Anthony Bourdain was a complex and vibrant personality. In his autobiography Kitchen Confidential, he describes a summer in 1975 in Provincetown, MA, and how it became the foundation of his career as a chef. Using that excerpt from the book, director Matt Johnson tells the most unexpectedly brilliant story. Dominic Sessa (The Holdovers, Now You … Continue reading Tony
Trigger warning: movie includes scenes of domestic violence HEEE HEEE.... HOOOOOOO, now that I have your attention. Michael Jackson, MJ, King of Pop, was a controversial figure, but there's no denying his talent. From humble beginnings in Gary, Indiana, to the world stage, see just how he got there and what he had to overcome. … Continue reading Michael
Fresh off the heels of his breakout tour, Bruce Springsteen (played by Chef Carmie from The Bear/Jeremy Allen White) needed time to reset before making a new album. Tucked in the New Jersey countryside, he wrestles with his complicated past and creates an album that isn't anything like his past work. I saw this because … Continue reading Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere
Mark Kerr was one of the best MMA fighters to go on to win the UFC championship. Based on his life and the documentary of the same name, watch as he strives for victory amidst addiction and tumultuous relationships. This started getting buzz because Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was cast as Kerr and Emily Blunt … Continue reading The Smashing Machine
Online dating, which was once a dreary method used only by those older than 35 on a computer, is now a popular way to meet new people, all from the comfort of your own phone. But how did we get here? Enter Whitney Wolfe (Lily James), who took an app nobody had heard of in … Continue reading Swiped
How far would you go to chase your dream? Based on the incredibly true story and autobiography of Anthony Robles, after being born with lonely one leg he fights to be a collegiate wrestler and prove the world wrong. Jharrel Jerome (who gained recognition from When They See Us) plays Robles, Don Cheadle (Hotel Rowanda, … Continue reading Unstoppable
Go see it, even if you have no idea who Bob Dylan is, just go. Now I sincerely hope you do know who he is but in case you don’t this is a great start. Starting in 1960, a young Bobby Dylan went to New York and over five years he transformed folk music and … Continue reading A Complete Unknown
Ronald Reagan, a Hollywood star who became the 40th president of the United States, but how? The whole movie is told from the perspective of Viktor Petrovich, who explains how the US defeated the Soviet Union. Based on the book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism; by Paul Kengor, Dennis Quaid (The Parent … Continue reading Reagan
Trudy Ederle, the first woman to swim the English Channel, had to fight for her right to swim not just at a competitive level but at all. She faced adversity at every turn but never gave up thanks to her family. Based on the book of the same name by Glenn Stout. I wasn’t quite … Continue reading Young Woman and the Sea
Trigger warning: movie contains portrayals of alcohol and drug abuse, eating disorders, and domestic disputes Amy Winehouse. A one of a kind voice that was gone too soon. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson (Fifty Shades of Grey), this biopic follows Winehouse (played by Marisa Abela) from humble beginnings to tumultuous relationships that inspired her classic hits … Continue reading Back to Black
During the Great Depression, there wasn't a lot to put your hope in. For the male students of the University of Washington, if you joined the Rowing Team you had a bed to sleep, three meals a day, and a part-time job. What started as a means to survive, 8 athletes found themselves bonded and … Continue reading Boys in the Boat
Bayard Rustin, one of the main advisors to MLK for most of the social rights movement, was a complex man. He was a key figurehead of the movement but his name isn’t referenced often even though it was him that provided a lot of impact. Being openly gay in the 1960s made him a target … Continue reading Rustin
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