Category: Reviews

‘Vengeance’: Novak lassoes several cinematic targets

Jeff Mitchell

“Vengeance” (2022) – “So, as like a personal boundary, I don’t avenge deaths.” – Ben Manalowitz (B.J. Novak) When we first meet, Ben Manalowitz, a 30-something writer for The New Yorker, he chats with one of his buddies at a New York City get-together.  These two single dudes commit a solid five minutes of screen time bantering about their eternal commitments to not forge commitments with their various trysts, dates, and temporary partners.  They quickly volley back and forth, and it’s a bit dizzying to recall all the details.  However,…

‘Nope’ is a spectacular Maybe

Jeff Mitchell

“Nope” (2022) – “What is a bad miracle?  They got a word for that?” – Otis ‘OJ’ Haywood (Daniel Kaluuya) Six months ago, OJ (which stands for Otis Jr.) witnessed a horrible freak accident, one caused by the said bad miracle that killed his father, Otis Sr. (Keith David), and injured one of their horses, Ghost. Ghost survived, but this majestic animal’s spirit is bruised and a bit frayed.  OJ is frazzled too, but he generally swallows his words and feelings.  He lived in the shadow of his ambitious father, the owner…

Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down, but your emotional walls probably will.

Jeff Mitchell

“Gabby Giffords Won’t Back Down” (2022) – “So many people hurt.  A lot of people died.  Always connected to them.  Grateful to survive.  I’m alive.” – Gabrielle Dee Giffords On Jan. 8, 2011 in front of a Tucson, Ariz. Safeway grocery store, a lone shooter wreaked havoc on a Congress on Your Corner event and killed six people and injured 13 others.  U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Giffords was one of the wounded, shot in the head and then rushed to a hospital.  While watching directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West’s…