(2019—Directors: Tyler Nilson & Michael Schwartz) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★★ (out of 5 stars) “Rule #1: Don’t slow me down.” — Tyler (Shia LaBeouf) to Zak (Zack Gottsagen) Potential spoilers below To portray characters with disabilities and disorders accurately, actors since cinema’s dawn down to the present day have relied on makeup, visual effects as technology …
Nothing to Fear but Fear ITself
– By James Powers – Spoilers below for both It and It Chapter Two Many accusations can be leveled against Stephen King as a storyteller, but dullness is not one of them. Despite the very R-rated content of much of his work, there’s a certain childlike exuberance to the way he invents bonkers scenarios to inflict upon his all-too …
What ‘Taxi Driver’ Has to Say About Finding Purpose in the Wrong Places
– By Sam Hendrian – This article is part of our Classic Film Throwback Series “You talkin’ to me? You talkin’ to ME?” These words have been parodied so many times in films over the years that it is easy to forget where they originated from: Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film Taxi Driver. Controversial for its graphically violent climax and morally ambiguous …
Spiritual Blindness and the Sanctity of Life in Disney’s ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’
– By Sam Hendrian – This article is part of our Classic Film Throwback Series “I ask for nothing/I can get by/But I know so many/Less lucky than I” -Esmeralda, “God Help the Outcasts” This haunting prayer uttered by the gypsy Esmeralda partway through Disney’s animated classic The Hunchback of Notre Dame succinctly captures the beautifully complex, challenging themes of the …
Renard’s Mid-Year Report on Cinema in 2019
— by Renard N. Bansale — 2019’s summer film season has begun to wind down as the cinema world prepares for the expected annual onslaught of Oscar contenders that seek to attract awards voters throughout autumn and winter. While they do that, I’d like to take a moment and consider cinema in 2019 so far—the highs, the lows, and the …
The Lies & Subtext of Familial Affection in ‘The Farewell’
(2019—Director: Lulu Wang) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★★ (out of 5 stars) “Chinese people have saying: ‘When people get cancer, they die.’ It’s not the cancer that kills them. It’s the fear.” — Mother Jian (Diana Lin) to daughter Billi (Awkwafina) Potential spoilers below Truth: Mind conforming to reality, grasping that what is, is, and what is …
Disney Declares Creative Bankruptcy With ‘The Lion King’ 2019
(2019—Director: Jon Favreau) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★ (out of 5 stars) “While others search for what they can take, a true king searches for what he can give.” — King Mufasa (James Earl Jones) to Prince Simba (JD McCrary) (Also, following their initial mentions, I shall distinguish between the two versions of The Lion King using …
Spider-Man Gives MCU’s Phase 3 a Stellar Finale in ‘Far From Home’
(2019—Director: Jon Watts) — by Renard N. Bansale — ★★★★ (out of 5 stars) “You’re not a jerk for wanting a normal life, kid.” — Quentin Beck/Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal) to Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) “Aw, I love Led Zeppelin!” — Peter Parker/Spider-Man (Tom Holland) to Harold “Happy” Hogan (Jon Favreau) Potential spoilers below Of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) offerings …
‘Midsommar’: More Beneath the Surefire Folk Horror Than You’d Expect
(2019—Director: Ari Aster) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★★½ (with strong moral reservations) (out of 5 stars) “It’ll probably seem quite silly, but it’s like theatre.” — Pelle (Vilhelm Blomgren) to Dani Ardor (Florence Pugh) Potential spoilers below When writer-director Ari Aster made his feature debut last June with Hereditary, a strong majority of critics and audiences were …
“Fab” Fantasy Gives Way to Sweet Yet Average Romance in ‘Yesterday’
(2019—Director: Danny Boyle) — by Renard N. Bansale — ★★★ (out of 5 stars) “A world without The Beatles is a world that’s infinitely worse.” — Liz (Sarah Lancashire) to Jack Malik (Hamish Patel) Potential spoilers below Ever since the summer of 2000, I have loved The Beatles. They were the only music I listened to up until I started …