Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood Stars: Viola Davis, John Boyega, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin, Jordan Bolger, Jimmy Odukoya, Sheila Atim, Jayme Lawson, Masali Baduza. A rousing full blooded female centric action film like this is something of a rarity in a cinematic landscape dominated by special effects heavy superhero movies. However, in recent years we’ve had films like Gunpowder Milkshake and The 355. Joining that short list is The Woman King, a historical epic set in the African kingdom of Dahomey (now known as Continue reading
FENCES
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Denzel Washington Stars: Denzel Washington, Viola Davis, Stephen Henderson, Mykelti Williamson, Russell Hornsby, Jovan Adepo, Saniyya Sidney. Pittsburgh in the 1950s. Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) is a middle-aged man struggling to get by, and he is bitter and resentful of his past, his failures and missed opportunities. He spent some time in prison, and his baseball career never really took off. He takes much of his frustrations out on his long-suffering wife Rose (Viola Davis, from Doubt, etc) and teenaged son Cory (newcomer Continue reading
THE HELP
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Tate Taylor Stars: Emma Stone, Bryce Dallas Howard, Viola Davis, Octavia Spencer, Alison Janney, Sissy Spacek, Jessica Chastain, Cicely Tyson, Mary Steenburgen. There is already plenty of early Oscar buzz for this moving, poignant, powerful and impressive drama about racism in America in the 1960s. The Help is based on the best selling novel written by Kathryn Stockett, who drew upon her own experiences to shape this very humanistic and moving tale. The Help deals with some important themes, and is the type of book that would Continue reading