“That’s all he ever wanted out of life… was love. That’s the tragedy of Charles Foster Kane. You see, he just didn’t have any to give.”
Nothing’s more fun than The Wildey’s Tuesday Night Film Series CITIZEN KANE (1941) will be on the big screenwhen it plays at The Wildey Theater in Edwardsville, IL (252 N Main St, Edwardsville, IL 62025) at 7:00pm Tuesday January 4th. Tickets are only $3 Tickets available starting at 3pm day of movie at Wildey Theatre ticket office. Cash or check only. (cash, credit cards accepted for concessions) Lobby opens at 6pm.
Is CITIZEN KANE the greatest film ever made? On a technical level, it may as well be. It’s at least the most groundbreaking film ever made. On a storytelling level, it’s an amazing achievement itself in that Orson Welles used such avant-garde techniques yet maintained an engrossing story. It’s a film full of contradictions and works perfectly because of them. Its over-the-top yet subtle, experimental yet accessible, quickly paced yet requiring of patience. Its considered the greatest film because of how it incorporates all these trademarks and the fact it basically reinvented the rules on how to make a movie. This must be credited to both Gregg Toland’s cinematography and Robert Wise’s editing as much as Orson Welles’ direction. This is probably the first film that could be considered so visually dense it required multiple viewings.
Oddly enough, in spite of the vast array of technical advances introduced in this film, it’s the story that one remembers. Welles is so often praised as a director, it’s easy to overlook the fact he was an accomplished actor also. Because of his multi-layered performance, Kane is a sympathetic individual instead of a cold hearted capitalist stock character. The screenplay by Herman J. Mankiewicz is so superb many argue he deserves as much credit as Welles. The hype on this one is really deserved. It really may as well be the greatest film of all time and now you’ll have the opportunity to see it on the big screen when it screens Tuesday January 4th at The Wildey.
RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, will release THE DJINN on DVD and Blu-ray on January 4, 2022.
Here’s the trailer:
RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, will release the critically acclaimed horror film The Djinn on DVD and Blu-ray on January 4, 2022. IFC Midnight released The Djinn in theaters, on Digital Rental & VOD on May 14, 2021.
Now you can win the Win the Blu-ray of THE DJINN. We Are Movie Geeks has threee to give away. Just leave a comment below telling us what your favorite horror movie that starts with the letter ‘D’ is (I’d say DAWN OF THE DEAD. It’s so easy!)
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
The Djinn is co-written and co-directed by David Charbonier (The Boy Behind The Door) and Justin Powell (The Boy Behind The Door). The film stars Ezra Dewey (“Criminal Minds”), Rob Brownstein (“The Young and the Restless”), Tevy Poe (Redwood Massacre: Annihilation), Donald Pitts (“The Secrets We Keep”) and John Erickson (Sexually Frank). RLJE Films will release The Djinn on DVD for an SRP of $27.97 and on Blu-ray for an SRP of $28.96.
Mute boy, Dylan (Ezra Dewey) finds a book of spells in the closet when he is left home alone in their new apartment by his father (Rob Brownstein) to work the night shift. Blaming himself for the recent death of his mother, Dylan summons a djinn to grant one wish. Now he must survive a night of sheer terror at the hands of the sinister creature to fulfill his heart’s greatest desire.
Check out the brand new trailer for THE BATMAN, hitting theaters next year on March 4, 2022.
From Warner Bros. Pictures comes Matt Reeves’ “The Batman,” starring Robert Pattinson in the dual role of Gotham City’s vigilante detective and his alter ego, reclusive billionaire Bruce Wayne.
Starring alongside Pattinson (“Tenet,” “The Lighthouse”) as Gotham’s famous and infamous cast of characters are Zoë Kravitz (“Big Little Lies,” “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”) as Selina Kyle; Paul Dano (“Love & Mercy,” “12 Years a Slave”) as Edward Nashton; Jeffrey Wright (“No Time to Die,” “Westworld”) as the GCPD’s James Gordon; John Turturro (the “Transformers” films, “The Plot Against America”) as Carmine Falcone; Peter Sarsgaard (“The Magnificent Seven,” “Interrogation”) as Gotham D.A. Gil Colson; Jayme Lawson (“Farewell Amor”) as mayoral candidate Bella Reál; with Andy Serkis (the “Planet of the Apes” films, “Black Panther”) as Alfred; and Colin Farrell (“The Gentlemen,” “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”) as Oswald Cobblepot.
