Month: March 2021

‘The Father’: Hopkins and Colman nurture Oscar-worthy performances in one of the year’s very best films

Jeff Mitchell

“The Father” – Anthony (Anthony Hopkins) and Anne (Olivia Colman) are having a rough go of it these days, but their father-daughter stress has been brewing for months or years.  Anthony – an 83-year-old retired engineer – and Anne live in a spacious London flat – with 12-foot ceilings and expensive furniture and accessories in every room – but their lives are anything but comfortable or content.  He has dementia.  In addition to his slips of memory, moments of confusion, and abrupt mood swings, he has just forced – off-camera…

The Phoenix Critics Circle announces its 2020 Nominations

Jeff Mitchell

Phoenix Critics Circle members selected their nominations for the best films and performances of 2020. Leading the way is “Minari” with seven nominations.  “Nomadland” and “Mank” both received five nominations while “One Night in Miami”, and “Promising Young Woman” picked up four each. Final voting is now underway and the winners will be announced on March 18th, 2021. The nominees are… BEST PICTURE • FIRST COW • MINARI • NOMADLAND • ONE NIGHT IN MIAMI • PROMISING YOUNG WOMAN • SOUND OF METAL BEST COMEDY FILM • THE 40-YEAR-OLD VERSION…

Movie of the Week: ‘Cleo from 5 to 7’

Jeff Mitchell

March 8 is International Women’s Day, so it’s the perfect time to feature director/trailblazer Agnes Varda and one of her classics.  “Cleo from 5 to 7” is AHFW’s Movie of the Week! “Cleo from 5 to 7” (1962) – Florence (Corinne Marchand) – nicknamed Cleo – is a famous singer around town, and this town happens to be The City of Lights. Paris! Cleo’s tall, striking, and generally attracts double-takes or long looks from men who pass by.  On first blush, she seems to have it all, but she’s awfully…