2021 Pick the Oscars Competition!
Are you ready for my 21st annual Pick the Oscars competition? All you have to do is pick the winner in the six tricky categories I have chosen. To enter, simply click here. Best of luck!
Mini Review - Land
Land (out Apr 29) is the story of a middle-aged, suburban woman (Robin Wright) who, after a tragic event, has shut herself off from the world in a dilapidated cabin in the Wyoming wilderness. Withholding her backstory works against the film (it would have helped us buy into her decisions along the way) but Land finds its feet in the second half thanks to the arrival of a hunter played by Demián Bichir. A simple but effective tale. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Mortal Kombat
Mortal Kombat (out Apr 22) is a fast-paced, R-rated action reboot based on the popular video game series. For a movie which is mostly one-on-one fighting for 90 minutes, this is surprisingly entertaining. It doesn't take itself seriously, most jokes hit the mark, and the casting is great (Australian Josh Lawson is MVP). Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The Dissident
The Dissident (out Apr 22) is an excellent documentary that looks into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. It includes interviews with his fiancé, fellow journalists, investigating officers and other activists. Delving into the role of the Saudi Arabian regime, this is scary stuff. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - The United States vs. Billie Holiday
The United States vs. Billie Holiday (out Apr 22) portrays its real-life subject as a gifted musician, a powerful civil rights activist, and a troubled human being with questionable taste in men. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics subplot is clunky and the drug/alcohol addiction stuff become repetitive... but the film works when it focuses on Billie Holiday and her activism. Andra Day is wonderful in her first ever film role. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Six Minutes to Midnight
Six Minutes to Midnight (out Apr 22) is a fictional thriller set just prior to the start of World War II. A British spy infiltrates a local school filled with German children and tries to gather intelligence. This isn’t good. It’s trying too hard to give the audience what it thinks it wants. It’s incredibly corny and is filled with farcical chase sequences and villains that belong in a Scooby Doo cartoon. Grade: C.
Mini Review - This Little Love of Mine
This Little Love of Mine (out Apr 22) is a contrived, unrealistic romantic comedy where you know the ending after 15 minutes. A successful female lawyer travels to her childhood home (an idyllic island) where, on behalf of a client, she tries to get an old friend to sign a contract which will make him heir to a billion dollar fortune. The dialogue is terrible. There’s an audience for this type of movie... but sadly, it’s not me. Grade: C-.
Mini Review - Antoinette in the Cévennes
Antoinette in the Cévennes (out Apr 15) is a quirky French romantic comedy about a school teacher who, unpreparedly, goes on a week-long hiking trip in the name of love. Laure Calamy is a likeable lead and the script offers surprising laughs. That said, it takes big leaps in terms of character development in the second half which don’t quite stack up. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Supernova
Supernova (out Apr 15) blends two films we’ve seen recently - The Father and Blackbird. A man experiencing the early stages of dementia (Stanley Tucci) goes on one last road trip with his long-term partner (Colin Firth) to catch up with old friends. I grew to like these characters and their simple, heartfelt conversations. Grade: A-.