossing papal mystery thriller 

Twin Cities Film Fest kicked off its 10-day film festivities yesterday with Focus Features’ papal mystery thriller CONCLAVE. It’s one of my most anticipated Fall films thanks to the all-star cast filled with Oscar nominees, Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, and John Lithgow. Directed by Edward Berger, the 2023 Oscar winner for All Quiet on the …

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FlixChatter Review: THE OUTRUN (2024) – Saoirse Ronan superbly portrays a woman battling addiction in this year’s hidden gem

Saoirse Ronan is an actress I’d watch in pretty much anything. That’s the main appeal of The Outrun for me. I don’t usually go for addiction films simply because Hollywood has a history of glamorizing drug and alcohol use as a way to enjoy life, often hiding the harsh truths of addiction. Although some movies …

Continue reading FlixChatter Review: THE OUTRUN (2024) – Saoirse Ronan superbly portrays a woman battling addiction in this year’s hidden gem