In TYLER PERRY’S DUPLICITY, high-powered attorney Marley (Kat Graham) faces her most personal case yet when she is tasked with uncovering the truth behind...
Love is in the air AND in the palm of our hands as the new sci-fi romantic thriller, Companion, pushes all the right buttons for an instant cult classic.
Filmmaker Drew Hancock’s directorial feature follows a seemingly happy couple, Iris and Josh, who go on a weekend getaway with friends at a remote cabin. But things take a chaotic and bloody turn when it’s revealed Iris is a robot companion. The less you know about this plot the better, as the number of twists and turns are endless. But “Companion is already being raved about as the first best film of the year. What I can tell you is that it excels through enthralling performances by the entire cast, especially stars, Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher.
Horror fans may recognize Thatcher from the popular series, Yellowjackets or more recently the acclaimed psychological thriller, Heretic. But after this role, it’s safe to say, Thatcher is going to be an unforgettable talent we will be seeing a lot more of. Aside from the fact that she can cry from one eye at a time on command, she impressively emotes a robotic character who is truly in love and can feel every emotion. And we feel for her. Quaid, who normally plays the good guy, tackles the villainous role in a subtle and humorous manner. All the while the two have great on-screen chemistry. There isn’t anything too revolutionary in the film, but it does entertainingly warn audiences about the dangers of technology and why it’s best not to have full control of your partner.
Companion” touches on feminism, greed, loneliness, and hones in on how we should treat our significant others with respect, while taking audiences on an unpredictable and hilarious thrill ride. It’s an unexpected must-see that’s sure to capture your heart.
“At a retreat in Morocco, a woman meets a young man whose acquaintanceship evolves into an intoxicating, life-altering love affair.” LONELY PLANET is a lighthearted, beautiful romance everyone can enjoy!
I had the opportunity to sit down with the stars of the film, Academy Award winner, Laura Dern and Liam Hemsworth to talk about the film, who they are most comfortable with, places that have made them feel modest, and more!
LONELY PLANET streams on Netflix October 11, 2024.
“Solène, a 40-year-old single mom, begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet.”
I got a chance to speak with incredibly talented filmmaker, Michael Showalter about his new romantic comedy that digs deep and pulls at your heartstrings.
I highly recommend everyone watch “The Idea of You” when it streams on Prime Video on May 2, 2024.
After Ally’s (Alison Brie) reality series gets cancelled, she makes a visit back to her hometown and runs into her ex. The two spend a wonderful day together and feelings come rushing back. Only problem is, her ex is about to get married. “Somebody I Used to Know” is an authentic romantic comedy that digs deeper than the cliche formula. The film is directed by Dave Franco and co-written by him and Alison Brie.
I got a chance to speak to them about the film, the part of their younger self they are happy is still with them today, what it takes to get them to open up, and more.
“Somebody I Used to Know” releases on Prime Video February 10.
“Lori (Aya Cash) and Doug (William Jackson Harper), a longtime couple who break up just days before Lori’s little sister Bea’s wedding to Jayson. In order to not disrupt the fun, the couple decides to pretend they’re still together until the weekend is over. “
I spoke with Director/Co-writer Jeff Rosenberg and Co-writer Laura Jacqmin to discuss long term relationship break ups, the key to a good wedding speech, which celebrity couple they hope never breaks up and much more!
Listen to the full interview below!
“We Broke Up” opens on April 16, 2021
(Left) Laura Jacqmin & (Middle) Jeff Rosenberg“We Broke Up” Interview with Director/Co-Writer Jeff Rosenberg & Co-Writer Laura Jacqmin
If you’re the sentimental type, you probably keep mementos from the past. Things like a concert ticket, old notes, and maybe even a worn out shirt. It’s nice to think back on the good times those items remind you of. But some people may take the collection from their past to a whole new extreme.
In the new romantic comedy, “The Broken Hearts Gallery”, Lucy (Geraldine Viswanathan) keeps a room full of trinkets from past relationships; some of which include toe nail clippings and a ratty old Barbie doll. Her two best girlfriends, Amanda (Molly Gordon) and Nadine (Phillipa Soo), beg her to trash the random belongings, but it’s a lost cause.
