Three years ago, I was interviewing Ice Cube when the N.W.A. movie came up. He was doing promotional rounds for 21 Jump St. and I was thrilled to be speaking with an actor and artist I'd been a fan of for most of my life. A good, open conversation ended with the inevitable question of what he had coming up and Cube brought up making a film about his younger life. There was … [Read more...] about STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON New Movie Review
Paul Giamatti
SAN ANDREAS New Movie Review
The first scene of San Andreas sets the tone and indicates why this will be is more fun than expected. It opens with a bubble-headed blonde driving her car on a mountainside, where there's no guard rail and a steep drop below. She's texting and driving, only half-paying attention to the road and completely oblivious to the danger. To no one's surprise, she drives off a cliff. … [Read more...] about SAN ANDREAS New Movie Review
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 New Movie Review
Once the end credits for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 began to roll, my friend Zach leaned over and asked me, "Did you take any notes for this film?" I told him I almost never jot anything down during movies, a practice I gave up in college, with my bad hand writing trumping good intentions. In the case of the new Spider-Man, the first sequel in the new series, I just sat there and … [Read more...] about THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 New Movie Review
12 YEARS A SLAVE New Movie Review
How painful must a historical reenactment be in order for it to establish authenticity? This was a question I had while watching 12 Years a Slave, director Steve McQueen's follow-up to his devastating Shame. His latest tells the story of Solomon, played by Chiwetel Ejiofer, a free black man living with his wife and family in 1841. His skill as a violinist is noted by two white … [Read more...] about 12 YEARS A SLAVE New Movie Review