Tag: Dramatic Comedy

REVIEW: Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers’ is a funny, emotional winner

This just in, Paul Giamatti continues to be a national treasure.

The Golden Globe winner and Oscar nominee portrays Paul Hunham in “The Holdovers.” A teacher at a private boys high school in the 1970s, Paul has earned himself a reputation as a notoriously tough teacher and not the most pleasant to chat with.

Unfortunately for some students who have to stay at the school during the holiday break, they have to spend their days with Paul, who’s the designated the chaperone. One student in particular, Angus (Dominic Sessa) has to spend an extended time there. But as time goes on, he finds himself bonding with both Paul and the school’s head cook Mary (Da’Vine Joy Randolph)

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REVIEW: ‘Asteroid City’ is a fine addition to Anderson’s filmography

Another Wes Anderson movie. Come for the quirks, stay for the feels.

The latest film from the auteur director is a few layers deep. The movie showcases a television broadcast of the play “Asteroid City,” and through that broadcast, the audience is also able to see behind-the-scenes of that production.

In the play itself, Jason Schwartzman plays the character Augie Steenbeck, whose son Woodrow (Jake Ryan) is attending an event celebrating teens who excel at science. During the event, the small rural town, known for being next to a crater where a meteor struck, is visited by an extra-terrestrial. Through this event, the audience learns more about the characters in the play, as well as the cast and crew of the production.

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REVIEW: It doesn’t hurt to watch ‘You Hurt My Feelings’

The many complexities that exist in a relationship, even a loving one, come up in this smart dramatic comedy.

“You Hurt My Feelings,” written and directed by Nicole Holofcener, stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Beth. The film opens with Beth, an author and writing-class teacher, feeling somewhat discouraged. Despite her efforts over the last several months, her latest novel just isn’t getting a great response from her agent.

That feeling only grows when she overhears her husband Don (Tobias Menzies) saying to another person that he doesn’t like her new book, despite saying otherwise to her face. The rest of the movie explores how this impacts their relationship and the people around them.

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REVIEW: ‘Triangle of Sadness’ succeeds on strong satire, despite plot issues

One would have always guessed a movie set on a ship with “triangle” in the title would take place in the Bermuda Triangle, but here we are.

“Triangle of Sadness” instead takes place in less paranormal, but still dangerous waters. The film centers on a successful couple, the model Carl (Harris Dickinson) and influencer Yaya (Charibi Dean) who are invited aboard a luxurious superyacht.

They’re joined by many other wealthy individuals who are there to enjoy all of the fancy amenities, as well as the ship’s many staff members. Most of the staff seems fairly dedicated to their job, except the heavy-drinking captain (Woody Harrelson). This ends up becoming a bit of an issue when the yacht runs into heavy seas with big waves.

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REVIEW: ‘A Man Called Otto’ is moving, but clichéd

This film is an adaptation of a book written by a Swedish author in 2012. I have to imagine he watched 2008’s “Gran Torino” and 2009’s “Up” before putting pen to paper.

Tom Hanks stars as Otto, a man who recently became a widower and lives day-to-day thinking there’s not much left for him in the world. Otto is rather grouchy and quite particular in his old age. For example, he doesn’t want anyone driving on the private road in front of his home.

He begins to loosen up, though, when he’s approached by a young, friendly couple and their two daughters. The matriarch of the family, Marisol (Mariana Treviño), especially forms a bond with Otto, helping him to find more in life again, which leads him to start helping others around the neighborhood.

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REVIEW: ‘Glass Onion’ offers plenty of fun, but light on heart

As “Shrek” taught us, onions have layers, and there are definitely layers in the mystery featured during “Glass Onion.”

Similar to its predecessor, “Knives Out,” detective Benoit Blanc (Daniel Craig) is once again surrounded by wealthy people gathered in one location. This time around, that location is the island of the Glass Onion, which is owned by billionaire Miles Bron (Edward Norton).

Miles invites many of his rich friends, as well as Blanc, to a weekend at the island for a murder mystery game. Things take a twist, though, when someone actually does die during the getaway, and suspicions mount.

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REVIEW: ‘Amsterdam’ collapses as plot becomes convoluted

Director David O. Russell’s latest film shows he still hasn’t managed to recapture the spark that he had with 2012’s “Silver Linings Playbook.”

In O. Russell’s new feature, which he also wrote, Christian Bale stars as Burt Berendsen. A veteran of World War I where he lost an eye, Burt is a doctor working in New York City, where he often crosses paths with friend and lawyer Harold Woodman (John David Washington).

The movie picks up with the two men being hired by a woman to investigate the mysterious death of her father. Things go wrong, though, when the woman dies and they are framed for her murder. To clear their name, they start an investigation into what’s going on, and get help from a woman named Valerie (Margot Robbie), who they met in Europe during WWI.

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REVIEW: ‘Bros’ is a winner thanks to sharp humor and genuine heart

Romantic comedies can often be predictable but if they make you care about the relationship and make people laugh, it’s a success.

“Bros” does just that, and more.

In the film, Bobby (Billy Eichner) is a successful podcast host and is on the leadership team working toward opening a museum dedicated to LGBTQ+ history. While his career is going well, though, his love life isn’t all that active, as he’s reluctant toward long term relationships.

That is until he meets Aaron (Luke Macfarlane), who he hits it off really well with. Aaron, another person with little luck in romance and hesitancy toward commitment, also really comes to like Bobby. The two begin dating, but they have to overcome some of their previous concepts on love to make their relationship work.

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REVIEW: ‘See How They Run’ succeeds on strong humor

More Saoirse Ronan mystery movies, please.

In director Tom George’s feature film debut, Ronan portrays Constable Stalker, a young officer on the force, who is assisting Inspector Stoppard (Sam Rockewell) on a murder case. The victim in the case is Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody), a film director who was set to helm the adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.”

As it just so happens, there are plenty of suspects who had a dislike for Leo, and the investigators’ case soon becomes an Agatha Christie-like whodunit. The two protagonists have to work quickly, too, as the murderer remains a danger to others involved in the production.

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REVIEW: Smith’s ‘Clerks III’ has moments, but remains a misfire

Talk about coming full circle.

After a 16-year break, the Clerks Randal (Jeff Anderson) and Dante (Brian O’Halloran) are back on the screen, right back where we left them. The friends still own the Quick Stop store, while the adjacent video store has become a marijuana dispensary run by Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith).

The opens with the clerks doing their usual antics, until Randal suddenly collapses, which ends up being the result of a heart attack. While he does survive, it leaves him wanting to do something with his life, and he chooses to make a movie about the experiences of working at a convenience store.

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