Your Friendly Neighborhood Movie Goer]]> (2024)

Second episode reviewing new Sci-Fi animated series "Scavengers Reign". Which streams on MAX every Thursday. This series has a total of 12 episodes, Max releases 3 episodes weekly. This review covers series episodes 4-6. The series started airing on October 19th, 2023.

Synopsis:

Based off Charles Huettner and Joseph Bennett’s short film, it follows a crew of a damaged deep space freighter who are stranded on a beautiful but dangerous planet. Directors: Benjy Brooke, Joseph Bennett, Charles Huettner, Jonathan Djob Nkondo, Caroline Cherrier, Vincent Tsui, Lucrece Andeae

First episode reviewing new Sci-Fi animated series "Scavengers Reign". Which streams on MAX every Thursday. This series has a total of 12 episodes, Max releases 3 episodes weekly. This review covers series episodes 1-3. The series started airing on October 19th, 2023.

Synopsis:

Based off Charles Huettner and Joseph Bennett’s short film, it follows a crew of a damaged deep space freighter who are stranded on a beautiful but dangerous planet. Directors: Benjy Brooke, Joseph Bennett, Charles Huettner, Jonathan Djob Nkondo, Caroline Cherrier, Vincent Tsui, Lucrece Andeae.

Movie review for new Neon rated film "Ferrari". Directed by Michael Mann & written by Troy Kennedy Martin. Starring: Adam Driver, Penelope Cruz & Shailene Woodley. Released in theaters worldwide December 25th, 2023.

Synopsis:

Ferrari is set during the summer of 1957. Behind the spectacle and danger of 1950's Formula 1, ex-racer, Enzo Ferrari, is in crisis. Bankruptcy stalks the company he and his wife, Laura, built from nothing ten years earlier. Their tempestuous marriage struggles with the mourning for their one son. Ferrari struggles with the acknowledgement of another. His drivers' lust to win pushes them out to the edge. He wagers all in a roll of the dice on one race, the treacherous 1,000-mile race across Italy, the iconic Mille Miglia.

Movie review of new Netflix movie "Maestro". Written and directed by Bradley Cooper and c0-written by Josh Singer. Starring Bradley Cooper & Carey Mulligan. Limited release in theaters as of November 22nd, 2023. Available to stream on Netflix on December 20th, 2023.

Synopsis:

Maestro is a towering and fearless love story chronicling the lifelong relationship between Leonard Bernstein and Felicia Montealegre Cohn Bernstein. A love letter to life and art, Maestro at its core is an emotionally epic portrayal of family and love.

Movie review on new Toho Internatioanl film "Godzilla Minus One". Written & directed by Takashi Yamazaki. Released on December 1st, 2023, worldwide.

Synopsis:

Japan is already devastated by the war when a new crisis emerges in the form of a giant monster.

Movie review of new Lionsgate film "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes". Directed by Francis Lawrence. Starring: Tom Blyth, Rachel Zegler & Peter Dinklage. Released on November 17th, 2023, in theaters worldwide.

Synopsis:

64 years before Katniss Everdeen volunteered as tribute, and decades before Coriolanus Snow became the tyrannical President of Panem. THE HUNGER GAMES: THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS & SNAKES follows a young Coriolanus (Tom Blyth) who is the last hope for his failing lineage, the once-proud Snow family that has fallen from grace in a post-war Capitol. With his livelihood threatened, Snow is reluctantly assigned to mentor Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler), a tribute from the impoverished District 12. But after Lucy Gray's charm captivates the audience of Panem, Snow sees an opportunity to shift their fates. With everything he has worked for hanging in the balance, Snow unites with Lucy Gray to turn the odds in their favor. Battling his instincts for both good and evil, Snow sets out on a race against time to survive and reveal if he will ultimately become a songbird or a snake.

Movie review for new Marvel Studios film "The Marvels". Starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris, Iman Vellani, Samuel L. Jackson & Zawe Ashton. Released on November 10th, 2023 in theaters nation wide.

Synopsis:

Carol Danvers aka Captain Marvel has reclaimed her identity from the tyrannical Kree and taken revenge on the Supreme Intelligence. But unintended consequences see Carol shouldering the burden of a destabilized universe. When her duties send her to an anomalous wormhole linked to a Kree revolutionary, her powers become entangled with that of Jersey City super-fan, Kamala Khan aka Ms. Marvel, and Carol's estranged niece, now S.A.B.E.R. astronaut Captain Monica Rambeau. Together, this unlikely trio must team-up and learn to work in concert to save the universe as "The Marvels."

