Movie Review: Queenpins
An extreme couponer’s ‘Breaking Bad’
Released in September 2021, “Queenpins” stars Kristen Bell, Paul Walter Hauser, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, and Vince Vaughn. It is distributed by STX Films and produced by AGC Studios and Red Hour Productions. While the film has received decent positive reception, it only made $1.2 million box office returns against a $6.7 million budget.
Movie Review: ‘Fly Me to the Moon’
An interstellar romance
Directed by Greg Berlanti, “Fly Me to the Moon” is produced by Apple Studios and distributed by Columbia Pictures. The film features a cast of Scarlett Johansson, Channing Tatum, Ray Romano, and Woody Harrelson. It premiered on July 8 at AMC Lincoln Theatre before making its nationwide premiere on July 12.
Movie Review: Arthur the King
Long live the king
Directed by Simon Cellan Jones and written by Michael Brandt, “Arthur the King” was released by Lionsgate on March 15. It is based on the book “Arthur - The Dog Who Crossed the Jungle to Find a Home” by Mikael Lindnord. The film features a cast of Mark Wahlberg, Simu Liu, Juliet Rylance, Nathalie Emmanuel, and a cameo from Bear Grylls.
Movie Review: ‘The Creator’
Gareth Edwards’ haunting view of AI
Written and directed by Gareth Edwards, “The Creator” is distributed by 20th Century Studios and produced by Regency Enterprises and Entertainment One. The film released on September 29, 2023, a little over a week after its premiere at the TCL Chinese Theatre. It features a cast of John David Washington, Gemma Chan, Ken Watanabe, Sturgill Simpson, and Allison Janney.
Movie Review: ‘The Ballad of Buster Scruggs’
‘You can’t be top dog forever’
Written and directed by the Coen Brothers, “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs” is a Western anthology film that was released in November 2018.
Movie Review: The Boy and the Heron
Miyazaki’s whimsical return to animation
Written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki, “The Boy and the Heron” was released on July 14, 2023, in Japan and on Dec. 8 in the United States.
Movie Review: Elemental
Released in June 2023 by Disney and Pixar, Elemental is directed and written by Peter Sohn. It was also written by John Hoberg, Kat Likkel, and Brenda Hsueh. The film features a cast of Leah Lewis, Mamoudou Athie, Ronnie del Carmen, and Catherine O’Hara.
Movie Review: Napoleon
Film’s story as short as Bonaparte’s temper
Directed by Ridley Scott and written by David Scarpa, “Napoleon” was released on November 22, 2023. It was produced by Scott Free Productions and Apple Studios, and it was distributed by Columbia Pictures and Apple Original Films. The film features a cast of Joaquin Phoenix, Vanessa Kirby, Tahar Rahim, and Rupert Everett.
Movie Review: ‘The Killer’
Fincher’s latest suspenseful flick
Directed by David Fincher and based on the French graphic novel of the same name by Alexis “Matz” Nolent & Luc Jacamon, “The Killer” is a Netflix original film made in association with Plan B Entertainment and Boom Studios.
Movie Review: ‘Get Out’
Jordan Peele’s horrifying cinematic debut
Written, produced, and directed by Jordan Peele, “Get Out” was released in February of 2017. It features a cast of Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, and Stephen Root. The film is distributed by Universal Pictures, and it is produced by Blumhouse Productions and Monkeypaw Productions.
Movie Review: Coraline
Laika’s frightening first feature film
Directed and produced by Henry Selick, “Coraline” is the first animated feature film by Laika Animation, who would eventually go on to create films like “The Boxtrolls” and “Kubo and the Two Strings.”
Movie Review: ‘Chicken Run’
Aardman’s cinematic golden egg
Directed by Nick Park and Peter Lord, “Chicken Run” was released in June of 2000 and is the first feature film for British stop-motion animation studio, Aardman Animation.
Movie Review: "TMNT: Mutant Mayhem"
Turtle power in the modern era
Directed by Jeff Rowe and produced by Seth Rogen, “TMNT: Mutant Mayhem” was released on August 2, 2023, and it was distributed by Nickelodeon Movies and Point Grey Pictures. The film features a cast of Micah Abbey, Shamon Brown Jr., Nicholas Cantu, Brady Noon, Jackie Chan, Ice Cube, Post Malone, Paul Rudd, John Cena, and Seth Rogen.
Movie Review: Liar Liar
Beware the Claw!
