The Movie Matchmaker

Gerwig delivers a timely adaptation of the literary classic. Directed by: Greta Gerwig Rated: PG Runtime: 2:15 Review by: Livi Edmonson From the director of “Lady Bird” (2017), this year’s film adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s iconic novel is simply the best there is --- both as an adaptation of the book and as a film. “Little Women” is a story that has been known by millions of people around the world for over 100 years now, yet director and screenwriter, Greta Gerwig, still finds a way for the story to resonate with audiences in 2019. With its wildly ambitious characters and modern feminist take on society, “Little Women” is the film that  today’s  society need today now more than ever.  For those very few who are unaware of the classic narrative, the story is about the lives of four sisters --- Jo (Academy award-nominated Saoirse Ronan), Amy (Florence Pugh), Meg (Emma Watson), and Beth (Eliza Scanlen) --- as they come of age in pos...

Top 20 films of 2019                                            (In order from great to the BEST) By: Livi Edmonson 2019 was a year for some of the best films and filmmakers of the decade, as well as one for some of the worst.... (cough, cough, "Cats"...) Let's celebrate this amazing year together and reminisce on 20 of the year's greatest films!   #20. "Bombshell"  #19. "Jumanji: The Next Level" #18. "Fighting with my Family" #17. "Toy Story 4"  #16. "The Farewell" #15. "Jojo Rabbit" #14. "Late Night" #13. "Captain Marvel" #12. "Peanut Butter Falcon" #11. "Spider-Man: Far from Home" #10. "Brittany Runs a Marathon" #9. "Booksmart" #8. "Shazam!" #7. "Avengers: Endgame...

 Netflix’s second shot at a viable “Best Picture” Directed by: Noah Baumbach Rated: R Runtime: 2:17 Review by: Livi Edmonson Topping the 2020 Golden Globe nominations in the film category with six nods, “Marriage Story” is the Netflix drama that everyone is already talking about this awards season. Starring Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver, and featuring stellar supporting performances from Laura Dern, Alan Alda, and Ray Liotta, the film undoubtedly has a shot at not only being nominated in nearly every category at the 2020 Academy Awards ceremony, but also sweeping it clean with its bittersweet narrative and dynamic performances that keeps its audience sucked in at every scene. Showcasing traditional cinematic editing techniques and transitions such as the “fadeout”, as well as a fresh, yet timely story that nearly everyone can relate to or enjoy, especially adults, “Marriage Story” has all of the key ingredients to be a beautiful crowd-pleaser to both criti...

  “Knives Out”: arguably the most entertaining film of the year. Directed by: Rian Johnson Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 2:10 Review by: Livi Edmonson What happens when you mix a wildly witty script with a tremendous director and an absolute A-list cast? The most original film of the year ---“Knives Out” --- happens. With a nearly perfect score of 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and a cast consisting of Chris Evans, Jamie Lee Curtis, Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Michael Shannon and Christopher Plummer to name a few, the whodunnit flick tells the story of a crime novelist (Plummer) who dies on the night of his 85 th  birthday. When a detective (Craig) senses foul play from the author’s superficial family, that seem to only be using the elder for his wealth, he begins to investigate, eliminating zero suspects in the meantime.  “Knives Out” can best be described as an Agatha Christie comedy. Audiences will get more than a dose of the typical mystery movie t...

Tom Hanks shines in slow, yet poignant melodrama. Directed by: Marielle Heller Rated: PG Runtime: 1:49 Review by: Livi Edmonson From the director of 2019 critical treasure, “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” and starring arguably America’s most beloved actor, Tom Hanks, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is a type of drama that is rare to come by. Inspired by the article, “Can You Say… Hero?” by Tom Junod, the film follows a cynical journalist, Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), as he profiles children’s television personality, Fred Rogers (Tom Hanks), for Esquire Magazine’s “American Heroes” issue. Although Vogel puts up a ginormous wall for everyone around him, Mr. Rogers somehow finds a way to break down Vogel’s hard, investigative exterior and bring out the care-free, young person he once was.  The film is based upon the real-life friendship between real journalist, Tom Junod and Fred Rogers, but it showcases the story of Junod, or Vogel in this film’s ca...

“Ford v Ferarri”: Damon and Bale dazzle in speedy masterpiece. Directed by: James Mangold Rated: PG-13 Runtime: 2:32 Review by: Livi Edmonson From the director of “Logan” (2017) and “Walk the Line” (2005) comes a racing biopic that audiences never knew they needed in their life. The film is anything but slow --- both literally and metaphorically, and will keep even non-racing fans who are not infatuated with cars entertained. And if you are an automobile fanatic, congratulations --- I just recommended to you your new favorite movie. The narrative tells the story of quite possibly one of the greatest duos in racing history: American automotive designer, Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon), and spunky British race car driver, Ken Miles (Christian Bale).  Together, the two frenemies-turned-besties help Ford Motor Company beat the cars and racers of Enzo Ferrari with one legendary car and an even more legendary driver, Miles, in the 24 Hours of Le Ma...

“Joker” is cinematically perfect and disturbingly imperfect. Directed by: Todd Philips Rated: R Runtime: 2:02 Review by: Livi Edmonson You may know the Joker from his ongoing feud with Batman in “The Dark Knight”, or maybe you know the Joker as Harley Quinn’s loyal lover in “Suicide Squad.”  But trust me, you have never seen a Joker like this one in director Todd Philips’s contemporary, arthouse approach to the villain. Joaquin Phoenix plays Arthur Fleck: a failed comedian who no matter how hard he tries, lacks the social skills and human connection with other people in Gotham City. Arthur’s only jobs are to play a clown when one is needed at work, and take care of his ill mother. Eventually, the constant bullying and isolation Arthur receives from the world around him turns him into a mad-man mastermind, aka the Joker. As many probably can tell from the online reviews and various critical dossiers, “Joker” has been received many mixed reviews fro...