Category: New Releases
Dumbo: Just an ordinary elephant
by Matt Ward
A film about a flying elephant should not work, but it did once. Remaking an iconic Disney animated film about a flying elephant definitely shouldn’t work and certainly doesn’t here as director Tim Burton stumbles about the circus world for two hours in a clumsy, largely lackluster iteration of the 1941 film “Dumbo.” To be clear, this retelling of a Disney classic compartmentalizes the … Read More Dumbo: Just an ordinary elephant
Us: The terror within
by Matt Ward
Are we our own worst enemy? Jordan Peele’s latest film, “Us,” contemplates deeply personal, introspective ideas through the lens of horror. The film’s main conceit, an ever precarious internal balance between good and evil, is pushed to the surface quite literally as a family on vacation are confronted by ominous doppelgängers of themselves, the violent opposite of their seemingly normal existence. Peele’s second feature … Read More Us: The terror within
Triple Frontier: The price of being a soldier
by Matt Ward
Filmmaker J.C. Chandor is at his best making intimate, dialogue-heavy films about man’s unrelenting quest for the almighty dollar at any price. His 2011 debut “Margin Call” was an intense, diabolical examination of the New York financial services industry that earned him an Oscar nomination for the film’s screenplay. Three years later, Chandor returned with “A Most Violent Year,” a subtle and nuanced crime … Read More Triple Frontier: The price of being a soldier
Captain Marvel: Pregame to an Endgame
by Matt Ward
The fate of the universe lies in the balance. It’s the central conceit of any galactic space opera or bombastic superhero adventure. But rarely does it feel more true than with “Captain Marvel,” the new feature from the indie writing/directing duo of Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck that just also happens to be the 21st entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The weight … Read More Captain Marvel: Pregame to an Endgame
Alita Battle Angel: Short term wonder
by Matt Ward
If there’s ever a time to watch “Alita: Battle Angel,” a clunky, uneven visual spectacle that values its cyber-steampunk style over substance, it’s now. The latest film from Texas director Robert Rodriguez is a visual wonder from start to finish that won’t feel special in six months and this franchise hopeful will likely fade into obscurity. Based on the Japanese manga comic book series … Read More Alita Battle Angel: Short term wonder
High Flying Bird: High-rise hoop dreams
by Matt Ward
Characters go one-on-one both on and off the court in director Steven Soderbergh’s new sports drama “High Flying Bird,” though not much basketball’s being played. There’s a ferocity to the head-to-head dialogue in the screenplay from playwright and “Moonlight” creator Tarell Alvin McCraney that seems to mimic intense showdowns Michael Jordan might have had with defenders in his heyday. “High Flying Bird” aggressively attacks … Read More High Flying Bird: High-rise hoop dreams
Velvet Buzzsaw: All art is dangerous
by Matt Ward
Until recently, buzzworthy films coming out of Robert Redford’s Sundance Film Festival each January took six to eight months to reach a wide audience. A major film studio would snap up a noteworthy indie darling and stash it away from moviegoers until the fall and awards season long after the buzz had died down. The advent of online streaming services has expedited access for … Read More Velvet Buzzsaw: All art is dangerous
If Beale Street Could Talk: Poetry in motion
by Matt Ward
Intertitles, text at the opening of the film, explain how for celebrated author James Baldwin, “every black person born in America was born on Beale Street, born in the black neighborhood of some American city.” “Beale Street,” he said, “is our legacy.” Within the first five minutes of director Barry Jenkins’ latest film, “If Beale Street Could Talk,” adapted from Baldwin’s 1974 novel of … Read More If Beale Street Could Talk: Poetry in motion
On The Basis Of Sex: A remarkable life made average
by Matt Ward
Every year it seems, Hollywood races out historical docudrama meant to be a rallying cry to remind or influence Americans about a current political topic. Last year, Steven Spielberg rushed through a good, not great feature on The Washington Post’s work on the Pentagon Papers as a defense for freedom of the press amid rampant allegations of “fake news.” That film, “The Post,” felt … Read More On The Basis Of Sex: A remarkable life made average
Vice: Second in title, first in command
by Matt Ward
Three years ago, director Adam McKay broke free from his straight comedy roots with “The Big Short,” a darkly humorous, yet revealing examination of the 2008 U.S. financial crisis. With big banks in the crosshairs, the film was largely an apolitical (or at least bipartisan) thrashing of the series of events that led America to the mortgage crisis and great economic downturn. McKay has … Read More Vice: Second in title, first in command
The Favourite: Three queens and one crown
by Matt Ward
British political and societal dramas are often ripe with stoic, regal performances perfect for awards season acclaim. Films like the Best Picture winning “The King’s Speech” or Gary Oldman’s Oscar-winning turn in last year’s “Darkest Hour” are prime examples of major contenders coming from across the pond. This year provides moviegoers with yet another intricate examination of the British monarchy, but certainly unlike anything … Read More The Favourite: Three queens and one crown
Mary Poppins Returns: The possible impossible
by Matt Ward
Julie Andrews declined to participate in “Mary Poppins Returns,” a brand new sequel to the 1964 original film she won an Academy Award for, not because she disapproved of the project but rather to avoid being a distraction. Disney’s latest film isn’t a “Mary Poppins” redux, nor is it meant to be. While clearly influenced by the original in both tone and plot, Rob … Read More Mary Poppins Returns: The possible impossible
Cinematic Considerations 