Warning: This post contains spoilers for Mufasa: The Lion King Mufasa: The Lion King may end the way we hope, but it offers a prequel story that adds to the robust tradition of The Lion King. The Disney film, directed by Barry Jenkins, serves as a prequel and sequel to the 2019 photorealistic animated remake. Mufasa: The Lion KingReviews for it were abysmal for the most part, although critics generally agree that it is a huge improvement over its predecessor. Mufasa ends with The Outsiders being defeated by Mufasa, his team – Sarabi, Rafiki and Zazu – and Milele's animals,…
Author: Mae Abdulbaki
The number of holiday movies seems to double every year, but none remain as heartfelt and timeless as The family man . The film's premise is simple and there are similarities to It's a wonderful life and A Christmas songbut there is an aching sense of loneliness and depth that permeates the film. The family man captured my heart when I first saw it, and watching it again recently only deepened my love for the film, which is sincere and unabashedly wears its heart on its sleeve. His lessons remain timely and Nicolas Cage and Téa Leoni are perfect together.…
Joaquin Phoenix leads the Beau is scared cast in one of the wildest roles of his career, but is also supported by an exceptional cast who carry him through his surreal story. Written and directed by Ari Aster, the filmmaker who brought audiences Hereditary and Summer solstice, Beau is scared follows Beau Wasserman (Phoenix), an anxious and fearful man who has a complicated relationship with his mother Mona. After her death, Beau embarks on a journey of self-discovery and fulfillment as he tries to get home in time for her funeral. Aster's latest and most challenging film to date isn't…
Warning: This post contains major spoilers for Beau's AfraidBeau is scaredof The ending is one of the wildest and strangest endings of the year. Written and directed by Ari Aster, whose filmography has historically dealt with similar themes, Beau is scared follows the titular character (played by Joaquin Phoenix) on a journey towards consciousness after the unexpected death of his mother Mona. Beau is scared received a mostly positive critical reception. At three hours long, the neurotic odyssey is Aster's longest film to date. The film ends with Beau strangling Mona after learning that she faked her own death. Mona…
Where biopics are known for portraying their subjects as larger-than-life figures to the detriment of their story and humanization, A complete stranger relies on the enigmatic nature of Bob Dylan. James Mangold, who directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Jay Cocks, seems to want to keep the singer as far away from arm's reach as possible. I came away from the film feeling like I learned nothing new or interesting about Bob Dylan beyond what we already know about him. This appears to be intentional, but it's no less frustrating from a storytelling perspective. A Complete Unknown is a biographical…
Long legs' the ending is chilling, involving multiple deaths and revelations. Written and directed by Osgood Perkins, Long legs reviews were mostly positive. Starring Maika Monroe and Nicolas Cage in one of their most iconic roles to date, Long legs ends with the titular character's arrest. After decoding many of the letters Longlegs left at the crime scenes, Agent Lee Harker revisited her own past to discover that she was one of the girls the killer had targeted. With a photo revealing Longlegs' identity, the FBI was finally able to capture him. Longlegs talks about a “friend of a friend”…
Moana 2 is hitting theaters this week, so it’s clear that Disney’s animated sequel is top of mind when it comes to the 2025 Oscars. The first film was well-received by critics and was even nominated in the Best Animated Feature category. Ultimately, it lost to another Disney film, Zootopiaat the 2017 Oscars. Naturally, its spectacular sequel can be expected to prove just how far it can go this year – only to prove that it can still win big despite the first film’s previous loss. But there is Moana 2 Has it proven to be a strong Oscar contender?…
In the wake of the successful original animation, a lot is happening Moana 2a sequel that builds very well on what came before. Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) gains a sweet little sister, Simea (Khaleesi Lambert-Tsuda), and that personal element really raises the stakes in terms of what the title character is fighting for and who she’s trying to get back to. The animation is still strong and the main character’s beats are moving, but there are certain aspects of the story – namely the villain and his motivations – that hold the film back from true greatness. Moana 2 is the…
Musicals nominated for Best Picture are few and far between, but this year we have two of them to root for – Evil and Emilia Perez . While the former is a traditional Broadway musical adaptation, the latter combines the detective and thriller genres with a musical twist. Both are distinct, but if both are nominated for Best Picture – and it’s likely they both will – either will take home the coveted award or both will go home without it. Of the two films, Emilia Pérez currently has the lowest score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a 79% fresh rating…
We expect so much from animated films – heart, humor, and character growth that blossom into a moving, memorable story. Not every film rises to the occasion, but some are less forgettable than others simply because they set out to do something a little different. Fascinated the Netflix film produced by Skydance Animation, tackles the themes of family and the changing dynamics that can potentially make or break it. This is his greatest strength, but for some reason he takes too long to defend his point of view and becomes discouraged in other areas of the process. Spellbound, directed by…