Movie review of new Focus Features film "The Holdovers". It stars Paul Giamatti, Da'Vine Joy Randolph & Dominic Sessa. Released on November 10th, 2023 in theaters nation wide.

Synopsis:

THE HOLDOVERS follows a curmudgeonly instructor (Paul Giamatti) at a New England prep school who is forced to remain on campus during Christmas break to babysit the handful of students with nowhere to go. Eventually he forms an unlikely bond with one of them -- a damaged, brainy troublemaker (newcomer Dominic Sessa) -- and with the school's head cook, who has just lost a son in Vietnam (Da'Vine Joy Randolph).

Movie review on new Netflix movie "The Killer". Directed by David Fincher & written by Andrew Kevin Walker. Starring Michael Fassbender, Charles Parnell, Arliss Howard & Tilda Swinton. In limited release in theaters as of October 27th, 2023. Will stream on Netflix starting November 10th, 2023.

Synopsis:

After a fateful near-miss an assassin battles his employers, and himself, on an international manhunt he insists isn't personal.

Movie Review for new Apple films movie "Killers of the Flower Moon". Released on October 20th, 2023

Synopsis:

At the turn of the 20th century, oil brought a fortune to the Osage Nation, who became some of the richest people in the world overnight. The wealth of these Native Americans immediately attracted white interlopers, who manipulated, extorted, and stole as much Osage money as they could before resorting to murder. Based on a true story and told through the improbable romance of Ernest Burkhart (Leonardo DiCaprio) and Mollie Kyle (Lily Gladstone), “Killers of the Flower Moon” is an epic western crime saga, where real love crosses paths with unspeakable betrayal. Also starring Robert De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Tantoo Cardinal, Cara Jade Myers, JaNae Collins, and Jillian Dion, “Killers of the Flower Moon” is directed by Academy Award winner Martin Scorsese from a screenplay by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese, based on David Grann’s best-selling book.

Movie review on new Lionsgate film "John Wick: Chapter 4". Written by SHAY HATTEN and MICHAEL FINCH. Directed by CHAD STAHELSKI. Starring: KEANU REEVES, DONNIE YEN, BILL SKARSGARD, LAURENCE FISHBURNE, Hiroyuki Sanada, SHAMIER ANDERSON, LANCE REDDICK, RINA SAWAYAMA, SCOTT ADKINS, CLANCY BROWN, NATALIA TENA, MARKO ZAROR and IAN MCSHANE. Released in theaters March 24th, 2023.

Synopsis

John Wick uncovers a path to defeating the High Table. But before he can earn his freedom, Wick must face off against a new enemy with powerful alliances across the globe and forces that turn old friends into foes.

Movie review on new Niu Vision Media film "Full River Red". Written by Yimou Zhang and Chen Yu. Directed by Yimou Zhang. Starring: Teng Shen, Jackson Yee, Yi Zhang, Jiayin Lei, Wang Jiayi and Yunpeng Yue. Movie in limited release in the US as March 17th, 2023.

Synopsis

12th century China, during the Song Dynasty, set against a brewing rebellion by the Jin people against the Imperial Court. Two hours before a crucial diplomatic meeting between the Song Prime Minister Qin Hui and a high level Jin delegation, the Jin Ambassador is murdered. An important letter destined for the Emperor is stolen from him. As the search for the letter unfolds, alliances are formed, secrets are revealed, and no one can stop the truth that is destined to leave its mark in history.

Movie review on new Warner Bros Pictures film "Shazam: Fury of the Gods". Written by Henry Gayden & Chris Morgan. Directed by David F. Sandberg. Starring: Zachary Levi (Thor: Ragnarök) as Shazam; Asher Angel (Andi Mack) as Billy Batson; Jack Dylan Grazer (It Chapter Two) as Freddy Freeman; Adam Brody (Promising Young Woman) as Super Hero Freddy; Ross Butler (Raya and the Last Dragon) as Super Hero Eugene; Meagan Good (Day Shift) as Super Hero Darla; D.J. Cotrona (G.I. Joe: Retaliation) as Superhero Pedro; Grace Caroline Currey (Annabelle: Creation) as Mary Bromfield / Superhero Mary; Faithe Herman (This Is Us) as Darla Dudley; Ian Chen (A Dog’s Journey) as Eugene Choi; Jovan Armand (Second Chances) as Pedro Pena; Marta Milans (White Lines) as Rosa Vasquez; Cooper Andrews (The Walking Dead) as Victor Vasquez; with Djimon Hounsou (A Quiet Place Part II) as Wizard. Joining the cast are Rachel Zegler (West Side Story), with Lucy Liu (Kung Fu Panda franchise) and Helen Mirren (F9: The Fast Saga). Movie released March 17th, 2023 in theaters.

