Barry Jenkins' The Underground Railroad honors a literary masterwork
by Ashley Jane Davis and Jaime Davis
Nearly every element within his Underground Railroad feels deliberate and attuned.
I’ve Written A Letter To Bette Davis: 5 favorite performances
by Ashley Jane “Bette” Davis, Staff Writer
Celebrating Bette Davis on her birthday with 5 favorite performances.
TINA serves as a career overview and a farewell
by Ashley Jane Davis, Staff Writer
Tina’s story is one that I think everyone should learn about. No matter what you think you know about her, I recommend checking this out.
Split Decision: Kurosawa Week
In honor of what would have been his 111st (eleventy-first for you Tolkien readers) birthday on March 23, what is your favorite film directed by Akira Kurosawa?
Kurosawa Week: ONE WONDERFUL SUNDAY preaches love in the face of an uncaring world
by Ashley Jane Davis, Staff Writer
I love stories that prove that something one person views as ordinary can be incredibly beautiful.
Tommy C. Appreciation Club: THE MUMMY (2017)
The Tommy C. Appreciation Club, or TCAC, solemnly swears to watch and appreciate all theatrical performances by Tom Cruise then recap them, round-table style. In this edition, the Moviejawn crew dissects Tommy’s unforgettable hammy performance in The Mummy (2017).
Read MoreSpotlight on: What Barry Jenkins taught me about love
by Ashley Jane Davis, Staff Writer
Barry Jenkins is one of my favourite directors, easily. I think his films are beautiful, deep, and unforgettable.
Split Decision: Start Making Sense
In honor of his February 22 birthday, what is your favorite film by Jonathan Demme?
Read MoreSplit Decision: I always wanted to be a Tenenbaum
In honor of Bottle Rocket’s 25th anniversary, who is your favorite character in any Wes Anderson movie?
Split Decision: Date Night
This week’s question: What is a film you love that premiered at any year's Sundance Film Festival?
Split Decision: Sundance Faves
This week’s question: What is a film you love that premiered at any year's Sundance Film Festival?
Split Decision: Charlie Chaplin's Films
Each week, Ryan will pose a question to our staff of knowledgable and passionate film lovers and share the responses! This week’s question: In honor of the recent centennial for The Kid, what is your favorite film directed by Charlie Chaplin?
Read MoreBeautiful Something Left Behind
Directed by Katrine Philp
Running time: 1 hour and 28 minutes
by Ashley Jane Davis, Staff Writer
“What makes you feel mad, sad or embarrassed about your person dying?”
How do you explain grief? Beautiful Something Left Behind is a documentary from director Katrine Philp that presents grief entirely through the eyes of children. In it, we spend time with a group of children, each of whom has lost one or both parents to death at a young age. The kids are enrolled in a peer support program run by Good Grief, a non-profit organization in New Jersey providing support and advocacy for families affected by death. While watching, I had the slowest, longest, most real and consistent cry I’ve ever had in my whole life.
Read MoreTommy C. Appreciation Club: Eyes Wide Shut
Written by Stanley Kubrick and Frederic Raphael (screenplay) and Arthur Schnitzler (inspired)
Directed by Stanley Kubrick
Starring Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Todd Field
Running time: 2 hours and 39 minutes
MPAA rating: R for language, nudity, some drug related material strong sexual content
by Matthew Crump, Alex Rudolph, Ashley Jane Davis, Audrey Callerstrom and Matthew McCafferty
The Tommy C. Appreciation Club, or TCAC, solemnly swears to watch and appreciate all theatrical performances by Tom Cruise then recap them, round-table style. In this edition, the Moviejawn crew embarks on a bonkers holiday adventure with our pal Tommy in Eyes Wide Shut.
Read MoreThe Shock of the Future (Or, Who Wants to Start a Band with Me?)
Directed by Marc Collin
Starring Alma Jodorowsky, Philippe Rebbot and Geoffrey Carey
Running time: 1 hour and 24 minutes
by Ashley Jane Davis
“There is no shelter in the arts.” – Van Dyke Parks
Have you ever set out to create something and gotten stuck? It can feel like you’re motionless in time and your environment exists just to taunt you. You know what you *want* to do. You can see it, hear it, feel it and taste it. Inside. Alright then, how do you get it out? What tools do you use? How do you know when it’s finished? When do you stop obsessing and editing? What if you change one more thing? What if you change everything? When is it just right to share with someone? What will they think? Who can you trust? What if they hate it? Do you even know what you’re doing? Hasn’t this been done before? Why even bother?
Read MoreWelcome to The Circle (and Don’t Wake Daddy!)
Written and directed by David Fowler
Starring Taylor Dianne Robinson, Matthew MacCaull, Matt Bellefleur and Andrea Brooks
Running time: 1 hour and 31 minutes
by Ashley Jane Davis
“Shh! Don’t wake the kiddos!”
Cults keep poppin’ up on my radar. I just wrote an article about a culty noir film for the next print issue of Moviejawn. Our Cult Prince, Tommy C. is back! My lovely wife has given me such a detailed rundown of the show, The Vow, it’s almost like I’ve seen it! Perhaps it’s the cool fall air and the crisp sound of leaves in the breeze that urges me to give pause and reflect, “I wonder if anyone in my neighborhood is in a cult?”
Read MoreSon of Dracula (No, Not That One - The Other One)
by Ashley Jane Davis
First thing’s first. This is barely a movie. It is not good, by any means.
Now that we’ve got that out of the way, allow me to discuss the 1974 movie Son of Dracula at great length. Yes yes, it’s a mess. But folks – HARRY NILSSON’S SON OF DRACULA.
Read MoreTommy C. Appreciation Club: Interview With a Vampire - The Vampire Chronicles
Directed by Neil Jordan
Written by Anne Rice (screenplay and novel)
Starring: Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise and Kirsten Dunst
Running Time: 2 hours and 3 minutes
MPAA Rating: R for sexual content and vampire violence/gore
by Jaime Davis, Ashley Jane Davis, Audrey Callerstrom, Emily Maesar and Ryan Smillie
The Tommy C. Appreciation Club, or TCAC, solemnly swears to watch and appreciate all theatrical performances by Tom Cruise then recap them, round-table style. In this edition, the Moviejawn crew embarks on a bonkers adventure with our pal Tommy in Interview with a Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles.
Read MoreCentigrade OR: Just Get Me Outta Here
Directed by Brendan Walsh
Starring Vincent Piazza, Genesis Rodriguez and Mavis Simpson-Ernst
Running time: 1 hour and 38 minutes
by Ashley Jane
“I don’t think we should get out of here.” - Matthew
Note: I do
I grew up in a town that has snow and cold for upwards of eight months out of the year. That being said, the threat of being stuck in a vehicle during a snowstorm was always very real to me. Everyone had emergency kits in their vehicles for this very reason – you just did. I remember mine included matches, candlesticks, a flashlight, batteries, a hand-cranked phone charger, 2 road flares, water, granola bars, a blanket, hand warmers and a tool you could use to break your car window if you needed.
Read MoreNow Presenting: Moviejawn's Summer 2020 Issue
by Benjamin Leonard, Best Boy
Greetings movie friends! As I’m sure most of you know, in addition to our website which mostly covers new movie reviews, we also make a quarterly print zine. I thought it’d be fun to give everyone a quick glance at all the films that are covered in our most recent issue (which focuses on circuses, carnivals and fairs) and where you can find them. Step right up! to follow the links for the titles and it’ll take you to a listing of where it can be found (mostly powered by JustWatch.com).
Read More