– 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 …
Pixar Finishes the Decade Strong With ‘Toy Story 4’
(2019—Director: Josh Cooley) — by Renard N. Bansale — Low ★★★★★ (out of 5 stars) “Being there for a child is the most noble thing a toy can do.” — Gabby Gabby (Christina Hendricks) to Sheriff Woody (Tom Hanks) Potential spoilers below 1995’s Toy Story remains both a childhood monument for a majority of the past few generations, not to …
Producer-Director Friction Undermines ‘MIB: International’
(2019—Director: F. Gary Gray) — by Renard N. Bansale — ★★½ (out of 5 stars) “Always remember, the universe has a way of leading you to where you’re supposed to be at the moment you’re supposed to be there.” — High T (Liam Neeson) to Agent H (Chris Hemsworth) Potential spoilers below Besides the behemoth that was Titanic, the blockbuster …
‘Dark Phoenix’: A Pitiful Farewell for Fox 2000’s X-Men Franchise
(2019—Director: Simon Kinberg) — by Renard N. Bansale — High ★★½ (out of 5 stars) “You’re not like the other doctors.” … “No, and you’re not like the other patients.” — Young Jean Grey (Summer Fontana) and Prof. Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) Potential spoilers below Ever since the release of the first film back in 2000, 20th Century Fox’s X-Men …