Directed by Tom Shadyac and produced by Brian Grazer, “Liar Liar” was released in March of 1997. The film was produced by Imagine Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. It features a cast of Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Jennifer Tilly, Swoozie Kurtz, Amanda Donohue, and Cary Elwes.
Movie Review: Nimona
Directed by Nick Bruno and Troy Quane and written by Robert L. Baird and Lloyd Taylor, Nimona is a Netflix exclusive animated film made by Annapurna Pictures.
Movie Review: Dirty Dancing
A classic, energetic ‘80s romance
Directed by Emile Ardolino and written by Eleanor Bergstein, “Dirty Dancing” was released in August of 1987 with a cast of Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey, Jerry Orbach, and Cynthia Rhodes. It made $214 million against its $4.5 million budget, and it has a 72% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Movie Review: Oppenheimer
An American Prometheus, indeed.
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, “Oppenheimer” was based on the book “American Prometheus” by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin. It was released on July 21, 2023, and it was distributed by Universal Pictures.
Movie Review: ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’
'Let’s do things differently this time’
Directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers, and Justin K. Thompson, “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” is the sequel in the “Spider-Verse” series. It is produced and written by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, and it is distributed by Columbia Pictures, Marvel Entertainment, and Sony Pictures Animation.
Movie Review: National Lampoon’s European Vacation
Guten tag, Griswolds!
Directed by Amy Heckerling, “National Lampoon’s European Vacation” was released on July 26, 1985, by Warner Brothers. It made nearly $50 million against its $17 million budget, and it was initially panned when it was released. It currently has a 37% on Rotten Tomatoes, as well as a 6.2 on IMDB.
Movie Review: The House
A story within the walls
Produced by Netflix Animation and Nexus Studios, "The House" is a British stop-motion anthology film that was released in January of 2022. The film follows three sets of characters in three different eras, all taking place within the same house. Each one of the three parts of the film was directed by the following: Emma de Swaef, Marc James Roels, Niki Lindroth von Bahr, and Paloma Baeza.
Movie Review: “The Super Mario Bros Movie”
Let’s a-go… to the movies!
Produced by Nintendo and Illumination Entertainment, “The Super Mario Bros Movie” was released in April of 2023. It was directed by Aaron Horvath and Michael Jelenic, with Illumination founder Chris Meledandri and Mario series creator Shigeru Miyamoto serving as producers. The film has made over $1 billion in profits, more than ten times its $100 million budget.
Movie Review: "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish"
“Maybe one life is enough.”
Produced by Dreamworks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures, “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” was released on December 21, 2022. It is directed by Joel Crawford, with the story and screenplay by Tommy Swerdlow, Tom Wheeler, and Paul Fisher. The voice cast consists of Antonio Banderas, Salma Hayek Pinault, Harvey Guillén, Florence Pugh, Olivia Colman, Wagner Moura, and John Mulaney.
Movie Review: Turning Red
Total ‘panda-monium,’ in a humorous way
Released by Disney and Pixar in 2022, "Turning Red" is directed by Domee Shi, with the story and screenplay by Shi, as well as Julia Cho and Sarah Streicher. The film features the voices of Rosalie Chiang, Sandra Oh, Ava Morse, and James Hong.
Movie Review: The Three Stooges (2012)
‘What’s a donut remover?’
Directed by the Farrelly Brothers and distributed by 20th Century Fox, “The Three Stooges” was released in 2012 and is based on the famous comedic act of the same name. The film features performances from Chris Diamantopoulos, Will Sasso, Sean Hayes, Sofia Vergara, Jane Lynch, Craig Bierko, and Jennifer Hudson. It made over $50 million in the box office against a $30 million budget.
Movie Review: John Wick 4
An amazing level of consistency
Directed by Chad Stahleski and written by Shay Hatten & Michael Finch, “John Wick 4” was released on March 24, 2023. It was distributed by Lionsgate, and it is produced by Summit Entertainment, Thunder Road Films, and 87Eleven Productions. It features performances from Keanu Reeves, Bill Skarsgård, Lance Reddick and Shamier Anderson.
Movie Review (Western Month): 'A Fistful of Dollars'
A tale between two smugglers
Directed by Sergio Leone and based on Akira Kurosawa’s “Yojimbo,” “A Fistful of Dollars” was released in 1964 and is the first in the “Dollars” film trilogy. It stars Clint Eastwood as the Man with No Name, his first lead acting role.
Movie Review (Western Month): ‘The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance’
Normal law vs. Western law
Directed by John Ford and released in 1962, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” was produced by Paramount Pictures and was based on the short story of the same name by Dorothy M. Johnson. The cast features John Wayne, Jimmy Stewart, Lee Marvin, Vera Miles, Woody Strode and Edmond O’Brien.