Reeves (“The Planet of the Apes” franchise) directed from a screenplay by Reeves & Peter Craig, based on characters from DC. Batman was created by Bob Kane with Bill Finger. Dylan Clark (the “Planet of the Apes” films) and Reeves produced the film, with Michael E. Uslan, Walter Hamada, Chantal Nong Vo and Simon Emanuel serving as executive producers.
The director’s behind-the-scenes creative team included Oscar-nominated director of photography Greig Fraser (“Dune,” “Lion”); Reeves’ “Planet of the Apes” production designer, James Chinlund, and editor, William Hoy; editor Tyler Nelson (“Rememory”); and Oscar-winning costume designer Jacqueline Durran (“1917,” “Little Women,” “Anna Karenina”). The music is by Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (the current “Spider-Man,” “Jurassic World” and “Star Wars” films, “Up”).
Warner Bros. Pictures Presents a 6th & Idaho/Dylan Clark Productions Production, a Matt Reeves Film, “The Batman.” The film is set to open in theaters March 4, 2022 and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
“This is London. Someone has died in every room in every building and on every street corner in the city.”
EDGAR WRIGHT’S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED, STYLISH, PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER IS YOURS TO OWN FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME. BRING HOME THE CINEMATIC MASTERPIECE WITH LOADS OF BONUS CONTENT, INCLUDING NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN DELETED SCENES. OWN IT ON DIGITAL JANUARY 4, 2022 4K UHD, BLU-RAYTM AND DVD JANUARY 18, 2022FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
From the acclaimed director of fan-favorites such as Baby Driver, Shaun of the Dead and The World’s End comes the “mesmerizing and ultra-stylish” (US Weekly) tribute to 1960s London, LAST NIGHT IN SOHO, available to own for the first time on Digital January 4, 2022 and 4K Ultra HD, Blu-rayTM and DVD January 18, 2022 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. “A stunning achievement of filmmaking” (LA Times), LAST NIGHT IN SOHO is filled to the brim with thrills, suspense and a love of classic film and music in every frame. Own the cinematic masterpiece for the first time, alongside exclusive bonus content, including never-before-seen deleted scenes, behind-the-scenes content and feature commentaries exploring the intoxicating nostalgia, flair and suspense.
In Edgar Wright’s psychological thriller, Eloise (Thomasin McKenzie, Jojo Rabbit, Old), an aspiring fashion designer, is mysteriously able to enter the 1960s, where she encounters a dazzling wannabe singer, Sandie (Anya Taylor-Joy, Emma, “The Queen’s Gambit”). But the glamour is not all it appears to be, and the dreams of the past start to crack and splinter into something far darker.
The “seductive and sophisticated” (NY Times) masterpiece is directed by Edgar Wright, and stars Thomasin McKenzie, Anya Taylor-Joy, Matt Smith (The Crown, Doctor Who) and Michael Ajao (Attack the Block, Silent Witness). The film is co-written by Edgar Wright and Krysty Wilson-Cairns (1917).
BONUS FEATURES on 4K UHD, BLU-RAY , DVD AND DIGITAL:
MAKING OF FEATURETTES
MEET ELOISE – An in-depth look at the character of Eloise and the challenges that star Thomasin McKenzie faced while bringing her to life.
DREAMING OF SANDIE – A closer look at the characters of Sandie and Jack and why Anya Taylor-Joy and Matt Smith were the perfect actors to embody the essence of the time period.
SMOKE AND MIRRORS – The cast and crew break down how lighting, makeup, special effects, and creative camerawork came together to create a collision between the present day and 1960’s time periods.
ON THE STREETS OF SOHO – The cast and crew discuss the importance of shooting on location in Soho and the complexity of transforming the city streets back in time.
TIME TRAVELLING – A look into how the music, costume design, and production design of the film work together to immerse the audience into the world of 1960’s Soho.