Synopsis

Shazam! Fury of the Gods, which continues the story of teenage Billy Batson who, upon reciting the magic word “SHAZAM!,” is transformed into his adult Superhero alter ego, Shazam. Billy and his foster siblings, who transform into superheroes as well, are forced to get back into action and fight the Daughters of Atlas. The Shazam family must stop them from using a weapon that could destroy the world. Along the way, they have to make peace with the Gods because they took their powers for granted.

Movie review on new Columbia Pictures/Sony film "65". Written and directed by Scott Beck & Bryan Woods. Starring: Adam Driver, Ariana Greenblatt & Chloe Coleman. Release in theaters on March 10th, 2023.

Synopsis

After a catastrophic crash on an unknown planet, pilot Mills (Adam Driver) quickly discovers he’s actually stranded on Earth…65 million years ago. Now, with only one chance at rescue, Mills and the only other survivor, Koa (Ariana Greenblatt), must make their way across an unknown terrain riddled with dangerous prehistoric creatures in an epic fight to survive.

Movie Review on new Paramount Pictures film "Scream VI". Written by James Vanderbilt & Guy Busick. Directed by Matt Bettinelli-Olpin & Tyler Gillett. Starring: Melissa Barrera, Jasmin Savoy Brown, Jack Champion, Henry Czerny, Mason Gooding, Liana Liberato, Dermot Mulroney, Devyn Nekoda, Jenna Ortega, Tony Revolori, Josh Segarra, Samara Weaving with Hayden Panettiere and Courteney Cox. Release in theaters March 10th, 2023

Synopsis

Following the latest Ghostface killings, the four survivors leave Woodsboro behind and start a fresh chapter. Sam Carpenter, Mindy Meeks-Martin, Chad Meeks-Martin, Tara Carpenter, Kirby Reed and Gale Weathers return.

Movie review on new Lionsgate film "Operation Fortune: RUSE DE GUERRE". Written by Guy Ritchie, Ivan Atkinson and Marn Davies. Directed by Guy Ritchie. Starring: Jason Statham, Aubrey Plaza, Josh Hartnett, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone and Hugh Grant. Released in theaters March 3rd, 2023.

Synopsis

In the film, super spy Orson Fortune (Jason Statham) must track down and stop the sale of a deadly new weapons technology wielded by billionaire arms broker Greg Simmonds (Hugh Grant). Reluctantly teamed with some of the world’s best operatives (Aubrey Plaza, Cary Elwes, Bugzy Malone), Fortune and his crew recruit Hollywood’s biggest movie star Danny Francesco (Josh Hartnett) to help them on their globe-trotting undercover mission to save the world.

Movie review on new Sony Pictures Classics film "Return to Seoul". Written and directed by Davy Chou. Official selection of Cannes Film Festival. In limited release as of December 2nd, 2022. Starring: Park Ji-Min, Oh Kwang-Rok, Guka Han and Kim Sun-Young.

Synopsis

After an impulsive travel decision to visit friends, Freddie, 25, returns to South Korea for the first time, where she was born before being adopted and raised in France. Freddie suddenly finds herself embarking on an unexpected journey in a country she knows so little about, taking her life in new and unexpected directions.

Movie review for new MGM film "Creed III". Written by Keenan Coogler & Zach Baylin. Directed by Michael B. Jordan. Released in Theaters March 3rd, 2023. Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Tessa Thompson, Jonathan Majors, Wood Harris, Florian Munteanu, Mila Davis-Kent and Phylicia Rashad.

Synopsis

After dominating the boxing world, Adonis Creed (Michael B. Jordan) has been thriving in both his career and family life. When a childhood friend and former boxing prodigy, Damian (Jonathan Majors), resurfaces after serving a long sentence in prison, he is eager to prove that he deserves his shot in the ring. The face off between former friends is more than just a fight. To settle the score, Adonis must put his future on the line to battle Damian -- a fighter who has nothing to lose.

