4 out of 5 stars (one of the best of the year) Note: I asked a family friend with young children about Soul, and the results varied. The youngest (4) got bored and left while the two older (7 and 10) enjoyed the goofy moments, but were stymied by the human drama and somewhat scared… Continue Reading
The Broken Hearts Gallery: Witty Romcom Bursts With Laughs
4 out of 5 stars (one of the best of the year) The Broken Hearts Gallery is one of the best films I’ve seen this year. It’s not headlined by big stars, approaches its story and characters with refreshing believability, and overcomes its few flaws with wit and cleverness. Most surprisingly, it comes from first… Continue Reading
Gerwig’s Little Women A Big Misfire
1.5 out of 5 stars (One of the Worst of the Year) I don’t like Greta Gerwig’s Little Women. While it has received near-universal adoration from audiences and critics, I was alternately bored, confused, and frustrated. I loved the 1994 version, so what went wrong? In my opinion, Greta Gerwig’s Little Women entirely misunderstands its… Continue Reading
You’ll Have A Beautiful Day Watching Emotional Drama
4 out of 5 stars (one of the best of the year) I didn’t grow up loving Mister Rogers. While his soothing voice and quiet demeanor lured my younger self to sleep, I have since grown to appreciate Rogers for addressing real-world topics with kids rather than talking down to them. Similarly, A Beautiful Day in… Continue Reading
Frozen II: Bleak Sequel Will Leave Audiences Cold
2.4 out of 5 stars (Almost Decent) Frozen II is one of the most disappointing movies of the year. Its story is unfocused, its songs are forgettable and over-produced, and the ever-shifting tone prevents you from fully engaging with it. However, the animation is once again beautiful, some individual scenes hint at what could have… Continue Reading
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil: Darker Sequel Flies Higher Than Its Predecessor
3.5 out of 5 stars (Above Average) The original Maleficent is a dark horse in Disney’s live-action remakes lineup. Its choice to reframe the title character from a malevolent villainess to a scorned anti-hero divided audiences and critics alike, but was still a huge financial success. Now, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil concludes the story by… Continue Reading