The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams blaze a new trail through the dystopic future with this week’s review of The Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018). Directed by Wes Ball, the film brings the three-part series to a close with explosive special effects, heavy-handed exposition and a multitude of questionable plot twists that diverge from the source material in James Dashner’s popular young adult book series. The film, which faced production delays after a stunt involving lead actor Dylan O’Brien went wrong, clocks in at a massive two hours and twenty minutes.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams examine the previously classified records of the so-called “horse soldiers” who fought alongside local militias against the Taliban during the months following September 11th, 2001, with this week’s review of 12 Strong (2018). Directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, the film stars Chris Hemsworth, Michael Shannon, Michael Peña, Navid Negahban, William Fichtner, Rob Riggle and many others.
As depicted in the film, the Green Berets selected for this mission were dropped deep behind enemy lines near strategic, Taliban-controlled villages and tasked with calling in air strikes to support the local militias’ efforts to destabilize Al Qaeda’s control over a highly contested region, culminating in the hoped-for liberation of Mazar-i-Sharif, the fourth-largest city in Afghanistan. The mission, which many expected to take months or even years, needed to be completed within three to six weeks.
Be sure to check out Maze Runner: The Death Cure (2018), which debuts this weekend! Also making its wide release debut are the award-buzzing films I, Tonya (2017), Phantom Thread (2017), and Call Me By Your Name (2017).
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams wax philosophical about the freedom of the press with this week’s review of The Post (2017). Directed by Steven Spielberg, the film stars Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Bob Odenkirk, Matthew Rhys, Sarah Paulson, Alison Brie and others. The film chronicles the historic decision by The Washington Post’s first female publisher, Katharine Graham, to proceed with coverage of the classified Pentagon Papers during the Nixon administration. The choice landed Graham and the paper in the Supreme Court alongside The New York Times, and the film provides a compelling portrayal of the difficulties Graham faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry.
On the docket for this weekend in theaters is Paddington 2, The Commuter, starring Liam Neeson, and Proud Mary, starring the astounding Taraji P. Henson.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva and Chad Riley, welcome Spencer Williams as the official third co-host with a review of one of the year’s best reviewed films, Get Out (2017). Directed by Jordan Peele, the film stars Daniel Kaluuya, Allison Williams, Bradley Whitford, Catherine Keener, LilRel Howery in a compelling examination of race-based anxieties and tensions that works as both a taut psychological thriller and an eye-opening allegory for some of society’s most persistent and pervasive issues.
On the docket for this weekend in theaters is Insidious: The Last Key (2018), the fourth installment in the horror franchise.
The Filmlosophers recap the year that was with a full review of 2017 films - what worked, what didn’t, who stood out and which studios dropped the ball. Alongside returning guest Spencer Williams, we give our picks for best and worst performances, biggest surprise and disappointment, and more categories. Listen in and see if you agree!