LATE NIGHT (2019)

Directed By: Nisha Ganatra 
Written By: Mindy Kaling 
Cinematography: Matthew Clark 
Editor: Eleanor Infante & David Rogers 


Cast: Emma Thompson, Mindy Kaling, Hugh Dancy, Reid Scott, Denis O’Hare, Max Casella, John Lithgow, Paul Walter Hauser, Luke Slattery, Amy Ryan, Ike Barinholtz, Megalyn Euchikunwoke, John Early, Seth Meyers, Annaleigh Ashford, Halston Sage, Maria Dizzia 


Katherine Newbury is a pioneer and legendary host on the late-night talk-show circuit. When she's accused of being a "woman who hates women," she puts affirmative action on the to-do list, and --presto!--Molly is hired as the one woman in Katherine's all-male writers' room. But Molly might be too little too late, as the formidable Katherine also faces the reality of low ratings and a network that wants to replace her. Wanting to prove she's not merely a diversity hire who's disrupting the comfort of the brotherhood, Molly is determined to help Katherine revitalize her show and career--and possibly effect even bigger change at the same time.

PITCH PERFECT 3 (2017)

Directed By: Trish Sie 
Written By: Kay Cannon & Mike White 
Story By: Kay Cannon 
Based On The Book By: Mickey Rapkin 
Cinematography By: Matthew Clark 
Editor: Craig Alpert & Colin Patton 


Cast: Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Ester Dean, Hana Mae Lee, Elizabeth Banks, John Michael Higgins, John Lithgow, Matt Lanter, Guy Burnet, DJ Khaled, Moises Arias, Ruby Rose, Trinidad James. 


After the highs of winning the World Championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

BEATRIZ AT DINNER (2017)

Directed By: Miguel Arteta 
Written By: Mike White 
Cinematography By: Wyatt Garfield 
Editor: Jay Deuby 


Cast: Salma Hayek, John Lithgow, Connie Britton, Chloe Sevingy, Jay Duplass, Amy Landecker, David Warshofsky 


An holistic medicine woman spends her life absorbing the pain of all those unfortunates that she comes in contact with while attempting to heal them. She is invited to a dinner party by a client/friend when her car breaks down putting the hostess in the awkward position of having Beatriz join a dinner party with people whose lives are foreign to hers and she begins her judgement of them all. She is self absorbed and incapable of self healing. She forces her opinions on the group and for such a healer as herself has no difficulty inflicting violence on the group as a whole and finally on herself.

ORANGE COUNTY (2002)

Directed By: Jake Kasdan 
Written By: Mike White 
 Cinematography By: Greg Gardiner 
Editor: Tara Timpone 



Cast: Colin Hanks, Jack Black, Schuyler Fisk, John Lithgow, Catherin O’Hara, Leslie Mann, Carly Pope, Lily Tomlin, Chevy Chase, Dana Ivey, Brett Harrison, Natasha Melnick, Harold Ramis, Kyle Howard, Mike White, Fran Kranz, Nat Faxon, Monica Keena, Lizzy Caplan

2010: THE YEAR WE MAKE CONTACT (1984)

Cast: Roy Scheider, Helen Mirren, John Lithgow, Bob Balaban, Kier Dullea, Douglas Rain, Elya baskin, Mary Jo Deschanel

Written & Directed & Cinematography By: Peter Hyams
Based On Characters & The Novel By: Arthur C. Clarke
Edited By: Mia Goldman & James Mitchell
Set Decoration By: Rick Simpson

This is a strange hybrid as a sequel it seems to try to take the mind blowing philosophy and art of the first film and try to make a more convenient audience friendly sequel to try and make the story fit more into a neat package. This seems to be more about peace between the two superpowers that was raging during the mid 80’s but it is set in 2010 so it instantly dates the film.

The film seems more like a spiritual movie about finding peace in the afterlife. As a science fiction film it works if it was just a random story this movie would be a lot more interesting but as a sequel all you can do is compare it to the original. It’s pretty compelling considering when it was made sure the special effects are dated but it holds your interest. The film has plenty of heart stopping thrills and amazing special effects shots. And who isn’t a fan of the return of HAL-9000
The coldest most innocent and misunderstood villain of all time.

Making a sequel to 2001 was a pretty brave and bold task and I can honestly say peter hyams did not fail or embarrass himself this is when he was still able to make good coherent movies (The less said about The Muskateer and A Sound Of Thunder the better)

Dr. Heywood Floyd helms a joint U.S.-Soviet mission of scientists trying to rendezvous with the abandoned Discovery spacecraft, reactivate the homicidal computer HAL-9000 and finally learn the truth. About what happened aboard the ship and what happened to the crew

The film also gets points for the interesting eclectic cast that it had that weren’t quite stars at the time but eventually went onto become popular names in the acting world. Roy schieder adds another impressive performance to his resume This film jaws, the French connection he appeared in so many classics yet never seem to get the respect of his peers. It also has elya Baskin one of the actors I like to see whenever he gets parts I still remember him from Moscow on the Hudson he has a on screen innocence usually in his films that make you believe he is a caring and decent nice guy. Then you feel sorry when his characters are usually betrayed or killed. The film also uses interesting cameos the original novel’s author Arthur C. Clarke as a man sitting on a bench feeding the pigeons on earth and Candice Bergen as the voice of SAL-9000 even though it is not credited to her but a pseudonym.

This is definitely a film you should check out and rent but only if you can be open minded but don’t expect the magic of 2001: A Space Odessey


GRADE: C+