Wiener-Dog
Todd Solondz (Welcome to the Dollhouse, Happiness) doesn't make mainstream movies. They're dark and quirky and you either buy into his sad worlds or you don't. In this one, he…
Genius
Growing up in small town Asheville, North Carolina, we didn't have many famous people we could claim. But the great writer Thomas Wolfe was ours. So when they made a…
Marguerite
Every few years two movies come out about the same subject at the same time, and one is lauded, while the other is overlooked. I hope that doesn't happen with…
Central Intelligence
Yes - Central Intelligence is kinda stupid. But in a week dominated by one tragic news story after another, I was happy to take the levity wherever I could find…
Finding Dory
#JustKeepSwimming I don’t know why I’m suddenly obsessed with that Dory-inspired hashtag, but it’s my new favorite motto. Finding Dory is a worthy sequel to the 2003 Academy-Award winning animation…
Mainstream Chick’s Quick Takes: Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping; Me Before You; Presenting Princess Shaw
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping – This movie is surprisingly entertaining in a Behind the Music meets Spinal Tap sort of way. It smartly, and sometimes kinda grossly, mocks all…
The Conjuring 2
Everything I said and felt about the under-appreciated The Conjuring in July 2013 holds true for The Conjuring 2 – it’s GOOD and scary. Trust me, even if you “don’t…
Love and Friendship
When you think of Jane Austen, you think of young women in dire straights IF they don't marry well. You think of a constrained society and English estates where the…
The Lobster
Without doubt, The Lobster is one of the most unconventional love stories I've seen. The film stars Colin Farrell as David, a recently dumped man in an alternate world where…
Hockney
David Hockney has to be one of the most famous living artists. His work is in every major modern art museum and verging on 80 he is still going strong,…