Month: June 2018

‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor?’ is a beautiful tribute to a radical pioneer

Jeff Mitchell

“Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” – “He was radical.  I know everyone says that, but he was radical.” – Elizabeth Seamans The groundbreaking and absolutely delightful “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” ran for decades on public television, and this children’s program helped positively shape millions and millions of kids’ outlooks and moral compasses.  In 2018, the new documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” is a wonderful, sentimental trip down memory lane for adults who grew up watching the show and its creator, writer, producer, and star:  Fred Rogers. Rogers passed away at…

Plaza’s ‘Veronica’ delivers scares on Netflix

Jeff Mitchell

“What goes on in that place in the dark?”  – “Veronica” by Elvis Costello, 1989 Elvis Costello did not have a horror movie in mind when he released his song 29 years ago, but the aforementioned lyric could definitely apply to director Paco Plaza’s (“[REC]” (2007)) latest film “Veronica”. Released on Netflix, “Veronica” is a creepy horror film that you can “enjoy” at home.   Set in Madrid in 1991, Veronica (Sandra Escacena) – a 15-year-old girl – talks two of her schoolmates into summoning her late father’s spirit via a…

‘The Seagull’ does not take off and fly

Jeff Mitchell

“The Seagull” – “It’s hot.  It’s quiet.  No one does anything.  Why does no one do anything?” – Irina (Annette Bening) After experiencing “The Seagull”, a film adaption of Anton Chekhov’s play, one might ask Irina’s question about the movie itself.  Sure, the A-list cast members – Bening, Saoirse Ronan, Elisabeth Moss, Corey Stoll, Billy Howle, Brian Dennehy, and Mare Winningham – do something.  More than something.  They bring their acting A-games to director Michael Mayer’s picture, but the uninspired and sometimes muddy visuals match the pedestrian pacing, and the…