Author: Allyson Gronowitz

Flipping the Script on: The ‘Alien’ Franchise’s Underappreciated Gem, ‘Prometheus’

Welcome to “Flipping the Script,” a monthly column where I will reconsider recent films that have been panned, frowned upon, or simply under appreciated. I believe that movies should speak to us on a deep, personal level, and this column will consist of films that have done that for me despite widespread derision or apathy. … Continue reading Flipping the Script on: The ‘Alien’ Franchise’s Underappreciated Gem, ‘Prometheus’

’13 Reasons Why’ Tackles Tough but Important Topics – and that’s why it’s Must-See TV

13 Reasons Why, Netflix’s hit new show, is an impossible endeavor. Adapted from the #1 New York Times bestselling young adult novel by Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why revolves around a suicide and prominently features cyberbullying and sexual assault. For many, the subject matter is deemed too weighty; for others, the “teen drama” genre is … Continue reading ’13 Reasons Why’ Tackles Tough but Important Topics – and that’s why it’s Must-See TV

Blu-ray Pick: ‘Miss Hokusai’ Spotlights the Bold, Talented Daughter of a Famous Japanese Painter

Miss Hokusai, now out on DVD and Blu-ray, is a film that is notable as much for its own meta-history as it is for the story depicted within. From Production I.G., the anime studio responsible for the beloved Ghost in the Shell series, and award-winning director Keiichi Hara, Miss Hokusai presents the true story of the … Continue reading Blu-ray Pick: ‘Miss Hokusai’ Spotlights the Bold, Talented Daughter of a Famous Japanese Painter

Flipping the Script on: Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Third Star’

Welcome to “Flipping the Script,” a monthly column where I will reconsider recent films that have been panned, frowned upon, or simply under appreciated. I believe that movies should speak to us on a deep, personal level, and this column will consist of films that have done that for me despite widespread derision or apathy. … Continue reading Flipping the Script on: Benedict Cumberbatch’s ‘Third Star’

Blu-ray Pick: Gael García Bernal Publicizes the Migrant Experience in Jonás Cuarón’s ‘Desierto’

The best kinds of movies provide emotional context to the thorniest political, ideological and philosophical issues that plague us as a species. Now available on DVD and Blu-ray, Desierto, Jonás Cuarón’s Spanish-language feature, tackles one of the most topical concerns of the current United States administration: illegal immigration. By laying out the issue in narrative … Continue reading Blu-ray Pick: Gael García Bernal Publicizes the Migrant Experience in Jonás Cuarón’s ‘Desierto’

Blu-ray Pick: Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton Deliver Powerhouse Performances in ‘Loving’

For such a groundbreaking story, Jeff Nichols’ Loving, now available on DVD and Blu-ray, is notable for its silence. Although the quiet solemnity of a sparse script served Nichols well in the case of his other 2016 critical darling, Midnight Special, the historic Loving v. Virginia Supreme Court decision invalidating laws that prohibited interracial marriage … Continue reading Blu-ray Pick: Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton Deliver Powerhouse Performances in ‘Loving’

Flipping the Script on: ‘Pacific Rim’

Welcome to “Flipping the Script,” a monthly column where I will reconsider recent films that have been panned, frowned upon, or simply under appreciated. I believe that movies should speak to us on a deep, personal level, and this column will consist of films that have done that for me despite widespread derision or apathy. … Continue reading Flipping the Script on: ‘Pacific Rim’

Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts Shine a Spotlight on Syria

As someone with a short attention span who also embraces opportunities to learn more about the world, I have always appreciated the allure of documentary shorts. As usual, however, the 2017 crop of Academy Award nominees in the Documentary Shorts category fixate on weighty, worldwide topics: Three out of the five nominees deal with the … Continue reading Oscar Nominated Documentary Shorts Shine a Spotlight on Syria

Academy Award Nominees for Best Live Action Short Focus on Immigration, Poverty, and the Music of Old and Young Souls

Like animated short films, live action shorts need to pack an immediate emotional punch. As a result, short films often tap into themes already loaded with drama, such as bigotry, bullying, and of course, death. The 2014 Academy Awards Live Action Short winner, “Helium,” about a young boy with a terminal illness and the hospital … Continue reading Academy Award Nominees for Best Live Action Short Focus on Immigration, Poverty, and the Music of Old and Young Souls

Time Twisted Tales & “Pear Cider” Highlight Oscar Nominated Shorts (Animation)

  What the best short films lack in running time, they make up for in emotional impact and – especially in the animation category – stunning artistry. Take “The Present,” a four-minute, boy-and-his-dog vignette with a gut-punch of a finale (no, the dog doesn’t die!), or “The Missing Scarf,” a trippy, existential fable that clocks … Continue reading Time Twisted Tales & “Pear Cider” Highlight Oscar Nominated Shorts (Animation)