This December will be 20 years since Peter Jackson’s remake of King Kong was released. Premiering on the heels of his iconic, Oscar-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy, few films have probably ever been more anticipated. But when it arrived in theaters (lol, remember going to those?) in Dec. of 2005 it was a…Read more On Peter Jackson’s King Kong and the Problem with Directorial Final Cut
Film Review: Spider-Man 3 (2007)
I have a crystal-clear memory of watching Spider-Man 3 in theaters in the South Chicagoland area back in 2007. At the time, I thought it was a massive letdown from the soaring heights of the previous two films from the trilogy. To some degree, my opinion hasn't changed. I still don't think it measures up…Read more Film Review: Spider-Man 3 (2007)
Film Review: Novocaine (2025)
A classic case of a decent idea marred by poor execution, Novocaine is one of those films you want to like but ultimately can't. The film stars Jack Quaid, one of the most enjoyable of the nepo-babies that have taken over Hollywood in the 2020s. Here he plays Nate, a young(ish) assistant bank manager who…Read more Film Review: Novocaine (2025)
Film Review: The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Beloved the world over, it feels like there is very little that already hasn't been said about The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. All I can really add is that this is perhaps my favorite film of all time. It launched my interest in cinema as a serious art form and…Read more Film Review: The Lord of the Rings – The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
Film Review: Rocky (1976)
Rocky is a film that is easy for me to review. I am so acutely familiar with its rhythms and idiosyncrasies. Its ebbs and its flows. I have seen the film so many times and internalized it so much that, at this point, the film is basically me and I am basically it. Perhaps the…Read more Film Review: Rocky (1976)
Film Review: Punch Drunk Love (2002)
If you ever wanted to see the duality of man, all you have to do is watch Punch Drunk Love. Paul Thomas Anderson's warm, wonderful film repackages Adam Sandler's rageful albeit juvenile on-screen persona into a still hilarious yet far more complex look at the relationship between loneliness, anger and love. Sandler stars as Barry…Read more Film Review: Punch Drunk Love (2002)
Film Review: Varsity Blues (1999)
Like the show Friday Night Lights if you removed its soul, 1999's Varsity Blues is filled with all the crude, country-fried stereotypes you might expect. Set in a small, football-fixated town, the film centers on Jonathan "Mox" Moxon (James Van Der Beek), the high school football team's backup quarterback. Although Mox has had a life-long love…Read more Film Review: Varsity Blues (1999)
Film Review: The Accidental Husband (2008)
In post-9-11 New York, marriage is the air, or so it may seem. The unpredictable nature of love and the fickleness of the human heart will rear their mighty heads. And when they do, they shall tear apart some couples, bring others together and force one woman to make a fateful choice in 2008's forgotten…Read more Film Review: The Accidental Husband (2008)
Film Review: Weapons (2025)
In the dead of night, an entire class of school children save one inexplicably goes missing at the exact same time. The surrounding community is shaken to its core by the disappearance and attempts to make sense of the mystery. Who is behind the abduction, and what do they want? All will be revealed in…Read more Film Review: Weapons (2025)
“Let’s See De Niro Do This”: On Orlando Bloom in Deep Cover
Amazon Prime's action-comedy Deep Cover is a decent original film, which is a pretty big thing to say in our era of never-ending streaming slop. Perhaps the main reason why it's so watchable is surprisingly Orlando Bloom. He's deeply funny and delightfully self-aware in the film. Bloom plays Marlon Swift, a failed actor and improv…Read more “Let’s See De Niro Do This”: On Orlando Bloom in Deep Cover
Adam Mohrbacher 