Author: Matt Conway

Black Widow has played a key role in the MCU throughout her 10-year run, often being one of the team’s strongest moral leaders. After her death in Avengers: Endgame, many questioned whether or not Black Widow would ever get her chance to shine in a solo project. To the surprise of some, it was announced that the super-spy would star in her own film, set as a prequel that follows Natasha Romanova before her Avengers days. A little less than two months before its release, Marvel has dropped the final trailer for Black Widow, which shows star Scarlett Johansson in action with a new rag-tag team.…

Ben Affleck’s duration as Batman was notably short, with him being the only actor to portray the character in live-action projects without getting his own standalone projects. In his three appearances onscreen (counting his cameo in The Suicide Squad), Affleck impressed with his dedication to the role, portraying Bruce Wayne’s confident exterior while digging into the long-running traumas that have plagued him. Many would say Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice was an abject failure, but the film has gained a passionate cult audience due to its bold delivery and introspective approach (still one of my favorite superhero ventures of the 2010s). It’s…

James Wan has been remarkably successful, spawning several horror series like The Conjuring, Insidious, and Saw during his tenure. He has turned that success into strong work in blockbuster cinema, with Furious 7 and Aquaman showing Wan’s skill to create an amazing spectacle. Wan can really do no wrong when it comes to his work on the big screen, with his impressive track record allowing him carte blanche to produce or direct whatever he sets his heart on. With that being the case, it’s exciting to think about what Wan could do with a monster film, and it appears he will finally get his…

Christian Bale has had a storied career on the big screen, winning Oscars for physically-transformative performances like The Fighter while portraying iconic figures like Batman in The Dark Knight with skill. Few actors are as dedicated to their roles as Bale, who has undergone several seismic weight changes in order to disappear into his roles. After shinning as a central figure in the DC Universe, many were surprised to see Bale recently announced he was switching sides to Marvel to star in the upcoming Thor: Love and Thunder. While his role is still a mystery, it has been revealed what side Bale’s…

Ben Affleck’s career has been one of the impressive highs (two Oscar wins for writing and producing respectively) and woeful lows (Gigili and Justice League are notable flops), but he continues to endure while stretching his wings with impressive directorial efforts. His work of late has been greatly impacted by personal struggles with alcoholism, recently recovering during a life-changing rehab stint. With The Way Back (his first project since his break), Affleck taps into his personal demons to deliver a career-best performance, one that anchors an otherwise cliche sports/addiction story. The Way Back follows Jack Cunningham (Affleck) a former star high school athlete who…

One of the most impressive changes in the horror genre is a greater focus on socially relevant films. Mainstream horror used to be chock-full of uninspired formula, and while those movies still exist (Fantasy Island was the latest), many buck that trend with their own thematic ideas. Projects like The Lighthouse, Hereditary, and The Invisible Man have scared not only because of their eery imagery, rather through tackling complicated truths of humans and society. The latest horror venture Antebellum, which comes from the producers of Get Out and Us, looks to continue that trend. Starring actress and musician Janelle Monae, Antebellum has intrigued horror fans with short teasers that have not…

The Falcon and The Winer Soldier is exciting for many reasons, especially the transition that will take place for Sam Wilson, played by Anthony Mackie, from Falcon to Captain America. Not only is Mackie an incredible talent who has performed exceeding well in a variety of projects (from Oscar winners like The Hurt Locker to crime thrillers like Pain and Gain), but it’s also great to see Marvel stretch towards being more inclusive with their diversity onscreen. With The Falcon and The Winter Soldier currently undergoing reshoots, footage surfaced today showing Captain America in action, but it may not be the person you…

Video game adaptations have so much promise, but rarely does the execution match the potential. There are plenty of adaptation horror stories on the big screen (Super Mario Bros and Max Payne), but video game content has been trending upwards with the success of Sonic the Hedgehog and Detective Pickachu. Few have attempted to bring video games to TV though, with the longer format having the potential to be a better fit for game’s content. Well, it looks like HBO will be treading new waters with an adaptation of The Last of Us.  Remembered as one of the best games of the 2010s, The Last of…

Marvel has done a lot right during their cinematic tenure, but perhaps one of their few missteps is developing consistently strong villains. Movies like Ant-Man and Doctor Strange feature extremely forgettable antagonists despite boasting great actors in the role (Corey Stoll and Mads Mikkelson respectively). A few characters have been able to stand out though, with Michael B. Jordan’s Killmonger, Josh Brolin’s Thanos, and Tom Hiddleston’s Loki being equally compelling and villainous in their respective roles. Perhaps no one is as beloved as an antagonist as Hiddleston, who has played Thor’s evil brother with a dastardly charm as he constantly flips his allegiances. With…

One of my most anticipated films of 2020 is No Time to Die, which is set to be Daniel Craig’s final entry as titular star James Bond. While not all of Craig’s films have been perfect (looking at you Quantum of Solace) most of them have been quite good, with Skyfall and Casino Royale ranking as some of the best 007 films. No Time to Die certainly has the potential to join those high ranks, with a solid cast (including a new nemesis played by Oscar winner Rami Malek) and the emotional catharsis of Craig’s final entry as Bond having promise. While fans were looking forward to seeing the film…