Tag: Movie

The narrow, orderly focus trips up ‘Chaos Walking’

Jeff Mitchell

Tom Holland is rightfully enjoying massive success in the movie biz these days. Hear!  Hear! Holland, 24, easily fits into the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Spider-man, but he’s not just a red-and-blue superhero.  He’s starred in other big-studio films, like “In the Heart of the Sea” (2015), “The Lost City of Z” (2016), “Onward” (2020), and “The Devil All the Time” (2020). His characters handle themselves just fine when saving humanity or diving into a one-on-one scrap, and his friendly bravado translates into real-life. Holland is a certified star, but no…

Kelly Marie Tran and Awkwafina make a delightful and dynamic duo in ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’

Jeff Mitchell

“Raya and the Last Dragon” – “At its core, it’s an action movie.” – screenwriter Qui Nguyen, March 2, 2021 “Note to self, don’t die.” – Raya (Kelly Marie Tran) And how…and please don’t! In Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon”, Raya (Tran) – an early-20-something – and her trusty companion Tuk Tuk – a 10-foot long, pill bug/armadillo-like, four-legged friend, who best resembles an organic Fiat 500 – carry us on a dazzling animated journey.  Their quest is to search for the last remaining dragon, Sisu (Awkwafina), and find…

‘Boogie’: The well-intentioned attempts don’t run up the cinematic scoreboard

Jeff Mitchell

“Boogie” – “Maybe we should start at the beginning so you can get some context.” – Melvin (Mike Moh) During the second act of writer/director Eddie Huang’s basketball film, Melvin (Moh), an aggressive sport agent, formulates a plan for Alfred ‘Boogie’ Chin (Taylor Takahashi) and utters the aforementioned statement, but this declaration serves this movie’s opening scene too. Huang’s picture starts – in 2001 – inside a modest Queens, N.Y. fortune teller’s parlor, and a young couple – clearly on edge – argue, bicker, and ponder their relationship and future. …