MARRY ME Review — Should You Say ‘I Do’ to This J-Lo Rom Com?
In her Marry Me review, Lisa Johnson Mandell says the film checks all the right boxes. It’s a See’s Scotchmallow, just in time for Valentine’s Day. How long has it been since we’ve seen a fun, flashy rom come in which boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy…. you know the drill. Too long in…
DEATH ON THE NILE Review — A Lavish and Cunning Cruise
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Death on the Nile review raves about Kenneth Branagh’s latest writer/director outing, and encourages you to lose yourself in its splendor. Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile featuring Belgian Detective Hercule Poirot has been adapted many times before, for radio, stage, television and film—in 1978, with the unforgettable Peter Ustinov, Mia Farrow,…
MOONFALL Review — A Sci-Fi Mashup that Aims for the Stars
In her Moonfall review Lisa Johnson Mandell reveals the highest praise she can give Roland Emmerich’s latest sci-fi thriller moonshot. Well at least Moonfall is ambitious. The latest sci-fi space thriller from Roland Emmerich is jam packed with zooming spaceships, crumbling cities, fiery explosions, falling stars and personal drama. Those who have been starved for…
PARALLEL MOTHERS Review — Colorful, Sensual and Surprising Magic
In her Parallel Mothers review, Lisa Johnson Mandell says Spanish masters Pedro Almodóvar and Penélope Cruz work their mutual magic in a mesmerizing, sensual and surprising drama de la corazon. I admit my affinity for the films of Pedro Almodóvar could be influenced by my time spent living in Spain. He always takes me right back home…
THE 355 Review — Badass Beauties Tear Up the Screen
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The 355 review revels in the fun of watching female super agents try to save the world, despite their male counterparts. Who can resist a female spy team movie staring Jessica Chastain, Penélope Cruz, Diane Kruger, Lupita Nyong’o, and Fan Bingbing? I certainly can’t, and neither should you. Women will cheer and men…
THE LOST DAUGHTER Review — Maggie Gyllenhaal Arrives With a Flourish as Writer/Director
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Lost Daughter review says Maggie Gyllenhaal’s debut as a writer/director is a triumph — one of the year’s best films. Everyone knows Oscar nominated Maggie Gyllenhaal is a transcendent actress. But it still felt awfully ambitious for her first writing/directing attempts to involve adapting author Elena Ferrante’s many layered novel The…
WEST SIDE STORY Review — Steven Spielberg Achieves the Impossible
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s West Side Story review claims the sacred material is in the right hands, and the film can regally take its place as the best of the year. I’m not going to lie — I was more than a little concerned when I heard that Steven Spielberg was working on a a remake…
BEING THE RICARDOS Review — DON’T LOOK UP Review
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Being the Ricardos review and Don’t Look Up review give you the scoop on two of the biggest A-List packed movies of the year. Being the Ricardos Review Nicole Kidman as Lucille Ball, in a movie written by Aaron Sorkin that’s not about politics, but a beloved TV sitcom? I couldn’t help…
THE POWER OF THE DOG Review — CYRANO Review
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Power of the Dog review and Cyrano review points out award-worthy performances in unusual films. The Power of the Dog Review This decidedly off-beat Western marks the return of Oscar winning director Jane Campion (The Piano), after an almost 12 year hiatus. Adapted from Thomas Savage’s bestselling novel of the same name,…
HOUSE OF GUCCI Review / LICORICE PIZZA Review — 2 of My Most Anticipated Films of the Year
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s House of Gucci review and Licorice Pizza review reveal the many strengths and few weaknesses of both films. House of Gucci Review In anticipation of Ridley Scott’s latest epic, I read Sara Gay Forden‘s remarkable The House of Gucci, upon which the film was based. So much intrigue, family feuding, crime and…
