jake gyllenhaal

  • The Bride review: It lives in chaos

    ‘The Bride’ is a frenetic tale of female empowerment from the perspective of a woman who demands agency in her second life.

  • Review: ‘Spider-Man: Far From Home’ spins a web of action-packed fun (Includes first-hand account)

    Since Marvel came back into the fold, Spider-Man has flourished. No longer an emo man-child, he exudes youth and teenage sarcasm in a manner inherit to the character. In other words, Peter Parker really looks and feels like the boy next door now. Moreover, bringing him back into the greater MCU allowed for more interesting storylines as he built a paternal bond with the ever-aloof Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). If you haven’t seen Avengers: Endgame, then you really should before watching this picture because it opens with a major spoiler (which also can’t/won’t be avoided for the remainder of this review — fair warning). Having announced this movie would close out Marvel Studios‘ phase three rather than Endgame, Spider-Man: Far From Home took the baton and slung away.

  • Review: ‘The Sisters Brothers’ doesn’t try to abide by tradition (Includes first-hand account)

    While the Western’s heyday may have passed, there is no shortage of new entries to the genre, especially of late. The narratives in the category allow for interesting explorations of race and class, as well as greed and justice. The era of gunslingers and gold diggers invites any number of conversations of right and wrong, good people and bad… and what’s right may not always be good, and vice versa. Legends were created as their feats were immortalized in the written word and fame became a goal rather than an abstract idea. This is the world in which The Sisters Brothers unfolds.

  • ‘Stronger’ trailer is incredibly detailed (Includes first-hand account)

    As a few years seems to be the threshold of “too soon?” no longer being a significant issue, it’s not surprising to see films depicting events that resulted in tragedy begin to emerge in the years following a calamity. Thus, four years after the Boston Marathon bombing, the second movie about the terrorist attack is set for theatrical release. The first trailer for Stronger provides a detailed overview of the film.

  • Review: ‘Life’ draws from similar past experiences (Includes first-hand account)

    The exploration of life on other planets has always held the possibility of encountering a hostile species. Many movies have depicted monstrous creatures that seem to have a malevolent streak and are hell-bent on destroying the intruders that disturbed them and/or invaded their home. Some move in the shadows, only fully revealing themselves nearer the end; others have various camouflaging abilities that allow them to hide in plain sight. But the bottom line is always the same: these things pose an imminent threat to humanity and must be eliminated before they can obliterate our Earthly existence. Life has isolated its threat in space and they aim to keep it there.

  • Review: ‘Everest’ is an edge-of-your-seat thriller that’s true to life (Includes first-hand account)

    The prestige that comes with reaching the top of Mt. Everest makes it one of the most coveted accomplishments amongst adventurers — though not necessarily skilled climbers, who set their sights on less commercialized summits. Consequently, Everest is also one of the most expensive treks someone can aspire to complete, so not making it to the top is more than just a disappointment. The ascent is treacherous due to weather, thin air and unstable ground, and there are substantial costs associated with the equipment and manpower required to complete the journey. Yet every year hundreds of people arrive at base camp to give it a try. Everest chronicles one of the worst disasters to occur on the mountain almost 20 years ago.

  • Review: ‘Southpaw’s grit just isn’t enough (Includes first-hand account)

    There have been several good boxing films made over the years, some based on true stories and others emerging from the imaginations of talented authors and screenwriters. Directors such as Clint Eastwood, Ron Howard, David O. Russell and Martin Scorsese have stepped into the ring and had an impact on the sports film subgenre. But no matter the trajectory of the story, it always comes down to one last fight. That’s part of the movie’s appeal — audiences know they are going to see a well-choreographed match that rivals some of reality’s best. Antoine Fuqua‘s Southpaw follows in its predecessors’ footsteps, which can be considered good and bad.