Movie review on new Bleeker Street Media film "Emily". Written and directed by FRANCES O’CONNOR. Released on February 17th, 2023. Starring: EMMA MACKEY, FIONN WHITEHEAD, OLIVER JACKSON-COHEN, ALEXANDRA DOWLING, ADRIAN DUNBAR, AMELIA GETHING and GEMMA JONES.

Synopsis

"EMILY” tells the imagined life of one of the world’s most famous authors, Emily Brontë, a rebel and misfit, finds her voice and writes the literary classic Wuthering Heights. “EMILY” explores the relationships that inspired her – her raw, passionate sisterhood with Charlotte and Anne; her first aching, forbidden love for Weightman and her care for her maverick brother Branwell whom she idolizes. Emily is haunted by the death of her mother, struggles within the confines of her family life and yearns for artistic and personal freedom. So begins a journey to channel her creative potential.

Movie review on new Universal Pictures movie "Cocaine Bear". Written by Jimmy Warden and directed by Elizabeth Banks. Released on February 24th, 2023 in theaters. Starring: Keri Russell, O’Shea Jackson, Jr., Christian Convery-Jennings, Alden Ehrenreich, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Brooklynn Prince, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Kristofer Hivju, Hannah Hoekstra, Aaron Holliday with Margo Martindale and Ray Liotta.

Synopsis

Inspired by the 1985 true story of a drug runner's plane crash, missing cocaine, and the black bear that ate it, this wild thriller finds an oddball group of cops, criminals, tourists and teens converging in a Georgia forest where a 500-pound apex predator has ingested a staggering amount of cocaine and gone on a co*ke-fueled rampage for more blow... and blood.

Movie review on new film distributed by Open Road Films entitled "Marlowe". Screenplay by William Monahan and Neil Jordan. Directed by Neil Jordan. Released in theaters February 15th, 2023. Starring: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian Hart, Colm Meaney, Daniela Melchior, François Arnaud, Séana Kerslake with Danny Huston and Alan Cumming.

Synopsis

A gripping noir crime thriller set in late 1930’s Los Angeles, centers around a street-wise, down on his luck detective; Philip Marlowe, played by Liam Neeson, who is hired to find the ex-lover of a glamorous heiress (Diane Kruger), daughter of a well-known movie star (Jessica Lange). The disappearance unearths a web of lies, and soon Marlowe is involved in a dangerous, deadly investigation where everyone involved has something to hide.

Movie review on new Marvel Studios film "Ant-Man & The Wasp: Quantumania". Directed by Peyton Reed. Released in theaters February 17th, 2023. Starring: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer, Kathryn Newton and Jonathan Majors.

Synopsis

In the film, which officially kicks off phase 5 of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Super-Hero partners Scott Lang and Hope Van Dyne return to continue their adventures as Ant-Man and the Wasp. Together, with Hope's parents Hank Pym and Janet Van Dyne, the family finds themselves exploring the Quantum Realm, interacting with strange new creatures and embarking on an adventure that will push them beyond the limits of what they thought was possible. Jonathan Majors joins the adventure as Kang.

Movie Review for new Columbia Pictures(Sony) film "A Man Called Otto". Written by David Magee. Directed by Marc Forster. Based upon the best-selling novel “A Man Called Ove” by Fredrik Backman, and the film A Man Called Ove by Hannes Holm. Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Treviño, Rachel Keller, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Truman Hanks and Mike Birbiglia.

Synopsis

A Man Called Otto tells the story of Otto Anderson (Tom Hanks), a grump who no longer sees purpose in his life following the loss of his wife. Otto is ready to end it all, but his plans are interrupted when a lively young family moves in next door, and he meets his match in quick-witted Marisol. She challenges him to see life differently, leading to an unlikely friendship that turns his world around. A heartwarming and funny story about love, loss, and life, A Man Called Otto shows that family can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

Movie review for new Universal Pictures film "Knock At The Cabin". Written by M. Night Shyamalan, Steve Desmond & Michael Sherman. Directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Based on the national bestseller The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay. Starring: Dave Bautista, Jonathan Groff, Ben Aldridge, Nikki Amuka-Bird, Kristen Cui, Abby Quinn and Rupert Grint.

Synopsis

While vacationing at a remote cabin, a young girl and her parents are taken hostage by four armed strangers who demand that the family make an unthinkable choice to avert the apocalypse. With limited access to the outside world, the family must decide what they believe before all is lost.

