Tag: uplifting

“The Mustang” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre Co-writers: Mona Fastvold and Brock Norman Brock Starring: Matthias Schoenaerts, Jason Mitchell and Bruce Dern ‘A … More

“Little Women” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Greta Gerwig Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Florence Pugh and Laura Dern ‘An Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes to the most … More

“Judy” (2019) – Movie Review

Director: Rupert Goold Writer: Tom Edge (based on stage play) Starring: Renée Zellweger, Jessie Buckley and Finn Wittrock ‘Gorgeous Garland … More

“Just Mercy” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham (based on book) Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson ‘Captivating … More

“Honey Boy” (2019) – Movie Review

Director: Alma Har’el Writer: Shia LaBeouf Starring: Noah Jupe, Shia LaBeouf and Lucas Hedges ‘A Powerful Memoir’ Few actors in … More

“Harriet” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Kasi Lemmons Co-writer: Gregory Allen Howard Starring: Cynthia Erivo, Leslie Odom Jr. and Janelle Monáe  ‘Brilliant Historical Biopic’ When … More

“Dark Waters” (2019) – Movie Review

Director: Todd Haynes Writers: Mario Correa and Matthew Michael Carnahan Starring: Mark Ruffalo, Anne Hathaway and Tim Robbins ‘Tense Legal … More

“Blinded by the Light” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Gurinder Chada Co-writers: Paul Mayeda Berges and Sarfraz Manzoor Starring: Viveik Kalra, Kulvinder Ghir and Hayley Atwell ‘A Marvelous … More

“Mary Poppins Returns” (2018) – Movie Review

Director: Rob Marshall Writer: David Magee Starring: Emily Blunt, Lin Manuel-Miranda and Ben Whishaw ‘A Marvelous Musical’ Before I begin … More

“Adrift” (2018) – Movie Review

Director: Baltasar Kormakur Writer: Aaron Kandell, Jordan Kandell and David Branson Smith Starring: Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin ‘Spectacular Survival … More

“Wonder Woman” (2017) – Movie Review

Director: Patty Jenkins Writers: Allan Heinberg, Zach Snyder and Jason Fuchs Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine and Connie Nielson ‘Wonderful … More

“War for the Planet of the Apes” (2017) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Matt ReevesCo-writer: Mark BombackStarring: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson and Steve Zahn ‘Fantastic Apes Finale’ Ever since it started in … More

“Maudie” (2017) – Movie Review

Director: Aisling Walsh Writer: Sherry White Starring: Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke and Kari Matchett ‘Deeply Moving Biopic’ Maud Lewis is … More

“The Glass Castle” (2017) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Co-writer: Andrew Lanham Starring: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts ‘Astonishing Adaptation’ When it comes … More

“Call Me By Your Name” (2017) – Movie Review

Director: Luca Guadagnino Writer: James Ivory (based on novel by Andre Aciman) Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer and Michael Stuhlbarg … More

“Lion” (2016) – Movie Review

Director: Garth Davis Writer: Luke Davies (based off novel by Saroo Brierley) Starring: Dev Patel, Nicole Kidman and Rooney Mara … More

“La La Land” (2016) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Damien Chazelle Starring: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone and J.K. Simmons ‘A Musical Masterpiece’ Before I begin this review, I … More

“The Jungle Book” (2016) – Movie Review

Director: Jon Favreau Writer: Justin Marks (based on the novel by Rudyard Kipling) Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray and Sir … More

“Southpaw” (2015) – Movie Review

Director: Antoine Fuqua Writer: Kurt Sutter Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams and Forest Whitaker ‘Breathtaking Boxing Drama’ Is it just … More

“Room” (2015) – Movie Review

Director: Lenny Abrahamson Writer: Emma Donoghue (based on novel) Starring: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay and William H. Macy ‘A Moving … More

“Irrational Man” (2015) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Woody Allen Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone and Parker Posey ‘An Overlooked Gem’ Few actors in the world have … More

“Inside Out” (2015) – An Animation Masterpiece

Writer/Director: Pete Docter and Ronaldo Del Carmen Co-writers: Meg LeFauve and Josh Cooley Starring: Amy Poehler, Bill Hader, and Lewis … More

“Life Itself” (2014) – Movie Review

Director: Steve James Based on the best-selling novel by Roger Ebert Starring: Roger Ebert, Chaz Ebert and Gene Siskel ‘A … More

“The Hundred-Foot Journey” (2014) – Movie Review

Director: Lasse Hallstrom Written by Steven Knight (based off novel by Richard C. Morais) Starring Helen Mirren, Om Puri and … More

“How to Train Your Dragon 2” (2014) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Dean DeBlois Co-writer: Cressida Cowell Starring: Jay Baruchel, Cate Blanchett and Djimon Hounsou ‘A Soaring Sequel’ If there’s any … More

