by Michael Parnell | Jun 28, 2019 | Opinion
The first chapter in the saga of Woody (Tom Hanks) and Buzz (Tim Allen) laid out a universe in which a child’s toys lived life in the same manner that humans do. In that universe, there is loss and gain. There is joy and sadness. But deeper is the life of the toy. A...
by Michael Parnell | Mar 29, 2019 | Opinion
Jordan Peele is a filmmaker of importance. His last film, “Get Out,” earned him the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 2018. Now he returns with another film, “Us,” that is just as vital as the story he told in “Get Out.” It is the story of the Wilson family, but the...
by Michael Parnell | Feb 15, 2019 | Opinion
Short featurettes that precede the showing of the feature film are a new trend at U.S. movie theaters. No, it is not a Looney Tunes cartoon or a Three Stooges short, but the director coming on the screen to thank you for coming to see his or her film. “They Shall Not...
by Michael Parnell | Nov 9, 2018 | Opinion
We live in a time when movies are released that are important to our present reality. They deal with contemporary issues and challenges around which there is very little rational discussion. “The Hate U Give” is a movie that needs to be seen and discussed. The story...
by Michael Parnell | Oct 19, 2018 | Opinion
This is not like any “man in space” movie you have ever seen. “Apollo 13” and “The Right Stuff” hit notes about how wonderful the U.S. was in facing the challenges of space. “First Man” has none of that. It is a very quiet movie about a very quiet man who became a...
