This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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We like to believe that when we reach a certain age, we will have everything in life figured out, especially in matters of love. We’ll know how to love our significant other, and know what sacrifices need to be made to keep them happy and keep our relationship thriving. Plus, we will know that our love is solid and never can be broken and well, that is why we often find ourselves quite surprised when we come to discover… that we will know none of those things when we enter into adulthood. For we learn instead that love is difficult and painful, and that two souls don’t always sync up perfectly and that their needs change with time and that we may in fact, fail at love through and through.

Which puts us in a tough place, wherein we find ourselves in a panic of sorts. Where we don’t know what to do to keep our partner happy, to find the spark we once had. And that can lead to all kinds of tough times for us. Wherein we may step away from the person we love out of the belief that we aren’t right for them, or we might hurt them and find what we need elsewhere while keeping them around for stability. Or… we straight up forge ahead and try to figure out how to make it work despite our fears because we want what we want out of love. But to get to any of those points… we need time and a chance to discover what our souls are telling us we need or time to figure out what our significant other needs, and it just so happens that a film screening at the Austin Film Festival explores all of that.

A feat that Midnight at the Paradise accomplishes by introducing us to three couples in crisis. There’s Iris and Geoff, who are married with children and seemingly happy, but Iris isn’t sure this is the life she signed up for. There’s Alex and Anthea, a pair of red-hot lovers heading for marriage, but Alex isn’t sure that leaving the lothario lifestyle behind is a good idea, or if his bride to be is really ‘the one’. And of course, there’s Max and Charmaine, who are no longer a couple but are in a reflective place. For Max is dying and he and Charmaine are ready to ponder upon what went wrong and if it was all worth it, on a night of discovery. For Alex is an old friend of Iris’, and he’s back in town for work and to see Max, who is Iris’ father, and he is also wondering if he should explore what he never did with her, and that decision… will impact all of them deeply in the hours to come.

Which gives rise to a flawless exploration of the subject matter at hand. Of how we deeply worry about the path we’re on romantically, and how it brings us panic and terror and pushes us to be… well… stupid. Because Max, Iris and Alex make some decisions here that frustrate, but they are real in nature, and reflect the places we’ve been and the journey of discovery we went upon, and the clarity they find reminds us of the importance of going on this journey. On what it really means to love and what we must endure when we choose to say, ‘I Do’ or ‘I Love You’ and that gives rise to a powerful story. One that we can all relate to, and one that captivates us because of the depth and thought that went into Bill Robertson’s masterful screenplay. One that leaves no stone unturned in matters of love and also provides the viewer, with some other surprises.
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For in many ways, this motion picture is at the same time… a giant love letter to classic cinema. One that celebrates the wonder of the theater and the emotions and outright awe that film evokes within our heart and how in some ways, our love of cinema relates to our love life. For it is what helps us believe that we will reach a maturity that will define the time we spend with our partner, when in fact… they are just movies. Designed to evoke a response and an experience. Which holds some irony since we are in fact, discussing a movie, but that too… lends to the cinematic lesson and celebration present here. Since this story speaks to film’s evolution and how it has gone from fluffy and tear-jerking entertainment into something deeper and more visceral for each of us.

All of which brings forth, a brilliant story really. One that just plunges us into the midst of a powerful night showcasing the wonder and the folly of the human condition. For our flaws and imperfections are on display often in this story, but so is the majesty of love and the wonders we are capable of, and it is so well-written and so engaging, and the performances are so powerful, that you find yourself enthralled from beginning to end and you’re eager to learn if Iris will stay with her husband or give into Alex’s boyish charms and rebellious ways. And for that matter you must learn if Max and Charmaine find meaning in their love, their lives, and the only way to know… is to meet these flawed and wondrous people at midnight, at the old Paradise theater.
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For screening information, please visit the Austin Film Festival’s website.

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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If there is one thing, we search for above all in this life, it would be meaning. For we are creatures that need depth regarding our existence, really. Because despite being smart and understanding the power of the atom and our very DNA, we don’t know why we are here, and we don’t know why our lives take the turns they do. Because sometimes, life is tough, and it hurts, and the people we love hurt us and don’t get things right and all of that… can weigh deeply upon our souls and push us to well… search for that meaning in some unique ways. Sometimes, that involves a little soul searching and some positive thinking to find the beauty in who we are and what surrounds us, and other times… it involves some rough rides emotionally and mentally.
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Wherein we decide that being selfish is the way to go, and that we should cut off all contact with the tough stuff and focus on what is beautiful in our lives. And other times… we find that meaning through lamentation. Wherein we ponder deeply upon the past and what could have been if different paths were taken, and what’s fascinating… is that none of those routes to discovering the meaning we seek, is incorrect in nature. Because this strange universe finds ways to put us on the path to get what we want. And there are singular moments that show us that our path for discovery prepared us for the big moment when we find the meaning we crave, and it just so happens that a film screening at the Austin Film Festival explores all of that in a powerful, and sometimes whimsical manner.

