2023’s Maestro is an incredibly well-made film. A grand and often fascinating biopic, it confirmed that Bradley Cooper was as formidable a presence behind the camera as he was in front of it. Yet many villainized Cooper for “wanting an Oscar too badly.” It received seven nominations, going home with none, and thus felt as […]
Category: Film Thoughts
FROM THE WORLD OF JOHN WICK: BALLERINA Absolutely Rips
Upon the announcement of Ballerina, some might have wondered what exactly a John Wick film would look like without the titular figure at its center. Ballerina makes it abundantly clear that there should be no need to worry whatsoever. Nobody could ever convince me that an action film utilizing ice skates as punching gloves/nunchuks isn’t […]
TIFF 2025 – CHARLIE HARPER Looks At Nostalgia’s Place In Love
Mac Eldridge and Tom Dean’s Charlie Harper begins with quite the evocative tone. Lush bokeh and neon bar lights fill the frame as the camera pans over to Harper (Emilia Jones). With actively forming tears in her eyes, she asks somebody off-screen if they’re a nostalgic person. Furthermore, she questions what purpose nostalgia even serves. […]
THE LONG WALK: One of the Great Stephen King Adaptations
The logline for “The Long Walk” is one of the all-time greats: A group of 50 teenage boys start walking, and they can’t stop until one remains. With it, Stephen King… I mean, Richard Bachman, turned simplicity into a rich text. All these years later, The Hunger Games franchise-director Francis Lawrence and Strange Darling-writer/director JT […]
THE THREESOME Is As Funny As It Is Messy
The Threesome, directed by Chad Hartigan, is such a genuine pleasure. The first piece of evidence to bolster this claim is that it stars Zoey Deutch. She’s one of the most charming performers in film, and when operating in a rom-com, it’s an instant recipe for success. Her infectious charisma is a benefit that’s instantly […]
HONEY DON’T Is Pulpy Fun & Silly Cinema
In a post-screening Q&A of Honey Don’t!, Ethan Coen, Tricia Cooke, and moderator Michael Koresky began joking about filmmakers working without the intention of winning awards. They essentially landed on a simple mantra: What happened to making movies simply for the sake of making them? It may seem silly to some, but it honestly feels […]