Armano Iannucci’s “The Death of Stalin” is now out on home video, and it’s a film well worth one’s time. Not only is it an exceptionally dark, terribly funny, film about the events surrounding Stalin’s death in 1950s’ Russia, it is also very definitely a discussion of 21st Century America and the pitfalls that await… Read More
“The Death of Stalin” and the 21st Century
“Sherlock Gnomes” Helps Discover the Way Forward
Let me tell you a story. It involves garden gnomes. So. Many. Garden gnomes. Now, let me tell you a different story. Yes, it also has garden gnomes. So. Many. Garden gnomes. How many stories could there be involving garden gnomes and should we want more and what could those more be and what does… Read More
Notes from a Writer: “Hereditary” and Cheap Thrills
It takes a lot to psych me up to go see a horror film. There has to be something in it more than chills, whether that’s a paycheck or the recommendation of a trusted friend or a major cultural impact. I have been hearing about “Hereditary” now for months. It got fantastic reviews. It’s got… Read More
“Coming to America” & “Trading Places” – Comedy Classics and Mistakes?
I don’t want to say that the 1980s were a better decade for comedies than all other decades, but it is undeniably true that the ’80s featured some truly memorable, wonderful, comedies. This year, “Trading Places” is celebrating its 35th anniversary, and “Coming to America” is turning 30. Such anniversaries mean that both films are… Read More
Changing History: “Terminator: Genisys” & “Forrest Gump”
In this special, extra edition of “Lass is More,” we look at “Terminator: Genisys” and “Forrest Gump,” two movies that muck about with the timeline. The former does it within its own timeline–that is, the earlier “Terminator” films–and the latter does it in its look at U.S. history. Personally, I love such devices. I think… Read More
The Voice of Wendy Darling on “Peter Pan”
Today’s podcast episode features Kathryn Beaumont, the voice of Wendy Darling, as well as author and historian Mindy Johnson. The two women stop by in support of the new Blu-ray edition of Peter Pan, which is out today. Just what was it like to work on the movie? What was the process? Why did they… Read More
Movie Review: “American Animals”
There is some distinctly different about “American Animals,” the new movie from writer-director Bart Layton. Where the film, which is the based on the true story of four college students who formulate a plan to steal valuable books from an on-campus library, diverges from being a standard heist tale is with the fact that it… Read More
