It’s rare that there is actual quality behind a family film. It’s even rarer that everyone on board takes it seriously. Yet “Fly Away Home” fills both those categories. The film, released in 1996, not only captured our imaginations but our hearts. Yes, I did just write that cliche, and no, I’m not proud of…
Category: Drama
Review: ‘Blindspotting’ Wows with Substance and Style
Last year I was in a group discussion about some of the breakout performers in film of 2017. One member of the group floated Daveed Diggs, the multi-talented actor best known for originating the dual roles of Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in “Hamilton” on Broadway. His film that he was submitted for was “Wonder,” a cute if…
WE MISS VHS: ‘Varsity Blues’
One of the films that feels like it should a larger role in pop culture today is “Varsity Blues.” The film is definitely a big one for very portions of the population that loves football, as well as a cross-section of women who just loved Dawson. However, James Van Der Beek aside, it has almost no…
Review: ‘Summer of ’84’ Shines as a Future Cult Classic
There has been a pretty strong reaction to the overuse of nostalgia in pop culture. This caused one of the backlashes against “Stranger Things,” as well as some negativity surrounding various reboots. However, diving into an era can also surprise audiences if they buy into the story. This is where Gunpowder & Sky’s “Summer of ’84” shines. Taking…
We Miss VHS! A Retrospective Series from We Bought a Blog
As a kid I was spoiled. I’ll admit it. During family vacations, before having an overhead TV and DVD player in your family car was mainstream, my dad had jerry-rigged a portable TV and VCR that allowed me to while away the long hours on car rides. During these trips, I had my go-to movies….
Review: ‘BlacKkKlansman’ is for the Ages, But Speaks to the Moment
There’s no denying that Spike Lee is one of the iconic filmmakers of the past thirty years. He burst on the scene with “She’s Gotta Have It” in 1986, establishing his reputation as a phenomenal screenplay immediately. “Do the Right Thing” is a cinematic triumph, and one of the best 25 to 30 American films ever…
Mission: Impossible by the Numbers
Early word is that Tom Cruise’s latest installment in the very successful “Mission: Impossible” series – itself based on a television show; see my thoughts on that here – is the most exciting in the series. Rather than lose wind as the franchise continues on, it seems to pick up speed. The new films ups…
