‘News of the World’ Contemplates the Might of Tom Hanks (and Storytelling)
It’s almost unfair how much the Western drama puts on him, but the Hollywood legend proves why he’s worth it.
Category: Chasing Oscar 2021
Chasing Oscar 2021: The Predictions (Round 1)
With many of the contenders available, and the closing of the Oscar eligibility period weeks away, here are my early predictions.
Regina King’s Stunning ‘One Night in Miami’ Dissects Black Power and Anxiety
The first-time film director breathes new life into a group of Black legends.
‘Promising Young Woman’ Gleefully Eviscerates the Nice Guy Myth
Carey Mulligan commands this pitch-black comedic thriller about revenge, retribution, and rape culture.
‘Pieces of a Woman’ Struggles as a Whole
Vanessa Kirby and company give powerful performances, but this film about loss gets lost itself.
‘Minari’ Quietly Unearths the Limits of the American Dream
Vividly rendered and intimately crafted, this story of Korean immigrants in middle America defies language, location, and generation.
Miraculous Performances and Writing Make ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’ Sing
The screen adaptation is almost too faithful to August Wilson’s play, but any tension melts away when a luminous Chadwick Boseman and fiery Viola Davis enter the frame.
David Fincher’s ‘Mank’ Has a High Barrier to Entry
Stunning but overstuffed, Fincher’s tribute to ‘Citizen Kane’ may require a study guide.
Riz Ahmed Anchors the Innovative, Astonishing ‘Sound of Metal’
Director Darius Marder’s depiction of the Deaf community is nuanced, graceful, and dignified.
‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ Uneasily Balances Levity and Gravity
Aaron Sorkin’s retelling of the notorious Chicago Seven trial both succeeds and struggles because of its timeliness.
Ryan Murphy’s ‘The Boys in the Band’ Suffocates and Astonishes
Fifty years and a streaming service hasn’t lessened the emotional wallop of the source material.
