Author Archives: Roger Moore

For a pretty long stretch from the mid-80s into the very early 2000s, animator Will Vinton‘s work was everywhere. The clay-animated California Raisins TV commercials made him a household name. Domino’s Pizzas were menaced by his character, The Noid. He … Continue reading →

September 9, SOME of will be taking a break from the relentless NFL and college concussion bowl coverage to check out this documentary about the rink and the young guys who hope for a better life, away from The Iron … Continue reading →

A “lost daughter” who grew up in poverty has her life changed — in ways good and bad — when her rich hotelier father “finds” her and takes her in in “The Entitled,” a lowbrow comedy of manners from The … Continue reading →

“The Stunt Man” was the first cult film I remember seeing. Its storied pre-production history, years in the making, no studio wanting to distribute it until it won festival acclaim and played in Seattle (if I’m remembering the legend correctly) … Continue reading →

Salons and barber shops, with their bitchy gossip, rotating cast of customer-characters and general jokey atmosphere are one of the most popular settings for comedies, no matter what culture you’re in. The Brazilian “A Cut Above” centers around a Rio … Continue reading →

Looks lovely, maybe CG assisted stop motion animation puppets? Netflix this holiday season.

If a tidal wave of Christmas romances and parade of second-chance-at-love pictures were no giveaway, “Purple Hearts” should be the Netflix warning shot that makes its point. “We’re COMING for you, Hallmark Channel!” A marriage-of-convenience dramedy about a Marine who … Continue reading →

Sept. 9, a piece “inspired by true events” from Czech history hits screens. Helluva cast. That Michael Caine just keeps going. No retirement for him. Treasure him while you can.

Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” is dressed up as a modern day graffiti artist in the income-inequality London of today in “Twist,” a contemporary take on the tale which — our narrator/hero promises — “won’t ‘ave no singin’” or dancing. And … Continue reading →

A simple coming-of-age tale built on the novelty that this story is about a teenage Black fly girl in Brooklyn, 1994’s “Alma’s Rainbow” earns a 4K restoration and re-release Writer-director Ayoka Chenzira launched her career with this debut feature. Almost … Continue reading →