Robyn Bahr reviews SANDITION and AJ AND THE QUEEN for The Hollywood Reporter. She also appears on the podcast The Film Stage to talk about 1917.
Why would anybody want to devote a weekly blog solely to write about the movies of Nicolas Cage? John Black will tell you with his new blog Enter the Cage.
Spoilerpiece Theatre reviews JUST MERCY and 1917.
JUST MERCY
“The movie proceeds at a leaden pace draining the drama from much of narrative. ” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“There’s no doubt in my mind that most will find JUST MERCY to be watchable. The problem with that is that I’m sure they were hoping for more.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
1917
“…once you get over the impressive look of the film, you’re still caught up in the story of how war looks to someone actually fighting it. It’s a story that couldn’t be more timely.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“As a viewer, I’m not sure what I’m supposed to take from 1917. There just isn’t a whole lot in it outside of the continuous tracking shot.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
UNDERWATER
“Stewart…is phenomenal, giving a performance that is so raw it’s almost too much to watch even from the high and dry safety of your movie seat.” – John Black, Gruesome Magazine
LITTLE WOMEN
“Louisa May Alcott’s novel has inspired numerous adaptations for film and TV. Greta Gerwig’s new version is an impressive response to the question whether we really needed another one.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“Gerwig has scrambled the plot, and though I wasn’t always sure where I was chronologically, I always knew where I was emotionally.” – Joyce Kulhawik, Joyce’s Choices
STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
“STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER isn’t anything special, but it fits in with most of the other STAR WARS movies.” – Jaskee Hickman, Cinematic Essential
“Of course fans will want to see it, whether to embrace it or criticize it, but it’s not likely to lead to demands to continue the story of the surviving characters.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“This is a film erected on a preexisting structure with no structure of its own.” – Andy Crump, Paste Magazine
BOMBSHELL
“… the movie reduces Ailes to the status of a cartoon villain, though some outstanding performances overcome a script that misses the mark.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
“[Jay] Roach’s commodification of this horror show is in the worst taste.” – Andy Crump, Mic.com
CATS
“CATS may not be the worst film of 2019, but it’s going to earn a spot on many 10 worst lists, and deservedly so.” – Daniel M. Kimmel, North Shore Movies
BEST PICTURE
PARASITE
BEST DIRECTOR
Bong Joon-ho, PARASITE
BEST ACTOR
Adam Sandler, UNCUT GEMS
BEST ACTRESS
Lupita Nyong’o, US
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Brad Pitt, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Florence Pugh, LITTLE WOMEN
BEST SCREENPLAY
Quentin Tarantino, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
BEST ENSEMBLE
LITTLE WOMEN
BEST SCORE
Daniel Lopatin, UNCUT GEMS
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Robert Richardson, ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
BEST EDITING
Thelma Schoonmaker, THE IRISHMAN
BEST DOCUMENTARY
APOLLO 11
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
PARASITE
BEST ANIMATED FILM
TOY STORY 4
TOP 10 FILMS OF 2019
1. PARASITE
2. UNCUT GEMS
3. THE IRISHMAN
4. ONCE UPON A TIME… IN HOLLYWOOD
5. MARRIAGE STORY
6. LITTLE WOMEN
7. PORTRAIT OF A LADY ON FIRE
8. FORD V FERRARI
9. THE FAREWELL
10. US