There is an old adage used by married people, kind of passive-aggressive burn really, that says “you can’t tie your shoes without me.” In a pithy way, the saying speaks to the symbiotic relationship between the partners for even the smallest things. While it may not always come down to shoelaces, there is a given and even understood level of dependency in marriage. That is until such dependency becomes harmful. In one of the finest films ever on the matter of divorce, Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story challenges the breakdowns of resiliency and vulnerability that push this painful process.
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THIS WEEK'S QUESTION: Which director are you most excited about watching in the next decade, and why are you excited for the potential of their future work?
Boy, it was hard to choose only one. From Damien Chazelle and Barry Jenkins to Denis Villeneuve and Christopher Nolan, we’ve seen so much maturation and growth from so many creative sources. However, I think it’s high time a woman to emerge to that next level. In just two films, the potential of Greta Gerwig is huge and only beginning.
Read MoreTHIS WEEK’S QUESTION: What movie defined the decade, and why?
Yowzers! Talk about a big question with a zillion angles. I know the interpretation of “defined” was open, but when I think of the 2010s, the boom of social media is too large to ignore. David Fincher’s The Social Network, while semi-historical before this decade, still feels like the lightening rod and torch bearer for this decade. If it wasn’t this, it was going to be The Avengers and what it did for its genre and the whole industry.
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Movies are among the best ever helpers when it comes to inspiration. Needless to say that when you are stuck with essay writing, it is better to watch an inspiring film about writers than to focus on procrastination, computer games, and social media. We don’t judge those activities — but if speaking about efficiency, watching movies is a good choice. Especially when those movies show writers, their struggle, good and bad decisions defining their career. Start with these five movies, and if it is not enough, storm on Netflix and find some more. However, from our experience, one film is enough for staying inspired for a period needed to write an essay.
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The endearing brilliance of Little Women is earned in those quaint sways and movements as much as, if not more than, it is by its crests of high drama. With masterful leadership and bold thematic choices applied to well-worn ideals, Greta Gerwig continuously captures an uncanny vibrancy out of a literary setting that otherwise would be frozen in stagnant despair. Every fiber and morsel of this movie swells with this sense of spirit to embed radiance in resiliency.
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Folks, please welcome back John Rooney. He is an illustrator from Ireland. My website has published two of John’s previous career caricature sketches, one for Nicolas Cage last year and another for Bill Murray this past summer. His collected sketches are outstanding and The results of range I am happy to promote his work. This time, John Rooney artistically chronicles Sigourney Weaver! His phenomenal work is worth sharing below and a his art is available for sale on Etsy!
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By Hannah Thomas
The YouTube creator Creative Principles showcases new ideas on popular films and television. We wanted to share one of their latest videos that had a movie spin to it": What is “the greatest movie NEVER made?” Would-be projects include missteps from Pixar, Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Ridley Scott, David Fincher and various other icons of cinema... Some of these rumors, failures, and shelved projects are considered sequels or prequels, while many are adaptations, or just promises made when a writer or director was at the top of their game. So, what is "the greatest movie never made?" You be the judge..
by Justin Osborne
Everyone remembers The Lion King, the great animated movie that was released by Disney in 1994. It features animals, from lions to meerkats and warthogs. It showed what “the Circle of Life” means and it rapidly gathered popularity among children and their parents. After 25 years, Disney decided to make a remake of the original animated movie and released the new animation in July. While the story is the same, the effects are impressive. But the reviews are both good and bad. So, was the film version of The Lion King worth it?
This past week, I was pleased as punch to be a guest on the CinemaJaw podcast, hosted by fellow Chicago Indie Critic members Matt Kubinski and Ryan Jagiello. On Episode #447, all three of us just got out of Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story and, boy, did we have feelings. As per tradition, the Top 5 segment was for each of us to list our best break-up, separation, and divorce movies. An extended trivia segment followed later centered on Tom Hanks. Enjoy their excellent show!
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By Ashley Halsey
Most commercially successful films tend to have big budgets, large cast and action taking place over several locations. But there are some films which take the risk of featuring just two actors, often limiting the action to one location and placing the emphasis on dialogue and the delivery of memorable performances. These ten films are as notable for their captivating and often poignant content, as they are for the skillful, powerful performances delivered by just the two actors who carry the weight of the entire film.
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For James Mangold’s sterling sports film, take your thesaurus toolbox and dump out all the synonym wrenches for the word “hubris.” This is a thrilling race of arrogance as much as it is one of high-performance automobiles. The acts of vanity, audacity, chutzpah, conceit, cockiness, insolence, nerve, pomposity, and exceptionalism fill every metallic and non-metallic element. All of this tuned-up and torqued testosterone makes for a one hell of an entertaining show.
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by Justin Osborne
There are lots of things that tie together Tarantino’s movies such as violence and bright colors to name a few. However, there is one clear that ties all his films together. And that is his special universe which is interconnected just like the popular 23 by Marvels. Tarantino’s universe is more of a theory than a proven fact. However, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood is the center or acts as the hub that connects the other nine movies.
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