Author: Matt Conway

For the many that were able to see Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 over the weekend, it’s safe to say that Drax was one of the many highlights of this film. After not having all that much to do in the original, Drax became one of the biggest sources of comedy, with his blunt observations creating a lot of laughs along the way. One may underestimate just how much time pro-wrestler Dave Bautista spends preparing for the role of Drax. As shown though through a newly-released video, it takes a lot of work to transform Bautista into Drax. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EWPe-9OD68&feature=youtu.be The extensive…

One of comedies breakout stars over the past few years is Eugenio Derbez. After having a successful career in Mexican films, Derbez has since crossed over to American audiences, with his film Instructions Not Included being a surprise success. Derbez is know back with How to Be a Latin Lover. The film follows Maximo, a gigolo who has lived a life of containment when marrying a rich old lady. When she breaks up with him however, he is forced to move in with his estranged sister, forcing him to try and become a better man. How to Be a Latin Lover is fairly hit-or-miss, and…

After long delays, The Dark Tower film finally looks like its on the horizon. Based on the acclaim Stephen King novel, many have been excited to see stars Matthew McConaughey and Idris Elba duel it out on the big screen. Following the release of a teaser to the trailer yesterday, the first official Dark Tower trailer is finally here. Check it out below, along with the film’s synopsis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjwfqXTebIY The last Gunslinger, Roland Deschain (Idris Elba), has been locked in an eternal battle with Walter O’Dim, also known as the Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey), determined to prevent him from toppling the Dark Tower,…

Based on the the talent behind the film and a relatively promising trailer, The Circle was one of my more anticipated pre-summer releases heading into the year. Not only does the film star Tom Hanks, John Boyega, and Patton Oswalt, but it was also directed by James Ponsoldt, whose first three films are great in their own ways. The Circle also features a fairly interesting, high-concept science fiction premise. The film follows Mae, a woman who lands her dream job at the tech cooperation The Circle. As she begins to settle into the company, she begins to question the company’s agenda and open policies. Despite…

Genre-bending is a dicey proposition, as it can either lead to a great film or an utter disaster. When it works, like with Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, it can create a worthwhile experience that affects audiences in many ways. When it doesn’t work, it can make a disastrous concoction of tones that never come together. Trying to perfect that mixture is the latest indie Colossal, which has become one of this year’s most talked about flicks. The film follows Gloria, an out-of-work party girl who goes back home after breaking up with her boyfriend. Once home, she discovers she has a connection to…

Adventure films are a dying breed in today’s cinematic landscape. Aside from the occasional Indiana Jones film, the adventure genre has essentially taken a backseat to more action-oriented blockbusters, that highlight a grand scale over an adventurous spirit. Trying to breathe the genre new life is The Lost City of Z, the last indie from director James Gray. The film follows the true story of Percy Fawcett, a soldier in the early 1900’s who becomes a explore when hired to do a simple mapping excursion. When he finds artifacts of a lost civilization, Percy makes it a lifelong mission to prove the ancient tribal…

No name brings as much fear to the average film fan than Adam Sandler. Despite proving himself as a talented comedian and even an impressive dramatic actor (Punch-Drunk Love is still a favorite of mine), his most recent work has been synonymous with laziness and ineptitude. Many felt that a move to Netflix would be a good one for Sandler, giving him the creative freedom to try and tap into his old comedic heyday. While his first two films were slight upgrades over Grown Ups 2, they still lacked laughs. Sandler looks to buck that trend with Sandy Wexler, which follows a talent manger in…

Out of all the Avengers stars, the one whose career hasn’t quite taken off is Chris Evans. Despite starring as Captain America, Evans has stayed away from blockbusters, opting for more independent, character-driven cinema. This decision has had some mixed results, as for every great film like Snowpiercer there is a mediocre product like Before We Go.  Evans continues his run of indies with Gifted, which also has Amazing Spider-Man director Marc Webb returning to his indie roots. The film follows Frank Adler, whose child Mary has begun to show genius-like talent as a mathematician. Soon comes along her grandmother Evelyn, as a custody battle ensues to decide Mary’s…

While critics and fans were slightly mixed on the first entry in the franchise, fans are still excited to see a continuation of the Harry Potter universe with Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 2. Well it looks like that the film will have even more to get excited about. After weighing through different options to play the character, it appears that Jude Law will being starring in Fantastic Beasts 2 as Young Albus Dumbledore. Director David Yates commented on this exciting news: Jude Law is a phenomenally talented actor whose work I have long admired, and I’m looking forward to finally having…

Joe Swanberg has come a long way since his mumblecore roots. Ever since his debut film Kissing on the Mouth, Swanberg has made a dozen of low budget indies, with most of them being a mixed bag. Recently however, Swanberg has found his stride, particularly in his team up with Netflix. Drinking Buddies and Digging for Fire were great comedy/relationship dramas, while Easy is one of my favorite Netflix shows. In his continuation with his Netflix deal, Swanberg is back in film with his latest Win It All. The film follows Eddie Garrett, a down on his luck gambler who is given the job to watch a package for a…