Movies This Spring

Movies This Spring

May 8, 2018 | Movies

Marvel’s movies dominated this spring at the box office again. This time, however, the plot and character glut maxes out to the point of fatigue. I was already dissuaded from further investing in Marvel’s comic book-based series, which I’ve favored, defended and enjoyed, by the overwrought, confused and overrated Black Panther. I’m apparently alone in that camp, which is fine with me.

Read the review

Unfortunately, this season’s Avengers: Infinity War is worse; my review explains why. I doubt I’ll look forward to seeing another Marvel movie. Even before I saw the most recent Star Wars picture, I was already starting to lose interest in that series, too, which I’ve never thought were comprised of great motion pictures.

Then, Lucasfilm named director Ron Howard to direct the new movie (an origin story) about the main major Star Wars character I find the least involving, Han Solo, titled Solo. The film debuts later this month. I’ve decided to see the movie, however, because I like some of Ron Howard’s work, especially Frost/Nixon, Cinderella Man and his TV series Parenthood for NBC. As always, I hope for the best.

The best is what I get every time I attend the TCM Classic Film Festival and this year’s events, screenings and movies do not disappoint. After previewing the literary-themed festival, I covered the red carpet affair on opening night. I met and interviewed honored guest Robert Benton, who wrote and directed two movies which screened this year, which I also reviewed.

My roundup of TCM’s 2018 Classic Film Festival, with a critique of what went wrong and an account of what was wonderfully right, is available on The New Romanticist. Among the classic movies screened and reviewed are Alfred Hitchcock’s 1945 murder mystery, Spellbound, Benton’s finely tuned Kramer vs. Kramer and my favorite film of all the pictures I saw, William Wellman’s original version of A Star is Born. They’re each reviewed and linked, with other films such as 1972’s Sounder and 1931’s I Take This Woman, in the roundup.

The TCM Classic Film Festival Preview

Apr 22, 2018 | Literature, Movies, Stage, Television, Writings

Read my preview of this week’s festival of classic movies, the TCM Classic Film Festival in Hollywood, at The New Romanticist here. The theme of this year’s event is the movie with literary origins. Accordingly, and happily, Turner Classic Movies is honoring writer and director Robert Benton, screenwriter for Bonnie and Clyde (1967) and Superman (1978), with new interviews including Q&As surrounding his dramatic classics, Places in the Heart and Kramer vs. Kramer.

‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ at 2018 TCM Classic Film Festival

To honor the New York City screenwriter and director, whom I’ve previously urged TCM to invite as a guest to the festival, I’ve recently reviewed both of Benton’s featured movies. As an admirer of his films, which are often marked by shocking violence and humor yet always meant to be taken seriously, it’s been a pleasure to go back to these movies, especially his Oscar-winning Best Picture for 1979, which was that year’s top box office hit. I’ve interviewed Benton about his outstanding if lesser known pictures, such as The Human Stain and Feast of Love, read writings by John O’Hara upon his recommendation and received valuable feedback from him on my own fiction writing.

Read my new reviews of his motion pictures Places in the Heart (1984) and Kramer vs. Kramer (1979). Also, this weekend is the final LA curtain call for playwright Neil Simon’s biting take on writing for television, which I previewed for the Los Angeles Times‘ local edition here. Look for new information, posts and updates about TCM’s event, classic movies and opportunities to enroll in my summer courses in the near future.