Month: November 2018
Creed II: Pulling punches
by Matt Ward
Boxing has been the easiest, most translatable sport to dramatize for the big screen because of the beauty in the brutality, two worlds colliding head on in close quarters with a definitive winner and loser. This formula has given audiences Oscar winning dramas like “Raging Bull” and “Million Dollar Baby” and introduced audiences to a shy, down on his luck boxer from the streets … Read More Creed II: Pulling punches
Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald: A magical interlude
by Matt Ward
Hollywood’s increased obsession with universes, miniseries and franchises has pretty much guaranteed that anything and everything can get a sequel. But often, studios find themselves milking an intellectual property for all its worth, stretching a story beyond its means at the expense of each chapter. Such is the case with “Fantastic Beasts,” a burgeoning series of films spun off from the iconic Harry Potter … Read More Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald: A magical interlude
Mid90s: Skate life imitating art
by Matt Ward
A movie about teens drinking, smoking pot and skateboarding is probably the unlikeliest of candidates to be the subject of a high-concept art film. But actor Jonah Hill’s first foray into writing and directing is nothing short of Grade-A, top shelf cinema regardless of how rebellious or controversial the subject matter might be. One of the best independent films this year, “Mid90s” is a … Read More Mid90s: Skate life imitating art
Bohemian Rhapsody: Lacking the opera of Galileos
by Matt Ward
Stomp your feet and clap your hands. It’s hard not to enjoy “Bohemian Rhapsody,” a new biopic about the engaging rock band Queen, at least on some basic level. With a soundtrack of catchy, interactive songs that have become karaoke staples and a magnetic lead performance, “Bohemian Rhapsody” is a fun crowd-pleaser to say the least. But it’s so shallow that director Bryan Singer’s … Read More Bohemian Rhapsody: Lacking the opera of Galileos
Cinematic Considerations 