“The Lion King” and Disney’s Cultural Wasteland

This weekend brings us the much-anticipated release of Disney’s The Lion King remake, currently clocking in at an uninspiring 57% on Rotten Tomatoes. And yet, it’s projected to make over a billion dollars and become one of the highest grossing films of the year – yet another addition to Disney’s growing stranglehold on the box office. How did we get to this point? Are audiences getting stupider? Has Disney grown too large? What does this mean for the future of cinema heading into a new decade?

“The Kindergarten Teacher” Film Review & Analysis

The Kindergarten Teacher (2018) is an American remake of a 2014 Israeli film of the same name, written and directed by Sara Colangelo. It stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lisa, a failed poet-turned-kindergarten teacher who discovers that one of her young students has a gift with words and takes him under her tutelage. It tackles themes of mentorship, ambition, and artistry in an increasingly-pragmatic worldview. How does it stack up to the original, and in its own right?

“A Star is Born” Film Review

A Star is Born is the directorial debut of Bradley Cooper and the third remake of the 1937 original of the same name. It stars Cooper and Lady Gaga as an alcoholic rock star and the bar singer he discovers and falls in love with, respectively. It’s a sordid tale of love, addiction, and fame updated for the modern era. Does Cooper’s first stint behind the camera prove successful? Is the chemistry between him and real-life popstar Gaga genuine and earned? Will it scoop up half a dozen Oscars next year as many are already predicting?