by Nathan Robertson
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul?
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by Nathan Robertson
There’s a moment in Pig where Rob (Nicolas Cage) is crafting a pie that shares an elegant title with the next chapter of the film. In a sequence of pure bliss and quiet tranquility, Rob dusts the pie with a showering of flour that slowly descends onto the curious nose of his truffle pig. The pig gives a gentle sneeze and shake as the flour creates a visible cloud in the incoming rays of sunlight. This moment felt like grace. Not some kind of saving grace or salvation, but a moment of genuine kindness to allow this pig to share in the bliss, to be a part of the experience of making something beautiful.
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by Mitch Wiley
In the Heights is the first bonafide (soon-to-be) classic musical to his theaters since La La Land in 2016. Musicals are one of Hollywood's oldest and most beloved genres—from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (Top Hat; Swing Time) to the MGM musicals of Hollywood's Golden Age (Singin' in the Rain; An American in Paris) to more recent hits like Moulin Rouge! and Chicago. In the Heights, based on the homonymous 2008 Broadway play, joins the other stage hit Hamilton in solidifying Lin-Manuel Miranda as this generation's Vincente Minnelli or Bob Fosse.
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by Nathan Robertson
Over the past few weeks I’ve gotten a variety of responses to the question, “Have you watched Bo Burnham’s new special yet?”
No not yet, but I’ve heard its good!
No, I heard it’s depressing.
And more often than not, Who?
To all of these questions, I had the same response, “You have to watch it.”
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by Mitch Wiley
If you haven't been to a movie theater in some time and feel comfortable doing so, John Krasinski's A Quiet Place Part II would be the perfect opportunity to return. The worthy sequel to 2018's surprise sci-fi hit features another impressive sound design with assured camerawork and acting to boot.
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by Mitch Wiley
In February 2020, Bong Joon-Ho stood atop the mountain of cinema, making his two Oscars kiss, something I think we all wish we could do in our lives. The future of film and theatrical exhibition was still uncertain, but promising given the Academy's surprising choice to award something unique, international, and new (and also a flat-out great movie!). Fast forward fourteen long months and cinema is perhaps on the brink of death. While that's cynical hyperbole, it's nevertheless very possible.
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by Nathan Robertson
Ruben (played by an excellent Riz Ahmed) is a drummer in a heavy metal band. His girlfriend Lou, who is also the lead singer, lives with him in an RV that they use to travel and record music. Everything they own is in this vehicle. All their hopes and plans rest on the sounds they create. Then one day those sounds disappear for Ruben. The ferocious screams of his soulmate and the sharp clangs of his greatest gift become nothing but muffled noises.
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by Mitch Wiley
Pixar's latest offering may be their most dense delivery yet; and that's saying something given their penchant for mature themes, deep questions, and emotional stories. Pete Docter appears to be the most existential of Pixar's top brass (MONSTERS, INC., UP, INSIDE OUT) and he doubles down on what made his previous works successful and tear-jerking. Is it too much at times? Certainly! I'm not sure how well jokes about Jungian psychology or the New York Knicks will land will the younger audiences, but just about every beat landed with this writer!
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Today is day two of the two-day Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos (in English, Day of the Dead), which occurs every November 1st and 2nd.
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by Nathan Robertson
It’s been a weird year for movies, to say the least. Theaters have been closed for months, many of which have shut down due to major losses. Yet even in the midst of the unknown, Tenet seemed to serve as some kind of milestone for theaters. Regardless of its ever-changing release date, the blockbuster stood to be the savior of cinema. So now that it’s out, does it live up to the hype?
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by Nathan Robertson
We’ve all been there. Someone tells us to check out this new thing that is “the best thing ever”, and before we even engage it we can feel the pressure to give it the same level of praise. I would bet that this is the story for a large part of the population that had a friend tell them they should check out Hamilton at the height of its power. This level of popularity can often bring the contrarians to the top of the twitter feed like a fire trying to rise to the people on the top floor. So needless to say, something that has been so popular for so long is bound to have huge fans and harsh critics. However, in the midst of the years of acclaim, what was once an exclusive and groundbreaking piece of art became a household sing-a-long that families listen to while they make dinner. The Michelin star meal was transferred into a microwave dinner, with specifically chosen and risky ingredients simply printed on the tiny ingredients label where most would never look. Despite what seems to be a culture-wide watering down, Hamilton has found new life with its release on Disney+. It has been given a timely comeback to remind us of why those friends of ours thought it was “the best thing ever” in the first place.
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by Mitch Wiley
Spike Lee’s highly anticipated Netflix film Da 5 Bloods may not have come at a better time. In light of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others, we have hit a major moment in the civil rights and race discussion. Spike Lee is one of the most prolific black directors in Hollywood and certainly one of the most essential filmmakers in American history. His 1989 film Do the Right Thing remains as iconic a masterpiece as ever and his 2018 BlacKkKlansman finally won him his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
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by Mitch Wiley
When one goes to see a Pixar movie, there are three things you can expect—to laugh, to cry, and to experience a fun adventure or chase. All three are present in Pixar’s latest from Monsters University director Dan Scanlon. Many of Pixar’s greatest achievements come from oddball stories with lots of creative flair. Onward is no different.
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by Mitch Wiley
We’re in the midst of the historic COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve probably heard? There is a lot of extra time on people’s hands as a result. Movie theaters, among many other establishments and businesses, have closed. We as a people are practicing social distancing and perhaps even a time of self-quarantine. Our cultural moment is one of both anxiety, fear, confusion, and isolation. Here is a list of movies that help me escape and make me happy. They are essentially “comfort movies.”
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by Nathan Robertson
All of us have either known one or become one ourselves. That person who truly wants what’s best for you…in their opinion. That person who always says the right thing…or at least tries to. That person who is always there for you…maybe too much. Yes, you guessed it, I’m talking about “The Fixer”.
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2020 is setting up to be a great year with the return of some of the most prolific voices in film, such as Wes Anderson, Christopher Nolan, Sofia Coppola, Edgar Wright, David Fincher, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, and Denis Villeneuve to name a few. Here are the films we’re most excited about coming in 2020.
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by Mitch Wiley
Here, I’ll look at 21 of the 24 Oscar categories (if I’m being honest, I know little to nothing about the 3 “shorts” categories), giving a pick for Will Win, Should Win (of the nominees), and Shoulda Been—that is, who I believe should have been nominated and wasn’t.
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Check out my video countdown of my 10 favorite films of 2019.
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by Mitch Wiley
Why do I love movies? They transport me to experience feelings and thoughts that reflect my own longings for something greater. The experience itself is often moving and transcendent. They are entertaining, funny, awe-inspiring, thought-provoking, but also create a sense of empathy for the human experience.
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by Nathan Robertson
The family is together and everyone wants to see a movie. But nobody likes the same kind of movies, so what could you possibly see? I’d be willing to bet Little Women is a great option.
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