Year: 2019

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ lifts our spirits just enough

Jeff Mitchell

“Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” – When “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” (2017) reached theatres two years ago, sharks chewed over the head scratching decisions that found their way on screen.  Well, some sharks anyway, or at a minimum, this one. Director Rian Johnson’s venture into the iconic series took some strange, nonsensical turns. For instance, why did Vice Admiral Holdo (Laura Dern) sacrifice herself by ramming her ship into a First Order Star Destroyer, when about 50 droids onboard could have done the job instead? Why did Luke…

‘Parasite’ wins the Phoenix Critics Circle’s Top Prize

Jeff Mitchell

The Phoenix Critics Circle hosted its annual awards party on Dec. 13 at the Phoenix Film Foundation office, and the critics and their friends and family enjoyed a festive night of food, drinks, movie conversations and debates, and of course, the awards! Bong Joon-ho’s “Parasite” won four PCC awards, including Best Picture! Adam Driver and Lupita Nyong’o won the top acting awards for “Marriage Story” and “Us”, respectively, and here is the complete list of winners. BEST PICTURE • 1917 • The Irishman • Jojo Rabbit • Marriage Story •…

Baumbach’s ‘Marriage Story’ vows to leave a mark

Jeff Mitchell

“Marriage Story” – “We were perfectly happy until we decided to live happily ever after.” – Carrie Bradshaw, “Sex in the City” “Marriage is compromise and hard work, and then more hard work and communication and compromise.  And then work.  Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” – Gillian Flynn If the weather doesn’t comply with your family’s proposed weekend plans, a most-reliable backup is always at your disposal:  start a pot of coffee, make some sandwiches, open a box of cookies, and reach into the hallway closet and pull…