Movie Review of new A24 film "Close". Written by Lukas Dhont & Angelo Tijssens. Directed by Lukas Dhont. Starring: Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Émilie Dequenne and Léa Drucker. Limited release in theaters as of December 2nd, 2022 and wide release as of January 20th, 2023.

Synopsis

Leo and Remi are two thirteen-year-old best friends, whose seemingly unbreakable bond is suddenly, tragically torn apart. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, Lukas Dhont's second film is an emotionally transformative and unforgettable portrait of the intersection of friendship and love, identity and independence, and heartbreak and healing.

Movie review on new Screen Gems film, distributed by Sony Pictures, "Missing". Written and directed by Nicholas D. Johnson & Will Merrick. Starring: Storm Reid, Joaquim de Almeida, Ken Leung, Amy Landecker, with Daniel Henney and Nia Long. Released world wide in theaters January 20th, 2023.

Synopsis

From the minds behind Searching comes Missing, a thrilling roller-coaster mystery that makes you wonder how well you know those closest to you. When her mother (Nia Long) disappears while on vacation in Colombia with her new boyfriend, June’s (Storm Reid) search for answers is hindered by international red tape. Stuck thousands of miles away in Los Angeles, June creatively uses all the latest technology at her fingertips to try and find her before it’s too late. But as she digs deeper, her digital sleuthing raises more questions than answers...and when June unravels secrets about her mom, she discovers that she never really knew her at all.

Movie review on new Lionsgate film "Plane". Written by Charles Cumming & J.P. Davis. Directed by Jean-Francois Richet. Starring: Gerard Butler, Mike Colter, Yoson An, Daniella Pineda, Paul Ben-Victor, Remi Adeleke, Joey Slotnick, Evan Dane Taylor, Claro de los Reyes and Tony Goldwyn. Released in theaters world wide January 13th, 2023.

Synopsis

In the white-knuckle action movie PLANE, pilot Brodie Torrance (Gerard Butler) saves his passengers from a lightning strike by making a risky landing on a war-torn island -- only to find that surviving the landing was just the beginning. When most of the passengers are taken hostage by dangerous rebels, the only person Torrance can count on for help is Louis Gaspare (Mike Colter), an accused murderer who was being transported by the FBI. In order to rescue the passengers, Torrance will need Gaspare's help, and will learn there's more to Gaspare than meets the eye.

Movie review on new Universal Pictures & Blumhouse film "M3gan". Written by Akela Cooper and directed by Gerard Johnstone. Starring: Allison Williams, Violet McGraw, Ronny Chieng, Brian Jordan Alvarez, Jen Van Epps, Lori Dungey, Stephane Garneau-Monten. Released in theaters January 6th, 2023.

Synopsis

M3GAN is a marvel of artificial intelligence, a life-like doll programmed to be a child’s greatest companion and a parent’s greatest ally. Designed by brilliant toy-company roboticist Gemma (Get Out’s Allison Williams), M3GAN can listen and watch and learn as she becomes friend and teacher, playmate and protector, for the child she is bonded to. When Gemma suddenly becomes the caretaker of her orphaned 8-year-old niece, Cady (Violet McGraw, The Haunting of Hill House), Gemma’s unsure and unprepared to be a parent. Under intense pressure at work, Gemma decides to pair her M3GAN prototype with Cady in an attempt to resolve both problems—a decision that will have unimaginable consequences.

Movie review on new A24 film "When You Finish Saving The World". Written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. Starring: Julianne Moore, Finn Wolfhard, Alisha Boe, Jay O. Sanders, Billy Bryk, Eleonore Hendricks. Limited release as of January 20th, 2023.

Synopsis

Evelyn has devoted herself to helping people in hard times, but she struggles to connect with her son Ziggy, an aspiring internet star oblivious to the problems of the world. As Evelyn attempts to become a parent figure to an unassuming teenager she meets at her shelter, and Ziggy fumbles through his pursuit of a brilliant and politically conscious young woman at his high school, this emotional comedy reveals a funny and sharply perceptive portrait of a mother and son who may seem at odds but who are more alike than either would care to admit.

Movie review for new NEON Rated Korean Drama "Broker". Written & Directed by Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda. Starring: Song Kang Ho, Gang Dong Won, Doona Bae, Lee Ji Eun, Lee Joo Young. In limited release as of December 26th, 2022.

Synopsis

The film follows two brokers who sell orphaned infants, circumventing the bureaucracy of legal adoption, to affluent couples who can’t have children of their own. After an infant’s mother surprises the duo by returning to ensure her child finds a good home, the three embark on a journey to find the right couple, building an unlikely family of their own.

