(2018—Director: J.A. Bayona) — by Renard N. Bansale — ★★½ (out of 5 stars) “If I don’t make it back, remember…you’re the one who made me come.” — Owen Grady (Chris Pratt) to Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard) Potential spoilers below It took some by surprise when 2015’s Jurassic World became the first movie to gross over $500 million worldwide …
‘Incredibles 2’: The Long-Awaited Return of Pixar’s Superhero Family
(2018—Director: Brad Bird) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★★ (out of 5 stars) “Done properly, parenting is a heroic act. Done properly.” — Edna Mode (Brad Bird) to Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) Potential spoilers below I was not always a big supporter of feature animation on the big screen. By the summer of 2008, I was …
Suppressed Grief & Twisted Possession in ‘Hereditary’
(2018—Director: Ari Aster) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★ (out of 5 stars) “Our sacrifice will pale next to the rewards.” — Note from late mother Ellen Leigh to daughter Annie Graham (Toni Collette) “You know you were her favorite, right?” — Mother Annie Graham (Toni Collette) to daughter Charlie Graham (Milly Shapiro) Potential spoilers below In 2011, …
An Origin Tale Fit for a Pilot & a Scoundrel in ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’
(2018—Director: Ron Howard) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★½ (out of 5 stars) “Assume everyone will betray you and you will never be disappointed.” “Sounds like a lonely way to live.” “It’s the only way.” — Tobias Beckett (Woody Harrelson) and Han Solo (Alden Ehrenreich) Potential spoilers below A ubiquitous media franchise, like any creative endeavor, does not …
The Intertwinement of Pride & Despair in ‘First Reformed’
(2018—Director: Paul Schrader) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★ (out of 5 stars) “How easily they talk about prayer, those who have never really prayed.” — Rev. Toller (Ethan Hawke) “Even a pastor needs a pastor.” — Head Pastor Joel Jeffers (Cedric Antonio Kyles) to Rev. Toller (Ethan Hawke) Potential spoilers below Writer-director Paul Schrader has carved out …
Fostering Unity in God’s Love in ‘Pope Francis: A Man of His Word’
(2018—Director: Wim Wenders) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★½ (out of 5 stars) “As long as the Church is placing its hope on wealth, Jesus is not there.” — Pope Francis “The artist is an apostle of beauty, who helps others live better.” — Pope Francis Potential spoilers below From his elevation to the papacy in March of …
Merfolk Encounters at the Cusp of Adolescence in ‘Lu Over the Wall’
(2018—Director: Masaaki Yuasa) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★½ (out of 5 stars) “To the new and improved Seirèn! Rock on! Rock on!” — Band members Kunio (Sôma Saitô, dubbed by Brandon Engman), Yūho (Minako Kotobuki, dubbed by Stephanie Sheh), and Kai Ashimoto (Shōta Shimoda, dubbed by Michael Sinterniklaas) Click here for showtimes to Lu Over the Wall …
Director Jason Reitman Rebounds With ‘Tully’, an Ode to Ma
(2018—Director: Jason Reitman) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★½ (out of 5 stars) “I’m here to take care of you.” “I thought you’re taking care of the baby?” “Yeah, but right now, you pretty much are the baby.” — Tully (Mackenzie Davis) and Marlo (Charlize Theron) “Girls don’t heal.” (beat) “Girls heal.” “No, we don’t. We might look …
A Bold Finale Tops Off the Adequate Bulk of ‘Avengers: Infinity War’
(2018—Directors: Anthony Russo & Joe Russo) — by Renard N. Bansale — ★★★½ (with reservations) (out of 5 stars) “Did you do it?” “Yes.” “What did it cost?” “Everything.” Potential spoilers below (including spoilers for Thor: Ragnarök, Aliens, and Alien 3) Few can deny that the Marvel Cinematic Universe (hereafter shortened to MCU) has altered how studios approach storytelling and …
Brooding, PTSD-Fueled Brutality in ‘You Were Never Really Here’
(2018—Director: Lynne Ramsay) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★★ (out of 5 stars) “McCleary said you were brutal.” (beat) “I can be.” — Sen. Albert Votto (Alex Manette) and Joe (Joaquin Phoenix) Potential spoilers below In the opening for my review for The Beguiled last summer, I described writer-director Sofia Coppola as one of modern cinema’s formidable female …