by Mitch Wiley

In the Heights is the first bonafide (soon-to-be) classic musical to his theaters since La La Land in 2016. Musicals are one of Hollywood's oldest and most beloved genres—from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (Top Hat; Swing Time) to the MGM musicals of Hollywood's Golden Age (Singin' in the Rain; An American in Paris) to more recent hits like Moulin Rouge! and Chicago. In the Heights, based on the homonymous 2008 Broadway play, joins the other stage hit Hamilton in solidifying Lin-Manuel Miranda as this generation's Vincente Minnelli or Bob Fosse.

by Mitch Wiley

If you haven't been to a movie theater in some time and feel comfortable doing so, John Krasinski's A Quiet Place Part II would be the perfect opportunity to return. The worthy sequel to 2018's surprise sci-fi hit features another impressive sound design with assured camerawork and acting to boot.

by Mitch Wiley

In February 2020, Bong Joon-Ho stood atop the mountain of cinema, making his two Oscars kiss, something I think we all wish we could do in our lives. The future of film and theatrical exhibition was still uncertain, but promising given the Academy's surprising choice to award something unique, international, and new (and also a flat-out great movie!). Fast forward fourteen long months and cinema is perhaps on the brink of death. While that's cynical hyperbole, it's nevertheless very possible.

by Mitch Wiley

Pixar's latest offering may be their most dense delivery yet; and that's saying something given their penchant for mature themes, deep questions, and emotional stories. Pete Docter appears to be the most existential of Pixar's top brass (MONSTERS, INC., UP, INSIDE OUT) and he doubles down on what made his previous works successful and tear-jerking. Is it too much at times? Certainly! I'm not sure how well jokes about Jungian psychology or the New York Knicks will land will the younger audiences, but just about every beat landed with this writer!

Today is day two of the two-day Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos (in English, Day of the Dead), which occurs every November 1st and 2nd.

by Mitch Wiley

Spike Lee’s highly anticipated Netflix film Da 5 Bloods may not have come at a better time. In light of the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and others, we have hit a major moment in the civil rights and race discussion. Spike Lee is one of the most prolific black directors in Hollywood and certainly one of the most essential filmmakers in American history. His 1989 film Do the Right Thing remains as iconic a masterpiece as ever and his 2018 BlacKkKlansman finally won him his first Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.

by Mitch Wiley

When one goes to see a Pixar movie, there are three things you can expect—to laugh, to cry, and to experience a fun adventure or chase. All three are present in Pixar’s latest from Monsters University director Dan Scanlon. Many of Pixar’s greatest achievements come from oddball stories with lots of creative flair. Onward is no different.

by Mitch Wiley

We’re in the midst of the historic COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve probably heard? There is a lot of extra time on people’s hands as a result. Movie theaters, among many other establishments and businesses, have closed. We as a people are practicing social distancing and perhaps even a time of self-quarantine. Our cultural moment is one of both anxiety, fear, confusion, and isolation. Here is a list of movies that help me escape and make me happy. They are essentially “comfort movies.”

by Mitch Wiley

Here, I’ll look at 21 of the 24 Oscar categories (if I’m being honest, I know little to nothing about the 3 “shorts” categories), giving a pick for Will Win, Should Win (of the nominees), and Shoulda Been—that is, who I believe should have been nominated and wasn’t.

by Mitch Wiley

Why do I love movies? They transport me to experience feelings and thoughts that reflect my own longings for something greater. The experience itself is often moving and transcendent. They are entertaining, funny, awe-inspiring, thought-provoking, but also create a sense of empathy for the human experience.

In 1973 and 1978, Terrence Malick created two hits in the New Hollywood era: Badlands and Days of Heaven. In both of these films, Malick finds his characters searching for Eden in the midst of the vast American western landscape. Both films follow a man running from his sins. Both films are gorgeously shot with probing voiceover from the perspective of the female collateral in the lives of broken men. Both were critical hits, the latter of which was nominated for 3 Academy Awards (winning one for cinematography). They were two of the most acclaimed films of the 1970s. Then Malick disappeared for 20 years.