DELETED SCENES
ANIMATICS
FIRST DREAM
SHADOW MEN
MURDER
FINAL CONFRONTATION
EXTRAS
HAIR & MAKEUP TESTS**
LIGHTING & VFX TESTS**
WIDE ANGLE WITNESS CAM
ACTON TOWN HALL STEADICAM REHEARSAL**
“DOWNTOWN” MUSIC VIDEO**
TRAILERS**
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT, EDITOR PAUL MACHLISS AND COMPOSER STEVE PRICE
FEATURE COMMENTARY WITH DIRECTOR/CO-WRITER EDGAR WRIGHT AND CO-WRITER KRISTY WILSON-CAIRNS
” I’d frankly prefer not die for anything. And that includes sickness, old days or choking on a bagel.”
Woody Allen’s latest work, RIFKIN’S FESTIVAL (which was shot in 2019 and premiered at last year’s Sebastian Film Festival), is now arriving in the U.S. in theaters and on digital platforms on January 28, 2022 from MPI Media Group.
Here’s the trailer:
RIFKIN’S FESTIVAL stars Elena Anaya, Louis Garrel, Gina Gershon, Sergi López, Wallace Shawn, and Christoph Waltz,
Mort Rifkin (Wallace Shawn – Manhattan, My Dinner with Andre), a retired film studies professor, accompanies his publicist wife Sue (Gina Gershon New Amsterdam, Killer Joe) to the San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain. He goes not for the films, but because he’s worried that Sue’s fascination with her young buzzed-about film director client, Philippe (Louis Garrel – Little Women, An Officer and a Spy), might be more than professional. In addition, Mort hopes the change of scenery will provide a respite from his struggle to write a first novel that lives up to his impossibly exacting standards. With Mort’s relentlessly dismissive opinions of Philippe, and Sue’s sharp focus on her career as well as Philippe, their already frayed relationship becomes more strained. Mort’s mood lightens when he meets Jo Rojas (Elena Anaya – The Skin I Live In), a kindred spirit whose marriage to tempestuous painter Paco (Sergi López – Pan’s Labyrinth) is causing her pain as well. While Mort’s personal tastes have sometimes pushed people away, Jo’s intellect and shared sensibility draw them together. While Sue spends her days with Philippe, Mort’s relationship with Jo deepens.
RLJE Films, a business unit of AMC Networks, has picked up select rights to THE SUPERDEEP from Shudder, AMC Networks’ streaming service for horror, thriller and the supernatural. THE SUPERDEEP will be available on January 4, 2022 on VOD, Digital HD, DVD and Blu-ray. The DVD will be available for an SRP of $27.97 and the Blu-ray for an SRP of $28.96.
Now you can win the Win the Blu-ray of THE SUPERDEEP. We Are Movie Geeks has two to give away. Just leave a comment below telling us what your favorite movie that takes place underwater is (I’d say THE ABYSS. It’s so easy!)
1. YOU MUST BE A US RESIDENT. PRIZE WILL ONLY BE SHIPPED TO US ADDRESSES. NO P.O. BOXES. NO DUPLICATE ADDRESSES.
2. WINNER WILL BE CHOSEN FROM ALL QUALIFYING ENTRIES. NO PURCHASE NECESSARY
Directed by Arseniy Sukhin (Lockout), written by Victor Bondaryuk (Deadly Still), and inspired by true events, THE SUPERDEEP stars Milena Radulovic (The Balkan Line), Nikita Dyuvbanov (Abigail), Kirill Kovbas (Ikariya), Vadim Demchog (Son of a Rich) and Sergey Ivanyuk (Z’olushka).
In THE SUPERDEEP, the Russian Kola Superdeep Borehole is the largest drilling project in the world, attempting to drill as far as possible into the Earth’s crust. After reaching depths of nearly seven miles below the surface, unexplained sounds resembling the screams and moans of numerous people were reported and the borehole was shut down. But when a small team of scientists and military personnel set out to unearth the source of the strange sounds, they end up discovering the greatest threat that humanity has ever faced.
The DVD & Blu-Ray special features include The Superdeep SFX by Galaxy Effects.
AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL JANUARY 4ON 4K ULTRA HD™,BLU-RAY™, DVD FEBRUARY 1PLUS THE GHOSTBUSTERS ULTIMATE COLLECTIONALSO AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 1
From director Jason Reitman and producer Ivan Reitman comes the next chapter in the original Ghostbusters universe. In Ghostbusters: Afterlife, when a single mom and her two kids arrive in a small town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather, an original Ghostbuster, left behind. The film is written by Gil Kenan & Jason Reitman.
