Month: June 2022
Elvis: All shook up
by Matt Ward
When a film is titled after one of its characters, 99 times out of 100, that movie is almost entirely about that person. (Save for Private Ryan, of course.) This is even more true when it comes to biopics, especially when the titular character happens to be one of the most iconic musicians of all time, the King of Rock and Roll himself. But … Read More Elvis: All shook up
Cha Cha Real Smooth: All the right moves
by Matt Ward
The best movie characters, ones audiences take to and see themselves in, aren’t always idyllic. Filmmakers find genuine beauty in flaws and imperfections in their personalities and psyches that allows viewers to naturally respond and become more fully transported into another world. Cooper Raiff’s second feature film – an audience award winner earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival – screened this past … Read More Cha Cha Real Smooth: All the right moves
Hustle: Hoopin’ with heart
by Matt Ward
Adam Sandler’s prolific career on Saturday Night Live and a plethora of mid-1990s comedies haven’t kept the funnyman from large swings and misses during the past seven years as his Happy Madison Productions has partnered exclusively with streaming service Netflix to create content. The laughs haven’t quite landed for the comedian in quite some time, though Sandler has proven to be exceptional playing against … Read More Hustle: Hoopin’ with heart
Fire Island: Summer nights
by Matt Ward
Nearly 30 years ago, director Amy Heckering transported audiences into the world of Jane Austen’s classic novel Emma through the lens of 1990s Beverly Hills high school with Clueless.The bright, quirky satire provided a clever twist on what might be viewed as stuffy literature and made Austen more accessible for younger audiences. Comedian Joel Kim Booster found inspiration in another Austen classic, Pride and … Read More Fire Island: Summer nights
Cinematic Considerations 