“Rampage” at least lives up to its title. The science fiction action film displays seemingly endless scenes of gigantic animals destroying buildings, planes and everything else in their paths. Primatologist Davis Okoye (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) joins forces with former genetic engineer Dr. Kate Caldwell (Naomie Harris) to neutralize a giant wolf, a vicious crocodile […]
Category Archives: Film & TV
Screening Science: The curious genetic improbabilities of George, giant gorilla of ‘Rampage’
An albino gorilla the size of a building tears through downtown while a pool-sized flying wolf glides between skyscrapers – how did an ordinary day become filled with monsters? The destruction of cities by giant monsters is common on the big screen, and we can definitely expect the trope to make a welcome return Friday […]
Movie review: ‘Blockers’
“Blockers” is an embrace of female sexuality cleverly woven into a comedic film. Emphasizing social messages and laugh-out-loud jokes alike, the movie revolves around three high school girls who plan to lose their virginity on the night of their senior prom. When their parents find out, they attempt to stop the children for various reasons, […]
Movie review: ‘You Were Never Really Here’
A morally sound hit man smashes in the skulls of sex traffickers and spearheads Lynne Ramsay’s latest vigilante thriller, “You Were Never Really Here.” Directing the follow-up to her critically acclaimed 2011 psychological thriller “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” the Scottish filmmaker returns to the big screen with a bitingly visceral and visually captivating […]
Screening Science: “Pacific Rim Uprising” robots make for good action, but defy physics
Science is everywhere, especially in movies and TV shows, ranging from the chemistry in “Breaking Bad” to the physics in “Gravity.” But not all of the “science” is actually science. Each week, columnist Ethan Pak will explore scientific concepts in upcoming movies or shows and see how well they align with current academia and research. […]
NFMLA’s monthly film festivals highlight work of lesser-known filmmakers
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles has worked with emerging filmmakers that have gone on to shoot pilots for Disney Channel and Warner Bros. The LA-based nonprofit organization, which started in 2007, provides a platform for independent filmmakers from around the world to showcase their work, in the form of monthly film-screening festivals held at the South Park […]
Reel Representation: Inclusion riders a step in right direction to diversify Hollywood
This year’s trending Oscars buzzword wasn’t #OscarsSoWhite – instead, everyone was talking about the inclusion rider. Frances McDormand ended her Best Actress acceptance speech at the Oscars with the term, referencing a provision actors and actresses can put in their contracts to stipulate specific representation standards for films that are proportionate to real-world population breakdowns. […]