Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at Rian Johnson’s highly anticipated sequel to his hit 2019 film “Knives Out.” It’s called “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and I’m happy to say that it’s just as good as the original film. That’s primarily because the only character returning from the first film, Daniel Craig’s Benoit Blanc, is just as smart and charming this time around as the world’s greatest detective. This time he’s been invited to an eccentric billionaire’s private island to participate in a phony murder that suddenly turns real. As in the first film, there is an impressive ensemble cast of potential killers and victims alike and enough twists and turns to qualify as a typical street in San Francisco. And at the center of it all is Benoit Blanc, the Southern Sherlock Holmes/Columbo hybrid who has become one of the most entertaining onscreen detectives in years.
Continue readingDog’s Movie House: “Devotion,” “Strange World,” Entertaining Thanksgiving Fare!
Howdy folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at a couple of Thanksgiving movies that each offer something for everyone! First we have “Devotion” a biographical drama about Jesse Brown (Jonathan Majors), the first black fighter pilot in the Korean War. Then we have Disney’s latest animated film, “Strange World,” which borrows from Jules Verne and “Fantastic Voyage” to create an entertaining family adventure. But first we get started with “Devotion!”
Continue readingDog’s Movie House: “The Menu” A Sharp Comedy Skewering Pretentious Food Culture And Compelling Thriller All In One!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a confession: I’m not a big fan of the current foodie culture. There seems to be a constant game of elitist one-upmanship in terms of holier-than-thou analysis of what the food means to the environment, as if by partaking in such a unique item makes you a better person than the fools who partake of the simple cheeseburger. Pricey and pretentiously annoying, aspects of this type of foodie culture have become the new avenue for cultural elitism. This is the subject that the makers of the movie “The Menu” skewer with much delight, all the while creating a compelling thriller featuring outstanding performances and some unique twists and turns.
Continue readingDog’s Movie House: “She Said” Riveting Film In The Vein Of “All The President’s Men” And “Spotlight!”
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at “She Said,” a powerful film about the two New York Times reporters who broke the scandal involving Harvey Weinstein back in 2017. The tale centers on Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Cantor (Zoe Kazan) two reporters for the New York Times who team up to do an investigative piece on the harassment culture in Hollywood. After receiving a few tips and doing a little digging, they quick zoom in on Weinstein, who at the time was one of the most powerful producers in Hollywood. What they discover is that Weinstein is a symptom of a huge Hollywood machine that enables powerful producers (mostly white and male) to behave as if they are above the law. Twohey and Cantor must navigate the labyrinth of non-disclosure agreements, financial settlements, and the culture of bullying and blacklisting to get to the truth, finding out first hand what it’s like to go up against the Hollywood machine.
Continue readingDog’s Movie House: “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” Is A Stunning Cinematic Ode To Both The Black Panther And Chadwick Boseman!
Howdy Folks! It’s The Kendog here with a look at one of the most anticipated films of the year. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” has the unenviable task of continuing a beloved superhero series without the presence of the hero! When Chadwick Boseman passed due to colon cancer in 2020, not only was his death an enormous personal loss but also left writer/director Ryan Coogler with a real professional dilemma. How do you continue a beloved franchise without the actor responsible for the hero’s popularity? In Coogler’s case, you create a narrative that parallels the grief the cast and crew felt at Boseman’s untimely passing and frame it against the growing pains of a powerful (if fictitious) nation coming to terms with its place in the world. And the result is a stunning, emotional, and cathartic achievement in filmmaking!
Continue reading