.
GHOSTBUSTERS ULTIMATE COLLECTION 4K ULTRA HD SET Featuring GHOSTBUSTERS, GHOSTBUSTERS II and GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE on 4K Ultra HD & Blu-ray, plus two discs full of special features! Includes over 20 hours of rare behind-the-scenes and must-see archival gems, including the full Preview Cut of the original movie and much, much more! Presented in collectible “ghost trap” packaging with lights,and includes a full 220-page reprint of the rare 1985 “Making GHOSTBUSTERS” book! Also includes digital versions of GHOSTBUSTERS, GHOSTBUSTERS II, GHOSTBUSTERS: ANSWER THE CALL and GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE.
BONUS MATERIALS: GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE
BLU-RAY™, 4K Ultra HD™ and Digital
We Got One! Easter Eggs Revealed
Ghostbusters: A Look Back
A Look Ahead
Bringing Ecto-1 Back to Life
The Gearhead’s Guide to Ghostbusters Gadgets
Special Effects: The Ghosts of Afterlife
Deleted Scene: Is It Ever Too Late?
Summoning the Spirit: Making Ghostbusters: Afterlife
DVD
Summoning the Spirit: Making Ghostbusters: Afterlife
THE GHOSTBUSTERS ULTIMATE COLLECTION
GHOSTBUSTERS 4K ULTRA HD
Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos + 5.1 + Theatrical Stereo
GHOSTBUSTERS BLU-RAY
Feature presented in high definition, from the 4K master
5.1 + Theatrical Stereo
Special Features:
Commentary Featuring Director Ivan Reitman, Star/Co-Writer Harold Ramis and Associate Producer Joe Medjuck
Fan Commentary Moderated by Ghost Corps’ Eric Reich
Slimer Mode Picture-in-Picture Track
GHOSTBUSTERS II 4K ULTRA HD
Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos + 5.1 + Theatrical Stereo
GHOSTBUSTERS II BLU-RAY
Feature presented in high definition, from the 4K master
5.1 + Theatrical Stereo
Special Feature:
Commentary Featuring Director Ivan Reitman, Star/Co-Writer Dan Aykroyd and Executive Producer Joe Medjuck
GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE 4K ULTRA HD
Feature presented in 4K resolution with Dolby Vision
Dolby Atmos
GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE BLU-RAY
Feature presented in high definition
Includes all special features from the standalone Blu-ray
SPECIAL FEATURES DISC 1 – GHOSTBUSTERS (1984)
NEW: Rare 114-minute Preview Cut of the Film (in Standard Definition) – an unearthed early cut of the film with alternate takes, additional scenes, early effects and more. A unique must-see experience for any Ghostbusters fan!
With optional commentary by Associate Producer Joe Medjuck and Editor Sheldon Kahn
NEW: “Reitman Squared” Scene Commentary – a look at two scenes from the film with Ivan & Jason Reitman
NEW: Dana’s Lost Auditions – eight auditions for the role of Dana Barrett, featuring Denise Crosby, Kelly LeBrock and more!
Special thanks to Brandon Kleyla
NEW: “Ghostbusters: Behind Closed Doors” Documentary – a 90-minute documentary about the making of Ghostbusters and the history of the franchise!
NEW:Ghostbusters Dailies – over an hour of raw dailies, encompassing 7 scenes from the film
NEW: Full TV Broadcast Version of the Film (in Standard Definition) – featuring alternate TV-safe takes
16 Deleted Scenes
TV Commercial from the Film + Commercial Outtakes
1984 ShoWest Exhibitor Reel
“A Moment With the Stars” Original EPK Featurette
1984 Featurette
SFX Team Featurette
Cast and Crew Featurette
Who You Gonna Call: A Ghostbusters Retrospective
Ecto-1: Resurrecting the Classic Car
Ruth Oliver’s Library Ghost Scream Test
Multi-Angle Explorations
Storyboard Comparisons
Photo Galleries
“Ghostbusters” Music Video by Ray Parker, Jr.
Theatrical Trailers & Promo
SPECIAL FEATURES DISC 2 – GHOSTBUSTERS II & GHOSTBUSTERS: AFTERLIFE
GHOSTBUSTERS II
NEW: “Reitman Squared” Scene Commentary – a look at two scenes from the film with Ivan & Jason Reitman
NEW: 19 Deleted Scenes – a collection of never-before-seen deleted scenes!