A feat that For When You Get Lost accomplishes, by introducing us to a woman named June who is searching for meaning and peace regarding her life and the past she wants to leave behind, and well… the big moment she’s waited for to obtain all of that may be upon her. For her father has grown ill with stage four cancer and wants to see June before his time on this earth ends. Which inspires June to hit the road and collect her sister, who has cut off most ties with the family because of that sordid past, to see their father one last time. For June believes that this is it, the moment that will heal everyone and define their meaning and well… she is indeed right about that. But not in the manner that she thinks, for the road trip that awaits her and her sister Cami, will open her eyes to so much regarding the meaning of life, and what each moment means to us.

Which really is… the perfect way in which to explore how we find meaning in life, because this is a plot that is quite realistic in nature. Because we have been or will be where June is at in this film, staring down death and pondering up why we are here and what our purpose is and that allows for this movie… to explore some powerful musings regarding the meaning of life, the kind that are actually impactful and not fluffy or nonsensical. For this is that rare film that offers no giant answers about our existence here. Instead… it explores what we should really be looking for in this life, in this moment, and what we truly need to embrace and celebrate on a daily basis. For those elements are what give us meaning and sustain us, and everything else… are moments that are lost to time and should be forgotten.
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Yet, while that powerful exploration is worth the price of admission to this film alone, it offers so much more for the viewer. Because at its heart, this film is a comedy, a movie that echoes the lost soul nature of Sideways but with beer in place instead of wine, and it features those dark moments of humor that we all take part in and will never admit to, making this a very human motion picture. One that is less a grandiose road trip where IPAs are frowned upon, and more of a slice of life. Where people aren’t always at their best, where they stumble and fall and pick themselves up again and get lost and use the guides that we all use in life, to find themselves again. Making this a timeless story that anyone can enjoy at any point in their life to find clarity and wonder and meaning when it seems all hope is fading fast.

Which is a testament to Jennifer Sorenson’s deeply personal and beautiful script, one that gives rise to a story that quite frankly, we all need to experience. Simply because, it clarifies meaning at a time when we all need it, and are all searching for it, so why not let a motion picture help us along?  Because that’s what great storytelling does. It teaches us about the human condition, as it entertains and it also doesn’t hurt that those important moments come forth courtesy of some powerful direction from Michelle Steffes, who coaxes the reality out of actors, that are clearly passionate about giving us their best and that makes this film essential viewing. Because it really is something unique and refreshing, and most important of all… it speaks to us on a fundamental level by pointing us in the right direction when we aren’t sure where life is taking us.

For screening information, please visit the Austin Film Festival’s website.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture ‘I’ll Be There’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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Something that we can all agree upon in this life, is that family has a profound impact upon us. Sometimes that impact is of course, good in nature. Since family can be there for us in a time of need and lift us up when we are feeling low, and they of course… can teach us how to be better people. While other times, that impact can be negative. For family only knows what it knows, and we learn and misstep together and that can bring about hurt, trauma, ugly disagreements and sometimes… outright rifts. Where we separate from them in every sense of the world to heal and steer clear of what was likely quite toxic in nature. But even then… family still finds a way to have an impact upon our lives. 
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For the news that one of them is ill or preparing to pass… or perhaps preparing to celebrate something wonderful brings them back into our lives, for better or worse. But what matters most about this fact about family, is that regardless of what kind of impact they had upon us, they are to be cherished and celebrated. For the bad we endured put us on a powerful path toward the light and the good, sustains us and pushes us daily and what’s fascinating, is that it often takes a singular moment in time to learn to appreciate our family and embrace them and understand what they truly mean to us. And it just so happens that the Austin Film Festival recently screened a motion picture that explores that moment.

A feat that I’ll Be There accomplishes by introducing us to a woman named Grace who finds herself at a familial crossroads. For despite keeping some ties with her family, her hard upbringing and the difficulties that accompanied her being part of a blended family, prompted her to move away at the first opportunity available and forge a life that was a little more peaceful. But when her brother AJ informs her, he is coming to her new home city, Los Angeles, to have his bladder cancer treated by the best doctors there… Grace has no choice but plunge herself back into family life and all of the memories both good and bad that brings forth during an eerily somber time. For the legend, Michael Jackson, also dies at the same time AJ is admitted into the hospital, and that too… weighs heavy on Grace since she has deep emotional ties to Michael’s music. But what matters most, is that all of this wanton surprise will force Grace to finally reflect upon her past, her family, and what exactly they mean to her and what they should mean going forward.

