‘Nightmare Alley’ Masterfully Warns about the Dangers of Deception
By Ben Konuch
"When a man believes his own lies, he believes he has too much power. He’s got shut-eye. Because now, he believes it’s all true."
When does ambition become obsession? What is the line between deceit and reality?
These are the central questions of "Nightmare Alley", a drama / thriller directed by Guillermo del Toro. A remake of a 1947 film of the same name, this "Nightmare Alley" is a dark journey into the mind of a carnival man with a skill for deception. Set in the 1940's, ...
‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ Is A Spider-Fan’s Paradise
By Sam Acosta
[Editor’s Note: This review most definitely contains spoilers.]
The amount of hype surrounding the release of “Spider-Man: No Way Home” rivals that surrounding "Endgame.” Rumors and theories ran rampant as to what this final installment of the MCU’s Spider-Man trilogy would bring to the table, especially after trailers revealed the return of villains from previous cinematic iterations of the character. Yet, with expectations so high for the film, the question had to ...
“West Side Story” Blends a Timeless Story with Modern Filmmaking
By Janie Walenda
At first, remaking “West Side Story” sounds like a bad idea. First of all, the original movie stands as one of the best movie musicals of all time, despite its outdated practices of dubbing and casting. Secondly, movie musicals are a dying genre. While it still survives due to Disney and animation, movie musicals are no longer the spectacular blockbusters they used to be. With a disappointing opening weekend, Steven Spielberg’s “West Side Story” will not disprove ...
‘House of Gucci’ is A Star-Studded Piece of Mediocrity
By Sam Acosta
When I first saw the trailer for “House of Gucci,” I knew I had to see it. Not only does it have many big names attached, but the “rise-of-an-empire” type of film is one I enjoy immensely. Yet as I sat through the film's two-and-a-half-hour runtime, I felt myself becoming more and more disappointed. While there are great performances and much potential, poor pacing and a mediocre script cause the film to trip over itself.
The one thing that this film gets right is ...
‘Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City’ is a Bad Movie that Could Have Been So Much Better
By Ben Konuch
It really shouldn’t be that difficult to make a “Resident Evil” movie. The concept of the iconic 1996 survival horror game is incredibly simple - a character is stuck alone in a spooky mansion, hunted by all kinds of hideous creatures, running out of supplies and, in the process, uncovering a dark and twisted conspiracy. That’s all you have to do. You would think, with such a straightforward premise and the pool of talented filmmakers in Hollywood, that a “Resident ...
‘Belfast’ is a Film for the Heart and the Soul
By Sam Acosta
“Belfast” is a beautiful example of an accessible arthouse film. Even with its short hour-and-a-half runtime, it takes the viewer on a complete emotional journey that raises questions about family, parenthood, marriage and the meaning of home.
This semi-autobiographical film takes place in Belfast, Ireland in 1969, where tensions are rising between the Catholic and Protestant populations. We watch as the young boy Buddy and his family are faced with an impossible choice: ...
‘Tick, Tick…Boom!’ Soars as a Showcase of Unexpected Talents
By Ben Hiett
“Am I cut out to spend my time this way?”
So asks Jonathon Larson, the real-life Broadway composer and playwright who is the focus of this film. Directed by Broadway extraordinaire Lin-Manuel Miranda with a screenplay penned by “Dear Evan Hansen” writer Steven Levenson, “Tick, Tick...Boom!” is an adaptation of a solo rock opera originally composed and performed by Larson himself. Written before his most famous musical “Rent," the show tells the story of Larson’s ...
‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ Brings Heart Back to the Franchise
By Janie Walenda
“Ghostbusters” has a rough history with sequels. In 1989, “Ghostbusters II” failed to recapture the magic of the original, and the 2016 reboot has been largely reviled by fans. While “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” is by no means a perfect film, it manages to both satisfy old fans and win over new ones.
One key to the film’s success is its use of another iconic 80’s genre: family adventure films. Drawing on the trademarks of this genre, the film follows most ...
‘Red Notice’ is Fun and Entertaining and Doesn’t Need to be Much Else
By Benjamin Konuch
I couldn’t wait to see Red Notice.
When I first heard it announced and learned what kind of movie it was, my excitement was through the roof. I utterly adore the action comedy genre, with movies such as “Red” and “Knight & Day” being family favorites. Hearing that Netflix was going to be making an original movie in that style, starring Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Renolds, and Gal Gadot, my excitement skyrocketed. Here were three of Hollywood’s biggest stars in the ...
Tom Hanks Shines as Troubled Father Figure in ‘Finch’
By Ben Hiett
I wasn’t expecting much out of “Finch,” a small-scale sci-fi movie quietly released on Apple TV+ last weekend. True, it did star American acting legend Tom Hanks in the titular role, and, based on promotional footage, the practical and CG effects for his robot companion looked convincingly realistic.
Still, none of what I saw looked unfamiliar. Moviegoers have seen the “post-apocalyptic world ravaged by some major disaster” story told time and time again in films such ...
