Movie Mondays

  • Demanding Drama

    ~posted by Frank It started off just like any other weekend. I left work on Friday afternoon with three DVDs that were waiting for me on the holds shelf, looking forward to some escapist entertainment. By the end of the weekend, I was in a state of despair, since these three movies were dark, difficult and… Continue reading

  • Top 10 DVD releases of 2015

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  • Movie Mondays: The #1 Most Underrated Movie of 2015

    -posted by Kate S. Jupiter Ascending is the best movie you didn’t see this year, and I’m here to tell you why. Critics widely panned this scifi opera by the Wachowskis–Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 26% rating, and it had a similarly dim review at RogerEbert.com. Even the people who thought it was enjoyable said… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Thanksgiving Films

    ~posted by Frank When you hear about holiday films, most people wax nostalgic for heartwarming Christmas films. But what about Thanksgiving? While four of the most popular Thanksgiving flicks may tug at the heartstrings, eventually, it’s usually dysfunction and family drama that’s front and center. Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Sci-Fi for Short Attention Spans

    ~posted by Frank I’m about to make a heretical statement, but I find many sci-fi films to be….boring. There’s never a lack of grand ideas to explore, but often I find them to be less than compelling on the screen. And then there are great sci-fi films like Interstellar – but at nearly three hours, it felt… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: A Dozen Documentaries to Devour

    ~posted by Frank It’s fall, and the days are getting shorter and darker. For those of you who are underwhelmed with feature films and unable to commit to another TV series, I offer you a list of a dozen recent documentaries to fill the void. Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Show Your “Pride” this Labor Day

    Are you looking for a film to celebrate the achievements of unions this Labor Day? Are you still beaming from the recent Supreme Court decision to legalize gay marriage? If so, then Pride is, quite simply, the perfect movie for you. Pride (nominated for Best Comedy at the 2014 Golden Globes) tells the surprisingly true story of the British… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Big Stars, Little Movies

    ~posted by Frank For every blockbuster that makes hundreds of millions of dollars at the box office, there are dozens of small films that make a fraction of that. Many go unnoticed, even those that have star power attached to them. These films released in the past year may have flown under the radar, but… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: SNL stars get (mostly) serious

    ~posted by Frank Dozens of Saturday Night Live cast members have gone on to have movie careers (to varying success). While comedies are still king for SNL stars, they occasionally find their way in a drama – or at least a “dramedy” that gives each star the chance to be funny and exercise their acting… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Searching for Missing Persons

    ~posted by Frank People watch movies about lost or missing people because they want to see if they will be found. While there’s nothing greater than an emotional reunion, it’s often the journey and trials of those doing the searching that are so compelling. These four films are a testament to that. Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Director J.C. Chandor and Money

    ~posted by Frank Director J.C. Chandor has only made three films, but he has emerged as one of America’s most accomplished young directors. Two of his films are smart, thrilling, engaging dramas about money, and are ideal viewing during Money Smart Week. Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Recently Set in Seattle

    ~posted by Frank In the past year, four movies have been set in Seattle – one needs no introduction, two flew under the radar but deserve to be watched, and the fourth…well, um, hmmm. Fifty Shades of Grey is based on the publishing phenomenon of the same name by British novelist E.L. James. Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson)… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Don’t Care How…I Want it NOW!

    ~posted by The Spoiler The Spoiler returns after the Holiday Season, wondering if it all had something meaningful to impart about the future and our well-being? With no quick and easy answers available, I decided to work in the opposite direction.  What theme could emerge from the random movies I watched in the last month? … Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: One of a Kind

    ~posted by Frank These films are definitely different. Singularly weird, completely original, and if they borrow elements from other films, they put a new spin on them and make them their own. So get ready for four wild rides. Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Chamber Films

    ~posted by Frank You’ve likely heard of chamber music and chamber plays, but chamber films? Similar in principle to their counterparts, chamber films feature a handful of actors, primarily in a single location. Chamber films have been made for decades – think Rope, 12 Angry Men and My Dinner with Andre. Here are four contemporary examples that fit the bill. Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Unpredictable

    ~posted by Frank Predictability can be lethal to a film. Sure, sometimes it’s fine going into a film knowing exactly how it’s going to play out and how it will make you feel, but more often than not I end up feeling disappointed once the credits roll. These four films surprised me, for different reasons, and… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Horror from Down Under

    ~posted by Frank Horror fans are hard to please. Film critics are generally not kind to most horror films (justifiably), and often moviegoers are even more critical. These three films from Down Under – two from Australia, one from New Zealand – are notable not only for pleasing critics and audiences, but for also putting women… Continue reading

  • Movie Mondays: Indies Rule the Rom-Com

    ~posted by Frank There was a time when romantic comedies ruled the box office. Today? Not so much, according to this article from Vanity Fair. In 2014, the most popular rom-com at the box office was the well-regarded remake of About Last Night with an African-American cast – and it ranked 65th for the year. The only other… Continue reading