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Widows Review: An Enthralling Heist Thriller with Some Less Interesting Gangster Drama Touches

Steve McQueen’s ambitious, female-driven crime film sports fabulous performances, but bounces haphazardly between tones. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The opening of Steve McQueen’s riveting new heist movie Widows is a masterclass in storytelling efficiency. Four moments of domesticity—some happy, some far more complicated—are intercut with a harrowing heist-gone-wrong shot from inside the ... Widows Review: An Enthralling Heist Thriller with Some Less Interesting Gangster Drama Touches

The Front Runner Review: Hugh Jackman’s Misguided Political Drama Stumbles Across the Finish Line

Despite a stellar cast and some good intentions, Jason Reitman’s political drama about the rise of the tabloid age does a little too much finger-wagging in the wrong direction. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Watching the news can sometimes feel more like watching a drama than something informative. Headlines aim to create the ... The Front Runner Review: Hugh Jackman’s Misguided Political Drama Stumbles Across the Finish Line

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

Unraveling pop-culture one thread at a time
The Spool is an irreverent, informative source for film and television coverage, focused on diverse, thoughtful opinions that seek out a greater understanding of the media we love.

The Girl in the Spider’s Web Review: Lisbeth Slander gets an action hero makeover

Lisbeth Salander returns, this time played by Claire Foy, in a slick but shallow sequel that trades in the series’ nuance for Bond-ian action. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Pre-screening chatter before The Girl in the Spider’s Web all seemed to center on the same questions: “What happened in the last movie?” “Is ... The Girl in the Spider’s Web Review: Lisbeth Slander gets an action hero makeover

Dr Seuss’ The Grinch Review: Illumination’s Slick Remake is Two Sizes Too Bland

Diving deep into Minions territory, Illumination’s revamp of the holiday classic sands off the Grinch’s hard edges and turns him into a blandly grumpy uncle. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The billboards for Dr Seuss’ The Grinch feature the eponymous antihero dishing out insults to the viewer. From the ads, you would think that ... Dr Seuss’ The Grinch Review: Illumination’s Slick Remake is Two Sizes Too Bland

CIFF 2018

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)

Boy Erased Review: Joel Edgerton Exposes the Malpractice of Conversion Therapy

An all-star cast, including Lucas Hedges, Nicole Kidman and Russell Crowe, bring a serious issue for the GLBTQ community to a broader audience. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Based on the 2016 memoir of the same name by Garrard Conley, Boy Erased is the emotional journey of teenager Jared Eamons (Lucas Hedges) through ... Boy Erased Review: Joel Edgerton Exposes the Malpractice of Conversion Therapy

CIFF 2018

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)

Features

How the Matrix Sequels Expanded the Wachowskis’ Universe By Humanizing its Villains

The Wachowskis’ seminal sci-fi trilogy hits 4K today ahead of the first Matrix’s 20th anniversary. In honor of that, we take a look back at the much-maligned Matrix sequels and their intriguing ability to build upon (and even subvert) the themes of the first. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood The Matrix movies are some ... How the Matrix Sequels Expanded the Wachowskis’ Universe By Humanizing its Villains

Interviews

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)

Bohemian Rhapsody Review: Malek’s Mercury Will Rock You, Its Queer Politics Less So

While Bryan Singer’s biopic takes some uncomfortable liberties with Freddie Mercury’s life, Malek’s eye-catching performance elevates the proceedings into a rocking ride. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood In a pivotal scene in Bohemian Rhapsody, Freddie Mercury (Rami Malek) tells his manager and future lover, Paul (Allen Leech) that he doesn’t know who he ... Bohemian Rhapsody Review: Malek’s Mercury Will Rock You, Its Queer Politics Less So

Can You Ever Forgive Me? Review: Melissa McCarthy Compels in Awards-Hungry Journalism Drama

While it’s patently hungry for awards, Melissa McCarthy’s biopic of infamous letter forger Lee Israel is compelling and darkly accessible, with some great supporting turns from Richard E Grant and Jane Curtin. This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood Oscar baiting: we know it when we see it, and Can You Ever Forgive Me? is ... Can You Ever Forgive Me? Review: Melissa McCarthy Compels in Awards-Hungry Journalism Drama

BHFF 2018

Brooklyn Horror Film Festival Dispatch, Part 1: Tower. A Bright Day, Empathy, Inc., Antrum

This piece was originally posted on Alcohollywood As horror continues its gradual moving away from traditional monsters and slashers to rawer, more unsettling scares that are COMING FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE, we can look forward to more internet discourse about whether a movie qualifies as “horror.” This requires the sort of pedantry that is the ... Brooklyn Horror Film Festival Dispatch, Part 1: Tower. A Bright Day, Empathy, Inc., Antrum

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