Author: Alan French

First Oscar Predictions: Netflix v The World (12-1)
As we enter December, we're officially in the heat of the Oscar season. Over the next few weeks, critics groups and industry insiders will make their voices heard. The National Board of Review will announce their Top 10 films of the year, as well as their Best Film of 2019. The winner of this group has… Read More "First Oscar Predictions: …
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Review: ‘The Irishman’ Captures Remorse, Love, and Violence in Scorsese’s Latest Masterpiece
For decades, the name Martin Scorsese has been synonymous with the gangster film. The reputation is not unearned. On the contrary, Goodfellas, Mean Streets, and The Departed continue to find their audience as classics within the genre. Yet Scorsese's body of work falls closer to the Werner Herzog or Jonathan Demme. Unlike his contemporaries, Scorsese bent genre… Read More "Review: ‘The Irishman’ …

Review: ‘The World According to Jeff Goldblum’ Is a Wonderous Delight
Actor Jeff Goldblum remains one of the most exciting enigmas in pop culture. He's weird, charmingly funny, and attractive. Yet at the same time, he's so strange, you wonder if you need to call someone to make sure he's okay. His eccentric, tycoon-like energy makes him an extremely captivating watch, and thank god someone realized that. The… Read More "Review: ‘The World …
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Review: ‘Noelle’ Tries to Recapture The Magic of ‘Elf,’ But Falls a Little Short
The cheesy and earnest holiday film remains a staple of holiday programming. For as much fun as the Rankin and Bass films became, the wholesome stories always played it safe. For Disney+, the choice to release in November made it imperative they had Christmas programming for the holiday season. The star-studded Noelle gives the new… Read More "Review: ‘Noelle’ Tries …
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REVIEW: J-Lo and Lorene Scafaria Make ‘Hustlers’ a Brilliant Femme Fetale Crime Flick
Over the past few decades, crime films and content often focus on the men who perpetrate violent acts. Walter White took the world by storm, while Henry Hill helped define gangster films for an entire generation. The Sopranoes and The Departed focused on people who were not fit for the mental toll a life in crime takes… Read More "REVIEW: J-Lo and …
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Review: ‘Rick and Morty’ Picks Up Where It Left Off with the Callback Heavy Season 4
The rise of science fiction on television has offered unique opportunities for storytellers. For Justin Roiland, he not only accelerated the revitalization of the genre in the medium, but he took full advantage of his artform to tell ridiculous stories. Roiland, the creator and star of Rick and Morty, has created a natural successor to The Simpsons or South Park… Read More "Review: ‘Rick and …
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Review: ‘The Crown’ Gives a New Cast Standout Episodes, Emerging as an Early Emmy Favorite
With the rise of anthology television, the possibilities for storytelling opened up considerably. For The Crown, Netflix got to take a bigger swing than most shows: they recast the entire series. Perhaps more importantly, Peter Morgan refocuses the series around the concept of the royal family. While the first two seasons were acclaimed, especially with standout performances from Claire… Read More "Review: ‘The Crown’ …