The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, keep things in their hometown with this week’s review of Greta Gerwig’s Lady Bird (2017). Set in Sacramento, the film chronicles a high school senior’s turbulent relationship with family and friends as she prepares to end her final year in private school and move on to a college of her own choosing. Filmed almost entirely in Sacramento, Lady Bird has received numerous critical and popular accolades since it first debuted on the film festival circuit in 2017.
The film stars Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Timothee Chalamet, Tracy Letts and more. As of the recording of this episode, Lady Bird is up for five Academy Awards on March 4th.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, screw up time and space with this week’s review of The Cloverfield Paradox (2018). The surprise third installment of JJ Abrams’ Cloverfield-verse, which dropped on Super Bowl Sunday on Netflix, is a cautionary tale that somewhat ties together the previous films in the series, Cloverfield (2008) and 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016). Even against a backdrop that includes a global energy crisis and tinkering with the multiverse with an out-of-this-world particle accelerator, the film’s strength lies in its impressive cast and diverse characters.
The Cloverfield Paradox stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Daniel Brühl, Zhang Ziyi, David Oyelowo, Elizabeth Debicki and more.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams The Filmlosophers travel to the mythical African nation of Wakanda in this week’s review of Black Panther (2018). New from Marvel Studios, the film is directed by Ryan Coogler and unites an expansive cast of performers to tell the story of the rise of Prince T’Challa, played by Chadwick Boseman, to power as the warrior-priest-king known as the Black Panther. First seen on screen in Captain America: Civil War (2016), Black Panther is one of the newest superheroes to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe pantheon. He is also one of its most relatable heroes, and this new solo film enlarges the audience’s view of his homeland, family and philosophy.
The film also stars Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Martin Freeman, Danai Gurira, Daniel Kaluuya, Sterling K. Brown, Forest Whitaker, Andy Serkis, Letitia Wright and Winston Duke. The films releases in North America on February 16th.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, prep for next week’s Black Panther (2018) review with a tour of director Ryan Coogler’s filmography including Fruitvale Station (2013) and Creed (2015). How has Coogler’s presence behind the lens shaped those stories, and what can we expect from the superhero film on the horizon? Moreover, in a culture that is still reeling from racially motivated tensions and conflict, we discuss the value of sharing stories that champion the influence and impact of black performers and creators on an international stage.
In movie news, we also profile this weekend’s new releases which include Clint Eastwood’s The 15:17 to Paris (2018), franchise closer Fifty Shades Freed (2018) and updated children’s classic Peter Rabbit (2018) starring James Corden.