Author: Matt Conway

With the release of Alien Covenant on its way, there has already been a lot of talk about the state of the Alien franchise. Prior to Covenant was the controversial Prometheus, which while it scored decent reviews from critics, ultimately disappointed many fans and underperformed at the box office. Trying to earn some goodwill towards his latest film, director Ridley Scott has recently addressed the mixed results of Prometheus: ….we discovered from it that [the fans] were really frustrated. They wanted to see more of the original [monster] and I thought he was definitely cooked, with an orange in his mouth. So I thought: ‘Wow, OK, I’m…

For the many that were able to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 over the weekend, it’s safe to say that Drax was one of the many highlights of this film. After not having all that much to do in the original, Drax became one of the biggest sources of comedy, with his blunt observations creating a lot of laughs along the way. One may underestimate just how much time pro-wrestler Dave Bautista spends preparing for the role of Drax. As shown though through a newly-released video, it takes a lot of work to transform Bautista into Drax. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EWPe-9OD68&feature=youtu.be The extensive…

One of comedies breakout stars over the past few years is Eugenio Derbez. After having a successful career in Mexican films, Derbez has since crossed over to American audiences, with his film Instructions Not Included being a surprise success. Derbez is know back with How to Be a Latin Lover. The film follows Maximo, a gigolo who has lived a life of containment when marrying a rich old lady. When she breaks up with him however, he is forced to move in with his estranged sister, forcing him to try and become a better man. How to Be a Latin Lover is fairly hit-or-miss, and…

After long delays, The Dark Tower film finally looks like its on the horizon. Based on the acclaim Stephen King novel, many have been excited to see stars Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba duel it out on the big screen. Following the release of a teaser to the trailer yesterday, the first official Dark Tower trailer is finally here. Check it out below, along with the film’s synopsis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjwfqXTebIY The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower,…

Based on the the talent behind the film and a relatively promising trailer, The Circle was one of my more anticipated pre-summer releases heading into the year. Not only does the film star Tom Hanks, John Boyega, and Patton Oswalt, but it was also directed by James Ponsoldt, whose first three films are great in their own ways. The Circle also features a fairly interesting, high-concept science fiction premise. The film follows Mae, a woman who lands her dream job at the tech cooperation The Circle. As she begins to settle into the company, she begins to question the company’s agenda and open policies. Despite…

Genre-bending is a dicey proposition, as it can either lead to a great film or an utter disaster. When it works, like with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, it can create a worthwhile experience that affects audiences in many ways. When it doesn’t work, it can make a disastrous concoction of tones that never come together. Trying to perfect that mixture is the latest indie Colossal, which has become one of this year’s most talked about flicks. The film follows Gloria, an out-of-work party girl who goes back home after breaking up with her boyfriend. Once home, she discovers she has a connection to…

Adventure films are a dying breed in today’s cinematic landscape. Aside from the occasional Indiana Jones film, the adventure genre has essentially taken a backseat to more action-oriented blockbusters, that highlight a grand scale over an adventurous spirit. Trying to breathe the genre new life is The Lost City of Z, the last indie from director James Gray. The film follows the true story of Percy Fawcett, a soldier in the early 1900’s who becomes a explore when hired to do a simple mapping excursion. When he finds artifacts of a lost civilization, Percy makes it a lifelong mission to prove the ancient tribal…

No name brings as much fear to the average film fan than Adam Sandler. Despite proving himself as a talented comedian and even an impressive dramatic actor (Punch-Drunk Love is still a favorite of mine), his most recent work has been synonymous with laziness and ineptitude. Many felt that a move to Netflix would be a good one for Sandler, giving him the creative freedom to try and tap into his old comedic heyday. While his first two films were slight upgrades over Grown Ups 2, they still lacked laughs. Sandler looks to buck that trend with Sandy Wexler, which follows a talent manger in…

After premiering at last year’s Toronto Film Festival, Free Fire looked to be one of the year’s most intriguing actioners. Part Reservoir Dogs and part Guy Ritchie gangster flick, Ben Wheatley’s latest promised piles and piles of bullets. Set in Boston in the late 1970’s, Free Fire follows a simple gun deal gone awry when a simple conflict leads to gunfire. Now everyone is pushed to a deadly shootout for survival. Contrary to some flashy trailers and a talented cast, Free Fire is a shockingly dull misfire, that even with constant gunfire never becomes remotely interesting. To be fair, director Ben Wheatley is talented, with his camerawork creating…

Out of all the Avengers stars, the one whose career hasn’t quite taken off is Chris Evans. Despite starring as Captain America, Evans has stayed away from blockbusters, opting for more independent, character-driven cinema. This decision has had some mixed results, as for every great film like Snowpiercer there is a mediocre product like Before We Go.  Evans continues his run of indies with Gifted, which also has Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb returning to his indie roots. The film follows Frank Adler, whose child Mary has begun to show genius-like talent as a mathematician. Soon comes along her grandmother Evelyn, as a custody battle ensues to decide Mary’s…