Unlike other biopics which love to end on jubilant peaks of superstardom, A Complete Unknown rests on the aforementioned anti-victory of a future greatest hit met with fan derision. That contemptuous exclamation point couldn’t be more appropriate for the main subject. At that time, misunderstood fans didn’t know what they had—and still have with the man still writing songs and touring today in his 80s. Thanks to the sensational flair of Chalamet and Barbaro crooning and swooning, A Complete Unknown won’t let old purists and new fans make that previous mistake.

MOVIE REVIEW: Collateral Beauty

As entertainment, movies are an ideally suited artistic medium to motivate or stimulate emotional responses. The smartly composed narratives among them can pull that off naturally. Others force it. When such happens, manipulation replaces motivation. For an example, look no further than “Collateral Beauty” starring Will Smith and directed by David Frankel. It is one of the most egregious miscalculations of filmmaking and marketing in recent memory.

MOVIE REVIEW: Birdman

When Keaton's perfection is combined with the film's bracing, topical, and strong social commentary on Hollywood, Broadway, acting, fame, and celebrity for this different modern world, "Birdman" becomes even larger of an achievement for Mexican director and Academy Award nominee Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. Subtitled "The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance," this new film will earn a high place on many year-end lists for one of the year's best.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Grand Budapest Hotel

Anderson's hot streak at winning me over has now extended to two films in a row with "The Grand Budapest Hotel." Richly detailed in every sense of possible style, this is a superbly entertaining little caper film that should yield more success for Wes Anderson and earn even more new fans. I know it's just March, but I'm going to go out on a limb right now and say that this is the best written film you will see all year. The script is brilliant beyond measure and a star-studded cast rarely misses a beat to make those words shine and leap off the page and screen.

EVERY MOVIE HAS A LESSON

by Don Shanahan

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