Avatar: Fire and Ash is a rare artifact from James Cameron. Throughout his career, the filmmaker behind the Terminator franchise has deliberately avoided trilogies. Even after Terminator 2 became an early ’90s phenomenon, he chose other creative endeavors, such as True Lies, and had a brief run developing Spider-Man before Sam Raimi. The question no one has ever considered is whether
Read MoreRental Family is one of those films made with the intention of pouring an ounce of softness into the world. Other examples being We Bought A Zoo, Minari, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On. And it all stems from a foreign concept in the Western world; the idea of hiring an individual to serve as a friend or family member
Read MoreThe Running Man is a notable Stephen King adaptation from the ’80s, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger. From the material alone, it was difficult to envision what an Edgar Wright take on it would look like in execution. After seeing the movie, it seems like a choice to try something different. For the majority of The Running Man, Wright throws away every signature
Read MorePassion projects are sometimes tricky endeavors for directors. They often range from the ambitiousness of Peter Jackson’s King Kong to the fascinatingly disastrous wonders of projects like Megalopolis. The story of Frankenstein is a project Guillermo del Toro has discussed for years. Similar to Peter Jackson’s King Kong, it’s an adaptation that seems like a match made in monstrous heaven. Frankenstein
Read MoreGood Fortune sees Aziz Ansari return to storytelling since Master of None. Similar to that series, Ansari brings a rich commentary to his latest film. Master of None made Ansari an award winner with the segment “Parents,” which spoke about the immigrant experience and the entitlement of second-generation children. With Good Fortune, he scripts a wild blend of Heaven Can Wait
Read MoreBallad of a Small Player is a fascinating follow-up to Edward Berger’s Conclave. Most of Conclave’s tone was overly serious and at times felt like a detective procedural wearing a pope’s uniform. Ballad of a Small Player is a complete gear shift in terms of style and feel. The film oftentimes has an enthralling, fast-paced energy that keeps the viewer hooked
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