January, 2022 | Art House Film Wire

Movie of the Week: ‘Whiplash’

January 11, 2022January 11, 2022 Jeff Mitchell

“Whiplash” (2014) – J.K. Simmons has 217 acting credits, according to IMDb, which is a remarkable feat, since this 67-year-old started his movie career 28 years ago in “The Ref” (1994). That’s almost 8 projects per year. The man might be best known as J. Jonah Jameson, a Spider-Man nemesis, but J.K.’s crowning achievement is his work as Terence Fletcher, a tireless maniac of a jazz band instructor at NYC’s Shaffer Conservatory, the leading music college in the country. Simmons won the 2015 Best Supporting Actor Oscar, and although you…

AHFW’s Top 20 Films of 2021

January 8, 2022January 13, 2022 Jeff Mitchell

Like most folks, 2021 was not our easiest year on record, but we did return to movie theatres! For that, we’re infinitely grateful. Let’s hope for more progress and less heartache in 2022 and for three steps forward to combat the inevitable two steps back. Speaking of numbers, we caught plenty of flicks – via film festivals, frequent trips to local cineplexes, and streaming at home – and revisited the annual puzzle/beloved exercise of narrowing down our lengthy list of favorite films to just 20. Here they are: Art House…

‘The Tender Bar’ Virtual Press Conference

January 7, 2022January 7, 2022 Jeff Mitchell

“Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name, and they’re always glad you came.” “The Tender Bar” is the story about J.R. – as a kid (Daniel Ranieri) and then young adult (Tye Sheridan) – who looks up to his Uncle Charlie (Ben Affleck). Since J.R.’s father is rarely in his life, Charlie fills the void and encourages his nephew to read and pursue his passions. Hey, he even gives dating tips. Everyone could use an Uncle Charlie! George Clooney’s film – adapted from J.R. Moehringer’s 2005 memoir –…