Lucy’s most recent addition to the collection is a tie from her now ex-boyfriend, Max (Utkarsh Ambudkar), who dumped her on the same night she gets fired from her gallery assistant job. She later meets Nick (Dacre Montgomery), a handsome, reserved guy who’s trying to open a bar/hotel. As Nick shows off his passion project, the Chloe Hotel, Lucy sees an opportunity and a new home for her memorabilia. Together, the two of them work to open his dream hotel, and give Lucy a location for her Broken Hearts Gallery – a place where people can leave their tokens from past relationships.
Naturally, Nick and Lucy’s relationship grows deeper. The two share long days and get cozy quickly. But both of them have some baggage they need to let go in order to move forward.
We all know by now that I love a good romcom, and this one is a pretty decent one. “The Broken Hearts Gallery” doesn’t reach its full potential given its unique premise. The film only scratches the surface of its characters. There is a point where we discover an even more heartbreaking reason why Lucy keeps so many items from the past. But besides that mention, none of the breakup stories are that compelling. You won’t get the relationship lessons we received from films like “500 Days of Summer” or “He’s Just Not That Into You”. Instead, you’re given a heavy dose of laughter, as it can sometimes be the best medicine to heal heartache.
There is still a valuable lesson about not holding on to the past, but what makes this romantic comedy fresh is the hilarious script and performances. Director/writer Natalie Krinsky serves the right balance of over-the-top humor and heart. The dialogue is delivered at a “Gilmore Girls” pace with Comedy Central language. A lot of the laughs come from the supporting cast, Gordon and Soo do a fantastic job at playing two quirky, odd, support systems for Lucy. However, it’s Viswanathan and Montgomery who light up the screen with their chemistry. Viswanathan glides in this role as she effortlessly plays such an endearing and bubbly lead with ambition. All you have to do is watch the way Montgomery’s character, Nick, looks at her and you’ll be in awe. It’s hard not to smile when these two are on screen together, and I have no doubt we will be seeing much more of these actors.
“The Broken Hearts Gallery” isn’t the most enlightening romantic comedy, but it breaks the mold of the generic formula audiences are so tired of watching. It’s a feel-good, fun comedy that’ll inspire you to dig through your own closet and remove any unnecessary belongings.
Rating: 4/5
“The Broken Hearts Gallery” opens in theaters September 11, 2020.
“Waves” goes from bad to unbearable within the first hour; however, the second half of the film remarkably heals itself.
Director/writer Trey Edward Shults wrote “Waves” after his critically acclaimed thriller, “It Comes At Night”. He continues to keep our tensions high with his new family drama. It’s a story he explained that, “was inspired from a number of real life experiences, including meeting my girlfriend and Kelvin Harrison Jr.”
Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Alexa Demie in “Waves”
As the film begins we meet Tyler (Kelvin Harrison Jr.). He’s a senior in high school who as it all: Popularity, a hot girlfriend (Alexa Demie), and star wrestler. Life at home isn’t too shabby either. His father Ronald (Sterling K. Brown) owns his own construction business, his mother Catharine (Renée Elise Goldsberry) is a counselor, and his sister Emily (Taylor Russell) is quiet and reserved, hiding in the shadow of her brother.
Though Tyler is pretty well off, we come to discover his father is constantly pushing him both physically and mentally. He puts a lot of pressure on Tyler to be the best; pointing out that because the family is African American they don’t have the luxury of being average. So when Tyler learns of his shoulder injury, which would end his wrestling career, he decides to hide it and self-medicate. Matters only get worse when his girlfriend reveals she is pregnant.
You might think you know what happens from there, but you don’t. And you’re going to find out here.
