Features
Cinephile goodness in the form of insightful editorials and entertaining, analytical features from the CinemaNerdz writers.
Trailer Trashin’: What’s Happening in the 10 Cloverfield Lane Trailer?
Hello again, dear readers. We’re in the middle of January, and it’s still slim pickings in terms of new movies, although I plan on checking out the new horror movie The Boy this weekend. But there are still cool new trailers for me to watch and analyze. This week’s column takes a look at the first trailer for the upcoming science-fiction mystery thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane. Premise: Waking up fro...[Read More]
Ten Reactions to the 2016 Academy Award Nominations
The 88th annual Academy Award nominations were announced Thursday morning and just about everyone has an opinion. Although most of the nominations are what we expected, there were still some surprises and a few snubs that got the internet chatting. Here is a list of our ten biggest reactions to the 2016 Academy Award nominations. [divider] 10. Inside Out Is both Snubbed and Surprised Disney/Pixar’...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: More Fact-Based Period Horror in The Conjuring 2 Teaser Trailer
Hello again, dear readers. I hope the year is off to a good start for all of you. It’s coming to you later than I intended, but here’s the first Trailer Trashin’ column of 2016. Now let’s take a look at the teaser trailer for director James Wan’s upcoming horror sequel The Conjuring 2. Premise: Husband and wife paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine Warren (Vera Farmiga) travel ...[Read More]
Eight Things We Want From Star Wars: Episode VIII
In only its fourth weekend of release, Star Wars: The Force Awakens continues to demolish box office records and demand most of the chatter on the internet. As fun as The Force Awakens is, it does leave many of its characters in interesting places and sports a lot of unanswered questions. Star Wars: Episode VIII may not be arriving until May 2017, but it’s never too early to start our wish list fo...[Read More]
Life & Death: Ranking the Films of Alejandro González Iñárritu
Most filmmakers spend the duration of a career emphasizing one walk of life over the infinite others, but occasionally there is an artist who seeks the truth through universality: the common thread that unifies a Mexican intersection, a Moroccan village, or an American theatre into a snapshot of what it truly means to be alive. Director Alejandro González Iñárritu is one such artist, pursuing the ...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: Enter the World of Japanese Mythology in Kubo and the Two Strings
Happy New Year, dear readers! I hope you all had a good holiday, whatever it is you celebrate. I’m sure a lot of you have also seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens by now, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. And for the last Trailer Trashin’ column of 2015, I’m taking a look at one of the previews I saw in front of Star Wars – the teaser trailer for Laika’s Kubo and the Two Strings. Premise: ...[Read More]
Five Christmas Movies That Should Be Part of Your Holiday Tradition
To some, the Christmas season is all about family, celebration, fun, presents, and the birth of Christ. Those are all important things, to be sure, but to me it just isn’t a proper Christmas unless I get to a specific batch of Christmas movies. Call it obsessive if you will, but tradition feels a bit more polite. My “traditional” Christmas flick picks are a tad on the eclectic side, ranging ...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: The Great Pre-Star Wars Trailer Roundup!
Hello, dear readers. Sorry it’s been so long, but between work, holiday stuff, and other projects, I’ve been crazy busy during the last month and change. But Trailer Trashin’ is finally back, and what a time to return! The wait is over, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens has arrived. And to celebrate the occasion, I’m going to give you my quick thoughts on the recent trailers for three of ne...[Read More]
Evolution of a Champ: The Rocky Film Saga
On March 24th, 1975, struggling actor Sylvester Stallone spent his last few dollars to see boxing champ Muhammad Ali fight Chuck Wepner. Thought to be an easy win, Ali surprisingly met his match: a career brawler who was having the fight of his life. Fifteen rounds and an Ali knockdown later, Wepner lost. But the scrappy no name fighter inspired Stallone, who emerged from a twenty-hour writing bin...[Read More]
The 10 Best Brian De Palma Films
Brian De Palma has become the directorial litmus test of cinephiles everywhere. To supporters, he stands as a startling visual genius with a penchant for set pieces and lurid subject matter. To naysayers, he remains a lowbrow imitator who spends his studio budgets chasing the ghosts of Alfred Hitchcock and Jean-Luc Godard. Great director or high class hack? Inconsistent misogynist or Master of the...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: Return to a Galaxy Far, Far Away in the Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens Official Trailer
Happy Halloween, dear readers! Whether you’ll be out trick-or-treating, at home giving out candy, going to parties, or something else entirely, I hope you enjoy the holiday. Now, let’s take a look at the official trailer for the biggest movie of the rest of the year, Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Premise: The Force Awakens is set approximately thirty years after the events of Return of...[Read More]
Trailer Trashin’: Visit Old-Time Hollywood in the Coen Brothers’ Hail, Caesar!
Hello again, dear readers. This past week saw the release of Guillermo del Toro’s new horror film Crimson Peak, which I’m very excited about. In the meantime, I’ve got another trailer for a 2016 movie to show you. Now let’s take a look at the first trailer for Hail, Caesar!, the next film from the Coen Brothers. Premise: Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is a Hollywood “fixer” helping the production of t...[Read More]