Critics Choice Awards 2016 Santa Monica, CA Winners and Red Carpet Interviews

22nd Critics Choice Awards and Red Carpet Interviews by Sarah Knight Adamson

The 22nd Annual Critics Choice Awards, which includes the Broadcast Film Critics Association and Television Journalists Association Red [Blue] Carpet, was the spotlight … Read more

Arrival (PG-13) ★★★½

When is an alien invasion movie not about an alien invasion?

Some of my favorite films (Looper, About Time, Safety Not Guaranteed, Back to the Future, Predestination) and novels (The Time Traveler’s Read more

Pixar Animation Studios Steve Jobs Theater Visit

An Invitation to Attend a Film Screening at Pixar Studios

Don’t you just love it when the sun, the moon, and the stars all align? Typically, I receive special film screening notices fairly regularly that … Read more

The Accountant (R) ★★★

This movie is nuts.

The trailers for The Accountant would lead you to believe that it is a tense thriller in which Ben Affleck plays a high-functioning autistic man (Christian Wolff) who is both the … Read more

Sully (PG-13) ★★★½

Sully is the movie America needs right now.

Time is on Sully’s side.

But it wasn’t on Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger’s (Tom Hanks) side on January 15, 2009, when a flock of Canadian geese … Read more

Don’t Breathe (R) ★★★★ by Patty Babin

Don’t Breathe keeps you breathless and gasping for air.

It has been an extremely long time since there has been a truly scary, jaw-dropping, tormenting and suspenseful horror/thriller. Don’t Breathe, co-written by Fede Alvarez … Read more

War Dogs (R) ★★½

War Dogs doesn’t know what it wants to be.

When I heard Todd Phillips was directing War Dogs, I became uneasy, even though I’m a huge fan of Old School and the first HangoverRead more

Pete’s Dragon (PG) ★★★½

Yes, it’s true! Dragons and honest-to-goodness family-friendly films still exist.

I love dragons. I was “the mother of dragons” (Game of Thrones’ Daenerys Targaryen) for Halloween, received “Dragonology” books for past birthdays, love … Read more

Equity (R) ★★½

A compelling financial thriller, but still not the “women on Wall Street” film I was hoping for.

As possibly the only film critic in the world who has two business degrees, used to work in … Read more

Suicide Squad (PG-13) ★★

Suicide Squad makes very little sense.

When I was at Comic-Con a few weeks ago, I couldn’t believe there were hundreds of people—many of whom were in full Joker or Harley Quinn costumes and makeup—standing … Read more

Life Animated (Documentary) ★★★½

An inspiring, hopeful documentary about one family’s experience with autism.

I knew what Life, Animated was about before I saw the film, and so I was not surprised to find my eyes welling up only … Read more

The BFG (PG) ★★★½

The BFG, Fantasy Story with a Big Heart

Thankfully, Spielberg’s The BFG stays faithful to the treasured Roald Dahl young adult novel with old-fashioned storytelling of the love between a wise older giant and … Read more

Zootopia DVD Review ★★★★

Zootopia Blu-ray DVD and Digital Bonus Features

Zootopia is one of Disney’s best films to date and my favorite film of the year so far. It’s family friendly and teaches kids so many great life … Read more

Finding Dory (PG) ★★★½

Finding Dory is a whopper of a film that’s part comedic ‘fish tale’ but mostly life lessons for kids. Sensitivity to disabilities is front and center with the added bonus of parenting advice.

 * Extra … Read more

Genius (PG-13) ★★★

If anyone can make the editing process interesting, it’s Colin Firth and Jude Law.

I love it when a film can expose me to something—a historical figure, a place, an idea, an event—that I would … Read more

Brandon Stacy Interview by Alexi Rabin

Brandon Stacy might have lost 25 pounds for his role in Roots, but he gained plenty of knowledge about American history.

Along with Roots, Stacy also had roles in films and televison such as … Read more

Now You See Me 2 (PG-13) ★½

It’s extra sad when a sequel about magicians delivers absolutely nothing magical.

The 2013 “heist… with magicians!” film Now You See Me had plots issues, sure, but overall I found it to be a whole … Read more

Me Before You (PG-13) ★★★

An Inspiring Love Story

Let’s get something out of the way from the get-go: you will, I repeat, you will need to bring a box of Kleenex to the theater while viewing the film Me Read more

Alice Through the Looking Glass (PG) ★½

Don’t Waste Your ‘Time” On Yet Another Second-rate Sequel

Six years ago, many anxiously awaited director Tim Burton’s take on the wacky world of Alice. Equally so was the anticipation of Johnny Depp’s new redheaded, … Read more

X-Men: Apocolypse (PG-13) ★★★

When X-Men: Apocalypse is good, it’s really good. But when it’s bad…

While I have seen all of the X-Men films and liked several of them, I would not go so far as to call … Read more

Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (R) ★★

An unnecessary sequel that fails in its girl-power message.

I was not a fan of 2014’s Neighbors, so I admittedly didn’t have high hopes for Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising. This time around, Mac (Seth … Read more

The Nice Guys (R) ★★½

Ryan and Gosling and Russell Crowe make a fun pair, but it’s not all laughs. The Nice Guys is one of those movies you’re either going to get, or you’re not. And I didn’t get … Read more

Money Monster (R) ★★½

A fast-paced but ultimately forgettable thriller, despite its A-list cast and director.

It’s a horrific situation that seems all too possible these days: an unstable gunman takes a TV host hostage live on-air, straps a … Read more

Captain America: Civil War (PG-13) ★★★½

Another Awesome Hit for Marvel

Who knew comic book characters struggle with feelings of guilt, anger, patriotism, revenge, betrayal, and loyalty? All of these issues are explored as the “Avengers” take sides. Either you’re with … Read more