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All film posts on Movies All Around
An indie drama about friends completing a scavenger hunt left for them before a young woman’s death, Always, Lola is a thoughtful and emotionally honest film, with a gradual emotional build and a compassionately stark approach to mental illness, drug addiction, and grief. There are many great movies about mental illness, and most approach the…
A heartfelt medieval fantasy about a disillusioned knight who forms an unlikely bond with the last remaining dragon, Dragonheart is an old-fashioned adventure elevated by its fairy-tale sincerity and uplifting score, even if it is a little uneven. I am a huge fan of the movie Labyrinth. I love it dearly, and it will always…
A disaster film about a climatologist trying to reach his son as catastrophic weather events reshape the world, The Day After Tomorrow is an uneven film with strong performances, memorable visuals, and an emotional core that helps ground its stranger moments. I have never been particularly drawn to disaster movies. I’ve watched and enjoyed many…
A romantic drama about an ambitious American student whose carefully planned future is complicated by an unexpected relationship, My Oxford Year is visually appealing and undeniably earnest, but also boring and lacking chemistry. I have never looked into it (and I likely won’t), but as I’ve come across various Netflix original movies, I’ve wondered if…
A fantasy adventure about the battle for Eternia spilling into modern-day Earth, Masters of the Universe is a campy and surprisingly enjoyable film that embraces the spirit of the original cartoon while having fun with its fish-out-of-water premise. If you were an 80s kid like me, you grew up playing with Barbies and He-Man figures….
A chaotic crime caper about an ordinary man pulled into an increasingly bizarre web of criminals and bad decisions, Caught Stealing balances offbeat fun, surprising cameos, and an excellent soundtrack to create a colorful and engaging ride. It is said that there are only seven basic plots in storytelling. Whether the main character is overcoming…
A family comedy about a father struggling to accept his daughter’s shotgun wedding to a man he’s never met, Father Of The Bride is a light, modernized, and fairly forgettable remake that benefits from its likable cast and updated family dynamics. When I first saw the 1991 Father Of The Bride film with Steve Martin…
A character-driven drama about a grieving widow unexpectedly forming a bond with her estranged son’s assistant while planning her husband’s funeral, Miss You, Love You is an intimate film with stunning chemistry and a relationship that grows in deeply satisfying ways. I was raised both in the theatre and on the theatre. I started doing…
A fantasy adventure about the legendary writers drawn into a cursed forest filled with fairy-tale creatures, The Brothers Grimm is a visually stunning and imaginative film, with dark storybook elements that remain engaging even with a story that feels uneven. I have always had a special interest in fairy tales. As a young kid, I…
A crime thriller about a British ex-con seeking revenge for his daughter’s death, The Limey is visually striking and tightly-paced, highlighting a bold performance by Terence Stamp. When I think of Terence Stamp, I think of him as Bernadette in Priscilla Queen of The Desert. I know that he is Superman’s General Zod as well,…
A light comedy about friends reconnecting at summer camp, Summer Camp is harmless but charmless, with a good cast and a message that takes too long to come together. When The First Wives Club was released in 1996, it sparked a bit of a revolution. Suddenly, middle-aged women were front and center, taking their power…
Based on a true story about an unassuming woman drawn into Cold War espionage, Red Joan is an engaging, well-paced drama elevated by strong performances and intriguing mysteries. When a film says it is based on a true story, I tend to go down a rabbit hole looking for details about the original. The Emerald…
