Review: ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore’ Fails To Recapture The Magic

Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, the third installment in the Fantastic Beasts film series, has been bogged down by controversy and the failures of its predecessor. It’s been nearly five years since the last installment, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald—which, besides being the lowest-grossing Wizarding World film to date, was panned by critics for its complicated and confusing plot. In the years since its release, the cast and creative team have faced a myriad of scandals, including J.K. Rowling’s  hateful remarks concerning the transgender community. The biggest controversy, Johnny Depp’s legal battles with ex-wife Amber Heard, forced the actor to bow out of the film completely. Most recently, star Ezra Miller was arrested for disorderly conduct and harassment at a bar in Hawaii. 

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Review: ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ Wants to Make Us Feel Good… And It Doesn’t Work

Aaron Sorkin is arguably this generation’s most prolific screenwriter. With the right director collaborating with him, his stories featuring people talking in rooms can be enthralling to watch. But in 2017, Sorkin decided to make his directorial debut with his screenplay, Molly’s Game. While the plot at times took irrelevant turns, his directorial style showed some visual promise that could pair well with his dialogue. It showed promise that many critics and audiences were excited to see grow with subsequent projects. Continue reading “Review: ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ Wants to Make Us Feel Good… And It Doesn’t Work” →

Review: ‘The Aeronauts’ is a Fun Adventure, But its Head’s in the Clouds

It’s one thing to have a bad biopic, but it’s a completely different thing to have a fake biopic. The Aeronauts, directed by Tom Harper of Peaky Blinders fame, is the latter, even if it’s a good film. The Aeronauts, advertised as a biopic, is based on the record-breaking flight of British climate scientist James Glashier (Eddie Redmayne), famous for reaching an altitude of 12,000 feet in a hot-air balloon. He is aided by a pilot friend of his, the flamboyant pilot Amelia Wren (Felicity Jones).

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Review: ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’ is a Magical Cliffhanger

Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is J.K. Rowling’s newest addition to the popular Harry Potter Universe. With David Yates once again directing, this sequel to Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them is an ambitious but down-to-earth transition piece for future sequels. With a large cast and an overbearing plot, the film doesn’t quite measure up to the magic of its predecessor, but it’s the perfect film for your average Harry Potter fan. Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Alison Sudol, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, and Johnny Depp reprise their roles from the first film. Controversy surrounded Rowling’s decision to keep Depp on the cast after domestic abuse allegations came to light regarding Amber Heard, Depp’s ex-wife. However, Rowling stood by her decision, citing both Depp and Heard’s mutual requests that they both be able to continue with their careers and move on from the scandal.

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