Eccentric director Yorgos Lanthimos reunites with Oscar winner Emma Stone for the enjoyable Poor Things
While the male cast members, such as Ruffalo and Dafoe, do a commendable job of delivering their usual quips, some viewers may have reservations about Jerrod Carmichael’s portrayal of Harry Astley and his brief arc in the movie. One of the greatest strengths of Poor Things is its ability to strike a perfect balance between an absolutist and investigative approach to understanding humanity. The director achieves this through the skillful use of style, which seamlessly integrates organic variations and elicits laughter, highlighting the talent of both Lanthimos and Stone.
Breakwater drowns in clichés
Following a twenty-five-year hiatus, James Rowe returns to the world of writing and directing in Breakwater from Vertical. The simplistic plot revolves around Dovey, a young and vulnerable ex-convict played by Darren Mann, who is manipulated by his prison mentor, Ray Childress, portrayed by Dermot Mulroney. Ray’s cunning nature leads him to ask Dovey to break his parole and do him a favor. The favor is to track down Ray’s estranged daughter, Eve, played by Alyssa Goss, who lives in another state.
Overlong runtime doesn’t hinder Hunger Games prequel
Director Francis Lawrence returns to helm the latest installment in the iconic Hunger Games franchise, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, produced by Lionsgate. Michael Lesslie and Michael Arndt pen the film’s screenplay, and it serves as an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Suzanne Collins.
Reacher is back on the case for Season 2
After leaving his wandering lifestyle behind, Reacher joins three of his ex-teammates, who are now like family to him, to conduct an investigation. The team includes Frances Neagley (played by Maria Sten), Karla Dixon (played by Serinda Swan), a forensic accountant whom Reacher has always been fond of, and David O’Donnell (played by Shaun Sipos), a fast-talking family man who always carries a switchblade with him.
Jeffrey Wright & director Cord Johnson excel in American Fiction
Television writer Cord Johnson delivers a stunning directorial debut in American Fiction from Orion Pictures. The film is an adaptation of the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett. Jeffrey Wright top lines the film as Monk, a Black novelist and professor who needs a hit. After an incident with an overly privileged student in class, Monk takes a break to visit his sister, Lisa (Tracee Ellis Ross), and mother, Agnes (Leslie Uggams). While on a relaxing vacation, Monk, stumbles upon the latest book by his fellow melanin author, Sinatra Golden (Issa Rae), which has become an overnight sensation due to its exaggerated use of stereotypes. Monk, who prides himself on writing about authentic Black experiences, is disappointed by this discovery.
Solid direction and a strong lead performance don’t save A Creature Was Stirring
As the holiday season approaches, director Damien LeVeck hopes to give horror fans the latest horror holiday treat in A Creature Was Stirring from Well Go USA. Shannon Wells wrote the screenplay for the film, and it takes us on a journey to meet Faith (Chrissy Metz), a dedicated nurse looking after her troubled teenage daughter Charm (Annalise Basso) during the holiday season.
The Iron Claw is an engaging biopic of one the first families of wrestling
The Iron Claw, the latest film from A24, directed by Sean Durkin, tells one of the most heart-wrenching wrestling stories. The screenplay, written by Durkin, depicts the true story of four of the five inseparable Von Erich brothers – Kevin (played by Zac Efron), Kerry (played by Jeremy Allen White), David (played by Harris Dickinson), and Mike (played by Stanley Simons) – who achieved great success in the highly competitive world of professional Wrestling in the early 1980s.
Concert Review: SWV @ The Theater At MGM
On a rainy Sunday evening of December 10th, R&B music fans took a trip back to the nineties with an exceptional performance of the legendary R&B trio SWV at the MGM Theater at the National Harbor. The group commenced their set with an energetic and captivating performance of two hit songs, “Can We” and “I’m So Into You.” The crowd was on their feet, and the ambiance was electrifying as the ladies continued to perform dancefloor anthems, including “You’re The One,” “Right Here,” and “Someone.”
Dream Scenario is Nic Cage at his best
Nicolas Cage teams up with director Kristófer K. Borgli for the trippy comedic drama Dream Scenario, produced by A24. Paul Matthews (Cage) is an unfortunate family man and professor living with his wife Janet (Julianne Nicholson) and daughters Sophie (Lily Bird) and Hannah (Jessica Clement) amid the bane of his existence. One day, he runs into Claire, a journalist ex-girlfriend who tells him he’s been in her dreams.
Pierce Brosnan delivers the action good in Fast Charlie
Following a lukewarm response to his previous films, director Philip Noyce aims to return to glory with his latest Fast Charlie from Vertical. Richard Wenk pens the film’s screenplay, which is an adaption of Victor Gischler novel Gun Monkeys.
A 90’s R&B trio get its flowers in Intro Music Lyrics and Life
The 90s R&B era boasts a unique sound that captures the essence of the time. Among the big names in the industry, there were also lesser-known groups who contributed significantly to the genre’s success. One such group was Intro, whose music still resonates with listeners today. The group members were the late Kenny Greene, Buddy Wike, and Jeff Sanders.
Leave The World Behind succeeds from the performances of Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali
After dabbling in television for the last decade with the hit shows Mr. Robot and Homecoming, director Sam Esmail returns to features for his latest project, Leave The World Behind. The film is an adaptation of author Rumaan Alam’s same-titled 2020 novel. Amanda (Julia Roberts) and her husband Clay (Ethan Hawke) rent a luxurious home for the weekend with their kids, Archie (Charlie Evans) and Rose (Farrah Mackenzie), who want a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.