ALL Guides
ISA Reviews: Netflix's Reboot of Lost In Space
The reboot of “Lost in Space” looks out of this world but lacks fun.As reboots go, the new version of “Lost in Space” is light years beyond the original series from the 1960’s in many ways. The production values, costume design, and special effects are all state-of-the-art. Netflix’ new take on the Robinson clan&....
ISA Reviews: Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House
“The Haunting of Hill House” is an eerie and moving mystery of a mini-series.
Again, Netflix creates a watercooler show, one that dominated most of the Halloween conversation in 2018. This adaptation of Shirley Jackson’s titular 1959 gothic horror novel is perhaps the most compelling one yet. Mike Flanagan’s superb expandin....
ISA Reviews: Nocturnal Animals
THE ISAPage 2 Screen podcast # 47 (NOCTURNAL ANIMALS)11/27/16 Nocturnal Animals presents a beautiful world filled with brutality. Tom Ford may have come from the world of fashion and beauty, but his latest movie entitled Nocturnal Animals is all about ugliness. Susan (Amy Adams) may be rich and glamorous, but her life is cold and lon....
ISA Reviews: Passengers
Passengers makes the trip with two big stars but too little sci-fi. The science fiction/romance Passengers booked a lot of talent for its journey. This tale about the 120-year trek to a new planet has megastars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt along for the ride, not to mention Oscar-nominated director Morten Tyldum at the helm. Unfortunately....
ISA Reviews: Pedro Almodovar's, Julieta
Julieta is Pedro Almodovar at his complex and colorful best. For 20 films now, Spain's Pedro Almodovar has been enthralling movie audiences and pushing the boundaries of cinema. Whether the genre is comedy, melodrama, or even thriller, Almodovar always remembers that character is story. Julieta is his newest endeavor and it's....
ISA Reviews: Ready Player One
The adaptation of “Ready Player One” has Steven Spielberg written all over it.The new tentpole movie “Ready Player One” may boast its author Ernest Cline as one of the screenplay adaptors, along with Zak Penn, but the greatest influence on the material is director Steven Spielberg. The 2011 bestseller’s plotting, chara....
ISA Reviews: Rogue One - A Star Wars Story
Rogue One is a Star Wars story that is good, just not a great one. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is being promoted as the first stand-alone film in the anthology series. Partly true, but this is still essentially a prequel to the chapter "A New Hope." It is self-contained, and fills in the blanks of the storytelling between chapters 3....
ISA Reviews: Sherlock, with Derek Asaff
The fourth season of Sherlock strays too far from its source material. Since its 2010 debut, Mark Gattis and Steven Moffat's modern interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective stories about Sherlock Holmes have become a worldwide phenomenon. Sherlock has also made superstars of stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Hol....
ISA Reviews: Shirley MacLaine's, The Last Word w / Gary Goldstein
The legendary Shirley MacLaine stars in a charming but flawed "The Last Word". It's great to see Shirley MacLaine still scoring lead roles at 82, but "The Last Word" could have been an even better vehicle for her than it is. The story of a cranky senior citizen worried about her legacy and working with the local newspap....
ISA Reviews: Shyamalan's Split
Split is a return to quality thrills and chills from M. Night Shyamalan. Ever since The Sixth Sense, auteur M. Night Shyamalan has struggled to recreate the magic that his screenplay and direction was in that instance. Split is not nearly the psychological thriller that 1999 film was, but his latest is one of his best in a decade or so. I....
ISA Reviews: Smurfs: The Lost Village
“Smurfs: The Lost Village” looks great but lacks an equally great story.You don't have to take Jeff's word for it. 14-year-old YouTube film critic Eric Hardman agrees, and he knows more about movies than most of us. Hollywood has given the Smurfs the proverbial reboot and every penny of its reported $60mill budget is up there on th....
ISA Reviews: Solo: A Star Wars Story
“Solo: A Star Wars Story” is well told, but is this trip really necessary?
Ron Howard does a bang-up job helming “Solo: A Star Wars Story”, directing the stand-alone space opera with precision, energy, and engaging performances. Still, as entertaining as it all it, it begs the question whether t....
ISA Reviews: Star-Studded Senior Comedy, Going In Style
“Going in Style” is a crowd-pleasing comedy that wisely showcases its seniors.When you have leads like Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Alan Arkin, your movie is going to be chock full of good humor and charm. Director Zach Braff wisely lets them dominate his film and their sophisticated appeal keeps us vested in every minute of it, ev....
ISA Reviews: Steve McQueen's, Widows
“Widows” goes deep into character to tell its unique heist tale
Director Steve McQueen doesn’t seem interested in telling a typical heist film story. His new film “Widows” is gravely serious instead of a raucous romp like the “Ocean’s Eleven” trilogy, and his characters wear angst on their sleeves li....
ISA Reviews: Suicide Squad with Derek Asaff
Suicide Squad continues DC's difficulty with adapting their titles for the big screen. If you thought Batman versus Superman: Dawn of Justice had story problems and seemed like it was made by people who didn't know the properties they were adapting, wait till you get a load of Suicide Squad. This superhero movie about a group of bad-as....
ISA Reviews: Supergirl
Supergirl flies with fan boys and girls alike. What did the TV series Supergirl get right in its transfer from comic book to small screen? Plenty. It faithfully honors the 1959 source material. The sincerity and sass Warner Bros. incorporated into the character when they animated her in the 1990's is still present. And there are even bits ....
ISA Reviews: Suspiria
The remake of “Suspiria” adds little to the classic horror tale.
Despite the talents of director Luca Guadagnino and screenwriter David Kajganich, their remake of Dario Argento’s classic 1977 horror tale “Suspiria” doesn’t come to much. The film is well-shot, edited, and scored, but most of the rest of it feels ....
ISA Reviews: The Bye Bye Man with the ISA's Scott Markus
The Bye Bye Man misses its opportunity to create a truly frightening monster. What makes a great movie monster? The Bye Bye Man thinks it's a villain that combines the ghoulish look of Lord Voldemort, the haunting presence of "Candy Man", and the ability to create psychological terror a la Freddy Krueger. Unfortunately, those pie....
