Sneakin' In The Movies introduction

Sneakin' In The Movies introduction

by Dale Novick

Performing Arts Film Reviews

Season 1

Basic Instinct starring Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas

This is a review of the 1992 sexy, psychological thriller, Basic Instinct debuting Sharon Stone and Michael Douglas in the main roles, with supporting actors, Jeanne Tripplehorn, also in her screen debut and George Dzundza. It centers around the murder of a former rock star, Johnny Boy, a bed partner to Stone's character, who is brutally murdered while having sad/masochistic sex with a character whom resembles Stone's. The homicide detective assigned to the case is played by Michael Douglas whom upon meeting Sharon's character, becomes enraptured with her. It is a film of eroticism, thrilling, psychologically twisted and unpredictable in discovering who the true murderer is and what are their motives. A must see on Netflix and Amazon Prime.

Spider-Man: A Brand New Day, starring Tom Holland, Zendaya, Mark Ruffle and Jon Berenthal

This is the 6th Marvel film starring Tom Holland, full of adventure, romance, action and wonderful visuals effects. It's directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, a 47-year old American director, and was made for $225 and in one week, has grossed $925million making it the third blockbuster film of the summer. It's a fun, wholesome film, with twists and turns and proves to be a great platform for 30 year old Tom Holland and his real-life wife, Zendaya. Check it out, playing in theaters now.

Manchester by the Sea 2016, written and directed by Kenneth Lonegan, starring Oscar winner Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams.

Manchester by the Sea is a poignant, realistic portrayal of the damages experienced by a family and a community created by loss. It is wonderfully acted by Casey Affleck in particular, who plays a man who has numbed his pain and grief from loss, so that he is simply surviving life with a shield of distance and a lack of reactivity to most things and to relationships with people. All of this results from a catastrophic accident that destroyed his family. It's a must see, earning 6 Oscar nominations and winning two, for best actor and best screenplay.

Christopher Nolan's epic tale, The Odyssey starring Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and more

This is a frank review of Homer's The Odyssey, as envisioned, written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Shot in 6 countries employing thousands of extras only shot on IMAX film, it is an epic cast and project, highly anticipated and very popular in theaters now.

Interview with television casting director, Mark Saks

This is the longest episode thus far on Sneakin' in the Movies and for good reason! I had the honor of interviewing television casting director, Mark Saks, learning about his career, what a casting director's role is in a project, hearing his process, discussing his TV and film favorites and why he's chosen such and discussing the industry with an insider! So tune in and get a great piece of the industry!

Olivia Wilde's third film, the rom-com quick witted, delightful film, The Invite, currently in theaters now, starring Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogan, Penelope Cruz and Ed Norton.

The Invite is Olivia Wilde's 3rd film as director, released by A24, and is a fast-paced comedy that takes place one evening in the married couple's home of Rogan and Wilde. Their upstairs neighbors come to their home for the first time they are all socializing together, to discover details of each of their unions, their communication problems, their past dreams and life experiences, both as couples and individuals. It's a realistic portrayal of coupledom, with its ebbs and flows , dreams unrealized and realized and the pleasures of unanticipated situations developing amongst the 4 characters.

Stephen Frear's fantastic rom-com High Fidelity, starring John Cusack

High Fidelity is about a record store owner living in Chicago who has just been dumped by his girlfriend, Laura. He's trying to understand why his relationship failed and so he revisits his last 5 failed relationships with former girlfriends to learn the reasons why these relationships didn't work as well. All the while, Rob, played by Cusack is selecting top 5 break-up songs, top 5 songs about death, top 5 songs about love and the soundtrack is a melange of indie hits as well as pop favorites. It also stars Lisa Bonet, Tim Robins and Jack Black.

Marielle Heller's Nightbitch starring Amy Adams

Nightbitch is a comedy/horror genre about a woman trapped in motherhood, trying to grapple with her role as mother to a two year old boy, while longing for her past life as an accomplished published artist in New York City, now living in the suburbs, subject to "Mommy and Me" classes and the mundane repetition of motherhood. So she creates a fantasy world of morphing into an animal to reconcile with her animal instincts. It's an interesting film, probably more identifiable by women but nevertheless a modern societal study of things that people are afraid to talk about like empowerment, motherhood and isolation and personal growth.

The timeless classic Cleopatra, staring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton

This is a visually rich, sophisticated, elaborate epic four hour film, not to be missed! It won 4 Academy Awards, though nominated for more, mostly for visual mastery, costume design, set design and is jam packed with beautiful scenery, incredible costumes, most especially on Elizabeth Taylor. It is a film about the Egyptian and Roman Empires and their merging of power under Egyptian acquisition as maneuvered by Cleopatra and Marc Antony. It's not to be missed so tune in!

Rocky staring Sylvester Stallone and Talia Shire

Released in 1976, Rocky is a timeless classic that propelled Sly Stallone into stardom. He wrote the screenplay and starred in the film, for a reported $1.1million dollars, grossing almost $300million dollars globally. The film was his first picture and he and the producers insisted upon him starring in it. It features Burgess Meredith as his 76 year old tough as nails trainer and mentor and it's a film that insights support and cheering from its audience. There's also a sweet love story between he and Talia Shire. It's the first in a series of Rocky films that track his rise in the world of boxing. Catch it on Prime Video!

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