The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, test out their new panic room in this week’s review of Halloween (2018). The film marks a return to form for the series, featuring Jamie Lee Curtis as battle-ready Laurie Strode as she prepares for a final showdown 40 years in the making against her nemesis, silent serial killer Michael Myers. Producer John Carpenter also returns to the franchise, and he brings along all of the musical themes he helped compose for the original Halloween (1978).
With an opening weekend haul of more than $77 million in the United States, it’s clear the franchise is as alive as ever. The bigger question is whether or not it lives up to audience expectations that are four decades in the making.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, bottle up their emotions for this week’s review of First Man (2018). Director Damien Chazelle reunites with his leading man from La La Land, Ryan Gosling, for an introspective look at the personal story behind Neil Armstong’s journey to become the first man to step onto the lunar surface in NASA’s moon landing in 1969. Featuring a solid co-leading performance from Claire Foy as Armstrong’s wife, Janet, First Man provides a textured portrait of the man behind the gold visor and explores both the technological and psychological aspects of preparing for what could have been a one-way trip.
Does Chazelle’s film stick the landing, so to speak, or is it a failure to launch? Listen in for a glimpse at what has critics declaring this one an award season contender and audiences biding their time before viewing.
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, cough up some new personalities with this week’s review of Venom (2018). The Sony Pictures film marks the studio’s first foray into a Spiderverse without a Spider-Man (to this point, at least). Starring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams, Riz Ahmed and Jenny Slate, Venom follows man-on-the-street journalist Eddie Brock on a confusingly quirky journey in which he finds himself bonded to an alien symbiote and crusades against a similarly symbiote-empowered villain looking to transform life on Earth and take to the stars before the planet succumbs to environmental degradation.
Following a record-breaking October weekend at the box office, does Venom herald the dawn of a new age for Sony when it comes to superhero fare? Or were you better off catching Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga in A Star is Born (2018)? Listen in to find out!
The Filmlosophers, Eddie Villanueva, Chad Riley and Spencer Williams, straddle state lines with this week’s review of Bad Times at the El Royale (2018). Set in a rundown casino hotel where almost nothing is as it seems, the film features a number of familiar faces including Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm, Dakota Johnson and Chris Hemsworth. It also marks a career-making turn from Cynthia Erivo, who also makes a splash in Widows (2018) next month.
Written, directed and produced by former Daredevil showrunner Drew Goddard, Bad Times at the El Royale includes twist upon twist and is sure to keep you guessing until the end. In spite of its dark subject matter, the film manages to captivate and delight throughout its two-hour-plus runtime.