The Coffin Maker / Magkakabaung (HIFF 2015) - Movie Review

The Coffin Maker, an award winning film directed by Jason Paul Laxamana, is an official selection of the Hawaii International Film Festival. The movie stars Allen Dizon, Gladys Reyes, Emilio Garcia, Chanel Latorre, Bor Ocampo, and Felixia Dizon.

The 33 - Movie Review

The 33, directed by Patricia Riggen, is based off of real life events from Deep Down Dark, a novel written by Hector Tobar. The movie stars Antonio Banderas, Rodrigo Santoro, Juliette Binoche, James Brolin, Lou Diamond Phillips, Mario Casas, Jacob Vargas, Juan Pablo Raba, Oscar Nuñez, Adriana Barraza, Kate del Castillo, Cote de Pablo, Elizabeth De Razzo, Naomi Scott, and Gabriel Byrne.

Spectre - Movie Review

Spectre, directed by Sam Mendes, is the latest installment in the 007 series which features Ian Fleming's international spy, the one and only James Bond. The film once again stars Daniel Craig in the lead role as well as Christoph Waltz, Léa Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Monica Bellucci, Ben Whishaw, Naomie Harris, Dave Bautista, Andrew Scott, Rory Kinnear, Stephanie Sigman, and Jesper Christensen.

Bridge of Spies - Movie Review

Bridge of Spies, written by Matt Charman and the Coen Brothers and directed by Steven Spielberg, is set during the cold war and is based off of real events. The movie stars Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Domenick Lombardozzi, Alan Alda, Amy Ryan, Austin Stowell, Michael Gaston, Scott Shepherd, Will Rogers, and Sebastian Koch.

Burnt - Movie Review

Burnt is a film by John Wells whose previous work includes The Company Men and August: Osage County. The cast for the movie includes Bradley Cooper. Sienna Miller, Daniel Brühl, Riccardo Scamarcio, Omar Sy, Emma Thompson, Uma Thurman, Sarah Greene and Alicia Vikander.

The Keeping Room - Movie Review

The Keeping Room, directed by Daniel Barber, is a film set during the Civil War and was written by Julia Hart. The movie stars Brit Marling, Hailee Steinfield, Sam Worthington, Muna Otaru, Kyle Soller, Ned Dennehy, Amy Nuttall, and Nicholas Pinnock. In the Seattle area, you can catch The Keeping Room at the SIFF Film center through November 5th.

Room - Movie Review

Room, directed by Lenny Abrahamson, is based off of the best selling novel written by Emma Donaghue. The film stars Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Joan Allen, William H. Macy, Tom McCamus, Amanda Brugel, and Wendy Crewson.

Steve Jobs - Movie Review

Steve Jobs is a biopic directed by Danny Boyle and is based off the book written by Walter Isaacson. The film stars Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, Jeff Daniels, Michael Stuhlbarg, Katherine Waterston, John Ortiz, and Adam Shapiro.

Crimson Peak - Movie Review

Crimson Peak is a fantasy drama written and directed by Guillermo del Toro who's previous work includes Pan's Labyrinth, Blade 2, and Pacific Rim. The movie features acting performances by Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam, Jim Beaver, Burn Gorman, Leslie Hope, and Doug Jones.

Wildlike (TFF 2015) - Movie Review

Wildlike, written and directed by Frank Hall Green, is an official selection of the 2015 Tacoma Film Festival. The movie stars Bruce Greenwood, Ella Purnell, Brian Geraghty, Nolan Gerard Funk, Diane Farr, Ann Dowd, Joshua Leonard, and Joe Boxer the Bear as Grizzly Bear.

Landfill Harmonic (TFF 2015) - Documentary Review

Landfill Harmonic, an official selection of the Tacoma Film Festival, was created by directors Brad Allgood and Graham Townsley. This documentary feature tells the story of the "Recycled Orchastra", a group of kids from a small town in Paraguay who learn to play music using instruments literally built from landfill scraps.

Tumbledown (TFF 2015) - Movie Review

Tumbledown, co-written and directed by Sean Mewshaw, is an official selection of the Tacoma Film Festival. The film, which is a light hearted romantic comedy, stars Jason Sudeikis, Rebecca Hall, Dianna Agron, Blythe Danner, Griffin Dunne, Joe Manganiello, and Richard Masur.

They Look Like People (TFF 2015) - Movie Review

They Look Like People, a mystery thriller written and directed by Perry Blackshear, is an official selection of the 2015 Tacoma Film Festival. The film stars MacLeod Andrews, Evan Dumouchel, Margaret Ying Drake, Mick Casale, and Elena Greenlee.

Sicario - Movie Review

Sicario is a crime thriller directed by Denis Villeneuve who's previous work includes films like Prisoners and Incendies. The movie stars Emily Blunt, Josh Brolin, Benicio Del Toro, Victor Garber, Jon Bernthal, Daniel Kaluuya, Jeffrey Donovan, Raoul Trujillo, and Maximiliano Hernández.

A Brilliant Young Mind - Movie Review

A Brilliant Young Mind is a film by BAFTA award-winning filmmaker Morgan Matthews and was inspired by his similarly titled documentary, Beautiful Young Minds. The movie stars Asa Butterfield, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Jo Yang, Alex Lawther, Martin McCann, and Alexa Davies.

The Martian - Movie Review

The Martian is a science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott who is best known for creating Prometheus, Alien, and Blade Runner. The screenplay, written by Drew Goddard (The Cabin in the Woods), is based off the best selling novel from author Andy Weir. The movie stars Matt Damon, Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels, Kristen Wiig, Michael Peña, Sean Bean, Kate Mara, Sebastian Stan, Aksel Hennie, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Mackenzie Davis, and Donald Glover.

Yakuza Apocalypse - Movie Review

Yakuza Apocalypse is an action comedy from acclaimed Japanese director Takashi Miike who's previous work includes classic films like 13 Assassins, Audition, and Ichi the Killer. The movie features performances by Hayato Ichihara, Yayan Ruhian, Rirî Furankî, Riko Narumi, Pierre Taki, Mio Yûki, and Kiyohiko Shibukawa. For my Seattle area readers, you can watch this movie at the Sundance Cinemas beginning Friday, October 9th and, for those following along at home, it will also be available On Demand that same day.

Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story (LSFF 2015) - Documentary Review

Just Eat It: A Food Waste Story is an official selection of the Northwest Film Forum's "Local Sightings" Film Festival. This documentary feature about food waste in America was written and directed by Grant Baldwin and Jenny Rustemeyer who also head the cast of participants in from of the cameras.

Dead Body (LSFF 2015) - Movie Review

Dead Body is an official selection of the Northwest Film Forum's Local Sightings Film Festival. This locally produced film was written by Ian Bell and Ramon Isao, was directed by Bobbin Ramsey, and stars Rachel Brun, Jay Myers, Cooper Hopkins, Nathan Pringle, Leah Pfenning, Nic Morden, Spencer Hamp, Miho Aizawa, and Keo Sakuta.

Killing June (LSFF 2015) - Movie Review

Killing June is a locally produced film written and directed by Isaiah Corey with co writing credit going to Arne Bystrom. This crowd funded feature film which is an official selection of the Northwest Film Forum's "Local Sightings" film festival, stars Seattle resident Wonder Russell and Spokane native Nathan Pringle.