Laura Dern
Jurassic World Dominion
By: Jeffrey Ching Jurassic World Dominion really had the potential to be something special. As some people have pointed out, Jurassic World actually is a fitting title, since the series builds up to the eventual plot of humans being unable to contain dinosaurs and, therefore, humanity is forced to co-exist with dinosaurs. Jurassic World then becomes a literal title as opposed to just the name of the theme park.
Grizzly II: Revenge
The best thing about Grizzly II: Revenge is how its hilarious marketing completely blindsides the audience. The lost 80s sequel to 1976’s thriller Grizzly has been promoted as a vicious horror starring a young George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Charlie Sheen. Those Oscar winners, and Charlie Sheen, certainly show up within the first few minutes to only be mauled by a man-eating grizzly bear by the following scene.
Marriage Story
By: Jessica Goddard At the Marriage Story screening I attended, a complimentary packet of tissues was waiting in the cup holder of each seat in the theatre. Quite the statement. So when the movie opens with both leading characters reading the lists of things they like about one another in front of a mediator, you know this will be a wrenching watch.
Certain Women
By: Jessica Goddard A movie packed with subtlety and nuance, Kelly Reichardt’s Certain Women both wrenches the heart and flexes one’s critical capacities. Do we have sympathy for this character because we authentically suspect they’re a good person in spite of their actions, or do we desperately want them to be a good person because we feel so deeply sorry for them?
Wilson
By: Nick Ferwerda Wilson (Woody Harrelson) is a lonely man who is maybe a bit too honest. He struggles to adapt to the modern-age of communication, which only irritates his lack of social awareness, but he’s truly shook up when his father passes away – the only family member Wilson had left in his life.
The Founder
Director John Lee Hancock and his company on The Founder have proven themselves to be geniuses for one reason: without a hint of pretense, they have managed to make people pay them to watch a feature length McDonald’s advertisement.
The Fault in Our Stars
By: Addison Wylie Ever since The Notebook’s crowd pleasing fame, there’s been a line of Nicholas Sparks adaptations brought to the big screen. Because these films have hit home runs at the box office, it wasn’t surprising to see other romantic book-to-film conversions follow suit. The trailer for The Fault in Our Stars gave off that cover of being “just another one of those romantic movies”. Movie goers who have read and fallen in love with…