By the second half of the film the family is barely keeping it together, and suddenly we’ve gone from Tyler’s movie to Emily’s. She is even more introverted, and doesn’t seem to have any friends at school. That is until she meets Luke (Lucas Hedges), an awkward, but nice boy who also wrestles. The film completely shifts in tone as we see love blossom in a steady and beautiful manner. Emily and Luke’s relationship is the cure we need after an unnerving first half.
Taylor Russell and Lucas Hedges in “Waves”
Shults wanted to essentially split the film in two and show the dichotomy of our lives. “I wanted audiences to see, in it’s structure, separate views from a male and female. How different they handle conflict, and what are their highs and lows,” Shults elaborates.
Both Tyler and Emily continuously use Instagram in a way that make us question our own use of the app. It’s a way to track a significant other’s location, stalk a crush and, of course post lots of pictures. “I was trying to make it real and honest. I don’t have social media anymore, but I can imagine how it would feel to have one. I’ve even followed crushes, but in an appropriate way (Laughs).” explains Shults.
At the core, “Waves” is a film about family. The parents are connected to both Tyler and Emily’s stories, especially their father. Ronald is more invasive in Tyler’s life and almost absent in Emily’s. This raises the question, what is the right balance of a parent’s involvement in there children’s lives? Shults went on to answer, “It’s hard to say what’s the right amount of involvement, but for this movie communication is big. It’s important that parents make their kids feel like they can always come to them for anything. It sounds easy, but it isn’t.”
As the film comes to an end, a shattered family struggles to put themselves back together. What you witness will make you want to embrace your own family and loved ones. Shults’ hope is that audiences will “connect with the complex characters, and have a lot to think about. And maybe even give them hope in their own lives”
“Waves” is a tough start. But if you allow yourself to stay on this emotional roller coaster, it will be a ride worth taking.
Rating: 4/5
“Waves” opens in select theater November 27 (Playing at Landmark Magnolia)
Dear Angelina Jolie, please give up trying to direct anymore films. To sum it up, at best, you are not very good at directing. Too harsh? Well then you clearly haven’t endured Jolie’s latest project, By the Sea, in which the Academy Award winning actress directed, wrote, produced, and starred.
I have a tremendous amount of respect for Angelina Jolie, and I believe she is an incredibly talented actress, when she’s not directing herself that is.
By the Sea follows Vanessa (Jolie) and her husband Roland (Brad Pitt) as they vacation in France so that they may mend their marriage, and he can gain inspiration to write his next book. After what feels like an hour of nothing, they discover a peep hole in their hotel room that allows them to watch a newlywed couple (Melanie Laurent and Melvil Poupaud) on their honeymoon.
Let me first say, for a good thirty or more minutes we have no clue what this film is about. It is clear Vanessa is depressed and awkward, as she is quiet and almost always crying. Not knowing what’s wrong with Vanessa, you would assume her husband is some kind of monster and we’re just waiting for him to go off. Spoiler alert, he’s not. Don’t hold your breath on that one. Basically something did happen between these two. When it’s finally revealed, the story does come together and makes sense to a point. However, it is not worth the pay off, nor the two hours of your life you have wasted.
Pitt is the only saving grace to this wretched film. He seems to be the only character that has any sense and real personality. Unfortunately, for Jolie’s character, she clearly cannot get the best performance out of herself. It was as if she was an amateur actress trying way too hard throughout the entire story.
Though the setting of France in the mid-1970s was beautiful, the shots and the style produced came off too artsy and irrelevant towards moving the story forward. Jolie’s attempt at “deep” and “meaningful” scenes has a much more comical affect.
I’d like to say By the Sea had potential, but sadly, Vanessa’s opening line, “Smells like fish,” foreshadows all too well just how much of a stinker this movie is.
I sat down with Jake Johnson (writer/actor) and Steve Berg (actor) to discuss their latest film, Digging for Fire. We talked about love, the key to a healthy relationship, and Jared from Subway? It was definitely an interesting interview!
I sat down with Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones) to discuss his new film, The Age of Adaline. We talked about the blessing of growing old with someone you love, which decade he would have enjoyed living in, and the importance of banter in a relationship. Click the link below to see the full interview with the star.
