Emilia Clarke stars in Last Christmas, a sweet but contrived comedy from director Paul Feig, along with screenwriters Emma Thompson and Bryony Kimmings. Like a beautifully-decorated Christmas cookie in the window of a bakery, Last Christmas is lovely to look at, but doesn’t actually taste like much. Kate (Clarke) is a self-proclaimed “mess,” bouncing around London and sleeping on…… Continue reading ‘Last Christmas’ Gives You Its Heart – But Not Much Else
‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ 80 Years Later
In an early episode of Dawson’s Creek, protagonist Dawson Leery is doing what he does best: watching an old movie from the comfort of his childhood bedroom. Dreamer Dawson is enthralled by what’s unfolding on the screen, but his more typically-teenage friend Pacey Witter voices his boredom. “Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Dawson? Come on, it’s in…… Continue reading ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ 80 Years Later
This Isn’t Real: Simulated Fear In Modern Movies
I’m a sentimental cinephile. I have a tendency to find the metaphor in any film I see, applying it to whatever I’m experiencing in my own life. While some look at recent films like Spider-Man: Far From Home and It: Chapter Two and see headlines about box office records or think-pieces about the future of film, I see stories…… Continue reading This Isn’t Real: Simulated Fear In Modern Movies
‘The Kids’ Were More Than Alright
The ABC comedy lineup is almost as crowded as the Clearys’ dining room during dinner. ‘The Kids Are Alright’ deserves a spot at the table.
‘About Time’ Nails the Time Travel Trope
Time travel is a staple in cinematic storytelling, from Marty McFly’s famous attempt to reunite his parents in Back to the Future to our favorite superheroes racing through the past to collect infinity stones in Avengers: Endgame. Writer-director Richard Curtis puts a contemporary spin on the time travel concept with his underrated feature About Time. Curtis is known for British…… Continue reading ‘About Time’ Nails the Time Travel Trope
