Snowden: Movie Review

A dramatization of Edward Snowden and the interesting man he became.

Snowden is a compelling film because Edward Snowden is a compelling person. But it’s still an odd choice for a bio-pic since he had one moment of intense significance, the rest of his life was just little things that add up to the man currently hiding out in Russia. The film cuts back and forth between his 2013 meetings with documentarian Laura Poitras and journalists Glenn Greenwald and Ewen MacAskill, and a more chronological telling of his life starting in 2004.		2016 Directed by: Oliver Stone Screenplay by: Kieran Fitzgerald, Oliver Stone Starring: Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Shailene Woodley

Brother Nature: Movie Review

Fish-out-of-water, nature hijinks and familial dysfunction served up with some chaotic, rambling and unpleasant comedy.

It’s the classic fish-out-of-water story told as dysfunctional family hijinks comedy. Straight-laced and meticulous up-and-coming politician Roger (Taran Killam) is brought by his soon-to-be fiancée Gwen (Gillian Jacobs) to meet her free-spirited family at their lake house, including soon-to-be (not completely sane) brother-in-law Todd (Bobby Moynihan). But Brother Nature seemed to decide to tell this entire story on meth. Funny at times, but chaotic, rambling and mostly unpleasant.		2016 Directed by: Oz Rodriguez, Matt Villines Screenplay by: Taran Killam, Mikey Day Starring: Taran Killam, Bobby Moynihan

Sully: Movie Review

A hero to believe in.

While Sully is the story of a hero, the lesser-known story behind it casts doubt. The movie opens with an impressive and dramatic plane crash – not a real plane crash but the product of his nightmares. He’s a man hounded by the media, separated from his family, and the subject of a contentious National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hearing. It’s that latter part that didn’t make the media cycle (they don’t like anything that might take away national hero status) and the part that this movie focuses on.		2016 Directed by: Clint Eastwood Screenplay by: Todd Komarnicki Based on "Highest Duty" by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger Starring: Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart

Summer of 8: Movie Review

A slow and reflective end of summer.

At least Summer of 8 gets the simple things right. It’s the last day of summer before a group of friends go off to college – eight of them. Four boys and four girls. I particularly hate movies that can’t count the number of main characters, so this is a pleasant surprise even if it shouldn’t be a surprise. It also, for the most part, gets that feeling of anxiety right. That feeling of excitement, fear, restlessness and uncertainty before their lives change.		2016 Directed by: Ryan Schwartz Screenplay by: Ryan Schwartz Starring: Carter Jenkins, Michael Grant, Matt Shively, Nick Marini, Shelly Henning