Ever since my return from Cuba in January, I have been curious about the Hispanic culture and films. My brother-in-law supported this curiosity by sharing a recent NPR piece he’d heard about the increasing influence of Hispanic culture on the United States film industry.

Hispanics are the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States, and their passion for movies is unsurpassed. The group bought 25 percent of the tickets sold in 2015, though they comprise just 18 percent of the population. Hispanics, defined by the US Census Bureau as people of “Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central America or other Spanish Culture or origin regardless of race” are making their presence felt at the box office.

There’s something for everyone this summer, or at least it seems that way.

The Marvel franchise continues to crank out super heroes intertwined with other super heroes beginning with Avengers: Infinity War.  For Star Wars fans Solo: A Star Wars Story goes back in time to capture the Harrison Ford character early on. Those who are drawn to animated films, Hotel Transylvania 3 and Alita: Battle Angel  look interesting. Least not forget Barbie.

Looking for a belly laugh, try Life of the Party with Melissa McCarthy or The Spy who Dumped Me with Kate McKinna.

If you are looking for films for young adults ages 10 to 15, here my top three picks. My Atlanta grandchildren, Apolonia, age 12, and Konstantin, age 10, gave two thumbs up for all three.

Five miles southwest of Rome, hidden among the quiet suburbs, and just a stone’s throw from the famous Appian Way, lies Cinecittà Studios: Europe’s dream factory. It is the largest film and movie studio in continental Europe, covering 99 acres. With a production community of more than 5,000 multilingual specialists, Cinecittà, which literally translates to “cinema city,” certainly lives up to its name.

Cinecittà was founded 1937 by Benito Mussolini to be used for propaganda films in the promotion of fascism. During the bombing of Rome in World War II, the studios were seized by Western Allies. Following the war, between 1945 and 1947, Cinecittà was used as a displaced persons’ camp for an estimated 3,000 refugees.

Lucky 13? The Shape of Water is the tenth film in Oscar history to earn 13 nominations. The current record, which is 14 nominations, is held by three films: All about Eve (1951), Titanic (1998) and La La Land (2017).

Best Actor Mainstay: With his sixth Best Actor Oscar nomination, Daniel Day-Lewis (Phantom Thread) is now tied with Richard Burton for recognition in the category. Should he return from his retirement, he will need four more nominations to break Sir Laurence Olivier‘s record of nine.
Nearly Making Best Actor History: At age 22, Timothée Chalamet marks the third-youngest Best Actor nominee in Oscar history, trailing only the nine-year-old Jackie Cooper (Skippy) and 19-year-old Mickey Rooney (Babes in Arms).

February is the Month of the Heart, Love and Romance
“Unable to perceive the shape of you, I find you all around me. Your presence fills my eyes with your love. It humbles my heart for you are everywhere.” —The Shape of Water

THE SHAPE OF WATER
Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Richard Jenkins, Michael Shannon
Director Guillermo del Toro
Rated R

This film falls into the category of magical realism, which is a literature and film genre where the story is grounded in reality, but combined with elements of magic and fantasy.

The Director’s Couch

Over the years, it has been widely known and accepted that part of many Hollywood auditions included the “director’s couch.” The rich and powerful wield their positions over men and women who are striving for movie roles, advancement, or executive positions.

As a woman now in the “senior” category who has worked in corporations, I often thought this behavior was part of playing the game to get ahead, as long as no one complained or got hurt. Because who would listen when we felt the uncomfortable squeezes at Christmas parties, the occasional hand brushed across the chest, the off-color sexual jokes and suggestive comments. You learned to hold folders across your chest and stick your hand straight in front when the office predator came to visit.

The holiday season tends to bring emotion and sentiment to the surface. Stress escalates as we rush to decorate, entertain, shop, bake cookies (do people still bake?) and have enough wine in the house for drop-in guests in addition to the usual stash. In the midst of the ruckus, a good comedy may provide welcome relief and joyous laughter. We are in luck this holiday season, which brings with it a great cinematic lineup sure to serve up a few belly laughs even to the most cynical!

