The ideal movie that would be a favorite for audiences and critics should start strong, build tension, and then soar in the climax. However, there are also movies that lose their footing just as they’re about to land. These films captivate us with a gripping middle act, usually marked by a brilliant set piece or … Read more
A film has a high-concept premise if that premise can be summarized quickly, and particularly so if that simply summarized premise sounds instantly intriguing and/or novel. Sometimes, a high concept is just simple, like with Jaws, which can be summed up with: “A shark terrorizes a coastal town and three men try to hunt down … Read more
Superhero cinema has become such a dominant force within popular culture that it has drawn in prestigious directors like Christopher Nolan, Ryan Coogler, Chloé Zhao, and James Mangold, among others, regardless of their personal affinity for the material. Although there is a notion that every established filmmaker who wants to work on a blockbuster scale … Read more
When it comes to the genre of comedy, many people are quick to lament how modern comedy films simply don’t hold up compared to the wide array of classics from the past. It usually ends up being a case of inherent nostalgia and bias, as films like Barbie, American Fiction, and Anora prove that the … Read more
For years now, there’s been a full-blown Keanu Reeves renaissance. Between Always Be My Maybe and Toy Story 4, fans have gotten to see Keanu’s skill in some unexpected places. With Reeves-led action franchises like John Wick and The Matrix, it’s a golden age for the actor. It’s rounded out by stellar supporting roles, like … Read more
Every TV series worth its weight in gold has a character that exists as the show’s heart. Chicago Fire has Christopher Herrmann (David Eigenberg), 9-1-1 has Athena Grant-Nash (Angela Bassett), Grey’s Anatomy has Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) herself, and, in the first 10 seasons, was doubly blessed with Sandra Oh‘s Cristina Yang as another. And … Read more
Over the years, the Western genre’s popularity has waxed and waned many times over, but love them or hate them, you can’t deny these movies are part of the very foundations of American cinema. With their sweeping vistas and rugged characters, these movies have entertained generations of moviegoers, evolving with the times to incorporate a … Read more
Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for ‘Superman’James Gunn‘s much-anticipated Superman has now been released to the masses, finally giving us a first look at what the filmmaker and DC Studios Co-CEO might have in store for DC Comics’ beloved characters. First and foremost, Gunn set out to create a good Superman movie with the … Read more
Disaster movies usually leave us with a flicker of hope. Sure, there’s mayhem and destruction aplenty, but at least a few valiant heroes eventually make it out alive. There’s always a sense that the human spirit is unbreakable and can survive the toughest situations, even those that seem inescapable and positively apocalyptic. Not so in … Read more
You can’t have a conversation about iconic slasher franchises without bringing up Child’s Play and Chucky. This lovable killer doll has been racking up a massive body count for almost 40 years. This is all the while cracking jokes at his victims’ expense. That said, horror fans have kind of been in a waiting period … Read more