There’s no getting around it, Manifesto is an odd duck. Kanopy has just uploaded it to its platform, which is reason enough to reexamine this bizarre little indie film from 2017. From Boulder Weekly Vol. 24, No. 46, “Art for … Continue reading MANIFESTO
Bernadette Fox (Cate Blanchett) can’t sleep. She can’t focus either. She once was an architect, an incredible one, some called her “genius,” but she gave that up 15 years ago. Now, with no outlet for her energy, it explodes out … Continue reading WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE
Picking up shortly after the events in How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014), How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World thrusts Hiccup (Jay Baruchel) and his trusty dragon, Toothless into the world of adulthood. Accompanying the Chief of Berk are Astrid (America Ferrera), the soon-to-be-Chiefess of Berk; Valka (Cate Blanchett), Hiccup’s long-lost mother; Snotlout (Jonah Hill), Berk’s second in command; Fishlegs (Christopher Mintz-Plasse); and the most annoying set of twins this side of The Bachelor: Ruffnut (Kristen Wiig) and Tuffnut (Justin Rupple, replacing T.J. Miller from the previous installments). Life in Berk is going swimmingly. Dragons and Vikings … Continue reading HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD
The God of Thunder returns and he’s bringing the pyrotechnics to Marvel’s latest installment of sound and fury. Thor: Ragnorak, the 17th installment in Marvel’s Cinematic Universe, continues the latest trend of Marvel movies: irreverent humor, ironic heroes, and plenty of neon razzle-dazzle. And while these tricks entertain — and Thor is generally a good time — none of the frosting helps Marvel’s ongoing issues with bloated storylines, uncompelling villains, and bland third act battles. Picking up sometime after the events in Doctor Strange and opening in a Norse underworld, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) battles a hoard of demons led by Sutur, … Continue reading THOR: RAGNAROK
“How do I begin?” Knight of Cups, the latest movie from writer/director Terrence Malick, follows Hollywood screenwriter Rick (Christian Bale) as he tries to understand what his life is now that his brother has died and his career is on the precipice of a momentous piece of work. True to Malickian form, none of this is spelled out, and the above quote does not come from a piece of dialogue snatched from a conversation, but from Rick’s inner thoughts. Or from a prayer. Or maybe just a simple voiceover. There is no real way of telling, but that doesn’t matter. … Continue reading KNIGHT OF CUPS
22 Jump Street – The meta-named “21 Jump Street” program was such a success that the division is loading a lot of money into the follow-up, “22 Jump Street”. The name change is due to an address change and this time, the boys are going to college. The incredible team of Phil Lord and Chris Miller look to crack the sequel code and they just might do it. Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube, Nick Offerman are back and Peter Stormare, Dave Franco and Amber Stevens join in on the fun. Out in wide release from Sony Pictures. All … Continue reading Movie Beat – 06.13.14
After The Dark – Armageddon is here and not everyone can be spared. There are twenty-two people, but only ten spaces in the bunker. Each person has a unique skill, a special trait, but which ones are expendable and which ones are necessary? This is the philosophical quandary that a teacher poses his class. It’s starts civil, but it quickly falls apart as the students are reduced to an animal mentality. James D’Arcy, Daryl Sabara, Rhys Wakefield, Bonnie Wright, Sophie Lowe and Freddie Stroma star in this morality question posed by writer/director John Huddles. In limited release from Phase 4 … Continue reading Movie Beat – 02.07.14
Black Nativity – It’s time for holiday movies, and that means focus on the family and focus on the faith. In Black Nativity, the road to both of these runs right through the church, which allows for a good deal of musical numbers. Langston (Jacob Latimore) and his mother, Naima (Jennifer Hudson), have run across hard times, and Langston is sent to his grandparents, the Reverend (Forest Whitaker) and Aretha (Angela Bassett). They are going to try and steer Langston in the right direction, if only he will let them. Adapted from the play by Langston Hughes and directed by … Continue reading Movie Beat – 11.27.13
Blue Jasmine – It’s Woody Allen’s latest. Those words are enough. There are few filmmakers who have earned that right, but way up at the top of the heap is the great and prolific Mr. Allen. Set in San Francisco, a housewife struggles with her life after her scamming husband destroyed it all. Lots of insight, lots of jokes, and lots of acidic observations about people with First World Problems. Starring Cate Blanchett, Sally Hawkins, Alden Ehrenreich, Michael Stuhlbarg, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Louis C.K., Andrew Dice Clay, among others great acting talent. In limited release from Sony Pictures Classics. … Continue reading Movie Beat – 07.26.13
