Category: Movies at Home

‘The Suicide Squad’ kills

Jeff Mitchell

“The Suicide Squad” (2021) – And you thought a talking tree was weird. Writer, director, producer, and occasional actor James Gunn pulled off some pretty darn impressive cinematic magic in 2014.  He directed and co-wrote “Guardians of the Galaxy”, and stirred millions of moviegoers to passionately care about his Marvel Studios’ space adventure, one starring an NBC sitcom actor, a pro wrestler, Uhura from the new “Star Trek” films (but donning green makeup), a talking raccoon, and the aforementioned tree.  Gunn’s film raked in 733 million dollars at the box…

‘Annette’: This off-kilter musical is (figuratively) off-key

Jeff Mitchell

“Annette” (2021) – “So, may we start?” Yes, please do!  Director Leos Carax’s (“Holy Motors” (2012)) film opens inside a recording studio, which could be located anywhere.  The producer speaks French, so one might think that this 139-minute movie-experience could be set in Paris. Au contraire, mon frère.  Ron and Russell Mael (a.k.a. Sparks), six other musicians, a few backup singers, Ann Defrasnoux (Marion Cotillard), and Henry McHenry (Adam Driver) soon march out of the melodious indoor space.  They sing the said quote and reveal that they work in The…

‘The Last Letter from Your Lover’ looks gorgeous, but we’ve ‘read’ this story before

Jeff Mitchell

“The Last Letter from Your Lover” (2021) –  Director Augustine Frizzell’s film – based on Jojo Moyes’ 2008 novel with the same name – is an old-fashioned romance.  Well, half of it is.  “The Last Letter from Your Lover” is rooted in present-day London, but it flashes back 56 years to 1965 to the same city, when men sported suits and ties to step out of their houses to run random 10-minute errands, and women strived to look like Jackie Kennedy or Marlo Thomas.  Perhaps not Ms. Thomas, because “That…