Review: ‘Saltburn’: Lost Minds and Lost Plots

Since its debut, Saltburn has proved to be very divisive. A film that has caused many online to say, “you either love it or you hate it.” The director of the movie is Emerald Fennell, who made her first feature film called Promising Young Woman in 2020. A film that would go on to receive three Oscar nominations, winning Fennell her first Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Now in 2023, Emerald Fennell made her directorial return with the film Saltburn. A psychological dark comedy thriller, about a college student who becomes enamored with another student and his life of luxury. 

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Review: ‘Dream Scenario’: Nicolas Cage Hits the Mark, but the Movie Misses

In Dream Scenario, Norwegian director Kristoffer Borgli paints a portrait of an ordinary man suddenly thrust into worldwide fame by events outside his control, and just as quickly torn down by the once-adoring public. The plot is simple – Nicolas Cage plays Paul Matthews, a professor of evolutionary biology at a small college, who inexplicably begins appearing in the dreams of nearly every person in the world. His unexpected prominence brings initial uncertainty, as Paul angles for a book deal and begins to come to terms with the changes that fame brings. He is not a man drawn to the limelight, but one who begins to come to terms with it just as people’s dreams of him turn to nightmares and his fame turns to widespread public hate.

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Review: ‘Napoleon’: A Grand Yet Uneven Epic from Ridley Scott

At the age of 85, Ridley Scott is still consistently releasing films every couple of years around the holidays. Scott has been a Hollywood titan since he directed the legendary film Alien in 1979. Since then, he has had the budget to make any movie he wants, and Ridley is not afraid to take a big swing. Napoleon is his latest effort, detailing the life of the French general with Joaquin Phoenix in the titular role, analyzing his battles as well as his intense relationship with his wife Josephine (Vanessa Kirby). The movie draws heavily from Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon, which was adapted from a novel that was written shortly after Napoleon Bonaparte’s death. Kubrick famously attempted to make a movie about Napoleon but could not get the project off the ground. Ridley Scott realizes Kubrick’s idea 50 years later, although Napoleon still feels as though something is missing.

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Review: ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ Lands on Top

The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (dir. Francis Lawrence) is the newest installment in the Hunger Games saga (dir. Francis Lawrence/Gary Ross) and is a prequel about the life of a young President Snow—the face of the enemy in the original Hunger Games movies. While Ballad can be seen without any prior knowledge of the Hunger Games movies or books, it is definitely suggested, as there are many nearly imperceptible nods to the original series.

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Review: ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ is a Masterful Historical Epic That Leaves a Lasting Impression Built on Generational Trauma

“History is a merciless judge. It lays bare our tragic blunders and foolish missteps and exposes our most intimate secrets, wielding the power of hindsight like an arrogant detective who seems to know the end of the mystery from the outset.”

― David Grann, Killers of the Flower Moon: Oil, Money, Murder and the Birth of the FBI

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Review: ‘Wish’ is A Movie I Wished Was More

It has been a hundred years since the infamous Walt Disney Studios was established in 1923 and defined many of our childhoods. Whether it was a world with fairies and cursed spinning wheels, singing crabs, or cuddly aliens from outer space, audiences have been always amazed by the realm of possibility which gives Disney movies their magic. Ever since its official announcement in 2022, there has been a lot of hype generated for Disney’s latest film Wish, which is meant to act as a part of the studio’s centennial celebration and feature numerous easter eggs of the beloved past Disney films. But now, looking towards the future of animated cinema, we must ask ourselves where the boundary between appreciation and a lack of imagination is.

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Review: ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ is Faithful to an Entertaining Fault

From its initial release in 2014, Five Nights at Freddy’s became an overnight phenomenon. The horror video game series has remained relevant within popular culture thanks to recognizable mascots and cryptic storytelling that oozes intrigue. Despite the franchise’s campy yet frightening premise of surviving security shifts against haunted mascot animatronics, it contains a behemoth of a story spanning multiple games, spin offs, and novels. After a tumultuous eight long years of development, that list grows to include a film adaptation by director Emma Tammi. A big concern for adapting video games into movies is whether the story can stand on its own, while being faithful to the source material. In that regard, Five Nights at Freddy’s excels. The film translates the gameplay of being hunted by animal mascots well with silly, but exciting chases. More importantly the film lives up to its convoluted and incomprehensible source material by telling a charmingly abysmal story.

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Review: ‘The Holdovers’: A Nostalgic Winter Tale of Loneliness, Laughter, and Unlikely Bonds

The Holdovers is set in 1970s New England at an all-boys boarding school called Barton Academy. The film encapsulates the 70s vibe with the grainy film stock and soft string-heavy music. Barton during the wintertime is laden with snow and boys who are itching to leave for winter break. Many of them come from wealthy families who have extravagant vacations planned for the holiday. One of these boys is Angus Tully (Dominic Sessa) who is looking forward to a December spent on the beach when he receives a call that his mother has canceled the vacation, and he must “holdover” at Barton throughout the holidays. His caretaker during this time is Paul Hunham (Paul Giamatti), a lonely, sarcastic teacher who attended Barton himself some years ago. They are also joined by the school chef Mary Lamb (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) who is grieving her son lost in Vietnam. The trio forms an unlikely bond throughout the holidays while each deal with their own issues of loneliness and loss. They find comfort in each other’s company despite Tully’s repeated attempts to escape.

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Review: ‘The Killer’ Executes a Killer New Take on the Assassin Sub-Genre

“It’s amazing how physically exhausting it can be to do nothing. If you are unable to endure boredom, this work is not for you.” — The Killer

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Review: ‘Anatomy of a Fall’ has All the Right Parts

A possibly murderous mystery where Marriage Story meets courtroom drama, French director Justine Triet presents Anatomy of a Fall. After premiering at Cannes Film Festival this year and winning the prestigious Palme d’Or, this film has proven to be one worthy of audiences worldwide. From beginning to end, Anatomy of a Fall is an entertaining and emotionally driven film with questions around each corner to keep the audience’s attention on lock.

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