Movie Review: Titanic
25 years later, Cameron’s still the king of the world
Written and directed by James Cameron, “Titanic” was re-released for its 25th anniversary this year. For this 3D re-release, the film sports 4K resolution and a high frame rate for its visuals.
Movie Review: All Quiet on the Western Front
A modern take on a heart-wrenching classic war film
Produced by Amusement Park and directed by Edward Berger, "All Quiet on the Western Front" is distributed by Netflix and is based on the novel of the same name by Erich Maria Remarque. The story follows a group of teenage boys who enlist in World War I, and as soon as they get to the battlefield, they learn the reality of war as their initial enthusiasm becomes fear and trauma.
Movie Review: Jung_E
An interesting premise yet to be fully utilized
Written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, Jung_E is a Korean sci-fi film produced by Climax Studio and distributed by Netflix. It was released on Jan. 20, and it currently has a 47% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Movie Review: Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio
An enchanting stop-motion adaptation of a classic tale
Written, produced, and directed by Guillermo del Toro, his iteration of "Pinocchio" was released on Netflix on December 9, 2022. It was made by Netflix Animation, Shadowmachine, and Double Dare You, with assistance from the Jim Henson Company. The film features a cast of Ewan McGregor, Gregory Mann, Ron Perlman, John Tuturro, Cate Blanchett, and Tilda Swinton.
Movie Review: ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (2000)
Many people know the story of the Grinch, as well as his annual Yuletide exploits, but out of many adaptations, this one of which, is what a purist polarizes or avoids.
Movie Review: “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood”
Written, directed and produced by Richard Linklater, “Apollo 10 ½: A Space Age Childhood” is an adult animated feature film that premiered on Netflix on March 24. The film features performances from Jack Black, Milo Coy, Zachary Levi, and Glen Powell. It tells the story of a 10-year-old boy named Stanley, sharing his fictional account of his involvement in the eponymous Apollo 10 ½, taking place before Neil Armstrong’s mission to the moon.
Movie Review: 'Adaptation'
Charlie Kaufman’s multiple dimensions of meta
Directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman from a rather zig-zagged interpretation of “The Orchid Thief” by Susan Orlean, “Adaptation” was released in 2002 and was distributed by Columbia Pictures. It features performances from Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Tilda Swinton, and Phil Cox.
Movie Review: Rosaline
A new perspective on a classic love story
For those who have read “Romeo and Juliet,” do you remember Rosaline, Romeo’s original girlfriend before he met Juliet? Well, she has a movie now. Based on the book “When You Were Mine” by Rebecca Serle, as well as “Romeo and Juliet,” it is directed by Karen Maine and produced by 20th Century Studios and 21 Laps Entertainment as a Hulu original film. The story follows the titular Rosaline, Romeo’s girlfriend before Juliet came along. When Romeo (Kyle Allen) cheats on Rosaline for Juliet (Isabela Merced), she doesn’t take it very well and tries to sabotage their relationship.
Movie Review: Catch Me If You Can
A Hitchcockian story of the 2000s
Directed by Steven Spielberg and based on the book of the same name by Frank Abagnale Jr., "Catch Me If You Can" stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen, Amy Adams, and Nathalie Baye. It was released around the Christmas of 2002, and it is distributed by Dreamworks Pictures with Amblin Entertainment. It would go on to be nominated for the 75th Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Supporting Actor for Christopher Walken.
Movie Review: Bullet Train
Now boarding for Combat City
Directed by David Lietch and based on the book “Maria Beetle” by Kotaro Isaka, “Bullet Train” is produced by Columbia Pictures and 87North Productions. This film features performances from Brad Pitt, Joey King, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Bryan Tyree Henry, Andrew Koji, and Sandra Bullock. The premise is that a group of assassins board a Japanese bullet train to get to Kyoto while searching for a briefcase full of ransom money. Eventually, it turns into an even bigger journey as they must handle an intimidating mafia threat known as “The White Death.”
Northwoods Film Festival 2022
The return of independent cinema
The Northwoods Film Festival returned to the Minocqua area once again with a great selection of independent films and a slightly bigger turnout of audience members than last year. For this year, festival organizer Bess Donoghue has returned with a new selection of documentary films and comedy/drama features. For this year, the films selected for the lineup are “Writing with Fire,” “Small Town Wisconsin,” “Citizen Ashe,” and “Hannah Ha Ha.”
