A few years ago, the film Moonlight reflected aspects of life for marginalized people of color in a poignant, authentic way that brought attention to its writer/director Barry Jenkins as a filmmaker of note. His new release If Beale Street Could Talk reaffirms the attention and accolades he got were not only deserved, but a portent …
Tagged Cinema Siren
Bathtubs Over Broadway Review: Terrific Doc Celebrates Tractor Tunes and Sunscreen Serenades
On rare occasions, the truly bizarre and the utterly charming intersect. Just such a case can be made for Writer/producer/editor Dava Whisenant’s directorial debut, which mines the strange world of industrial musicals in the new documentary Bathtubs Over Broadway. These productions had their heyday in the 50s through the 70s, and were populated by talented …
Boy Erased Review: This New Drama Highlights the Hell of Conversion Therapy
Written for the screen, directed by, and co-starring Joel Edgerton, Boy Erased tackles the subject of conversion therapy camps and in-patient clinics that attempt to alter sexual orientation and gender identity. Starring Lucas Hedges as Jared Eamons, the son of Baptist preacher Marshall (Russell Crowe) and his stay-at-home mom Nancy (Nicole Kidman), the film follows …
The Hate U Give Review: Starr Power
Opening in wider release this weekend is the film adaptation of The Hate U Give, the bestselling novel by Angie Thomas. Director George Tillman Jr (Soul Food, Barbershop) brings to the screen the story of Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg), who is the only eye-witness to the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at …
A Star is Born Review: 4th Time’s a Charm, but Just as Tragic
There are some movies that have been done enough, or so I thought, when I heard actor Bradley Cooper had chosen to reinterpret the thrice-released A Star is Born. Loving the actor and lead actress, the mega-star Lady Gaga, as well as co-star Sam Elliott (who proves for what must be the hundredth time he …
Crazy Rich Asians movie review: Represention Matters but Charisma Sells
Coming to theaters is the much anticipated movie Crazy Rich Asians, the first all-Asian cast film sent into wide release since 1993’s Joy Luck Club has taken over the entertainment news, which may mean impressive box office numbers. Great. It deserves them. Based on the best-selling Kevin Kwan novel, this Cinderella tale is filled with …
The Meg movie review: Bigger Shark, Lesser Jaws
The B-movie blockbuster hopeful The Meg brings terror and the biggest shark ever to grace the screens of a multiplex. It has an appropriately diverse roster to play the usual action roles. Alpha male muscle comes in the form of Jason Statham as sea rescue diver Jonas Taylor, and standing in for the preresquisite cynical …
Incredibles 2 review: Worth the Wait and Super Satisfying
It’s been over a decade since Pixar’s The Incredibles charmed and entertained audiences, with its whirlwind of snappy graphics, fast-paced story, and delightful characters, rendering it a studio favorite to many. Now, after much waiting, comes Incredibles 2. Clearly it can’t match the quality of the first, right? Sequels almost never do. Almost. Prepare to be …
The Seagull Movie Review: Russian Classic as Counter-programming
There’s a new version of one of playwright Anton Chekhov’s most famous plays, The Seagull, being released on film this weekend. With Anette Bening, Saoirse Ronan and Elizabeth Moss heading up a great ensemble cast, this incarnation is directed by Michael Mayer, who won a Tony Award for directing Spring Awakening on Broadway, from as interpreted …
Blockers Movie Review: Finally! A Girl Power Prom Sex Com
Imagine a world where men write a teen sex comedy, and consciously decide to hire a woman to direct it. It’s hard, I know, since it’s not the norm, and only a handful of women have directed an R-rated comedy for a studio. Yet, that’s what’s happened with the new studio release Blockers, written by …