'Knives Out' (2019) Movie Review

A tried and true Hollywood staple that’s fallen by the wayside in modern times is the whodunnit. And it’s a crying shame, because, when done well, they’re a damn fine time. While I wasn’t a fan of Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express, I appreciate the effort. When it comes to Knives Out, Rian Johnson’s new, modern-day riff on Agatha Christie, I appreciate the effort as well as the result, which is an absolute blast and one of the most entertaining movies of 2019.

'Knives Out' Trailer: Rian Johnson Returns With A Throwback Murder Mystery

I’m definitely in the camp that Star Wars: The Last Jedi is great, and I love that long ago, far, far away galaxy. That said, I’m happy director Rian Johnson still takes the time to make twisty, clever, albeit smaller genre movies. Especially his upcoming murder mystery Knives Out. It’s one of my most-anticipated movies of the year, and this first trailer does nothing to dissuade my excitement.

Art Is Dangerous In The First 'Velvet Buzzsaw' Trailer

Last time star Jake Gyllenhaal and director Dan Gilroy got together, the result was Nightcrawler, a thriller that crackles with an electric energy and features the actor’s career-best performance IMO. They’re back at it again with Velvet Buzzsaw, and I know it’s just a trailer, but this first real glimpse at the art-world-set horror looks incredible. I was already intrigued, but hot damn, I can’t wait to check this out.

The 2018 Online Film Critics Society Awards

I have the privilege of being a voting member of two different groups of film critics. One, the Seattle Film Critics Society, already had our time to shine and I wrote about those awards HERE. The other, the Online Film Critics Society, just kicked off the new year by announcing our winners. Here they are.

'Hereditary' (2018) Movie Review

The less I say about Hereditary, the better, so I’ll try to keep this brief. What’s important is that this stands as one of the best horror movies in years. It moves in unexpected ways, overflows with bonkers great performances, and builds to a genre crescendo that rips out your still-beating heart and shows it to you. Writer/director Ari Aster crafts a creepy, cryptic, moody horror tone poem about coping with grief and loss and family that rattles and shakes in deep, profound ways.

SIFF 2018: 'Hearts Beat Loud (2018) Capsule Review

Sundance fave Hearts Beat Loud shows maybe the best on-screen father-daughter relationship I’ve ever seen. Sam (Kiersey Clemons) is the driven, focused one, about to start a pre-med program. Her father, Frank (Nick Offerman), is the head-in-the-clouds dreamer unable to relinquish a fading musical ambition and desire to start a band with his daughter.

'Hereditary' Trailer: Sundance Horror Favorite Gets Tense And Unnerving

Navigating festival hype is a tricky business. Folks see a movie in the film festival bubble, with film festival goggles, and before you know it, there’s a swirling eddy of buzz and hyperbole calling a particular offering one of the greats. That happens all the time, especially at Sundance, which may or may not still be happening, I don’t know. All too often, the hype either subsides, we never hear from the film again, or when it does hit, it’s straight dookie. I can’t count how many times that’s happened. This year, one of the next best biggest greatest was Ari Aster’s horror mystery Hereditary, and while I’m wary or the hype monster, hot damn this first trailer. This is fire, both literally and figuratively.