The reissue of I Wanna Hold Your Hand proves again that Beatlemania never goes out of style

The year was 1964, and the Beatles were about to get their mop-tops in front of mainstream America for the first time on The Ed Sullivan Show. Of course, the popularity of their music and their personalities had made their way across the pond before them. So lies the premise of I Wanna Hold Your…

Creed II follows the formula for Rocky sequel world

You’ve got a fighter who needs to find himself. You’ve got a nasty opponent needing to make up for a mountain of wrong. You’ve got danger lurking in every corner. Sound familiar? Yes, fight movie fans, to follow up on the thrilling success of Creed, director Steven Caple Jr. follows a screenplay by Sylvester Stallone…

Mindy Kaling, Emma Thompson both deserve to crash the barriers in Late Night

Some people overstay their welcome on TV, that’s a fact. Some people get their foot into an office door for completely the wrong reason, right. In Late Night, written by Mindy Kaling, who knows a thing or three about the TV comedy game and starring Emma Thompson, who should be on our big screens even…

Go ahead, cheer for the triumph that made Ruth Bader Ginsburg an American hero

Two films released in 2018 told the gigantic story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. You betcha she deserves it. On the Basis of Sex goes full Hollywood for the telling of the formative years of the woman from Brooklyn that with undeniable and relentless intelligence and determination was able to change American law, American thinking and…

No, she didn’t, but J-Lo works hard to make things right in Second Act

The original premise behind Second Act is so ridiculous for a certain generation of workers that this latest vehicle for Jennifer Lopez could never be considered worthy in any way, shape or form, right? Right?? She plays a hard-working, smart assistant manager of a big box store in New York City. Her co-workers love her.…

Christian Bale spits out the storm that was Dick Cheney in Vice

Vice is about power. In every nook and cranny. The docu-drama directed and written by Adam McKay puts forth the still-eye-opening story of one crusty politician who rose from a self-loathing loser who lost his job and was on the verge of seeing his wife and family say adios as well rise to the chair…

In Beale Street, love and anguish share the stage in striking detail

The point is made from James Baldwin’s 1974 novel at the start of If Beale Street Could Talk. This drama you’re about to see could have happened anywhere in America. Watch the work of these outstanding actors taking the direction of Barry Jenkins from his screenplay adapted from Baldwin’s deep message and you’ll believe it.…

Will Smith knew happy working with his son back when in Pursuit

Sometimes you wonder how a person can summon the determination to work so hard every dang day when the world is kicking back every chance it gets. Such was the case of one Chris Gardner, the living, breathing, heartbeat at the center of The Pursuit of Happyness. Will Smith turned the story of this San…

The real-life tale that brought Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool displays deep love

Unless you’re a bonafide film buff whose expertise and passions go back to the black-and-white days, you might now be familiar with the work of actress Gloria Grahame. Even though her credits on IMDb.com run 64 projects long and includes the 1953 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Bad and the…

Julianne Moore loans her soap opera power of the past to Bel Canto

Picture a hostage situation where everybody gets along inside the gates. That’s what unfolds during the 100 minutes of Bel Canto, the political thriller/musical (you betcha!) directed and co-written by Paul Weitz with writing help by Anthony Weintraub in the adaptation from the novel from Ann Patchett. Patchett herself based her 2001 bestselling novel on…