Movie Review on new Dreamworks Animation (Universal Pictures) film "Puss In Boots: The Last Wish". Released in theaters December 21st, 2022. Available on digital as of January 6th, 2023.

Synopsis

This holiday season, everyone’s favorite leche-loving, swashbuckling, fear-defying feline returns.For the first time in more than a decade, DreamWorks Animation presents a new adventure in the Shrek universe as daring outlaw Puss in Boots discovers that his passion for peril and disregard for safety have taken their toll. Puss has burned through eight of his nine lives, though he lost count along the way. Getting those lives back will send Puss in Boots on his grandest quest yet. Academy Award® nominee Antonio Banderas returns as the voice of the notorious PiB as he embarks on an epic journey into the Black Forest to find the mythical Wishing Star and restore his lost lives. But with only one life left, Puss will have to humble himself and ask for help from his former partner and nemesis: the captivating Kitty Softpaws (Oscar® nominee Salma Hayek Pinault). In their quest, Puss and Kitty will be aided—against their better judgment—by a ratty, chatty, relentlessly cheerful mutt, Perrito (Harvey Guillén, What We Do in the Shadows). Together, our trio of heroes will have to stay one step ahead of Goldi (Oscar® nominee Florence Pugh, Black Widow) and the Three Bears Crime Family, Jack Horner (Emmy winner John Mulaney, Big Mouth) and terrifying bounty hunter, the big, bad Wolf (Wagner Moura, Narcos).Puss in Boots: The Last Wish features an all-star comedic cast that includes Oscar® winner Olivia Colman, Ray Winstone (Black Widow), Samson Kayo (Sliced), Emmy nominee Anthony Mendez (Jane the Virgin) and Tony nominee Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Trolls World Tour). The long-awaited follow-up to the 2011 Academy Award®-nominated blockbuster, The Last Wish is directed by Joel Crawford and produced by Mark Swift, the creative team behind DreamWorks Animation’s smash, The Croods: A New Age. The film’s executive producer is Illumination founder and CEO Chris Meledandri.

Breaking down the films I'm most anticipating this coming year based on a list made by the good people at the wrap.

Year in review of all the films I watched in theaters during 2022.

Movie review on A24 film "Marcel The Shell With Shoes On". Written by Dean Fleischer-Camp, Jenny Slate, Nick Paley & directed by Dean Fleischer-Camp. Released wide on July 22nd 2022.

Synopsis

Marcel is an adorable one-inch-tall shell who ekes out a colorful existence with his grandmother Connie and their pet lint, Alan. Once part of a sprawling community of shells, they now live alone as the sole survivors of a mysterious tragedy. But when a documentary filmmaker discovers them amongst the clutter of his Airbnb, the short film he posts online brings Marcel millions of passionate fans, as well as unprecedented dangers and a new hope at finding his long-lost family. A beloved character gets his big-screen debut in this hilarious and heartwarming story about finding connection in the smallest corners.

Movie review on Sony Pictures Classics film "Living". Written by Kazuo Ishiguro and directed by Oliver Hermanus. In limited release as of December 23rd, 2022.

Synopsis

The story of an ordinary man, reduced by years of oppressive office routine to a shadow existence, who at the eleventh hour makes a supreme effort to turn his dull life into something wonderful.

Movie review on new Paramount Pictures film "Babylon". Written & directed by Damien Chazelle . Starring: Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Diego Calva, Jean Smart, Jovan Adepo, Li Jun Li & Flea (Red Hot Chilli Peppers).

Synopsis

Babylon is an original epic set in 1920s Los Angeles. A tale of outsized ambition and outrageous excess, it traces the rise and fall of multiple characters during an era of unbridled decadence and depravity in early Hollywood.

Movie review on new Sony Pictures film "Whitney Houston:I Wanna Dance With Somebody". Directed by Kasi Lemmons & written by Anthony McCarten. Starring: Naomi Ackie, Stanley Tucci, Ashton Sanders, Tamara Tunie, Nafessa Williams, and Clarke Peters. Released in theaters December 23rd, 2022.

Synopsis

A powerful and triumphant celebration of the incomparable Whitney Houston. The film is a no-holds-barred portrait of the complex and multifaceted woman behind The Voice. From New Jersey choir girl to one of the best-selling and most awarded recording artists of all time, audiences are taken on an inspirational, poignant—and so emotional—journey through Houston’s trailblazing life and career, with show-stopping performances and a soundtrack of the icon’s most beloved hits as you’ve never heard them before.

