REVIEW: Don’t Look Up (2021)

Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo DiCaprio in Adam McKay’s DON’T LOOK UP — Photo: Niko Tavernise / Netflix.

Directed by Adam McKay (Vice) — Screenplay by Adam McKay.

On Christmas Eve, Netflix released Adam McKay’s star-studded pre-apocalyptic satirical science-fiction film Don’t Look Up, which is a film about scientists trying to get people to care about a life-threatening event being on the horizon. The streamers’ global audience probably didn’t expect McKay’s satirical and irreverent take on a possible world-ending event in their Christmas stockings, but it isn’t coal you’ve found on Christmas morning, rather it is a minutes-to-midnight plea to look around you and realize what needs to be changed before it’s too late that is delivered via a scathing satire whose tone sometimes even resembles a Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg-esque apocalyptic comedy. Perhaps stars like DiCaprio, Lawrence, Streep, and Chalamet will get you to press play on a film that tries desperately to get people around the world to realize that we absolutely have to listen to and trust scientists and not just political campaigning.

Continue reading “REVIEW: Don’t Look Up (2021)”

REVIEW: The Laundromat (2019)

The following is a review of The Laundromat — Directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Earlier this year, Palme d’Or-winning director Steven Soderbergh’s first Netflix film High Flying Bird was released on Netflix. It, a great film about the intersection of sports and business, is still one of the best surprises of the year. The Laundromat, Soderbergh’s second Netflix feature film, was a film that I was looking forward to, for quite some time, due to the director and the cast. Based on the premise, the filmmaker, and the cast, I thought this was going to be one of the most interesting films of the year. Unfortunately, The Laundromat, a playful but tired biographical drama, is interesting for all the wrong reasons. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Laundromat (2019)”

88th Academy Awards: Predictions – Motion Picture Thoughts #6

MOTION PICTURE THOUGHTS

I love the Academy Awards. There’s just something special about that show, even if I don’t think they pick the right winners each and every year. Often times I find myself agreeing with the nominees for the BAFTAs instead, but only the Academy Awards can make me straight-up giddy to see accolades being handed out. Today I’m trying to predict the winners of each and every category! Continue reading “88th Academy Awards: Predictions – Motion Picture Thoughts #6”

Reaction to the 88th Academy Award Nominations – Motion Picture Thoughts #5

MOTION PICTURE THOUGHTS

The Academy has announced what films are worthy to call themselves the best of 2015. The Revenant, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Martian were shown a lot of love in the nomination process, but Star Wars: The Force Awakens did get a handful of nominations as well. Now, let’s look at the nominations and discuss the odd Oscar snubs and the nominations that caught some by surprise. Continue reading “Reaction to the 88th Academy Award Nominations – Motion Picture Thoughts #5”

Predicting the Nominees for the 88th Academy Awards – Motion Picture Thoughts #4

MOTION PICTURE THOUGHTS

By this time tomorrow we will know which films will battle for some of the biggest awards in western cinema. One of my favorite days of the year is when the Academy announces the nominees. Cinephiles always have opinions about award snubs, and I’m always excited to take part in that conversation. This year it’ll probably end up being The Revenant versus Spotlight for the big awards, but don’t be surprised if the Academy shows a lot of love for either Mad Max: Fury Road or The Martian. Let’s try to predict the nominees! Continue reading “Predicting the Nominees for the 88th Academy Awards – Motion Picture Thoughts #4”