“12 Years a Slave” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Steve McQueen Writer: John Ridley (based on true story of Solomon Northup) Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano … More

“Dallas Buyers Club” (2013) – Movie Review

Director: Jean-Marc Valee Writers: Craig Borten and Melisa Wallack Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jared Leto, Jennifer Garner ‘Powerful AIDS Drama’ You … More

“About Time” (2013) – Movie Review

                 Writer/Director: Richard Curtis Starring: Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy ‘Remarkable … More

“Wreck it Ralph” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: Rich Moore Writer: Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer ‘Astonishing Animation’ Animated … More

“Silver Linings Playbook” (2012) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: David O. Russell Based on novel by Matthew Quick Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Lawrence, Robert De Niro ‘Magnificent Masterpiece’ It’s … More

“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” (2012) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Stephen Chbosky Starring: Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller ‘Meaningful Masterpiece’ “Why do nice people choose the wrong people … More

“Life of Pi” (2012) – Movie Review

Director: Ang Lee Writer: David Magee (based off novel by Yann Martel) Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Tabu ‘Beautiful Book … More

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” (2011) – Movie Review

Directed by John Madden Written by Ol Parker Starring Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, and Maggie Smith ‘A Charming Comedy’ Sometimes … More

“The Holdovers” (2023) – Movie Review

Director: Alexander Payne Starring: Paul Giamatti, Dominic Sessa, Da’ Vine Joy Randolph                 … More

“The Color Purple” (2023) – Movie Review

Director: Blitz Buzuwale Starring: Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks                   … More

“A Man Called Otto” (2022) – Movie Review

Director: Marc Foster Starring: Tom Hanks, Mariana Trevino, Truman Hanks                      … More

“Joyland” (2022) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Saim Sadiq Starring: Ali Junejo, Alina Khan, Rasti Farooq                     … More

“Aftersun” (2022) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Charlotte Wells Starring: Frankie Corio, Paul Mescal                         … More

“In the Heights” (2021) – Movie Review

Director: John M. Chu Writer: Quiara Alegria Hudes Starring: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins and Melissa Barrera ‘A Marvelous Musical’  It … More

“Sound of Metal” (2020) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Darius Marder Co-writer: Abraham Marder Starring: Riz Ahmed, Olivia Cooke and Paul Raci ‘Powerful Disability Drama’ Hearing impairment is … More

“Soul” (2020) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Pete Docter Co-writers: Mike Jones and Kemp Powers Starring: Jamie Foxx, Tina Fey and Graham Norton ‘Astonishing Animated Achievement’ … More

“Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” (2020) – Movie Review

Director: George C. Wolfe Writer: Ruben Santiago-Hudson (based on August Wilson’s play) Starring: Viola Davis, Chadwick Boseman and Colman Domingo … More

“Mangrove” (2020) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Steve McQueen Starring: Shaun Parkes, Letitia Wright and Malachi Kirby ‘Captivating Courtroom Drama’ Peaceful black protestors beaten up by … More

“Hillbilly Elegy” (2020) – Movie Review

Director: Ron Howard Writer: Vanessa Taylor (based on book by J.D. Vance) Starring: Amy Adams, Glenn Close and Gabriel Basso … More

“The Disciple” (2020) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Chaitanya Tamhane Starring: Aditya Modak, Arun Dravid and Sumitra Bhave ‘Mesmerizing Music Drama’ Over the past decade or so, … More

“Yesterday” (2019) – Movie Review

Director: Danny Boyle Writer: Richard Curtis Starring: Himesh Patel, Lily James and Ed Sheeran ‘Breathtaking Beatles Musical’ Imagine living in … More

“The Last Black Man in San Francisco” (2019) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Joe Talbot Co-writer: Rob Richert Starring: Jimmie Fails, Jonathan Majors and Rob Morgan ‘Powerful Gentrification Drama’ Gentrification is a … More

“Wonder Woman” (2017) – Movie Review

Director: Patty Jenkins Writers: Allan Heinberg, Zach Snyder and Jason Fuchs Starring: Gal Gadot, Chris Pine and Connie Nielson ‘Wonderful … More

“Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: George Miller Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke                     … More

“In the Heights” (2021) – Movie Review

Director: John M. Chu Writer: Quiara Alegria Hudes Starring: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins and Melissa Barrera ‘A Marvelous Musical’  It … More

“Never Rarely Sometimes Always” (2020) – Movie Review

Writer/Director: Eliza Hittman Starring: Sidney Flanigan, Talia Ryder and Théodore Pellerin ‘Powerful Pregnancy Drama’ Abortion is a misunderstood medical process … More