THE UNBEARABLE WEIGHT OF MASSIVE TALENT Review — Metalicious!
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent Review says it’s among the best comedies of the decade, full of good natured fun and intentionally cheesy action. Even the title is funny in this offbeat send up of movie star Nicolas Cage, past, present and future. If you weren’t already a fan, you gotta…
THE NORTHMAN Review — A Bloody and Brilliant Creative Epic
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Northman review says that something wild, wondrous and wicked this way comes. It’s a powerhouse you will never forget if you’re daring enough to see it. I’d heard good things about The Northman, but they did not prepare me for scope, the style, the sheer creative expanse of this dark, bloody…
FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE Review — Cuddly Fantasy
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore review embraces the cuddly nature of the beasties, along with the icy villainy of Mad Mikkelssen as Gellert Grindelwald. There’s a warm, fuzzy and familiar feeling about Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore. I think viewers are more than ready for a film that cuddles comfortably…
AMBULANCE Review — It Really IS a Thrill Ride!
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Ambulance review says Michael Bay has created a human-driven action thriller with a buoyant Jake Gyllenhaal at the wheel. Wheeeeee! Ambulance is a timely reminder that director/producer Michael Bay doesn’t need towering robots to bring us a heart pumping action thriller with human emotion at its core. Make no mistakes about it,…
MORBIUS Review — Marvel Opens Another Vein
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Morbius review says that there were high hopes for the stellar cast and Marvel/Spiderman pedigree, but this modified vampire villain flick quickly bleeds out. In the opening scene of Morbius, we see Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto) and a crew landing a helicopter in a lush jungle. They seem very eager for…
THE LOST CITY Review — A Rom Com Adventure Throbbing with Fun
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Lost City review says the film combines all the cheesy fun of romance novels, combines it with the most charismatic cast in the business, and cooks up a comedy that’s almost irresistible. Even if this movie weren’t charming and fun and just the sudsy sparkler we need right now, I’m willing…
THE BATMAN Review — Try to Get an Aisle Seat
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Batman review says the film hangs heavy and dark on the screen for three long, lugubrious hours, which is about two too many. Do you ever wonder why anyone lives in Gotham? It seems like it’s always night there, the streets are gritty and full of graffiti , urban blight prevails,…
Critics Choice Super Awards Nominations Announced!
The Critics Choice Super Awards nominations reveal who are the finalists in the categories of super heroes, super villains, and so much more! Here’s the official word on this year’s Critics Choice Super Awards Nominations (Los Angeles, CA – February 22, 2022) – The Critics Choice Association (CCA) announced today the nominees for the 2ndAnnual…
DOG Review — If Channing Tatum Weren’t So Engaging…
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Dog review says that the faux buddy comedy would play dead if it weren’t for the charm of its star and co-director. It has all the ingredients for the perfect road trip/ reluctant buddy comedy: hunky, hapless, charming guy; cute if rambunctious dog, together in a car for days, learning, growing and…
THE SECOND AGE OF AQUARIUS Review – It Rocks!
In her The Second Age of Aquarius review, Lisa Johnson Mandell says filmmakers Staci Layne Wilson et al have come up with a whole new irresistible genre In The Second Age of Aquarius, Russell Aquarius (Michael Ursu) is one of those ’60s rock stars who lived too fast, died too young, and left a good-looking corpse. Even…
