‘Pearl’ Is An Improvement Over ‘X’

The marketing behind Pearl is all wrong. We see images of the titular character played by Mia Goth with a pitchfork and an axe looking all pompous like Negan with his bat from The Walking Dead. And it’s just terrible. This isn’t a movie about some holly-jolly young woman who enjoys killing. It’s about aContinue reading “‘Pearl’ Is An Improvement Over ‘X’”

The Golden Globes Return, Whether We Like It Or Not

The Golden Globes have always been the red-headed stepchild of awards season. It’s not exactly the Oscars and it’s not exactly the Emmys. It honors achievements in film making and TV but never really focuses on the technical awards like sound design and art direction. Even though it gets to the nitty-gritty of what peopleContinue reading “The Golden Globes Return, Whether We Like It Or Not”

‘The Pale Blue Eye’ Focuses On Poe In A Sluggish Murder Mystery

Edgar Allan Poe had a great year in 2022 even though he has been dead for over 170 years. Anyone tuning into Wednesday on Netflix could see the influence of Poe’s work in the show. Then, there was Raven’s Hollow which cast William Moseley as Poe as a young cadet at West Point investigating aContinue reading “‘The Pale Blue Eye’ Focuses On Poe In A Sluggish Murder Mystery”

‘She Said’ Scoops Weinstein Sex Scandal

She Said is an intriquing title. On one hand, it’s the other side to the phrase “He Said, She Said,” which is often used to dismiss two sides of a story when you don’t want to examine that one side might be making better points. On the other hand, it’s part of the phrase “That’sContinue reading “‘She Said’ Scoops Weinstein Sex Scandal”

‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ Is The Bleakest, Most Violent War Movie Ever

French filmmaker Francois Truffaut said there is no such thing as an anti-war movie because all movies become pro-war. Movies like The Deer Hunter, Platoon and Saving Private Ryan show us the horrors of war but they still was us to be proud of what the military went through. It’s in a culture to loveContinue reading “‘All Quiet On The Western Front’ Is The Bleakest, Most Violent War Movie Ever”

‘The Menu’ Is Overcooked

During the 1970s and 1980s as fast food franchises became more popular, restaurants had to have more to offer than just food. As Mike Judge said in Office Space, “People can get a cheeseburger anywhere,” but what they’re looking for is “atmosphere and attitude.” Sports bar restaurants became popular. And then you had Hooters andContinue reading “‘The Menu’ Is Overcooked”

‘Shallow Grave’ Exposes 1990s Generation X Nihilism In Films

By now, people like Danny Boyle, Ewan McGregor and Christopher Eccleston are all household names. But 30 years ago during the height of the independent movie’s golden era, they made Shallow Grave, a psychological thriller/black comedy that is most impressive when you consider all that had to be done to complete funding. When the movieContinue reading “‘Shallow Grave’ Exposes 1990s Generation X Nihilism In Films”

Guillermo Del Toro Takes ‘Pinocchio’ Back To Its Darker Roots

In 1940, Disney released Pinocchio. It was the studio’s second movie after Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. But over the years, that has been the template most filmmakers have used for the adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, which was way darker in tone. Granted, the scene of the boys being turnedContinue reading “Guillermo Del Toro Takes ‘Pinocchio’ Back To Its Darker Roots”

‘Clerk III’ Is A Bittersweet End

Kevin Smith has tried twice already to end the View Askewniverse. The first attempt was Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back in 2001 which was an Avengers: Endgame style of cross-over bringing back all the characters from the first Clerks, Mallrats, Chasing Amy and even an end-credits appearance by God (Alanis Morisette) from Dogma literallyContinue reading “‘Clerk III’ Is A Bittersweet End”

‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ Is Nothing To Scream About

Friendships come and go and sometimes we don’t know a friendship has ended until it’s too late. The phone calls or texts stop. One Christmas, you don’t get a card or a gift. And the next thing you know, time has passed and you haven’t talked to that person. And they haven’t talked to youContinue reading “‘The Banshees Of Inisherin’ Is Nothing To Scream About”