Month: November 2015
Mockingjay Part 2: Final Hunger Games film disappoints
by Matt Ward
The violence is finally over. After four feature-length films about the ravages of state-sponsored murder and outright civil war, today’s premiere young adult movie franchise has come to a close with the release of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2,” based on the latter half of the third novel in the series written by Suzanne Collins. What makes this franchise stand apart from its … Read More Mockingjay Part 2: Final Hunger Games film disappoints
The Peanuts Movie: Family-friendly tale worth a trip to theaters
by Matt Ward
A true staple of holiday entertainment, Charlie Brown and his gang of misfit elementary school students stormed the big screen last weekend after nearly a 40 year break from theaters. Created by “Ice Age” and “Rio” filmmakers Blue Sky Studios, “The Peanuts Movie” is by far the most visually impressive iteration of the classic comic strip penned by Charles Schulz, released on the 50th … Read More The Peanuts Movie: Family-friendly tale worth a trip to theaters
Love The Coopers: Christmas dramedy stumbles
by Matt Ward
Thanksgiving is still more than a week away, but that hasn’t stopped Hollywood from looking ahead to Christmas as yet another home for the holidays film hit theaters Friday. “Love, The Coopers” assembles a talented cast of all ages – from Alan Arkin to Diane Keaton and Marisa Tomei to Amanda Seyfried and Ed Helms – for a holiday themed family dramedy that finds … Read More Love The Coopers: Christmas dramedy stumbles
Spectre: A love letter to James Bond
by Matt Ward
For all of the explosions, near death experiences and high speed car chases in the blockbuster smash hit “Spectre,” Daniel Craig’s fourth performance in the longest running film franchise in history is — at the end of the day – a love letter to James Bond. There’s the iconic hand-to-hand combat scene on a train lifted from “From Russia With Love,” gadget-rigged luxury sports … Read More Spectre: A love letter to James Bond
Beasts of No Nation: Netflix bursts into Oscar race with thrilling drama
by Matt Ward
Netflix is changing the entertainment business. Again. After revolutionizing how we consume home video with their DVD mailing and online streaming services, the Internet mega-power broke barriers with their original television content, winning Emmys for “House of Cards” and “Orange is the New Black.” This massive change allowed viewers to binge watch an entire season within days of watching the season premiere while never … Read More Beasts of No Nation: Netflix bursts into Oscar race with thrilling drama
Cinematic Considerations 