Which is… the perfect plot in which to explore the central theme of this film. Because often times… what makes us appreciate family or at least learn to understand what it means to us… is crisis. For the fragility of life is on display when crisis strikes, and it forces everyone to really think about the journey and the ups and downs the journey brings and that leads… to some powerful moments in this film. The kind that feels, painfully real at times, specifically Grace’s musings upon her past and the parts of it she wants to forget but cannot. For it is part of her, and the only way for her to make peace with it… is to decide whether or not to accept and embrace her family for who they are, flaws and all. However, while those elements and that journey alone would have been enough to carry this film, it offers so much more to the viewer and the landscape of cinema as a whole.
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For this is that rare film that uses a moment in pop culture history as an anchor point and catalyst for Grace’s journey, and we don’t acknowledge enough, that moments such as the death of the King of Pop have a profound impact upon us and signal so much regarding our life and the next chapter that awaits us. And this movie deserves a round of applause for adding another layer of realism through that and of course… it is a film that is deeply steeped in proper representation. After all, the days of the perfectly Caucasian family, with two-point-five kids, sitting around the table while dad carves up the Saturday Night Roast are gone. And Grace’s family is what America really looks like now, making this a trailblazing film, one that also features… some amazing acting. 

For every single actor in this story brings their A-game, with Jasmine Bachelor and Ryan Cooper leading the charge as Grace and AJ respectively. Since their intense interactions in this film, and the worries that Grace faces, feel authentic and move you, because of what these two bring to the table. And of course… you’re captivated from beginning to end with this film, courtesy of the magnificent direction of Andrew Shea and the majestic writing of Cindy McCreery and all of these elements work to combine to provide the viewer… with a deeply personal viewing experience. One that truly calls to us and leaves us wondering what we should do with our own family concerns and troubles or celebrate what is in front of us. For we only get one family in this life, and it is important we remember that. 

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the motion picture being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say, that we deeply cherish the coming-of-age story and understandably so. For the day when a teenager or a young adult comes to harbor a deeper understanding of the world and their mortality and morality, is a big day. A formative one that puts them on a path toward adulthood and important discoveries untold, and that is why… so many filmmakers and writers and creatives everywhere, make these stories grandiose and powerful in nature. To capture the gravitas of the day the world makes sense to us. But while that outright celebrates that journey in a deep manner, there is one slight problem with how we cherish and present these stories. In that, by going this route often, they have in some respects… lost their way. 
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For they do at times, put this moment in a very cliché light. As though the epiphanies a character will go through when say, facing death, or heartbreak, are universal in nature. And the same goes for how they come to their understanding of the world and well… that’s just not correct. For the coming-of-age moment is vastly different for people. For some, it is subtle in nature, and for others, it’s important but not earth-shattering and doesn’t instantly change a life, and it doesn’t always have to relate to severe trauma. Thankfully though, we are in an era of storytelling now where creatives understand that and are eager to tell coming-of-age stories that reflect what the process actually looks like in life and what real teens experience when they cross that threshold, and it just so happens that a film that features a refreshing take on the coming-of-age story is about to screen at the Austin Film Festival.

A feat that Egghead & Twinkie accomplishes, by introducing us to… Egghead and Twinkie. A pair of best friends that are enjoying their last summer together before college in the most unique way imaginable. Courtesy of a road trip. Simply because Twinkie is eager to check out some art-related viewings in Texas, and what better time to do that, than before this dynamic duo is split up? But alas, Twinkie isn’t being honest with Egghead about the real reasons for the trip. For in reality, she’s eager to meet her online crush, the very one that helped her come to understand her sexuality and inspired her to express that truth to her parents, and she needs this time way to really learn this aspect of herself with the one person that she sees as a brother. Despite the fact that Egghead has feelings for her. Which means… this will be a trip of self-discovery for both of them, one that will change their lives forever.

Which is a delightful plot that offers up a coming-of-age story for a new generation. Because this… this is the kind of stuff that teenagers are actually going through in life. For so many teens are trying to understand themselves and understand who they will be tomorrow and who they actually want to love in this life and that is precisely what we get here. An intimate journey of self-discovery, one that is filled with mistakes and follies that feel genuine and relatable, the kind that we learned from when we hit our own more low-key coming of age and that alone, makes this film worth the price of admission. Because that’s a refreshing and inventive story, one that finally offers real honesty when it comes to the coming-of-age story and the film’s wonder doesn’t end there.
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Because it also brings about, representation and lets a community speak, whose voices are often silenced in film. Making this a pioneering film as well, since there are not enough coming-of-age/coming out stories for the LGBTQIA+ community, and this film deserves absolute praise for exploring what coming out can actually be like for people in the world. Since such a move raises awareness regarding an act that happens daily in our world and teaches us… to embrace when that moment happens so that the person embracing their sexuality doesn’t feel awkward or worried about being honest about themselves. They can instead, feel pride in knowing who they are and well, what’s even more incredible… is that there are still more wonders to share regarding this feature.

