Gladiator II Shines As An Action Packed Historical Epic with Political Intrigue

Following classic movies years later with a sequel rarely works out. In this age of cinema that runs mostly on nostalgia, it has been tried many times without reaching the same heights as what passed. Director Ridley Scott…

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Blitz Offers a New Perspective on War but Fails to Compel (Middleburg Film Festival)

We all know that war is hell and ruins the lives of many. Numerous films have been made that chronicle the tragedy of conflict, but view take us into the vantage point of war from a child’s eyes….

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Emilia Pérez is a Pleasant Surprise That Effectively Melds Social Commentary, Drama, and Music Together (Middleburg Film Festival)

Multiplexes have been riddled with the remnants of musicals past in recent years with some having succeeded, like 2023’s Wonka, and others crashing and burning like Joker Folie á Deux earlier this year. Audiences have had mixed reactions…

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Conclave Is an Engrossing Political Thriller That Also Deftly Explores Religion (Middleburg Film Festival)

Coming off of the success of 2022’s All Quiet on the Western Front, director Edward Berger returns to cinema with the adaptation of a 2016 novel. Conclave finds us alongside Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) following the sudden…

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Anora Mixes Comedy and Drama to Explore The Psyche of Dancers (Middleburg Film Festival)

Winter/director Sean Baker is back with a new film that stays close to his trademark penchant for realistic portrayals of working class segments of society not often explored that has been buzzing on the film festival circuit. Anora is…

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Saturday Night Utilizes Strong Visuals To Tell an OK Story

Saturday Night Live has become a television landmark and staple of American entertainment, something you expect to always be around like Madison Square Garden or the Hollywood sign. Things weren’t always so stable for the show as its…

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Joker: Folie à Deux’s Meta Commentary Boring Rather Than Poignant

Joker was a controversial hit in 2019, using the iconic comic book villain as a conduit to explore real world, grounded themes in a gritty, Scorsese like world. Director Todd Phillips defied the odds and created a billion…

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Megalopolis Is…a Bizarre Swan Song for a Cinematic Legend

Francis Ford Coppola bet a lot on his newest release in theaters. The director of multiple legendary films that stand as the best ever produced sold part of his stake in his winery empire to self fund the…

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Strange Darling Subverts Expectations in Entertaining, Enlightening Fashion

Every year, an indie darling emerges in the film scene to near universal acclaim and hype among cinephiles. For 2024, an indie horror thriller seems to have taken the title. Strange Darling is set in the Pacific Northwest…

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Blink Twice Has Interesting Visuals, Less Interesting Story

Actress Zoe Kravitz makes her directorial debut with a new thriller in theaters. Blink Twice introduces us to cocktail waitress Frida (Naomi Ackie) who has a massive crush on tech billionaire Slater King (Channing Tatum). King holds a…

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