A few years ago, Warner Brothers started the trend of taking the final volume of an adaptation and splitting it into two films. That film/adaptation was Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Lionsgate has continued this questionable trend with the final volume of the Hunger Games trilogy, Mockingjay. Harry Potter was 759 pages, while Mockingjay was 400. The former probably deserved the split film treatment, while the latter just feels like it’s milking the audience. Continue reading
Reviews
Doug Reviews: Whiplash
Ever since it hit the festival circuit earlier this year, I’ve heard nothing but good things about Writer-Director Damien Chazelle’s Whiplash. Even the poster is heaped with quotes of praise from various critics. The question is, does the film live up to the hype? Yes, and then some. In fact, Whiplash may just be the best film of the year. Continue reading
Doug Reviews: Rosewater
Rosewater is the first feature film written and directed by The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart. And while there are several humorous moments, this is far from a comedy. However, is it an engaging story? Continue reading
Doug Reviews: Dumb and Dumber To
You know what you’re getting with the sequel to Dumb and Dumber—pretty much more of the same. In fact, it’s impressive how Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels effortlessly shifted back into Lloyd and Harry after twenty years. But, was it a sequel that needed to be made? Continue reading
Doug Reviews: Big Hero 6
And so, ten years after Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles hit movie theaters, Disney has unleashed another team superhero film upon the movie-going public in the form of Big Hero 6. However, beyond their fluffy, robotic mascot Baymax (Scott Adsit), what else does Big Hero 6 have to offer audiences? Continue reading
Doug Reviews: Interstellar
Let me be upfront at the start of this review: Christopher Nolan is my favorite filmmaker working right now. So, I’m always looking forward to whatever he’s got lined up. He’s a director at the top of his game, producing smart, visually stunning blockbusters. His last film, The Dark Knight Rises, made some missteps as he wrapped up his Dark Knight Trilogy, but he has mostly bounced back with his latest film, Interstellar. Continue reading
Doug Reviews: Nightcrawler
Writer-Director Dan Gilroy’s Nightcrawler is a sad commentary on today’s society and its obsession with sensationalist news. Driven by an Oscar-worthy performance by star Jake Gyllenhaal, it’s also one of the darkest, best films of the year. Continue reading
Doug Reviews: St. Vincent
Writer-Director Theodore Melfi’s latest film, St. Vincent, is a funny, heartwarming comedy with another standout performance from star Bill Murray. However, is it too sweet? Continue reading
Doug Reviews: Birdman
Director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s latest film, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), is a weird, funny, technically inventive picture and a showcase for star, Michael Keaton. However, while the film got a little too weird for me at times, it’s still one of the better films this year. Continue reading
Doug Reviews: John Wick
Fall is generally a time for prestige films that hope to be part of the year-end awards talk as well as big blockbusters for the holiday movie-going crowds. Then there are movies like John Wick. Continue reading
The Hodgepodge Podcast 