NEW:Ghostbusters II Soundtrack Promo – a scene from the film with commentary from composer Randy Edelman
NEW: Full TV Broadcast Version of the Film (in Standard Definition) – featuring alternate TV-safe takes
7 Additional Deleted Scenes
“The Oprah Winfrey Show: Cast of Ghostbusters II” – June 1989
Simon Rex in Sean Baker’s dark comedy RED ROCKET. Courtesy of A24.
A shabby man (Simon Rex) stumbles off a bus and heads for a modest house in a little Texas town. He seems confident they will take him in but, despite an outpouring of charm, they refuse to let him set foot in the place. Not only don’t the residents let him in, they order him off their property. You know there is more to this story, and we are about to find out what in Sean Baker’s comedy RED ROCKET.
The film opens with NSYNC’s song “Bye, Bye, Bye,” which becomes a kind of running theme, in this comic tale. Good-bye is what most of these people want to say to Mikey Saber, the fellow fresh off the bus. Comedian and former MTV star Simon Rex is perfectly cast as smooth-talking Mikey Saber, an aging failed porn star whose fortunes have fallen so far that he was forced to flee Hollywood to return the the hometown he dumped long ago. Now, that he is back, he pours on the charm but eventually resorts to begging his ex-wife Lexi (Bree Elrod) and mother-in-law Lil (Brenda Deiss), whose doorstep he is on, to take him in. Scratch that – she’s his estranged wife; they never divorced although they parted ways only ago. Eventually, the women reluctantly do let him in, with promises that he just wants to take a shower and borrow some clothes. Yeah, sure.
Sean Baker first captured attention with TANGERINE, a groundbreaking micro-budget film of life on the street shot on cell phone, and then soared with FLORIDA PROJECT, an acclaimed, heart-rending tale of a girl growing up in a Florida weekly-rental motel, shot with striking realism. Baker has always focused sympathetically on those on the lowest economic level while showing their lives remarkable realism. That sympathy for those on the lowest rung and that realism is still here in this film, but now the focus is on dark humor and on the destructive character at the center of this tale.
Simon Rex’s Mikey Saber is funny and entertaining, but might not be a nice guy. At first we sympathize with this homeless character who has nowhere else to go but we quickly learn there is reason for the hostility of those who know him. It seems Mikey Saber – a stage name, of course – is a charming sociopath, using people and conning his way through life, before and after leaving his dusty industrial hometown behind to go to Hollywood. Confident, unfailingly optimistic, and self-centered, Mikey had plans to become a star but what he did was become a porn star. Or, at least, he says he was a star, repeatedly citing his porn industry awards – “like the Oscars” as he tells it.
Can Mikey turn over a new leaf? Despite everything that has happened, Mikey has unsinkable self confidence, along with no scruples. He’s always looking for an angle, polishing his own image, and seeking a way in to people’s hearts, to turn that to his advantage. Donald Trump is on the TV in the background of several scenes, running for president in 2016, hinting that director Baker wants to drawing parallels. Most who knew Mikey are wise to his tricks, but he does take in a young neighbor, Lonnie (Ethan Darbone), who remembers him from when he was a little kid and Mikey’s wife used to babysit him. Lonnie thinks of Mikey as a colorful local legend, and Mikey uses that admiration to his advantage, particularly getting Lonnie to drive him places.
At first, it seems that Mikey might have learned some life lessons. Once in the door, he pleads to stay and, borrowing his wife’s bicycle without asking, sets out to look for a job. Having been turned down all over town, he starts selling pot for cash. He might just turn over that famous leaf and do the right thing – like paying his own way. But meeting a pretty red-headed teen-aged girl (Suzanna Son) at a doughnut shop sets Mikey off on new schemes.
While Mikey leaves plenty of destruction in his wake but he is his own worst enemy too. Simon Rex fans will probably enjoy his rogue character in this dark comedy more than those charmed by Sean Baker’s touching FLORIDA PROJECT who might be hoping for something more like that. Certainly, RED ROCKET is a well-made film and there are some excellent performances, but the central character is such a slime ball that the film is hard to take. Baker retains his humanist view of people at the economic bottom rung who surround this hustler, and Baker’s human sensibility provides a satisfying ending. But along the way, there are plenty of cringe-worthy moments, and a creepiness about Mikey that is hard to tolerate. It’s not a film for everyone.