For it is also, a delightful comedy. One that understands the importance of laughing at the awkwardness of life, and how sometimes the things we make out to be big in our heads, are silly and goofy, and should be seen as such. And that allows for certain moments in this film to never get too heavy, because it also features some important moments of growth for this duo, the kind that are somber in their own way and well… all of these elements combine to bring forth an absolute must-see film. For Egghead & Twinkie is poignant, important, and beautiful and joyous, and it truly reinvents the coming-of-age story at last. Plus, it features a magnificent cast, and Sabrina Jie-A-Fa (Twinkie) and Louis Tomeo (Egghead), deserve a shout out, since they nail every moment big and small, and this movie also features a powerhouse script from writer/director Sarah Kambe Holland and hopefully, you get to see this motion picture at the Austin Film Festival or in a theater soon. Because this story is something quite special and absolutely what the world of cinema needs right now.

For screening information, please visit the Austin Film Festival’s website.

It is definitely safe to say, that cinephiles are filled with joy right now. Simply because we are days away from the Austin Film Festival, and all the amazing stories it is going to send our way. And of course… since we are inching closer and closer the time has come for as much material regarding this year’s festival selections to head our way. Such as trailers, like the one that was recently released to get us excited for a powerful coming-of-age story.
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For the trailer for Egghead & Twinkie is out into the world now, and it is one we absolutely need to share with you. For it is poignant, important, full of representation, and a lot of fun, and it should motivate anyone and everyone at the festival to give it a look. So, without further ado, here is that trailer for all of you to enjoy, as the countdown continues to this film’s debut at one of the finest film festivals in all of the land.  

One particular theme/message that has shown up often in storytelling as of late, is the importance of confronting the dark parts of our past, and our traumas, and well… it makes sense as to why. Because over the past few years, our understanding of mental health has grown like never before, and we are all beginning to understand through that science, that the past and our pain, weighs heavy upon all of us. To the point where those dark moments and those traumatic bits, can influence our lives in ways we never thought possible. In fact, they can influence our decision making, hold us back in the process and of course… leave us with anxiety and PTSD and well, the only way to be free of that and to know real peace without thoughts of ugly days gone by, is to resolve those issues, and we are seeing this pop up so much in film and television because those are two supremely helpful mediums in getting that message out.
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But while this push to inform and educate about such matters, has been refreshing, it does have some drawbacks. In that, a majority of these stories feature relatively happy endings, where people find peace and a better tomorrow the instant, they decide to tackle their pain… and well… that is simply not realistic. Because it all happens so fast in these stories, when in fact, the work to resolve such matters takes years in some cases and even then, there’s a learning curve that comes with living without the pain, and people need to know that. But what’s worse… is that the vast majority of these stories don’t explore the hardest truth of all. In that, not everyone embraces the way forward, and they can fall the wayside and endure a vastly different type of ending because of that choice. One that sees them continue to suffer and face some real hardships. But thankfully, we are starting to see more stories offer up a look at what can happen to us when we ignore the need for resolution, and perhaps the most impactful tale regarding such matters is the Darren Aronofsky film, The Whale.

For this is a story that introduces us to a man named Charlie who lives quite the unique life. Because while it seems as though Charlie’s work as a teacher of literature has given him a cushy lifestyle, complete with the ability to teach from home in a comfortable apartment, the fact of the matter is… Charlie is miserable. For he is severely overweight, and something of a genuine shut-in. Since he doesn’t interact with anyone outside of the pizza man, his students, and his nurse, Liz. But even then… those interactions are strange. Because Charlie won’t get his meals until the pizza guy has left, and he keeps his camera off when teaching. All because, Charlie is in fact, in a dark place, one filled to the brim with regret and pain, and shame, and well… to make matters worse, he’s also facing some grave health issues and that makes his relationship with Liz awkward since he doesn’t take her advice. Instead, he decides… that perhaps the time has come to address something that has been bothering him for ages. Specifically, his strained relationship with his daughter and the chance to do right by her, will drive Charlie hard to make peace with someone that means a lot to him… before his health gives way.

