‘Movie Corner’ Archives
The Wild Robot (2024)
from the series Movie Corner 5/5 Stars Animation/AdventureDreamWorks Animation By HOWARD MCQUITTER II Howard McQuitter II Although The Wild Robot may be touted as just an animation-adventure film by some people, the film is truly a grand human-interest story. Beyond the impressive visuals, the storyline itself is a remarkable piece of work that can be both intriguing to children and adults alike. The Wild Robot is based on a kids’ book by Peter Brown. Very early in the film a robot known as 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o) accidentally crashes on an unknown and uninhabited island. The robot’s programming is jammed up and destroyed because of the crash. We soon learn the robot’s name is Roz as she wanders into uncharted territory. She sees a goose’s nest with broken eggs all except for one. Soon that egg hatches and a cute little gosling emerges. Roz adopts Brightbill (Kit Connor) and protects him from natural enemies such as seagulls, wolverines, foxes, possums, and [...]
Between the Temples
from the series Movie Corner... 4.5/5 Stars Comedy/Drama/ RomanceSony Pictures Classics By HOWARD MCQUITTER II Howard McQuitter II A quadragenarian cantor at a synagogue is burdened with sadness and even suicidal tendencies after his wife’s death. (Her cause of death is revealed later in the film.) His name is Ben Gottlieb (Jason Schwartzman) and he lives in the basement of his mother’s (Caroline Aaron) house along with her partner Judith (Dolly De Leon). Both his mother Meira Gottlieb and Judith are hoping Ben moves out of their house soon. Ben ‘s depression is not only from his wife’s death but he has lost his singing voice.What happens next for Ben is serendipitous when he meets Carla Kessler (Carol Kane) at a bar. A patron has just punched Ben for his abrasive behavior. She lends a hand to Ben which in turn spawns a friendship. She’s much older than him which doesn’t seem to matter to him. Carla realizes she’s seeing a man in deep grief and in a crisis [...]
Twisters
from the series Movie Corner... 4/5 Stars Action/Adventure/DramaUniversal Pictures By HOWARD MCQUITTER II Howard McQuitter II I had a wild dream shortly after I retired that turned into a storm (tornado) chaser dream. I thought a tornado chaser had to be a more fun, more dangerous and more frenzied job than an ambulance chaser. I haven’t seen a tornado touchdown since I was a kid growing up in Minneapolis. (I have seen the aftermath of that violent, twirling mass of nature, though.) Remembering that dream, I went to see director Lee Issac Chung’s, (director of Minari 2020, Munyurangabo 2007), Twisters - a spinoff of director Jan de Bont’s Twister (1996) starring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Twisters is such a high octane affair at certain times, it leaves one hyperventilating from what’s up on the screen. (In the original Twister a cow floated across a truck’s windshield during a tornado.) Kate (Daisy Edgar-Jones), born and raised [...]
