This article is part of our Classic Film Throwback Series – By Sam Hendrian – 25 years ago, Walt Disney Animation Studios released its own take on the classic story of Hamlet called The Lion King. Featuring a thematically-rich story padded with fun, sometimes soul-stirring songs by Elton John and Tim Rice, it arguably remains …
The Effects of Personal Experience on Art in ‘The Souvenir’
– By Sam Hendrian – When an artist creates art, it is undoubtable that she shares a little bit of her soul with the world. But which aspects of her soul does she predominantly share? Personal experience? Lofty ideals? This question is hauntingly and thought-provokingly explored in the 2019 Sundance film The Souvenir, which will …
Fate and Free Will in Netflix’s ‘Dark’
– By James Powers – Editor’s Note: Potential Spoilers Below for Season 1 of ‘Dark’ Most of us have probably had the freaky experience, in some high school world lit class, of reading Sophocles’ play Oedipus Rex. In case you don’t remember, that’s the one in which the doomed protagonist tries and fails to avoid …
‘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 …
“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 …
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 …
Striking Out with ‘Striking Vipers’; What ‘Black Mirror’ Gets Wrong About Relationships
– By Joe Campbell – Spoilers below for the Black Mirror episode ‘Striking Vipers’. Black Mirror has been heralded as the new Twilight Zone, so much so that when CBS debuted a modern version of The Twilight Zone, many people wondered what the point was in a world where Black Mirror already existed. Created by British …
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 …
‘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 …
Field of Dreams: A Poignant Reflection on Father-Son Relationships
This article is part of our Classic Film Throwback series. – By Sam Hendrian – There is an old saying that we do not fully appreciate people or things until they are gone. This is often true for parent-child relationships, a theme which the 1989 sports/fantasy film Field of Dreams explores beautifully. The story of …