Movie review of new Apple Original Films title "Emancipation". Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by William N. Collage. Limited release in theaters from December 2nd - December 9th. Streaming on Apple TV+ starting on December 9th, 2022.

Synopsis

"Emancipation" tells the story of Peter (Will Smith), a man who escapes from slavery, relying on his wits, unwavering faith and deep love for his family to evade cold-blooded hunters and the unforgiving swamps of Louisiana on his quest for freedom. The film is inspired by the 1863 photos of "Whipped Peter," taken during a Union Army medical examination, that first appeared in Harper's Weekly. One image, known as "The Scourged Back," which shows Peter’s bare back mutilated by a whipping delivered by his enslavers, ultimately contributed to growing public opposition to slavery.

Movie review on new 20th Century Studios film "Avatar: The Way of Water". Directed by James Cameron. Produced by John Landau & James Cameron. Starring: Zoe Saldaña, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Cliff Curtis, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Edie Falco, Jemaine Clement & Kate Winslet. Released in theaters on December 16th, 2022.

Synopsis

Set more than a decade after the events of the first film, “Avatar: The Way of Water” begins to tell the story of the Sully family (Jake, Neytiri, and their kids), the trouble that follows them, the lengths they go to keep each other safe, the battles they fight to stay alive, and the tragedies they endure.

Movie review for new Marvel Studios film Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Written & directed by Ryan Coogler. Movie released nation wide in theaters November 11th, 2022.

Synopsis

Queen Ramonda (Angela Bassett), Shuri (Letitia Wright), M'Baku (Winston Duke), Okoye (Danai Gurira) and the Dora Milaje (including Florence Kasumba) fight to protect their nation from intervening world powers in the wake of King T'Challa's death. As the Wakandans strive to embrace their next chapter, the heroes must band together with the help of War Dog Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o) and Everett Ross (Martin Freeman) and forge a new path for the kingdom of Wakanda.

Movie review about new Universal Pictures film "The Fabelmans". Written & directed by Steven Spielberg. Released in theaters November 23rd, 2022.

Synopsis

“Movies are dreams that you never forget.”

A deeply personal portrait of 20th Century American childhood, Steven Spielberg’s The Fabelmans is a coming-of-age story about a young man’s discovery of a shattering family secret and an exploration of the power of movies to help us see the truth about each other and ourselves.

Inspired by Spielberg’s own childhood, The Fabelmans is written by Spielberg and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Tony Kushner (Angels in America, Caroline, or Change), who has earned Oscar nominations for his screenplays for Spielberg’s Lincoln and Munich. The film is produced by three-time Oscar® nominee Kristie Macosko Krieger (West Side Story, The Post), Spielberg and Kushner.

The film’s ensemble cast includes four-time Academy Award® nominee Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea, My Week with Marilyn); Paul Dano (The Batman, There Will Be Blood); Seth Rogen (Steve Jobs, An American Pickle); Gabriel LaBelle (The Predator, American Gigolo series); Oscar® nominee Jeannie Berlin (The Heartbreak Kid, Inherent Vice); Julia Butters (Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood, 13 Hours); Robin Bartlett (Moonstruck, Lean on Me); Keeley Karsten (Hunters, Evil Lives Here) and Academy Award® nominee Judd Hirsch (Uncut Gems, Ordinary People).

Review of Korean language film "Decision to Leave" distributed by MUBI. Directed by Park Chan-Wook. Released in theaters September 9th 2022.

Synopsis

From a mountain peak in South Korea, a man plummets to his death. Did he jump, or was he pushed? When detective Hae-joon arrives on the scene, he begins to suspect the dead man's wife Seo-rae. But as he digs deeper into the investigation, he finds himself trapped in a web of deception and desire.

Movie review on new A24 film "The Inspection". Written & directed by Elegance Bratton. Released in theaters November 18, 2022.

Synopsis

In Elegance Bratton's deeply moving film inspired by his own story, a young, gay Black man, rejected by his mother and with few options for his future, decides to join the Marines, doing whatever it takes to succeed in a system that would cast him aside. But even as he battles deep-seated prejudice and the grueling routines of basic training, he finds unexpected camaraderie, strength, and support in this new community, giving him a hard-earned sense of belonging that will shape his identity and forever change his life.

Movie review on new Netflix film "Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery". Written and Directed by Rian Johnson. n theaters from 11/23/2022 - 11/30/2022. Premiers on Netflix 12/23/2022.

