At the same time as they contorted historical accuracy, Craig and Scarpa pile on a greater amount of revelations, double crosses, and ancient paternity tests that would make Maury Povich blush on syndicated daytime television. Those overbaked and confounded conveniences were not necessary to dramatically revisit a successful legend such as this one, which already had adrenaline and spectacle on its side on its face value alone.
Read MoreFor all intents and purposes in telling the memoir of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dana Canedy, Washington has a movie that encircles patriotism, duty, the War on Terror, gender politics, Black love, colourism, the plight of military spouses, substitute fatherhood, legacies, and more. Each is treated in an ultra-respectful fashion. Even with heavy emotions in play, none of those issues are shouted at with either favoritism or admonishment. In standing firm as it does, there’s a heap of bravery across many people and places to be found in A Journal for Jordan.
Read MoreBetter than that academic boost, you will find a zealous movie that stands with decisiveness as one of the finest films of the year. The Tragedy of Macbeth seizes that prominence with precisely those two aforementioned traits: an inspired look and fire within the performers. There is no shortness of acting brilliance or production value perfection in every corner and millisecond of this picture.
Read MorePlenty of regular everyday people make New Year's Resolutions, but I think bigger entities, namely movie makers and movie moguls, need to make them too. Annually, including this sixth edition, this is my absolute favorite editorial to write every year. I have fun taking the movie industry to task for things they need to change. I'm sarcastic, but I'm not the guy to take it to the false internet courage level of some Twitter troll. This will be as forward as I get all year.
Read MoreMovies are an offspring of plays. What started on theater stages can now step into a wider world. Locations can remove the boundaries and improve an immersive story, but the human performances are still what matters most. Words have power regardless of setting. “Fences,” directed by Denzel Washington, is one of the finest and most seamless examples of the power of performance being translated from the stage to the screen.
Read MoreDenzel Washington's recent releases of "The Book of Eli," "Unstoppable," "Safe House," "Flight," and "2 Guns" have been some of the best financial earners of his career. He hasn't had a film open under $20 million since 2003. His age may have increased, but audiences still count on and flock to Denzel being the razor edge of intensity and initiative he's always been. His latest film is no different and it reunites Denzel with his "Training Day" director Antoine Fuqua. "The Equalizer" is a film remake of a CBS TV show that ran for four seasons from 1985 to 1989.
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