#REVIEW: “PLAYING IT COOL”
Formerly titled Love is a Many Splintered Thing, Playing it Cool brings to life a promising Black List-named Screenplay by Chris Schafer and Paul Vicknair. Centering on a Screenwriter known in the Story as the Narrator (Chris Evans) who prefers writing Action, though tasked by his Publisher (Anthony Mackie) with writing a Romance, we witness him become the Story's Romantic Lead. Himself a Disbeliever in love, he finds himself drawn helplessly to a beautiful Woman simply known as Her ...
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#REVIEW: “HOT TUB TIME MACHINE 2”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
I loved Hot Tub Time Machine when I first saw it. While the title and premise are utterly ridiculous, the casting of John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke was inspired and hysterical. The Film should not have worked, but it had a certain charm and never once took itself seriously. But then, could a Film about a group of Friends traveling back in time using a Hot Tub be anything other than ludicrous?
While the ending of the first ...
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#REVIEW: “MCFARLAND”
Review by George Kozera for Mr. Will Wong
Last year, Disney had a hit with both the critics and the moviegoers alike; Million Dollar Arm was an underdog Sports Movie based on a true story that I found very entertaining. Hoping for the same or greater success with a similar thematic premise, Disney has released McFarland. The result? It’s a Winner!
Kevin Costner plays Jim White, a High School Football Coach who has difficulties holding onto jobs due to anger management issues. Fired ...
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#REVIEW: “THE DUFF”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
From Director Ari Sandel and Screenwriter Josh Cagan comes the latest Teen-Comedy to sweep the nation! What makes The DUFF all kinds of wonderful is that it combines the familiar essence of great Films in the Genre, like John Hughes' Classics, Mean Girls and Easy A. The DUFF like those mentioned Movies also carries a positive message which transcends all else and that message is simple, be yourself and love yourself for who you ...
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#REVIEW: “50 SHADES OF GREY”
Believe the hype. Fifty Shades of Grey was destined to be a calculated success from the start, everything from its perfect choice of Director in Sam Taylor-Johnson, down to its deliberately-hushed marketing and Valentine's Day release, effectively scaring away its competition from a same slot release. I will start by saying I have yet to turn a page in the sensual Trilogy's literary incarnation, but that in no way hindered my sheer enjoyment of the first in what surely will be a massive Film ...
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#REVIEW: “THE LAST FIVE YEARS”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Writer/Director Richard LaGravenese (P.S. I Love You) delivers his first-ever Musical, The Last Five Years with absolute success. The beautiful Drama soars high thanks to a phenomenal pair in Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. As the Story shifts in time, we find ourselves swept away through the happiness and resentment in Cathy and Jamie's compelling Love Story. The Film surely is not your happy-go-lucky type of Romance, but it certainly ...
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#REVIEW: “KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE”
Review by David Baldwin for Mr. Will Wong
The titular Kingsman are a group of covert English Spies who defend against the World's most terrible threats. For no explainable reason, they are all codenamed after the Knights of the Roundtable. After losing one of their own, the Members are given the opportunity to choose one candidate to train and compete to become the next Member. Galahad (Colin Firth) chooses the troubled street youth Eggsy (Taron Egerton) as his Candidate. And as Eggsy begins ...
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#REVIEW: “REVENGE OF THE GREEN DRAGONS”
I can stomach gore and certainly can stomach sexuality on-screen, but nothing prepared me for the frenzy of violence in TIFF '14 Selection, Revenge of the Green Dragons, which now sees a Video-on-Demand release. The pedigree certainly is there with Martin Scorcese as Executive Producer, helmed by the Man behind the critically and commercially-lauded Infernal Affairs Trilogy, Andrew Lau; Andrew Loo co-directs. Something ultimately is missing though in this gun-firing, knife-stabbing ...
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#REVIEW: “JUPITER ASCENDING”
Review by Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong
The Greeks had it right from the start. When you’re telling a Story filled with big ideas, you must keep the Narrative simple. The central Character acts as guide through a world of ineffable wonders. Youthful Listeners follow with ease, and many see the forest for the trees. There’s something for everyone, but for some there is more, it depends on how open you are to receive it.
I say that to say this, Mythology of all kinds help guide us ...
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#REVIEW: “SEVENTH SON”
Review by Justin Waldman for Mr. Will Wong
Seventh Son, a Movie that has been sitting on the shelf for longer than any Movie truly should have, finally sees the light of day. Unfortunately, the question has to be asked why the Movie ever left the dusty shelf it was left on years ago. The Film struggles to find itself, its Story feeling at times too familiar and at times unintentionally-funny that the Audience cannot muster enough to remain captivated.
The Film inspired by Joseph Delaney's ...
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