MARIA Review, NIGHTBITCH Review, THE SUBSTANCE Review — 3 Best Actress Noms?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Maria review, Nightbitch review and The Substance review says Angelina Jolie, Amy Adams and Demi Moore outperform their films, and could well be nominated. Maria Review Sumptuous and stylish as a film based on the life of opera star Maria Callas should be, Maria, Chilean director Pablo Larraín’s latest film about iconic,…
BABYGIRL Review, QUEER Review — 2 Big Stars Take Huge Risks
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Babygirl review and Queer review says that even A-list stars like Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig can’t guarantee a film’s appeal. Babygirl Review Powerful CEO risks career and family by having a torrid affair with a much younger intern. It’s not the most original of concepts. Nor is starting out a film…
GLADIATOR II Review — Sacrifices Soul to Spectacle
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Gladiator II review says there are plenty of alt-Rome sword and sandals thrills, but few emotional chills in Ridley Scott’s intended epic. Gladiator II picks up some 20 years after the original, the Academy Award winning Gladiator, left off. The celebrated warrior Maximus (Russell Crowe) is long gone but not forgotten, and…
WICKED Review — Can It Really Defy Gravity?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Wicked review addresses the question of whether or not the film lives up to the insane hype. Wicked could well be the most heavily promoted and anticipated film of 2024. Who doesn’t know that Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo play Glinda and Elphaba, that Jeff Goldbloom is the Wizard, and that Jonathan…
NICKEL BOYS Review, A REAL PAIN Review — Could They Be Contenders?
In Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Nickel Boys review and A Real Pain review, two radically different Oscar hopefuls are explored and explained. Nickel Boys Review Nickel Boys is the gut wrenching story of the intellectually gifted Ellwood Curtis and his journey to adulthood via the brutal Florida reform “school” known as the Nickel Academy. The film…
EMILIA PEREZ Review — Completely Unexpected and Original
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Emilia Pérez review says it’s a grand musical crime thriller unlike anything you’ve ever seen—flamboyantly original. The less you know about the plot of the wildly creative and electrifying Emilia Pérez, the better. Let’s just say it’s about a vicious Mexican cartel leader who goes on a mission of redemption, and leave…
IT’S COMING Review — A Paranormal Doc That Hits Close to Home
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s It’s Coming review says this is an intriguing paranormal documentary with a twist. Director Shannon Alexander’s compelling new documentary It’s Coming brings a refreshingly authentic voice to the often-sensationalized genre of paranormal investigation. At its heart is Ashley Roland-White, a successful day trader and mother of five, whose matter-of-fact approach to her…
HERETIC Review — Religiously Captivating and Creepy
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Heretic review recounts how the cerebral horror film turns every Mormon missionary’s nightmare into a psychopath’s dream. Long ago, in another life, I could truly relate to the harrowing experiences of Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton in Heretic. I wore the badge, I knocked the doors, and I feared the always terrifying…
GOODRICH Review — Michael Keaton Brings It Home
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Goodrich review says the Michael Keaton vehicle is deeper and more universal than your average dramady. On the surface, Goodrich might seem like a light-hearted modern family dramady starring Michael Keaton and Mila Kunis, with notable supporting performances from Andie MacDowell, Kevin Pollak, Michael Urie and the extremely promising young Vivian Lyra…
JOKER: FOLIE à DEUX Review — Joke’s on the Haters – It’s Sublime!
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Joker: Folie à Deux review says the film is not at all what fan boys expected, and is all the better for it. Several months ago, when I saw the latest trailer for Joker: Folie à Deux, I was dazzled, and believed the film was going to be epic. Then it premiered…
