TV Review: The Orville Takes Alara “Home” For Her Final Episode
Alara gets her last hurrah in a shockingly well-rendered showcase for Halston Sage, saying goodbye to one of the show’s standout characters. NOW STREAMING: Powered by JustWatch This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood“ Mind opening up this jar of pickles for me?” In the quippier, more sitcommy days of The Orville’s first season, this recurring ... TV Review: The Orville Takes Alara “Home” For Her Final Episode
The Favourite Review: Yorgos Lanthimos Holds Uproarious Royal Court
Yorgos Lanthimos’ latest is a droll, hilarious dramedy about the challenges of female power and competition, with three amazing performances from Olivia Colman, Emma Stone, and Rachel Weisz. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood When it comes to acid-tongued, deadpan humor, few do it better than Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos. While works like the ... The Favourite Review: Yorgos Lanthimos Holds Uproarious Royal Court
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Review – A Web-Slinging Animated Classic in the Making
Miles Morales gets the big-screen treatment he deserves, an aesthetically vibrant, action-packed story that might just be one of the best animated superhero films of all time. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood What if I were to tell you that one of the most dazzling, innovative, hilarious and poignant animated films of the ... Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Review – A Web-Slinging Animated Classic in the Making
Ralph Breaks the Internet Review: Disney Didn’t Wreck It!
As adorable and poignant as the first, Disney Animation Studios crafts a Wreck-It Ralph sequel that’s as much about navigating difficult friendships as it is poking fun at Disney princesses and Snapchat. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood “There’s no law saying best friends have to have the same dreams.” Amid all the madcap ... Ralph Breaks the Internet Review: Disney Didn’t Wreck It!
Prospect Review: A Thrilling, Micro-budget Sci-Fi Western
Writer/director team Zeek Earl and Chris Caldwell craft a grimy, visceral space Western about a family of prospectors risking their lives on an alien moon. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Space-based science fiction is usually a big-budget affair – hundred-million-dollar space battles, exotic alien creatures and slick, futuristic spaceships. However, every so often ... Prospect Review: A Thrilling, Micro-budget Sci-Fi Western
Olympia’s Cast and Crew on Capturing Millennial Malaise in Chicago (Interview)
We talk to star/writer McKenzie Chinn, director Gregory Dixon, and actor Charles Andrew Gardner about their vibrant, Chicago-set indie about a young woman navigating her thirties. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood As we continue to wrap up our coverage of the Chicago International Film Festival, it’s important to take a look at some ... Olympia’s Cast and Crew on Capturing Millennial Malaise in Chicago (Interview)
Outlaw King Review: Chris Pine Frees Scotland in Tepid Historical Drama
David McKenzie reunites with Chris Pine for a Braveheart-esque historical epic that plays out more like a filler episode of Game of Thrones. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Before you read any further, know this: yes, Chris Pine does hang dong in Outlaw King. For a certain subset of the population, this may ... Outlaw King Review: Chris Pine Frees Scotland in Tepid Historical Drama
What They Had: Elizabeth Chomko and Robert Forster on Crafting Sensitive Family Drama (Interview)
The first-time filmmaker and the veteran actor sit down to talk about Chomko’s experiences with Alzheimer’s in her own family, the switch from studio to auteur filmmaking, and more. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood While dysfunctional family dramas are arguably a dime a dozen, Elizabeth Chomko’s Chicago-centric debut What They Had stands out substantially ... What They Had: Elizabeth Chomko and Robert Forster on Crafting Sensitive Family Drama (Interview)
The Price of Everything: Nathaniel Kahn on the Intersection Between Art and Commerce (Interview)
The documentarian talks about the relationship between art and money, the over-the-top personalities of high-powered art collectors, and what happens when artists have to commodify themselves. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The world of contemporary art is a wild, wild thing – millionaires bidding incredible amounts of money to collect works from modern ... The Price of Everything: Nathaniel Kahn on the Intersection Between Art and Commerce (Interview)
Suspiria (2018) Review: A Bone-Chilling Descent Into Existential Horror
Luca Guadagnino’s disturbing, cerebral remake of the Dario Argento giallo original is an ice-hot knife to the cerebellum, its scares shrouded in terrifying mystique. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood It’s been three days since I’ve seen Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria, and I still can’t get it out of my head. Two and a half ... Suspiria (2018) Review: A Bone-Chilling Descent Into Existential Horror
CIFF Dispatch, Part 2: What They Had, Retablo, Maria By Callas, and More
This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The Chicago International Film Festival keeps chugging along this week, and so does our coverage. From upcoming big indie films to smaller local works, to foreign films that may never see mainstream distribution here, CIFF is a great time to stock up on works you may not get ... CIFF Dispatch, Part 2: What They Had, Retablo, Maria By Callas, and More
CIFF 2018 Dispatch, Part 1 (Feat. Interview w/Felix van Groeningen)
This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The 54th Chicago International Film Festival is more than just an amped-up pledge drive for Cinema/Chicago – it’s a huge showcase for some of the biggest, most interesting films of the year, foreign or domestic. It’s always a treat to cover – I spent two years as a ... CIFF 2018 Dispatch, Part 1 (Feat. Interview w/Felix van Groeningen)
Trouble: Writer/Director Theresa Rebeck on Wrangling Low Budgets and Big Stars (Interview)
This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Novelist, screenwriter and Pulitzer-nominated playwright Theresa Rebeck is a woman of many hats – the latest of which is the director of the independent ensemble comedy Trouble. A film with modest ambitions but no small amount of charm, its tale of a small-town sibling rivalry is bolstered by tremendous ... Trouble: Writer/Director Theresa Rebeck on Wrangling Low Budgets and Big Stars (Interview)
A Star Is Born (2018) Review: Lady Gaga Soars In Sumptuous, if Shallow, Remake
Bradley Cooper’s directorial debut features strong performances and some catchy tunes, but he’s just the opening act for Lady Gaga’s revelatory breakout performance. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood When that first teaser for Bradley Cooper’s version of A Star Is Born dropped in early June, jaws were justifiably dropped. The skepticism around the ... A Star Is Born (2018) Review: Lady Gaga Soars In Sumptuous, if Shallow, Remake
Mountain Blu-Ray Review: An Arresting Climbing Doc Gets Pristine Treatment
Jennifer Peedom’s intriguing blend of documentary filmmaking and classical music comes to home theaters courtesy of a stunning Blu-ray release. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Jennifer Peedom’s essay film Mountain begins not with snow-capped summits or other skyward fantasias, but the tuning of an orchestra: instruments are assembled, the conductor readies his baton, ... Mountain Blu-Ray Review: An Arresting Climbing Doc Gets Pristine Treatment