Month: June 2020
My Spy: Spy games gone bad
by Matt Ward
Promos for the new family action movie “My Spy” have been popping up on television and on social media for the better part of a year now. This isn’t because this flick starring that former pro wrestler from the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies has been eagerly anticipated for so long, rather that multiple studios had little to no idea what to do with … Read More My Spy: Spy games gone bad
Artemis Fowl: A truly fractured fairy tale
by Matt Ward
There are two key components keeping the theatrical cinema system alive these days: film franchises and kids’ movies. It’s why almost every new feature aimed at a target audience is virtually guaranteed a sequel or reboot – Hello, “Sonic The Hedgehog” and “Mulan!” – within the first month of release. At the forefront of this trend for the better part of a decade is … Read More Artemis Fowl: A truly fractured fairy tale
Da 5 Bloods: Battle scars never fully heal
by Matt Ward
Four men – aging Vietnam vets laden with the scars of their service – return to the land that forged them in search of their fallen commander’s grave and the gold bullion that lies with it. For a filmmaker like Oliver Stone, this story would be a bombastic tale of frustration and anger boiling to the surface without much humanity under the surface. Director … Read More Da 5 Bloods: Battle scars never fully heal
Shirley: The horror of everyday life
by Matt Ward
Movie goers are often frightened by things that aren’t real – clowns with red balloons living in the sewers, killers that strike in dreams with a bladed claw, vampires, mummies and witches. But in a simpler, yet somehow more complex way, it’s the things that are plausibly realistic and feel authentic to our own lives that prove to be the greater terror. While major … Read More Shirley: The horror of everyday life
The Half of It: Dig deeper into Netflix’s vault
by Matt Ward
Two out of every three Netflix Original films aren’t worth the price of admission. They’re the bargain bin, direct-to-DVD level fodder usually starring David Spade or that one girl who used to be on that one television show back in the day. You don’t remember her name, but it doesn’t really matter. With the coronavirus pandemic keeping movie theaters closed, it’s prime ground for … Read More The Half of It: Dig deeper into Netflix’s vault
Cinematic Considerations 