Ben Cahlamer
‘Elvis’: Movie Review
As a wee lad, one of my first music biopics was Luis Valdez’s La Bamba, the story of Ritchie Valens. Although the ending depressed me, and I didn’t know then that it was based on Ritchie Valens’ real-life rise and
‘The Black Phone’: Movie Review
In a sea of IP-mined films and television shows, it is refreshing to have original content at our disposal. You might argue that every piece of content is original. It does take creative people to take an outline, expand it
‘Lightyear’: Movie Review
With modern animation comes great responsibility. Pixar Animation Studios has been at the forefront of inspiring characters and stories, fueling audiences’ and creators’ imaginations. One of the most synonymous properties in their library is the Toy Story franchise and its
‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’: Movie Review
Let’s get this out of the way from the get: sex in films, especially in American cinema, has become a very taboo subject. We’re uncomfortable talking about sex with our peers, even though we joke about it incessantly. There’s another
‘Jurassic World Dominion’: Movie Review
#JurassicWorldDominion features a strong cast and a frenetically paced film that undermines its intelligence. Fans of the series will find much to appreciate. Laura Dern is the cast stand out.
‘Crimes of the Future’ Movie Review
Though I’ve only seen a few of David Cronenberg’s works, “passion” or “passionate” comes to mind when describing his stories, characters, and locales. There is an inherent beauty in the horrors he shares with his audience. It is very nearly
‘Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story’ Movie Review
Change is an omnipresent aspect of our lives. We grow together. We grow apart; we’re born, die, and born again. Our experiences define who we are; this is our collective humanity. With global events of the past three years shaping
‘Downton Abbey: A New Era’ Movie Review
It would be easy to sit here and say “Action!” when thinking about Downton Abbey: A New Era, the latest entry in the ongoing series, now in theaters. It is, however, an apt description of the sequel to the 2019
‘Montana Story’ Movie Review: Visual Splendor Strengthens Heady Story
In theaters now, family dynamics play a significant role in Scott McGehee’s and David Siegel’s Montana Story. Featuring native Phoenician Haley Lu Richardson as Erin and Owen Teague as Cal, McGehee, and Siegel, who also co-wrote the screenplay, set out