As of late the cinematic genre of choice happens to be the ostentatious antics of raunchy female groupings — something to feast on for the estrogen crowd. For the most part these “loose ladies of the pack” films have been profitable, whether bordering on the reputation of a box office cult hit like “Bridesmaids” or…
Oh no, ladies, what are youse doing? Not asking this is not an option when every action to clear bride-to-be Jess (Scarlett Johansson, “Hail, Caesar!”) and her friends’ involuntary-manslaughtering ways in Rough Night is just reducing Lt. Horatio Caine and team’s investigation time. The bachelorette’s activist friend Frankie (Ilana Glazer, “The Night Before”) said it…
“We are not lost, we are just finding our way” — Stephen Meek, “Meek’s Cutoff” As depicted in “Wendy and Lucy” and “Meek’s Cutoff,” Kelly Reichardt’s characters are lost without a significant guidepost to hold on to, adrift in a society in which they struggle to fit in. Based on short stories from the 2009…
Mike Mills’ 2010 film “Beginners” was based on his relationship with his father who, at the age of 75, announced that he was gay and developed a relationship with a younger man. Mills takes another look at family life in 20th Century Women, a semi-autobiographical film about three adult characters looking back with nostalgia on…
Mathematics and mathematicians may not appear to be the most dramatic material. Filmmakers seem aware of this potential failing, and thus produce subtle, nuanced and often very impressive films based around this topic, which end up being award contenders. Such is the case with Hidden Figures, for in the tradition of (Oscar winners) “Good Will…
In Sun Choke, Janie (Sarah Hagan, “Spring Breakdown”) is just trying to get well, and while undergoing psychological treatment administered by Irma (Barbara Crampton, “You’re Next”), she’s making progress. She practices yoga and breathing exercises, she drinks blended green drinks for nutrition, and she’s working on keeping herself calm and focused. Though she’s been staying…
The old adage that employs the sentiment “be kind and respectful to your elders” would certainly apply to the cinematic senior citizens featured in the Top 10 Ominous Oldsters in the Movies. Age many be just a state of mind to many, but underestimating the potential for the combative mature masses in cinema (or society…
