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…
BONGEE BEAR AND THE KINGDOM OF RHYTHM Review – A Beary Good Fairytale
Staci Layne Wilson’s Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm review says it’s a sweet, tuneful flick for young kids, especially around the holidays. While Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm is not a holiday-themed movie, it’ll be great to entertain your kiddos while you’re busy wrapping gifts, baking, or adding to your Amazon…
KING RICHARD Review — A Crowning Glory for Will Smith
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s King Richard review says you can’t miss with this fascinating account of a complex man, anchored by a stellar performance from Will Smith. One of the marks of a great actor is the ability to convincingly play a character we can alternately love and hate. Will Smith nails it in his role…
BELFAST Review — Inarguably One of the Best Films of 2021
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Belfast review says that once in a great while a film comes along that strikes all the right chords. From beginning to end, Kenneth Branagh’s semi-autobiographical masterpiece is one of them. Belfast is a breathtaking portrait with perfect balance: joyful without being giddy, moving without being cloying, humorous without being silly and…
