TICKET TO PARADISE Review — Lands Safely, Full of Charm
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Ticket to Paradise review says if Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Bali can’t save the great American romcom, nothing can. We all know the American romcom is in trouble. Movies about boy (or girl) meets girl, boy loses girl (or guy), boy or girl get girl or guy back, just don’t fill movie…
DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS Review — Other Worldly
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness review says it’s both darker and lighter than most other Marvel offerings, with special effects that can still thrill and chill. We all knew going in that Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness would not be like any other film in the Marvel Universe. Taking…
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…
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…
FINCH Review — One Man, Two Robots and a Dog
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Finch review says the Apple TV+ movie starring Tom Hanks as the only human is a very humane and moving experience. I swear this is not a paid post, and I receive zero remuneration from Apple TV+ for writing this, but if you’re still trying to decide whether or not to subscribe…
DUNE Review: The Next Great Sci-Fi Franchise Has Arrived
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Dune review says the epic film is a scintillating work of art — it should be an immediate sci-fi classic. It’s actually quite thrilling to witness the birth of the next great sci-fi franchise. The latest iteration of Dune is the film stellar director Denis Villeneuve was born to make, and will…
Nomadland Review — Stunningly Subtle and Sublime
In her Nomadland review, Lisa Johnson Mandell explains how Frances McDormand and Chloé Zhao show the aching beauty in life stripped down to the bone. Nomadland is one of those “There but for the grace of god go I” films that will leave you pondering for days. Both elegant and gritty, it easily made its way…
THE MIDNIGHT SKY Review — George Clooney’s Latest Launches Beauty, Emotion, Suspense
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Midnight Sky review says George Clooney’s latest takes us on two compelling, bittersweet sci-fi voyages, which should not be missed. George Clooney is the kind of guy who appeals to almost everyone — men, women, young, old and everyone in between. With his latest work, a tender sci-fi thriller called The Midnight Sky,…
32 WEEKS Review — An Unforgettable Millennial Amnesia Drama
32 Weeks review — Lisa Johnson Mandell says writer/director Brian Cavallaro zeroes in on the pre-pandemic Millennial lifestyle, spicing it up with romance and mystery. First of all, major kudos go to writer/director Brian Cavallaro (Against The Night, The Last Movie Star), for making a coherent film on a $10,000 budget. People spend more than…
REBECCA Review — Lush, Lovely and Intriguing
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Rebecca review says this new take on an Oscar winning classic does not disappoint. It’s a daunting task to attempt a remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s Best Picture winning 1940 classic starring Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine. I’m giving writer/director Ben Wheatley major credit for even going near the project, and crafting his own…
