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: ‘Transformers: Rise of the Beasts’ Doesn’t Quite Rise to the Top

Transformers: Rise of the Beasts (dir. Steven Caple Jr.) is an anticipated addition to the Transformers franchise that serves as both a prequel to the 2007 Transformers (dir. Michael Bay) and to the 2018 smash hit Bumblebee (dir. Travis Knight). It largely focuses on the Autobots, once again led by Optimus Prime (Peter Cullen), as they attempt to save Earth once again from the Decepticons with the help of some new technorganic beings and human friends including military veteran electronics expert Noah Diaz (Anthony Ramos) and artifact researcher Elena Wallace (Dominique Fishback).

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Review: ‘I Care a Lot’ Struggles to Keep Up With Rosamund Pike’s Performance

When I first watched Rosamund Pike’s performance as Amy Dunne in Gone Girl, I was blown away. Amy is a villain who is so distinctly feminine, who is horrible and manipulative, yet oddly enthralling. The “cool girl monologue,” as the internet has affectionally named, is a moment. Rosamund Pike embodies Amy Dunne until there’s no distinction between Pike and Dunne’s marrow. The dew-eyed Pike of 2005’s Pride & Prejudice is no more, just Amy’s blunt bob and hardened heart. Continue reading “Review: ‘I Care a Lot’ Struggles to Keep Up With Rosamund Pike’s Performance” →