Which at first glance… seems to be a plot engrained in redemption and healing, and there’s merit to that. Since reaching out to a loved one we’ve hurt and attempting to reconcile and make peace with them, is a tenet of those elements, and it is something we’ve seen stories that feature a brush with death, focus upon before. But truly, the devil is in the details regarding this story. Because the sour interactions between Charlie and Ellie (his daughter) and the moments we are privy to inside Charlie’s apartment… help us to quickly understand this is a powerful tale about a broken soul and a grand tragedy of a character. Because we come to learn that Charlie wasn’t always this heavyset, and that it isn’t some sort of glandular problem. He in fact, carries a lot of trauma in his heart and his soul, the kind related to unresolved grief, and his inability to reconcile his sexual identity. Because of societal norms and the hell that came down upon him when he explored it. Giving rise to severe PTSD that prompted him to find comfort in eating, and catharsis in the self-abuse and punishment such feasting created down the line.
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But what makes this journey so powerful, and important, is the sheer fact that it makes it clear… that if we ignore the trauma within and the fallout of it… we will lead a miserable existence. One where we truly do wallow in darkness and pain and suffer silently with memories that bring tears to our eyes. Which is of course, a message that is sent our way via extreme visuals and moments, but that is the point. This isn’t something that can be expressed lightly or in a jovial manner. It’s serious, it’s scary and that leads to some powerful and uncomfortable moments in this story. That hold nothing back and truly show us how the pain we carry can lead to us to ruin, alongside how our inaction can impact others, through Ellie and the other important people in Charlie’s life. All of which brings forth, a shockingly bleak and angry tale. One that you don’t feel good about watching, because ugly stuff happens here, and the people in this story are genuinely angry.

Which is quite frankly, a brilliant choice regarding how this tale is told. Because we need to see, in the raw, what happens when we don’t take the time to heal and refuse to really put in the work. Because that’s the kind of ugly, that will motivate us to be better when we’re at our lowest and push harder to not let it take control in that manner. So, we don’t walk down a similar and scary path. Which in the end, makes this a powerful and cerebral motion picture. One that puts the worst parts of the human condition on display, to inspire us to be better and to point out… that it is never too late to start the journey into the light, even if we do get lost. Because we are more than our traumas and more than our mistakes. We are beings capable of so much, and this film deserves a round of applause for finally presenting the end result of trauma in the raw… so that we can fully understand its power and our need… to fight it with every fiber of our being.

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘The Creator’. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the motion picture being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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There is a great deal of fear in our world right now, courtesy of a plethora of problems/scenarios surrounding us. For instance, the fight to remove the freedoms of so many, has us wondering what our nations will look like tomorrow. Not to mention, the divide between the wealthy and well, everyone else, has us fearful of what the economy and our financial future will look like with only a handful of people in control of the planet’s wealth. Not to mention, inaction from so many governments regarding climate change has us scared for our future as a species and our fears don’t end there. Because we are also staying up late at night, worrying about what technology is going to transform into, courtesy of the advent of artificial intelligence. Simply because… we haven’t a clue what A.I. will become, for we are in essence unleashing a program that can grow and learn about humanity without any checks and balances, and that is indeed scary, since we simply don’t how it will react to what it will learn of us.
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Which has of course, allowed for many stories and theories to be created and posed that speak to how such unfettered access to humanity’s better angels and rotten demons could be disastrous. To the point where we would be no longer be deemed worthy of being on this Earth and it instead, would take over. And some would say those fears are being realized. Since it knows how to aggregate our words and our art and has made attempts to replicate what the human brain trains to create. To the point where protections are finally being put in place to stave off and control what some believe to be inevitable. But if it is indeed only a matter of time before artificial intelligence is part of our everyday lives , then perhaps the time has come to face our fears and confront artificial intelligence and its potential. To understand it and perhaps learn if by chance we can peacefully coexist, and who knows… we may be surprised at what we learn about these fears and what is really driving them, and well… that more thoughtful aspect regarding our fears concerning A.I. is top of mind today, simply because a new motion picture in theaters dives deep into those worries in The Creator.

A feat that this film accomplishes by taking us into a future, where the inevitable has happened, and artificial intelligence has become part of our daily lives. To the point where it has progressed into androids that resemble people and where those very androids toil about like the rest of us as well. That is until disaster strikes in Los Angeles, at the hands of A.I. no less, and that leads to a grand battle between humanity and their creation. One where the United States leads the charge, and of course, American might will stop at nothing to vanquish its foe. To the point where those in charge, ask a seasoned veteran of this war against A.I. to rejoin the cause one last time, despite the traumas he suffered in his first tours against machinery… in the hopes of ending this war for all time. But once Joshua finds himself behind enemy lines again, does he come to learn the folly of this war and of our fears, and that prompts him to make a powerful choice, one that will shape the future of man and machine in a way no one ever thought possible. 

