Author: Matt Conway

With Captain Marvel 2 recently being greenlit, many MCU fans are speculating what this sequel will do to improve upon its original. While most critics were satisfied with the film (78% on Rotten Tomatoes), audiences were significantly more divided (48% audience rating on RT). Some of those ratings can certainly be attributed to angry fanboys who can’t accept a female-led superhero film, but I would also say that the original film failed to do anything new with the Marvel formula, lacking the stylistic verve of James Gunn or Taika Waitti’s efforts with Guardians of the Galaxy and Thor: Ragnarok. Captain Marvel 2 may be changing its…

When Universal intended to create a cinematic universe for its iconic monster staples, fans were delighted by the potential of old-time favorites unnerving modern audiences. Their first iteration, 2017’s underperforming The Mummy, opted for a blockbuster action approach that didn’t connect with audiences while also betraying the source material’s atmospheric roots. Now intrusting producer Jason Blum and writer/director Leigh Whannell (craftsman of the supremely underrated Upgrade), Universal has corrected their approach with The Invisible Man, an unsettling horror/thriller that effectively grounds itself in personal traumas. The Invisible Man follows Cecilla (Elizabeth Moss), who in the midst of recovering from an abusive relationship with industry…

Even at the age of 82, Ridley Scott continues to work ferociously, creating several strong works of late such as The Martian and All the Money in the World. From his 80’s heyday with genre favorites like Blade Runner and Alien to today, the director continues to craft films with an impressive sense of scale, creating blockbusters that fit outside of the standard Hollywood mold. The same could be said about Scott’s latest project The Last Duel, which stars Adam Driver, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck in a Medieval epic about knights Jean de Carrouges and Jacques Le Gris, who participate in the last sanctioned duel to the…

Many focus on the horror genre’s ascension to popularity on the big screen, but a similar rise is also occurring with TV programming. American Horror Story has always been a fan-favorite during its nine-season run, but new programs like Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina have gained a sizable audience, proving the genre can have legs on a variety of platforms. CBS looks to be continuing the trend with a Silence of the Lambs TV series, which will be a follow-up to the 1991 Oscar-winning film centered on protagonist Clarice Starling (originally played by Jodie Foster). With the show entering in…

With Marvel and Sony coming to terms on a new agreement for Spider-Man, fans are ecstatic to see where the character goes after a daring cliffhanger in last year’s Spider-Man: Far From Home. With Peter Parker’s identity being revealed to the public, his double-life now must become one, having to manage the public pressures of both while dealing with villains coming for his personal life. While little is currently known about Spider-Man 3, a tentative title has been placed on the project, with Production Weekly revealing that Serenity Now is the current title. This falls in line with the previous two entries…

Steven Spielberg has been synonymous with blockbuster filmmaking throughout his career, with early entries like Jaws and ET igniting a trend of several big films highlighting the summer movie season. He has continued to further the blockbuster craft with visually-kinetic projects like Jurassic Park and high-concept science fiction like Minority Report, while also dipping his toe into more dramatic work. While Spielberg started the Jurassic Park franchise, many would credit him as the key figurehead for the entire Indiana Jones series, directing all four projects with mostly positive results (depends how you feel about Kingdom of the Crystal Skull). This fact makes his departure for the upcoming Indiana Jones 5 all the…

One of the underrated headlines from Disney’s purchase of Fox was how it would impact Fox Searchlight, an offshoot of Fox’s cinematic empire. The studio had developed into one of the few lasting curators of independent content, distributing several Best Picture winners like Birdman and 12 Years a Slave while maximizing the financial potential of several smaller projects. With Disney’s purchasing of Fox, many have expected the studio to change their ways, which has begun to happen with a new focus on low-budget horror projects. Along with last year’s breakout hit Ready or Not, the newly-titled Searchlight Pictures now has Antlers on the horizon. From Black Mass director Scott Cooper, Antlers has…

With no Avengers or team-up superhero project hitting theaters this year, Venom 2 has risen to the top of some’s most anticipated films list. While critics and audiences were divided about the original film (29% rating from critics, but 80% audience rating on RottenTomatoes), the latter group was largely satisfied by it, as it offered a fresh take on the Venom character with effective comedic elements. With new director Andy Serkis on board along with stars Woody Harrelson and Naomi Harris, Venom 2 looks to significantly improve on its predecessor and win both fans and critics over. Venom 2 is currently filming, with set photos leaking out…

Filming for The Batman is currently underway, with much of the attention focusing on Robert Pattinson’s star turn as the Caped Crusader. While I am excited to see what Pattinson brings to the table, I am equally intrigued to see the new rogue’s gallery of villains for Batman to go against. The casting of Colin Farrell as The Penguin, Zoe Kravitz as Catwoman, and Paul Dano as The Riddler drew significant attention, with each being acclaimed actors who are stretching their wings with superhero material. While we have yet to see any of these villains in action, a leaked image may have…

The Harvey Weinstein chronicles have had a lasting impact on entertainment industries, with Weinstein’s horrible actions leading to the start of the #MeToo Movement. Weinstein, who had become synonymous with award-chasing films with his production company, was a major figurehead in Hollywood, using his power and resources to sexual assault and abuse dozens of actors. After years out of the industry, Weinstein is finally being punished for his crimes. According to the New York Times, Weinstein was dealt a guilty verdict for felony sex crimes and rape but was also acquitted for predatory sexual assault. He is expected to be…