11 March
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THE FATHER Director: Florian ZellerStarring: Anthony Hopkins, Olivia Colman, Mark Gatiss, Olivia Williams, Imogen Poots, Rufus Sewell  There are a few stage to screen adaptations garnering high praise this award season with One Night in Miami and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. You can also add The Father to that list. The Father is from playwright Florian Zeller who not only co-wrote the adaptation with Christopher Hampton but also directed the film. Olivia Colman stars as Anne who is struggling with the right kind of care for her father, Anthony, played by Anthony Hopkins. His decline with Alzheimer’s is getting more severe and more than she is ableRead More →

11 March
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YES DAY Director: Miguel ArtetaStarring: Jennifer Garner, Edgar Ramírez, Jenna Ortega, Julian Lerner, Everly Carganilla, Fortune Feimster, Nat Faxon Say yes to Yes Day, the new family comedy coming to Netflix on March 12. It stars Jennifer Garner and Edgar Ramirez as Allison and Carlos Torres. Throughout the opening narration, we learn that Allison and Carlos were “Yes” people. It was the theme of their relationship until they had kids and “No” become part of their job as parents. They begin to realize from their three kids that maybe they’ve been too strict and that always saying “No” isn’t the right answer either. One of the kid’sRead More →

04 March
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COMING 2 AMERICA Director: Craig BrewerStarring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones, Tracy Morgan, Wesley Snipes, Shari Headley, Rotimi, Nomzamo Mbatha, Teyana Taylor, James Early Jones, John Amos Eddie Murphy and Arsenio Hall are back in their iconic roles Prince Akeem and Semmi in Coming 2 America. The movie kicks off in a big way with a massive party celebrating Akeem and Lisa’s 30th anniversary. The filmmakers pulled out all of the stops with nostalgia, humor, and plenty of cameos to win over the audience. Akeem learns that he has a long-lost son back in America from his days in Queens. Akeem findsRead More →

04 March
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BOOGIE Director: Eddie HuangStarring: Taylor Takahashi, Taylour Paige, Pop Smoke, Jorge Lendeborg Jr., Pamelyn Chee, Perry Yung, Mike Moh Eddie Huang is coming off the success of his hit TV series Fresh Off the Boat with the new film Boogie. It stars Taylor Takahashi who is making his film debut as Alfred ‘Boogie’ Chin, a senior with a love of basketball. He has to prove himself to be the best if he has any chance at scholarships. He is fighting cultural stereotypes he’s been told that “no one believes in Asian basketball players” His parents are divided on Boogie’s future causing even more turmoil toRead More →

04 March
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RAYA AND THE LAST DRAGON Director: Don Hall, Carlos López Estrada, Paul Briggs, John RipaStarring: Kelly Marie Tran, Awkwafina, Daniel Dae Kim, Gemma Chan, Sandra Oh, Benedict Wong The latest Disney offering, Raya and the Last Dragon, is a dazzling visual feast even if the story may seem a bit familiar. Kelly Marie Tran provides the voice for our hero, Raya. She’s a spirited young woman nicknamed Dew Drop by her father, Benja, and is the Princess of Heart. Their world, Kumandra, is divided into different kingdoms named after parts of the dragon. Legend has it that the dragon population was wiped out by aRead More →

26 February
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CHERRY Director: Anthony Russo and Joe RussoStarring: Tom Holland, Ciara Bravo, Jack Reynor, Michael Gandolfini, Michael Rispoli, Damon Wayans Jr. Tom Holland leaves his Spider-Man suit behind in his new film Cherry. Holland goes from geeky teen to tormented vet as Cherry. Cherry’s life choices take him from one tragic move to the next. His college days were filled with panic attacks, turbulent relationships, and no money. He decides to join the Army as a medic after eloping with his girlfriend Emily, played by Ciara Bravo. His days in the army severely damage Cherry leaving him with horrible PTSD followed by drug addiction and stringRead More →

25 February
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THE UNITED STATES VS. BILLIE HOLIDAY Director: Lee DanielsStarring: Andra Day, Trevante Rhodes, Garrett Hedlund, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, Miss Lawrence, Natasha Lyonne, Leslie Jordan Andra Day won people over with her inspiring anthem “Rise Up” She’s making the leap to the big screen as songstress Billie Holiday in The United States vs Billie Holiday. In 1937, an anti-lynching bill fails to pass through Congress. Billie Holiday’s song “Strange Fruit” directly addresses the history of lynching which angered the Feds every time she attempted to perform it in clubs. Garrett Hedlund stars as Harry Anslinger who was the commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. HeRead More →

18 February
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NOMADLAND Writer/Director: Chloé ZhaoStarring: Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May Frances McDormand could be headed for her third Oscar with Nomadland. As Fern, she finds her herself living out of her van after a slew of events left her homeless. Her husband passed away and the gypsum plant she worked at was shut down following the Great Recession. The recession killed the city of Empire, Nevada displacing many people. For Fern, it now means joining a group of van dwellers in the desert finding odd jobs here and there wherever she goes. Here’s my review And check out my interview with Chloé ZhaoRead More →

18 February
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THE MAURITANIAN Director: Kevin MacdonaldStarring: Tahar Rahim, Jodie Foster, Shailene Woodley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Zachary Levi Two months after 9/11, Mohamedou Slahi played here by Tahar Rahim, was taken in for questioning as he was thought to be a recruiter for the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. We learn that he was taken to Guantanamo Bay where he has been detained since then. It’s now 2005 when Nancy Hollander, a criminal defense lawyer played by Jodie Foster, learns of his story. She along with her associate Teri, played by Shailene Woodley attempt to file a Habeus Corpus to determine if there’s enough evidence againstRead More →

12 February
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BARB AND STAR GO TO VISTA DEL MAR Director: Josh GreenbaumStarring: Annie Mumolo, Kristen Wiig, Jamie Dornan, Vanessa Bayer, Phyllis Smith, Fortune Feimster, Rose Abdoo When I saw the film open with the definition of culottes, I knew exactly what vibe to expect with Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar. Real life besties Annie Mumolo and Kristin Wiig star as our title characters and the plot is essentially given in the title. Both of these besties lose their jobs at a furniture store and are kicked out of the Talking Club. It’s a double whammy leaving them time to throw caution to theRead More →