Which is… a plot that first glance… really does seem to be more of the same. Man creates A.I., A.I. learns that man is awful and makes hard decisions. But that folly aspect of the war, wherein Joshua is able to see what artificial intelligence could actually become in a world where it is fully integrated with human beings and shepherded, brings forth the powerful examination regarding our fears of A.I. in question. For this is a film that ponders deeply upon some greater questions. In that, is it the creation of artificial life that we deeply fear? Or is it that we will be making an artificial being or beings, in our own image. One that currently is filled with fury and insecurity, and an inability to sometimes ignore the need to resolve our own inner demons. Which in turn could create creatures that would resent us and hate us the way we resent and hate one another, and that absolutely would give rise to monsters that resemble us in all the wrong ways. For they are in fact, programmed and designed to learn what is in front of them… so perhaps… it is our own shortcomings we fear.
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That in turn means… that if we want to keep this bold and burgeoning new technology in check, it might be best for us… to become something more, something better. Beings that inspire, really, and if we did that… what then would a being designed to learn about us become? But of course… we won’t be spoiling the answers to any of those questions because you need to experience that in person. But what we can say is that those questions alone, and that plot, brings forth one of the most refreshing and fascinating, and downright original films of the year. For this is that ultra-rare artificial intelligence story that challenges humanity for a change and asks us if we are truly ready to give life to a new species, and what it might take to be ready if we are not. Which gives rise to moments that would make Asimov or Bradbury proud since they ponder deeply upon concepts that we aren’t talking about at the moment, and quite frankly should be. Since that would likely remove fear from our hearts and allow for us to think upon A.I. in a more serious and responsible manner.

But while it is incredible to ponder upon such unique concepts, make no mistake about it… this movie has more to offer than philosophy. For this is a grand and sweeping science fiction epic, one that envisions our future in a realistic manner and offers breathtaking visuals and moments that drop your jaw with their sheer majesty and beauty. Not to mention, it also has commentary to offer on our modern world, specifically, the American war machine and the concept/folly of American excellence. But of course, none of this works without quality performances, the kind that can sell this world and the experiences of the characters and you’ll thankfully find that here too. For the cast is simply phenomenal in their roles, with Madeline Voyles (Alphie) and John David Washington (Joshua) leading the charge in this story, since they bring real emotional depth and realism to their characters and really… in the end… all of these elements bring forth a must-see feature. Because this is science fiction and its finest and it offers something for everyone and stays with you long after the credits have come to a close, thanks to a powerhouse story that prompts us to address a long-standing fear.

This piece was written during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike. Without the labor of the actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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Something that is genuinely fascinating about this time of year, is how much preparation is going into the two seasons that await us. For there are people preparing hard for Spooky Season while there are others ramping up to enjoy their Holiday Season. Simply because fall encourages us to enjoy whichever season we love and both lines of thinking for people are perfectly fine and perfectly right. It’s just incredible how much preparation is happening right now, and what’s equally as wild, is that television networks and studios also understand this dynamic and are making announcements left and right regarding Halloween programming and Holiday programing, and this includes Disney.

Because it wasn’t that long ago, that we came to learn of the Goosebumps revival that is coming to Disney+ to celebrate the all-important Halloween season, and today… we garnered a sampling of what’s to come for the Holiday season. For earlier they let it be known that a brand-new holiday feature is arriving on the Disney Channel on 11/22 (and will air on Disney+ on 11/23), entitled, The Naughty Nine. A feature that will offer a dynamic and unique plot, worthy of the Disney name, and it will also feature Danny Glover playing the iconic character of Santa Claus. And well, since you’re here to learn more about some Holiday programming because that’s where your heart lies during the season… here are all the details on this fascinating new Holiday feature. Along with a teaser and some first-look photos (courtesy of Disney), to help prepare you for your Holiday viewing adventures.

‘Just in time for the holidays, Disney Branded Television announced today that its new Disney Original Movie “The Naughty Nine” will debut Wednesday, Nov. 22 (8:00-9:35 p.m. EST), on Disney Channel and Thursday, Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving Day), on Disney+. Centered on a clever crew of enterprising kids who plot an elaborate at the North Pole, “The Naughty Nine” will feature acclaimed actor Danny Glover (“Lethal Weapon”) in the role of Santa Claus, it was also announced today along with the release of the movie’s teaser. 

In “The Naughty Nine,” mischievous fifth grader Andy finds himself without a present from Santa on Christmas morning. Realizing he must have landed on the “naughty list” and feeling unfairly maligned, Andy pulls together a team of eight other “naughty listers” to help him execute an elaborate heist in Santa’s Village at the North Pole to get the presents they feel they deserve. Along the way, the group comes to realize that the very best way off the naughty list is to redirect their unique talents for good ― instead of mischief. 

The movie’s talented ensemble includes Winslow Fegley (“8-Bit Christmas”) as Andy; Camila Rodriguez as Dulce, Andy’s best friend and archery expert; Anthony Joo ("New Amsterdam") as North Pole conspiracy theorist Lewis; Imogen Cohen (“The Fairly Oddparents”) as daredevil “wheel woman” Ha-Yoon; Clara Stack (“Hawkeye”) as animal whisperer Rose; Deric McCabe (“A Wrinkle in Time”) as master-of-disguise Jon Anthony; Ayden Elijah as adorable charmer Albert; and Madilyn Kellam (“Afterwalker”) as Andy’s older sister, Laurel, a skilled gymnast seeking to regain her confidence. Derek Theler (“Baby Daddy”) is Bruno, a disgruntled cargo pilot who claims to have witnessed Santa’s sleigh.

