"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri"
To read the full review, click HERE.
Before interstates, we traveled an interconnected network of two-lane roads both paved and unpaved. In some places, old billboards stand as the last visual remnant of man’s simpler form of travel. Drive along old Route 66 and this becomes evident. In this film, three billboards standing alongside a forgotten road serve as an idea to get attention. They also serve as the basis for what I believe to be the best-written film of 2017, “Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri.”
"The Darkest Hour"
To read the full review, click HERE.
By now, we have all become intensely aware of the British phrase used to boost morale during World War II, “Keep Calm and Carry On.” It has suffered thousands of iterations and has become sort of a cliché. To watch “Darkest Hour,” is to see the actual manifestation and meaning behind that phrase. When the film ends, an original definition and purpose are breathed into the saying that encouraged British people to maintain a stiff upper lip. When the credits roll, all the silliness is retired, and value is rediscovered.
"The Post"
To read the full review, click HERE.
“The Post” may be a historical piece about the release of the Pentagon Papers but it is impossible to watch without also analyzing the position we currently find ourselves. Scripts are written years in advance. Next, comes along a director looking for a new production, production schedules, casting, etc. Finally, we get a movie. This process can take years, if not longer. When a release date comes along, studios and the writers are left with a piece of cinema that may be viewed in a different light. In the Trump era, it is nearly impossible to keep him out of your mind while watching this movie.
"The Hero"
To read the full review, click HERE.
For my 16th film of the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, I decided to see something with some Oscar potential. "The Hero" is about an ailing movie star, played brilliantly by Sam Elliot, who is trying to come to terms with his past, mortality, and legacy. Without a doubt in my mind, this is the role Sam Elliot was born to play and one for which he deserves proper recognition.
"Crown Heights"
To read the full review, click HERE.
For my 18th film of the 43rd Annual Seattle International Film Festival, I wanted to see a film that would get me spitting mad at the system. "Crown Heights" follows the life of Colin Warner who is wrongfully convicted of murder and spends 20+ years in prison for a crime he did not commit. If he possesses any luck at all, his best friend, Carl King, tirelessly devotes his life working to prove his innocence. Needless to say, this film did a fantastic job of getting me mad. It made me feel the same way "The Hurricane" starring Denzel Washington did back in 1999.
Be good to each other,
-Nathan
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