Tag: Music

Elvis’ Compelling Story Gets Lost in the Recreation of His Flashy Style

There is a lot of responsibility when telling the story of a beloved historical figure. Director Baz Luhrmann has accepted this challenge in depicting the life of perhaps one of the two most famous and celebrated musicians in…

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Licorice Pizza is an Ode to Young Love That Teaches Universal Lessons For Any Age

Coming of age stories can teach us a lot about human behavior and the latest film from Paul Thomas Anderson is no exception. Licorice Pizza takes us to the San Fernando Valley in the 1970s as Gary Valentine (Cooper…

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Cyrano’s Performances and Dynamic Score Create a Treat for Fans of Musicals (Middleburg Film Festival)

In late 2019, Erica Schmidt wrote and directed an Off Broadway adaptation of Cyrano that starred her husband, Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage. After its successful run, the musical has been brought to the big screen by…

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West Side Story’s Technical Prowess and New Generation Talent Don’t Outweigh Its Overfamiliarity

Remaking art that the public loves is always a tall task, much less when the art being reimagined is universally hailed as a classic. If anyone is capable of tackling such a challenge, it would be legendary director…

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Last Night in Soho is a Stylish Modern Horror Movie with Some Substance

Popular director Edgar Wright makes his return to the big screen with Last Night in Soho, promising to bring Wright’s cool, funny, hip style to the horror genre this time. Last Night in Soho introduces us to Ellie (Thomasin…

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CODA Balances Laughter and Inclusion for the Differently Abled in One of 2021’s Best Films (Sundance Film Festival)

Growing up is hard to do. All of us have experienced the hardships of transitioning from a teenager to a young adult and making those vital decisions about which direction you want to begin to steer your life…

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Monster’s Incredible Cast Can’t Elevate Story We’ve Seen Before

The issue of how American society paints black people as being pathological, as trouble waiting to happen, has been at the forefront for nearly a decade now. Just moments after a Florida jury set George Zimmerman free in…

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In The Earth is an Ethereal Pandemic Horror Flick Heavy on Flair but Light on Plot (Sundance Film Festival)

We all knew they were coming and they’re finally here, movies about or inspired by our current pandemic living situation. And indeed, this moment and its wide reaching effects whether they be mental health, the economy, health, isolation,…

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Zack Snyder’s Justice League: A Peek at What Was and What Could Have Been

The circumstances surrounding the saga of director Zack Snyder’s fabled cut of 2017’s Justice League are unprecedented in Hollywood history. After experiencing the tragedy of losing a child, Snyder opted to leave to tend to his family after…

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Middleburg Film Festival: Sylvie’s Love is a Tender Love Story with a Touch of Social Commentary

“Ya know, most people don’t find that kind of love, even for a summer. It’s extraordinary.” Sometimes love isn’t enough. Our feelings for another person may be strong and genuine, but circumstances beyond our control make love affairs…

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