Preparing to watch a contemporary western is always an exercise in expectation and curiosity. The genre, so often revisited, can be both fertile ground for reinvention and a minefield of clichés. Tony Tost, in his first feature as writer and director, takes on this risky premise with Americana, a hybrid …
Based on the novel of the same name by Jordan Harper, She Rides Shotgun follows Nate McClusky (Taron Egerton, Rocketman), an ex-convict who is forced to kidnap his 11-year-old daughter, Polly (Ana Sophia Heger), to protect her from a hit order issued by a neo-Nazi gang after Nate killed their …
Maria Elisa Camargo is a name well-known to fans of The X Factor Colombia, video games, and telenovelas. She’s a talented actress who has voiced Valeria Garza in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare franchise and had a ton of high-profile roles on international and Spanish-language hits, from Escupiré sobre …
I’ve mentioned this countless times throughout my years of film criticism: not every movie needs to be narratively and thematically profound, impacting audiences so deeply with philosophical messages that their lives are forever changed. Cinema is, among many things, entertainment. So, it’s no surprise when films like Freaky Tales emerge, …
In 1970, Judy Blume’s eponymous novel Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret was published. The book, a grounded curtail pull on teenage sexuality, was met with indignation by certain literary factions of the USA, going as far as banning the book in certain states over its discussion of menstruation …
Starting a new cinephile year is always exciting, even knowing that January is far from being a particularly memorable month. In fact, even today, the first month of the year is often dubbed “dump January” precisely because it consists of 31 days studios don’t consider appealing or important for their …
Guy Ritchie’s The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare is the latest project from the versatile filmmaker. It’s hard to keep track of what projects Guy Ritchie is currently working on, as one gets seemingly announced every week. And while most on Film Twitter spheres have complained about Ritchie pumping out two …
I firmly believe that horror based on reality is always scarier than any supernatural horror film. Sure, don’t get me wrong, revengeful spirits and terrifying monsters make for some good thrills and chills, but at the end of the day, I can easily write them off as fiction. Instead, watching …
Bad horror movies are a dime a dozen, with their formulaic narratives and low, often limiting, budgets. 2024 alone has seen the bizarre Night Swim, an interesting idea poorly executed in Imaginary, and, more recently, Tarot, a daft concept that was more banal than spooky. To give those pictures’ credit, though, at least …
Michael Keaton has been considered one of the generation’s best (and most popular) actors. Besides his oozing on-screen charisma, he is arguably one of the most likable people in Hollywood. This includes his starring roles in iconic films including but not limited to Batman, Batman Returns, and Beetlejuice. Those films made him a household name that …
Mark Wahlberg, the star of Arthur The King, had numerous peaks and valleys throughout his career. These include highlight performances in films like The Departed (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award) and The Fighter. On the flip side, he has also had many cinematic misfires like Max Payne, The Happening, and some films in the Transformers franchise. In the …
5Lbs of Pressure, the newest film from writer and director Phil Allocco, showcases a dangerous world where people live between the cracks of society. Starring Luke Evans, Rory Culkin, Alex Pettyfer, Stephanie Leonidas and Rudy Pankow, the film is 15 years in the making and is so worth the wait. In the movie, …
The Iron Claw, written and directed by Sean Durkin, is the newest release from A24. It covers the Von Erich family’s rise to wrestling fame and all the subsequent heartbreak and suffering that plagued them. When it comes to curses, you can usually define them as bad luck or evil that …
The Iron Claw is different from the type of film I would typically seek out on my own. I have never been a huge wrestling fan; I have nothing against people who love it, but it isn’t for me. But A24’s involvement is a surefire way to pique my curiosity. At …
Gimmicks. In the dire modern state of cinema, you’re gonna need one to get a movie made. At least if you’re not based on valuable intellectual property. It’s sad when an action film needs a hook beyond Hong Kong filmmaking legend John Woo directing. Even so, Silent Night, his first Hollywood film in …
How the Gringo Stole Christmas is a new Christmas comedy starring George Lopez and directed by Angel Gracia. It’s heartwarming, hilarious, and seriously a joy to watch. The movie is about a young woman, Claudia (Emily Tosta), who brings her very American boyfriend, Leif (Jack Kilmer), home for her Mexican father’s (George Lopez) traditional Christmas. It’s got The George Lopez …