As portrayed by award-winning actor and producer Glover, Santa Claus is a wise and imposing figure with a twinkle of humor who is always one step ahead of Andy. Best known for his role in the blockbuster “Lethal Weapon” franchise, Glover has starred in an array of motion pictures, including the critically acclaimed “Dreamgirls” and the futuristic “2012” for director Roland Emmerich. In 2022, Glover was honored by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Honorary Academy Award for his decades-long advocacy for justice and human rights.

Alberto Belli (“House of Flowers”) directed “The Naughty Nine,” and Suzanne Todd (“Noelle”) is an executive producer. “The Naughty Nine” was written by Jed Elinoff and Scott Thomas (“Raven’s Home”), who also serve as executive producers.’

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the motion picture, ‘Dumb Money.’ Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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It is definitely safe to say, that the average American is dealing with a lot right now. After all, the political landscape is scary, and the polarizing nature of the right has everyone worried if freedom will still ring long term in America. Not to mention, people are fighting over the fundamentals of truth and science like never before, and that adds unwanted stress to everyday life. Since you simply don’t know if a friendly conversation will take a turn for the worse when someone feels the need to step in and speak their ‘facts’ in a weirdly passionate matter. Plus, there are grave concerns about equality and bodily autonomy since we are taking a step back there as a nation, and of course… there are all the stresses that come forth from wealth inequality in America. For the rich really are getting richer, and they’re so greedy and out of touch with the everyday man, they’re resorting to strange behavior to make more profits and shield their egos. All of which is just exhausting to think about, but there is hope out there.
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After all, people are suddenly voting in droves to protect their rights, and they’re rejecting ancient dogmas and outdated ideas as best they can, and they’re standing up for what’s right… and the rich are getting their wakeup call. Because the strikes happening around the nation speak to folks that are done with being paid less while their boss is paid two-thousand times more, and people are rejecting the nonsense narratives the ultra-rich are sending out into the world to make themselves look better or to make their actions appear justified. But of course, for those kinds of responses to exist, a spark had to be lit at some point down the line. Now the political one was quite obvious in nature, courtesy of four years of concern, but this newfound backlash to the Scrooge McDucks of the world… stemmed from a moment in time that not everyone necessarily knows about in great detail. But thankfully… we have storytelling to help us understand moments such as these and there’s a film in theatres now… that showcases what started the clap back that the rich are now experiencing and that makes, Dumb Money, an important watch. 

For this is a story that takes us back in time to early 2021, when the world was emerging from the nightmare of the pandemic and when… some rich dude bros were doing their best to be masters of the universe. For they were attempting to short squeeze Game Stop’s stock in an effort to either make the company part of their portfolio or to just enjoy the weird thrill they obtain when toying with stocks and lives… but when it came to this squeeze, they were in for quite the surprise. Because one man on YouTube, Keith Gill, believed that these moves were unfair and unjust. So, he expressed to the world, a need to look past the power grab at hand and believe in the stock and invest in Game Stop. A move that was seemingly harmless, but so many… saw this as a rallying cry. As a chance to perhaps teach the fat cats of the world a lesson… and they most certainly did. For so many purchased Game Stop stock and drove the price up and ruined any plans for the rich to get richer.

Which really is the perfect way to explore a critical moment in history, one that deserves more context for the masses. For it when it happened, this was nothing more than a passing post-pandemic moment for us. One that we didn’t give all that much thought to because we’d already lived through a year’s of worth of crazy, and an insurrection. So, this just seemed like a nice little slap for the rich boys of the world. But this movie really does break down the desperation that so many were feeling financially during this period of time, and how the pandemic gave so many a chance to ponder upon life and the way that our world was structured and stand up and say enough. Granted, some may only see this moment in time as a small victory, since of course… the stock market is doing just fine, and every company is still recording record profits while paying their employees peanuts… but it really was something more. 
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It was … the rallying cry in question. It was the spark. One that really has started to burn brighter years later to bring forth demands and unity regarding better wages and wage fairness, and that makes this an important motion picture to say the least. One that finally breaks down the big moment in question and also serves… as an anthem for the everyman and perhaps a reminder that there is a way forward to put an end to such monetary madness in our world. For if by chance the unity we are seeing now, stuck around and made greater demands of the rich and put forth more regulations on them, instead of letting them run wild and free and say… buy a social media network because they don’t like how they’re talked about upon it… we would see real change in the world. The kind that was put on display in that chilly winter and early spring of 2021, when so many people finally said enough and made something special happen on their own. 

