“Richard Jewell” is a Compelling but Controversial Character Study
For over a decade now, films directed by Clint Eastwood have been somewhat of a mixed bag. For every good film like Changeling (2008), Invictus (2009), and Sully (2016), there have been those that were less so like The 15:17 to Paris (2018) and The Mule (2018). Still, at 89, you have to hand it […]
“Uncut Gems” Makes for a Tense and Tumultuous Character Study
There are many outstanding qualities to the new film Uncut Gems. It’s a vivid character study that stars Adam Sandler in his best screen performance to date. The dialogue, written by its directors, Benny Safdie and Josh Safdie, along with Ronald Bronstein, has a blunt and profane New York City honesty to it – the […]
From Sherlock Holmes to Benoit Blanc: The Appeal of the Outsider Detective
Sherlock Holmes is the world’s most beloved fictional detective, a literary character that has enthralled millions across the globe since Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created him in 1887. Since then, many writers of the page and screen have created their own ridiculously intelligent and eccentric sleuths to solve their fictional mysteries as well. One of […]
5 Ways Political Thrillers Like “The Report” Are So Palpable
As the world seems increasingly fraught with danger, and Washington D.C. traffics in partisan battles day in and day out, it’s not surprising to see that political thrillers have been coming back in vogue. Argo, Bridge of Spies, and even Captain America: The Winter Soldier… they’re all political thrillers in their own way. If you’re a […]
Rian Johnson Hilariously Riffs on Agatha Christie with “Knives Out”
Agatha Christie’s estate in England has made a concerted effort over the past few years to revitalize the late, great author’s works, particularly in adaptations for the big and small screen. Kenneth Branagh and John Malkovich both rebooted Hercule Poirot in various vehicles, and the BBC produced two critically-acclaimed TV movies with And Then There […]
