Winter movie preview: Big screen films to look forward to this quarter

The beginning of the year is notable for scraps of remains from the end-of-year award validation season, and a great decrease in overall quality. 2014, however, brings upon the world a slew of heroes set on changing the formula, including RoboCop, Spartans and even Legos. Here are some of the most anticipated film releases coming […]

Movie Review: ‘Saving Mr. Banks’

Julie Andrews, accepting her best actress Oscar for “Mary Poppins” in 1965, was overwhelmingly humble, though she only thanked one individual by name during her speech. “I have so many thank-you’s,” Andrews said. “I only know where to start, and that’s with Mr. Walt Disney, and naturally, he has the largest thank-you of all.” “Saving […]

Alumni film on JFK seeks to inspire youth

After reading over 50 books and spending hours interviewing scholars, two UCLA alumni devoted years to making a documentary on one revered American leader: President John F. Kennedy. Executive producer Darin Nellis, who received his bachelor’s degree from UCLA in political science in 1991, and writer and director Cory Taylor, who graduated from UCLA’s School […]

Movie Review: ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’

The 2010s decade has the fortunate distinction of sitting comfortably within the anniversary period of one of the most celebrated eras in American history. Fifty years ago, John F. Kennedy walked presidential halls, Martin Luther King, Jr. fueled a civil revolution and Americans began to see their hardships in a new light, one in which […]

Movie Review: ‘Frozen’

Over the past few years, Disney has accumulated a plethora of films worthy enough to stand beside its best works. “Bolt,” “The Princess and the Frog” and “Wreck-It Ralph,” just to name a few, follow the tried-and-true “happily ever after” formula while putting an added flair of action, jazzy magic or video gaming fun respectively […]

Movie Review: ‘Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom’

Nearly four years ago, Morgan Freeman received acclaim for his role as Nelson Mandela in “Invictus,” a lengthy film about the 1995 South African rugby team that, aside from Freeman’s empowered conviction, remains mostly forgettable. Idris Elba, star of the newest biopic on the always spotlight-worthy leader, faces an eerily similar dilemma. At almost 2.5 […]