If anything, all of those elements make for one supremely engaging motion picture. Courtesy of a magnificent script by Lauren Schuker Blum and Rebecca Angelo, that is brisk and intense in all the right ways, some masterful direction from Craig Gillespie who makes stock trading something that we can enjoy on screen and this film also works… because of its cast. For this is a film that features a who’s who of modern actors, and every single one of them bring their A game to the material and sell the moment and address our frustrations, so that when the end credits roll… we feel nothing but satisfaction over how things played out back in ’21 and we also feel… inspired and invigorated. For if a bunch of folks on Reddit and an analyst could freeze the system and bring attention to its shady and unregulated practices… then we can achieve anything and change the world, and you can never go wrong with a movie that sends that kind of message our way. 

This piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the movie being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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We search for a great deal in this life. For instance, we search for unconditional love, the kind that is different than the one we grew up with. We want that love that helps us grow as a person, that inspires us and sends us soaring. Not to mention, we also search for fulfillment. The kind that comes via a career that fits the skill set that we were born with. For that gives us a sense of belonging and a unique sense of purpose. But those are of course, easy searches to accomplish, when one opens their heart and follows their calling, and that is why… of the many searches we conduct in this life, there is one that we prize above all, and give great energy to. For in the end… what we are truly searching for in this life… is meaning.

For despite carving out our own little niches and slices of happiness, there’s a lot of chaos that surrounds us, and there is a lot of heartache as well. Wherein we fail at a great many things, and where we see people, we love, fade from our lives either slowly or suddenly, and sometimes… this world just plain terrifies us and forces us to face our fragility and our mortality. Something we all experienced recently. So… to find peace within the chaos and to further cement joy in what else we have searched for, we ponder often upon… the meaning of life. Of why we are here and what the point even is of what we chase and this search… is a difficult one. Because the answer is elusive and difficult to find, and that is why we often turn to fiction to guide us, or people that inspire us… to see if by chance, they can show us the light, and it just so happens that a brand-new film about that search, involving a historical figure no less… has just arrived in theaters, and that makes The Inventor, quite the uplifting motion picture. 

One that transports us back in time, to an age of wonder. Specifically, the era in which Leonardo da Vinci lived, and well… we arrive at a point in his life, where he is at his peak from a curiosity standpoint. Where he simply wants to know everything there is to know about this world, this life, and our purpose and meaning, and that of course… draws the ire of the church but ignites the curiosity of Francis the First. Who invites Leonardo to join his court in France where he can explore the world and life’s curiosities with complete freedom. Provided of course… he makes the king happy at every turn. Which brings forth a powerful journey for Leonardo, one that pushes him to learn balance and prompts him to deeply ponder upon… the meaning of life. So, he no longer feels as though his only purpose in life is to serve churches and kings that care only of their world.

Which is a plot that at first glance, really doesn’t seem to relate to an examination of the meaning we crave and how perhaps we can best find it. In fact, that plot appears to be biographical in nature, with some philosophy thrown in. But the devil is in the details in this stop-motion animated feature, for everything that Leonardo does in this movie, is to find meaning, to find purpose, to understand why some are curious while others are content to be royal potatoes sitting atop thrones and that leads… to a powerful and inspiring journey. One that does indeed explore… why we are here. Courtesy of a journey that dissects the things we take for granted, that ponders upon the power of a single moment and of course… explores what truly nourishes our soul and what gives us life and meaning, and that leads to some powerful moments and some powerful answers regarding the meaning of life.
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Which is… perhaps a vague way to describe what one discovers in this film, but we don’t want to spoil the journey, or what Leonardo discovers to be the meaning of life. Because it’s more important that you see the journey play out in person and go with the flow of a powerfully written and beautifully animated story. One that is a feast for the eyes and is filled to the brim with toe-tapping music from Composer Alex Mandel and features commanding performances from Stephen Fry (Leonardo da Vinci), Daisy Ridley (Marguerite de Navarre), Marion Cotillard (Louise of Savoy), and even Matt Berry (Pope Leo X). But truly, it is Jim Capobianco’s story that grabs hold of you first, because it truly takes us on a stunning journey of discovery, one that some of us have followed and that some are eager to follow and, in the end, you’re left with a movie that sends your spirits soaring and provides you with amazing perspective.

Something that quite frankly, we all need right now. Since we are coming out of a scary time in our lives, and we are indeed lost and looking for perspective and meaning, and this movie truly does point the viewer in the right direction. In a manner that is never pushy or heavy handed, and that’s important. Because it means that if you’re looking to be entertained by a refreshing and original story that is off the beaten path, you’ll find that here too, and families can absolutely settle in and just enjoy the heartwarming ride that plays out. Since this is a movie that also just encourages us to learn more about the life and times of one of history’s greatest minds. But it certainly doesn’t hurt that when you walk out of the theater, you have a grand appreciation of the moment, and of every breath you take. Courtesy of a magnificent motion picture about the meaning… and the gift… of life.