Dana Canedy (Chante Adams) and Charles Monroe King (Michael B. Jordan) in Columbia Pictures’ JOURNAL FOR JORDAN.
Denzel Washington directs this true-story based drama about love and loss, starring Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams as a mismatched couple who meet and fall in love. Career military man Charles and Dana Canedy, an editor at the New York Times, who meet and unexpectedly fall in love, and the journal of fatherly advice the soldier leaves behind for his son. The film opens with a single mother, Dana Canedy (Chanté Adams), in New York struggling to balance her high-pressure career and the responsibilities of caring for her toddler son Jordan while grappling with grief. Over the course of the two-track film, we see Jordan grow up along side flashbacks to his parents’ romance.
The film is based on Dana Canedy’s non-fiction book “A Journal for Jordan” on love and loss, and which was an expansion of her 2007 article. At first, director Denzel Washington focuses on Dana’s hectic life, alternating with a romantic, slightly comic portrait of the their romance. Later on, the director leans into the tragedy, family themes and patriotic ones of the story.
When they first meet at a birthday barbecue, Sgt. Charles Monroe King (Michael B. Jordan), a career soldier, and Dana Canedy (Chanté Adams), a New York Times editor, couldn’t seem more mismatched. The birthday barbecue is for her father, a drill sergeant with whom Dana, a sophisticated New Corker, has a testy relationship. The news that yet another of her drill Sergeant dad’s young soldiers is going to be there induces some eye-rolling on Dana’s part. Yet when she actually meets handsome Charles Monroe King, sparks fly. The two start an on-and-off long distance relationship, despite her New York sophistication and his penchant for corny dad jokes, that deepens over time, as Charles achieves his ambition to be a career drill sergeant and Dana’s journalism career soars.
Michael B. Jordan and Chanté Adams have a nice chemistry together, and her more outgoing, big-city character makes an appealing contrast to his ramrod straight, country boy sincerity. When a driver at a traffic signal fails to respond quickly when the light changes, Adams’ Dana reaches over and leans on the horn. By contrast, polite rule-follower Charles instructs her on the proper way to keep hands on the steering wheel at all times. While Dana is happy to drowse in bed in the morning, Charles bounces out of bed and starts doing push-ups on the floor. Michael B. Jordan fans will appreciate the many times the actor appears without his shirt, showing off his fine physique. Since a lot of the story seems to take place in Dana’s apartment, there are ample opportunities.
At first there is a romantic comedy vibe to the film. But just as the couple prepares to welcome their son Jordan and to wed, 9/11 happens. When Sgt. King is deployed to Iraq, Dana sends Charles off with a journal, and instructions to write in it every day he is gone, as a record of advice to his son.
That is, of course, the journal in the title, although Dana waits until Jordan is older to share it with him. The romance thread’s earlier romantic comedy bent yields to a more serious tone, as they anticipate the birth of their child and get engaged, and then tensely dramatic as the events of 9/11 unfold. The story of the romance unfolds along side scenes of Jordan growing up, hitting familiar milestones, but also painting a portrait of a woman working through grief. The two thread come together in a moment of grief, family and sense of duty at the end.
However, not every great, moving true story makes a great movie. The translating of this story to the screen loses some of the poetry of Canedy’s writing and the sentiment is heavy in this three-hankie tragic drama. Director Denzel Washington leans into the sentimental, although the romance has some nice comic turns early on, but the sentiment gets more ponderous as the story goes on. Fans of romantic weepers may be the best audience for this sentimental film, while others might find it too Hallmark Channel for their taste.
A JOURNAL FOR JORDAN opens Saturday, Dec. 25, in theaters.
Marvel Studios has debuted the teaser trailer and poster for “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness”—a thrilling ride through the Multiverse with Doctor Strange, his trusted friend Wong and Wanda Maximoff, aka Scarlet Witch.
The trailer was tagged onto the credits of SPIDER MAN: NO WAY HOME. According to Deadline, “Sony/Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home now has a worldwide total of $813.9 million through Wednesday, pushing it past No Time to Die and making it the No. 3 movie of the year, and the top Hollywood release.”
“Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” opens in U.S. theaters on May 6, 2022.
