A thought struck me as I was smiling and tapping my foot through Lin-Manuel Miranda’s In the Heights. Who is the antagonist here? You know, the villain? The big bad? I was too invested in the charming characters, the colorful sets, and the emotionally expressive musical numbers to consider the question. Perhaps it is gentrification …
Warning: This post, a review of Da 5 Bloods, is political. Oh wait, all I had to do was mention four words. A SPIKE LEE JOINT. The activist-filmmaker has been at it for decades now. His movies entertain. They educate. But, more often than not, they seek to challenge. It’s who he is and what …
Based on an actual lie… That is the opening text of The Farewell, and while the description is accurate, the irony is that the film, based on real-life experiences of writer and director Lulu Wang, contains some universal and powerful truths. Family coming together amidst crisis, the ways we mourn, and how we can find …
Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service) is truly mesmorizing in his portrayal of Elton John in the bio-fantasy musical Rocketman. Ahh, but the music, though. Crocodile Rock! Saturday Night’s Allright for Fighting! I’m Still Standing! And… and…. Oh, who are we kidding? The real star of the movie is the costumes! All 85 of them, …
“Dear friend…” Those two words were written, or rather, typed, by the young and troubled protagonist of The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Charlie, as he journals and faces an uncertain and anxiety-filled future, that way most incoming high school freshmen do. The “friend” was an unknown. “You could write about us.” And with those …