Nobody Knows Hollywood

Director: Rupert Goold Year: 2015 A true story is not necessarily an interesting one, a fact proven by this mess of a movie. The easy pickings for criticism begin with Jonah Hill – a very talented and enjoyable actor who is out of his depth in this leading role. After turning in excellent (and, to some, surprising) dramatic performances in Oscar-nominated supporting roles in Moneyball and the Wolf of Wall St., Hill, or someone in his camp, decided it was time to take a crack at a dramatic leading man role. I’m not saying he can’t or won’t someday be successful in that effort, but this wasn’t time. Nor was it completely his fault. The script and the direction lack clarity and vision. And, as the two greatest opponents in any communications endeavor are confusion and boredom, True Story pulls of the cardinal double no-no. First time feature film Director Rupert Goold had a potentially interesting story and some capable talent in his hands but simply...

Director: Hayao Miazaki Year: 2008 Ponyo is a surreal dream that magically transports willing viewers to a place of joy, fear and love. Beautifully hand-crafted animation is breathtakingly on display from master Director Hayao Miyazaki. The value of animation has been brought down in some circles because of the advent of technology, lowering the bar of access. Just because it can be done, however, doesn’t mean it can be done well as Miyazaki reminds us. The craft of story and imagination still have power, particularly when one as gifted as is at the helm and is playing in the realm of deep mythology. Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Mermaid” is the source material here. Wonderful as Disney’s 1989 adaptation is, Miyazki takes the story in an entirely different direction. Sosuke (Frankie Jonas) is a five-year-old boy living in a seaside home with his mother, Lisa (Tina Fey) and father, Koichi (Matt Damon). Lisa works at a retirement home with a ca...