Movie Review: 'Where the Crawdads Sing'
‘Sand keeps secrets better than mud.’
Based on the titular novel by Delia Owens, directed by Olivia Newman, and produced by Reese Witherspoon, “Where the Crawdads Sing” was released in theaters on July 15. The film is set in the 1960s, and the story follows a young woman named Catherine “Kya” (pronounced “kai-uh”) Clark, who has been living in the marshes of North Carolina after her family abandoned her as a young child.
Movie Review: "Spotlight"
Honest journalism at its finest
Directed by Tom McCarthy, Spotlight was released in November of 2015 by Open Road Films. It features performances from Mark Ruffalo, Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, and Stanley Tucci.
Movie Review -- Top Gun: Maverick
A high-octane, high flying sequel
Directed by Joseph Kosinski, “Top Gun: Maverick” is the long-awaited sequel to the first film released in 1986. This film is produced by Skydance Media, in collaboration with Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films, and it is distributed by Paramount Pictures. Apart from Tom Cruise, the cast also includes Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, and Jon Hamm, including a cameo from Val Kilmer as Iceman.
Movie Review: "The Bad Guys"
A family-friendly ‘Reservoir Dogs’
Directed by Pierre Perifel and based on the book series by Aaron Blabey, “The Bad Guys” is produced by DreamWorks Animation and distributed by Universal Pictures. The story follows a group of infamous criminals as they try to become good people to avoid imprisonment. Along the way, hijinks ensue as they attempt to steal the Golden Dolphin, an award for Good Samaritans.
Belfast - a fork in the road
Directed and written by Kenneth Branagh, “Belfast” is produced by Focus Pictures and distributed by Universal Pictures. Released in November of 2021, it has garnered a positive reception, has won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, and it has made a little under $50 million in the box office.
"The Adam Project"
The past and future collide
Directed by “Free Guy” creator Shawn Levy, “The Adam Project” is a Netflix original film produced in association with Skydance Media and 21 Laps Entertainment. The story is that a pilot from the future ends up in 2022 while on a time travel mission, and he meets his younger self. Once they meet, they work together to save the future by destroying the secret to time travel to prevent it from getting into the wrong hands.
“¡Three Amigos!”
A humorous Western by John Landis
Directed by John Landis, “¡Three Amigos!” was released in December of 1986 through HBO and Orion Pictures. The film stars Steve Martin (who also served as a writer for the story), Chevy Chase, and Martin Short as the titular Amigos. It had a budget of about $25 million, and it made nearly $40 million at the box office.
Movie Review - Western Month: ‘The Ox Bow Incident’
Finding justice in the Wild West
Released in May of 1943 and directed by William A. Wellman, “The Ox Bow Incident” is a classic Western film featuring the acting talents of Henry Fonda, Henry Morgan, Dana Andrews and Mary Beth Hughes. Based on the titular novel by Walter Van Tilburg Clark, the film had gained positive reception at the time, and it was even nominated for Best Picture at the 1944 Academy Awards.
Movie Review (Western Month): “The Power of the Dog”
Finding compassion in a harsh land
Written and directed by Jane Campion, “The Power of the Dog” was released on Netflix on November 17, 2021. Based on the titular novel by Thomas Savage, this film tells the story of a stern cowboy named Phil Burbank who learns compassion while bonding with a mother and son. Since the film’s release, it has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Groundhog Day: ‘What if there is no tomorrow?’
Directed by Harold Ramis and co-written with Danny Rubin, “Groundhog Day” is the quintessential film to watch around the time of the titular holiday. It was released in February 1993, and it was distributed by Columbia Pictures. It features performances from Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott, as well as appearances from Brian Doyle-Murray and Stephen Tobolowsky.
‘The Matrix Resurrections’: A decent revival to a beloved series
Directed by Lana Wachowski of the Wachowski Sisters, “The Matrix Resurrections” was released on Dec. 22. It is the fourth film in the “Matrix” film series, and it can be seen as a revival after the release of “The Matrix Revolutions” in 2003. The film is distributed by Warner Brothers and produced by Village Roadshow Pictures.
‘The Guilty’: A multi-layered dispatch call
Released on Netflix in September of 2021, “The Guilty” tells the story of a 911 operator who struggles to assist a woman who is involved in an abduction at the hands of her abusive husband. The film is directed by Antoine Fuqua, and it is a remake of a Danish film of the same name that was released in 2018. It features a cast consisting of Jake Gyllenhaal, Christina Vidal, and Adrian Martinez.
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