Scarlett Johansson

Sing 2

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Sing 2
  • IMDb: link

The sequel to 2016’s fun, but largely forgettable, animated musical returns the core cast (Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Saunders, Tori Kelly, Taron Egerton, and Nick Kroll) to follow their dreams again, this time to the big city where the execs (Bobby Cannavale and Chelsea Peretti) are only interested in them if they can get legendary rock star Clay Calloway (Bono), who no one has seen in 15 years since the loss of his wife, as part of the show. Joining them this time around are street-dancing lynx (Letitia Wright) who teaches Johnny, an elephant ice-cream vendor (Pharrell Williams) who catches the eye of Meena, and a self-centered yak (Eric André).

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Black Widow

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Black Widow
  • IMDb: link

Black Widow movie reviewThe movie Marvel Studios didn’t want to make finally sees the light of day. Despite being the first female hero introduced in the MCU, Marvel seemed to have no interest in giving Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) her own film until the financial success of Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel forced their hand.

First, let me say that I’m glad we get a Black Widow movie. The character rocks, Johansson is brought back with her deadpan wisecracks, and it’s thoroughly, unapologetically, over-the-top during its climactic bat-shit-crazy battle sequences.

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Marriage Story

/ / Home Video
  • Title: Marriage Story
  • IMDb: link

Marriage Story movie reviewOffering as much commentary on divorce at large as its effect on his two main characters in Marriage Story, writer/director Noah Baumbach explores the dissolving marriage of theater director Charlie Barber (Adam Driver) and actress Nicole Barber (Scarlett Johansson) who struggle through change in humorous and heartbreaking ways. While their separation is mutually understood from the opening scene, a particularly good use of narration that allows us to get a sense of both characters, Charlie seems less able to deal with the changing realities of the family dynamic while Nicole relocates from New York to Los Angeles with their son Henry (Azhy Robertson) for work on a television pilot and begins to take the lead in the divorce by hiring a ball-busting attorney (Laura Dern).

There is still affection between the pair, but there is also hurt, resentment, and anger which only increases as the divorce becomes more litigious. Providing some of the film’s more humorous scenes, Alan Alda and Ray Liotta both appear at times as Charlie’s lawyers taking on Dern’s character in court (proving the old adage that the only ones who win in divorce proceedings are the lawyers).

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Jojo Rabbit

/ / Movie Reviews
  • Title: Jojo Rabbit
  • IMDb: link

Jojo Rabbit movie reviewAn irreverent comedy centered around a Nazi 10 year-old (Roman Griffin Davis) whose imaginary friend is Adolf Hitler isn’t going to appeal to everyone. Writer/director Taika Waititi (who also stars as the Fuhrer) crafts an odd little film about a devout, although not very good, Nazi who completely believes in the propaganda he’s been fed since birth about Jews and the military dominance of the father land despite those around him seeing the writing on the wall that the end of the war is vast approaching.

Waititi, who adapted the story from Christine Leunens’ novel Caging Skies, gets the most out of his young star while surrounding him with an impressive supporting cast who understand the vibe the director is going for in the film. Scarlett Johansson is terrific as JoJo’s mother who is hiding more than a few secrets from her young Nazi son. Sam Rockwell, as a demoted Nazi officer now forced to work with children, sets the tone of the film early on in his presentation to a Hitler Youth training camp. Jojo’s misadventures at the camp do nothing to make him question his belief in the Nazi Party but meeting a girl named Elsa (Thomasin McKenzie) leads to several questions.

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