Archives for : films
Sydney Sweeney gives a knockout performance in an unbalanced narrative.
Not knowing Christy Martin’s story and uncertain of how Sweeney would pull off this role, I approached this film with caution. To my surprise, Sweeney’s transformation and gripping performance salvages the spotty storyline.
At first glance, “Christy” appears to be a stereotypical female boxer biopic – Christy starts her career from the bottom, has to prove herself as a worthy woman fighter, and build up to her life-changing match. Well, that element is partly there. Christy does start from the bottom, but the film portrays her success as quick ladder climb. She wins almost all her matches and becomes the first female fighter to sign with legendary promoter, Don King (Chad L. Coleman). Her toughest fight, and the real challenge of the story, is what she faces outside of the ring. Martin struggles with prejudice of her sexuality and to feel safe to be with a woman she loves. Her parent’s pressure her to steer away from this “lifestyle”, which is why Martin submits to a marriage with her bum trainer, Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who quickly shows his true, dark colors as an abusive, controlling, and manipulative husband.
There is a lot to unpack with Christy’s story and sadly, the film fails to show the complexity of Christy’s story. The lack of development and backstory of Christy’s relationship with her parents makes her motive to please them a fairly weak. From an audience perspective, they are terrible, especially her mother. They do not help her in any way, so one wonders why she even bothers to suffer in this trapped life to please them.
Perhaps, the biggest downfall, are the lackluster matches. While, they are decently shot fights, they carry no weight or emotion. Christy wins and we move on. I’m not sure if that’s what we are intended to feel, as we are much more concerned for Christy’s safety and well-being in her personal life.
It is not lost on audiences the irony of Christy choosing a “safe” and “acceptable” spouse, ended up being a spouse that almost murdered her. That aspect to this story stays with you and is absolutely heartbreaking.
As whole, “Christy” is an intriguing tale and the entire cast, especially Sweeney (who is quite possibly at her best) and Foster are captivating, however, the misdirection in the screenplay might take away from those compelling performances.
Rating: C+
“Christy” opens in theaters November 7, 2025
While there are a few new horror flicks you can catch in theaters, “Stitch Head” is one you can take the whole family to see.
Based on the graphic novels by Guy Bass, the film follows Stitch Head (charmingly voiced by Asa Butterfield), a small creature who is awoken by a Mad Professor in his mountain lair, who is consumed by creating outrageous monsters he loses interest in as soon as he makes them. He assigns Stitch Head to protect his other creations from the townspeople of Grubbers Nubbin as he fears they will likely scare common folks and become the target of abolishment. While Stitch Head sticks to his duties, he suddenly finds joy by taking part in a travelling circus. His unconventional humor and unique personality add to the role he plays in the circus which initially scares attendees but then intrigues them to keep coming back. Read full review here.
Rating: B-
“Stitch Head” opens in theaters October 29, 2025
Based on the shocking true story; a charismatic criminal, on the run from the police, hides in a Toys”R”Us. There, he adopts a new identity and starts an unlikely relationship with an employee. This week I sit down with filmmaker Derek Cianfrance to discuss his new dark comedy, “Roofman”, starring Channing Tatum and Kirsten Dunst.
“Roofman” opens in theaters October 10, 2025.
“A young woman (Miranda Cosgrove) joins a dating show thinking it’s in Paris, France, but it’s actually in Paris, Texas. She plots a way to get eliminated until her unexpected feelings for the bachelor (Pierson Fodé) complicate her plans.”
I spoke with the stars of the new Netflix rom-com, “Wrong Paris” about the personality trait they would want highlighted on a dating show, an opportunity in life that scared them, and more! Check out the fun chat and don’t miss the hilarious film!
“Wrong Paris” streams on Netflix on September 12, 2025.
“In TWINLESS, two young men meet in a twin support group and form an unlikely friendship. Roman (Dylan O’Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney) both search for solace and an identity without their other halves and soon become inseparable outside the group. But when Roman meets Dennis’ ebullient co-worker, Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), all is revealed to be not what it seems, as each man harbors secrets that could unravel everything.”
I spoke with the filmmaker and stars (James Sweeney, Dylan O’ Brien, Lauren Graham, & Aisling Franciosi) of the fascinating new dark comedy to discuss the film, books from their childhood that have shaped them, and more!
“Twinless” opens in theaters September 5, 2025.
“The Map That Leads to You” follows Heather (Cline), a young woman setting off on an adventure across Europe with her best friends before settling into her perfectly planned life. When she crosses paths with Jack (Apa), a magnetic and mysterious stranger, their instant spark ignites an emotional journey neither of them expected.
I had the opportunity to speak with the talented stars (KJ Apa, Madelyn Cline, Madison Thompson & Sofia Wylie) of the new romantic drama about the film, a time when they felt most present, and more!
“The Map that Leads to You” streams on Prime August 20, 2025.
The last two Jurassic World films were a convoluted mess: a disappointing misfire after such a promising start to the revived franchise. After nearly three years, director Gareth Edwards tries his hand at a new installment with a brand-new cast. And while it is miles better than “Fallen Kingdom” and “Dominion”, that may not be saying much about “Jurassic World Rebirth”.
The film is set five years after the events of “Jurassic World: Dominion”. Dinosaurs are on the brink of extinction again as our ecosystem is not built for them and they are struggling to survive. Those still alive have made a home for themselves in a more tropical environment similar to where they once thrived. Three of the most colossal creatures carry genetic material that could be the key to a life-saving drug that could benefit humankind. Read full review here.
Rating: C+
“Jurassic World Rebirth” opens in theaters July 2, 2025
Materialists has officially revived the rom com genre with a modern take on a familiar story, and I for one, hope that this refreshing spin on love brings romantic comedies back to theaters. While the film is more of a romantic dramedy, it has all the makings of becoming one of my favorite films of the year.
Lucy is an ambitious young New York City matchmaker, who finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex. Starring Dakota Johnson, Pedro Pascal, and Chris Evans, the plot raises a lot of questions about dating in the world today. Read full review here.
Rating: A+
“Materialists” opens in theaters June 13, 2025.
Shark movies have become a staple for this time of year, there’s something about watching “Jaws”, “Deep Blue Sea”, “The Shallows”, and many more during the outdoor swimming months that really gets us in the summer spirit. And now, audiences can add a refreshing twist to that list with “Dangerous Animals”.
Director Sean Bryne and writer Nick Lepard bring us the unexpected serial killer/shark combo horror fans will be chomping at the bit to see. Read full review here.
Rating: A-