Synopsis

Benoit Blanc returns to peel back the layers in a new Rian Johnson whodunit. This fresh adventure finds the intrepid detective at a lavish private estate on a Greek island, but how and why he comes to be there is only the first of many puzzles. Blanc soon meets a distinctly disparate group of friends gathering at the invitation of billionaire Miles Bron for their yearly reunion. Among those on the guest list are Miles' former business partner Andi Brand, current Connecticut governor Claire Debella, cutting-edge scientist Lionel Toussaint, fashion designer and former model Birdie Jay and her conscientious assistant Peg, and influencer Duke Cody and his sidekick girlfriend Whiskey. As in all the best murder mysteries, each character harbors their own secrets, lies and motivations. When someone turns up dead, everyone is a suspect.

Movie review on new Sony Pictures film "Devotion". Directed by JD Dillard. Based on a book by the same name written by Adam Makos. Starring: Jonathan Majors, Glen Powell, Christina Jackson, Thomas Sadoski, and Joe Jonas. Opened nation wide November 23rd, 2022.

SYNOPSIS

An aerial war epic based on the bestselling book of the same name, tells the harrowing true story of two elite US Navy fighter pilots during the Korean War. Their heroic sacrifices would ultimately make them the Navy's most celebrated wing-men.

Movie review about new Sony Pictures Classics film "The Son". Directed by Florian Zeller. Starring: Hugh Jackman, Laura Dern, Vanessa Kirby, Zen McGrath, and Anthony Hopkins. Currently playing in theaters in NY & LA. Open nation wide January 20th, 2023.

SYNOPSIS

A cautionary tale that follows a family as it struggles to reunite after falling apart. THE SON centers on Peter (Hugh Jackman), whose hectic life with his infant and new partner Beth (Vanessa Kirby) is upended when his ex-wife Kate (Laura Dern) appears at his door to discuss their son Nicholas (Zen McGrath), who is now a teenager. The young man has been missing school for months and is deeply troubled. Peter strives to take care of Nicholas as he would have wanted his own father (Anthony Hopkins) to have taken care of him while juggling his and Beth's new son, and at work an offer of a dream position in Washington. However, by reaching for the past to correct its mistakes, he loses sight of how to hold onto Nicholas in the present.

Movie review of new Korean film "Hunt". Written and directed by Emmy winning actor Lee Jung-jae. Released in theaters on December 2nd 2022.

Synopsis

After a high-ranking North Korean official requests asylum, KCIA Foreign Unit chief Park Pyong-ho (LEE Jung Jae) and Domestic Unit chief Kim Jung-do (JUNG Woo Sung) are tasked with uncovering a North Korean spy, known as Donglim, who is deeply embedded within their agency. When the spy begins leaking top secret intel that could jeopardize national security, the two units are each assigned to investigate each other. In this tense situation where if they cannot find the mole, they may be accused themselves, Pyong-ho and Jung-do slowly start to uncover the truth. In the end, they must deal with an unthinkable plot to assassinate the South Korean president...

Movie review of new Searchlight Pictures film "Empire of Light". Written and Directed by Sam Mendes

Synopsis Set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, EMPIRE OF LIGHT is a compelling and poignant drama about the power of human connection during turbulent times, from Academy Award® winning director Sam Mendes.

EMPIRE OF LIGHT features a stellar cast led by Academy Award winner Olivia Colman (The Favourite, The Lost Daughter), BAFTA winner Micheal Ward (Blue Story, Top Boy) and Academy Award winner Colin Firth (The King’s Speech, A Single Man). It also reunites Mendes with Academy Award winning cinematographer Roger Deakins (1917, Skyfall).

Movie review of new Netflix film "Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio". Film directed by Guillermo del Toro & Mark Gustafson. Limited release in theaters started December 2nd 2022. Releases world wide streaming on Netflix December 9th 2022.

Synopsis: Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro and award-winning, stop-motion legend Mark Gustafson re-imagine the classic Carlo Collodi tale of the fabled wooden boy with a whimsical tour de force that finds Pinocchio on an enchanted adventure that transcends worlds and reveals the life-giving power of love.

Movie review on new A24 film "The Whale". Film directed by Darren Aronofsky and based on the acclaimed play by Samuel D. Hunter. Starring: Brendan Fraser, Sadie Sink, Hong Chau, Ty Simpkins & Samantha Morton.

Synopsis: A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.