A QUIET PLACE DAY ONE Review — It Sneaks Up On You
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s A Quiet Place Day One review says this franchise prequel leaves even the most cantankerous filmgoers speechless and breathless. A Quiet Place Day One starts out quietly, unexpectedly and brilliantly in a hospice, where the protagonist Sam (played by the outrageously talented, Yale educated, Lupita Nyong’o) is suffering from what appears to…
INSIDE OUT 2 Review — Fun and Fabulous Mind Games
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Inside Out 2 review notes that there’s much cerebral fun here for children and adults alike. Way better than therapy! I wasn’t a huge fan of Inside Out when it was released in 2015. But it seems just about everyone else was. Inside Out was the seventh-highest-grossing film of the year, and…
CORA BORA Review — Gen Z Will Love It, But Boomers Beware
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Cora Bora review says Cora would be great as a recurring SNL sketch character. But an hour and a half of her unfunny, obnoxious, delusional antics create a film only Gen Z could love. Have at it. If there was ever a time you wanted to roll your eyes and hurl…
I SAW THE TV GLOW Review — Quietly Illuminating
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s I Saw the TV Glow review says the wildly creative film blurs the line between reality and fantasy in a way that will move and intrigue you, if you just go with the flow. If you talk to people about this film, the word that you hear most often is “weird.” I’ll…
FURIOSA Review — Phenomenal 5th in a Full Throttle Franchise
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Furiosa review says the film is a blazingly brilliant and bizarre battle of the senses. More than a movie, it’s an experience. Buckle up, mates! Unrivaled Aussie director George Miller is back with his own brand of bombastic beauty. The adrenalin rush from Furiosa — A Mad Max Saga will rev your…
EAST BAY Review – Intriguing Lo-Fi Sci-Fi
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s East Bay review says this multi-genre comedic character study is worth a watch despite its talky tactics. I love a good character-driven quirky comedy. But while Daniel Yoon‘s East Bay does tick that box and is an indie gem that has won well-deserved kudos since its acclaimed festival run, it’s also a bit weird…
IF Review — A Magical, Moving and Marvelous Film for the Whole Family
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s IF review says writer/director/producer/star John Krasinski creatively brings some of the sweetest parts of childhood to the forefront, helping viewers experience the magic once again. Did you have an imaginary friend (I.F.) when you were little? Close your eyes and think hard—try to remember. Children often create IFs when they feel lonely,…
KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Review — The 10th Installment Falls Flat
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes review reveals that the latest addition to the franchise is substatiaatially less fun than a barrel full of monkeys. It’s hard to believe that this is the 10th Planet of the Apes movie, isn’t it? The first one, the original Charlton Heston film where he…
THE IDEA OF YOU Review — A Romance for the Ages
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Idea of You review says that the film, more rom than com, is a rare find that makes you both think and feel. Steamy in all the right ways, women adore it, while some men may squirm. The Idea of You is every single mom’s fantasy. And if we’re being honest…
THE FALL GUY Review — Can Any Film Endure This Much Hype?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Fall Guy review says that this stunt heavy rom com isn’t quite all it’s cracked up to be, but it’s saved by the boy…and the girl. My expectations were really high for this one. How could I not like a romantic action comedy starring two of my favorite, Academy Award-nominated actors,…