“From this day to the ending of the world, but we in it shall be remembered; we few, we happy few, we band of brothers; for he today that sheds his blood with me, shall be my brother.” —Shakespeare: Henry V

Films focusing on WWII continue to fascinate Hollywood and audience attendance wills it so. Was that period of time the greatest generation? Is it because the WWII era represents a time when we clearly understood the heroic sacrifice of the everyday American? Is it because the threat of losing the country and freedoms so dear to us was in imminent danger? Some war movies—Vietnam, the cold war, Iraq—come and go, but 1939-1945 just won’t fade away.

The underlying concept of the Marvel Cinematic Universe—the interconnected film series kicked off by 2008’s Iron Man, and now comprising ten feature films, several shorts, and one TV show, with more on the way—isn’t unprecedented in film history. The idea of characters in one film might share a universe with characters of another film has been done before, but it’s never been attempted on such a scale on which Marvel is operating.

The Marvel Cinematic Universe is different; it’s a planned project assembled one brick at a time. Iron Man and its incredible popularity led to The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger and The Avengers, which brought all the characters together on one big team.
It’s been, in almost every respect, successful. The films have been generally well-received by critics, and almost universally well-received by audiences. What’s more, having built a recognizable brand, Marvel can now take some chances. The gamble, and it seems like a safe one, is that viewers will show up to see these projects just because they are Marvel movies.

What makes a film a classic? A movie is a classic if it impacts our culture or community. If it’s memorable, it’s a classic. If it’s nostalgic, it’s a classic. If we watch it numerous times, it’s a classic. If it makes us laugh, cry, cheer, or quote it, it’s a classic. Films have an impact on us much in the way life does—in some ways rather subtly, and in others, quite significantly.

What woman wouldn’t want a Lasso of Truth?
Wonder Woman is one of those characters which are so iconic that the idea of her often outweighs the real thing. She’s got the crown, the Lasso of Truth, the bracelets, which ward off most dangers, the bustier and she is so damn strong. What woman wouldn’t want to be her? But there’s a lot more to her. With Wonder Woman showing in theaters, now is the perfect time to dive into her backstory.

In celebration of the new release of the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film, enjoy a tre/faslse pirate quize,  a few facts to challenge the myths around Hollywood’s fascination with the pirate film genre and more.

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) is one of The Reel Corner’s favorite comedies. The original was Bed Time Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando. The remake titled Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Michael Caine and Steve Martin kept the same story line. Two con artists who plot to swindle heiresses. I was delighted to hear there would be an updated version coming out this year about two con artists who plot to swindle a tech prodigy out of his fortune. To my surprise, the director will take the same plot line but gender swap the leads with two women, Ann Hathaway and Rebel Wilson. Titling the film Nasty Women.

Whether you feel Moonlight deserved it or not, it now holds its place as an Academy Award Best Picture award winner. Was it due to the political climate of the day? Was it due to newer younger Academy voting members that may identify with current issues? Could their votes have toppled the establishment voters who may have voted La La Land as a reminiscent piece? Or Is its recognition part of a cultural movement? We will never know how it won but many reviews say it deserved it.

The US film industry has always welcomed foreign films, many of which we have copied with a more American version, but often over looked by its neighbors in Ireland, which has a rich and great film history besides the stereotypical ideas of leprechauns and Riverdance. In the last few years Ireland has not only produced some fine films (Once, Brooklyn) but we also see a rise in excellence in Irish performers like Cillian Murphy, Saoirse Ronan, Michael Fassbender , Brendan Gleeson and Lenny Abrahamson. 

Film festivals such as Sundance, Tribeca, Toronto and Telluride and the films they exhibit offer an escape into a world where movies can take chances, contradict themselves and ignore cinema ratings.

For years Walt Disney Animation Studios has captured the hearts of children everywhere. Now grown children are making up a high percentage of animated movie goers. It’s clear from the numbers that animated family films are not just for families anymore. More and more millennials are going to the cinema to see films traditionally marketed to a much younger demographic, and that’s not even taking into consideration viewing habits on outlets like Netflix. Film companies have caught on, too. It is an opinion that the lure of animated and young adult features to millennials is much more complex than pure nostalgia.

Whether it is Tom Hanks playing a WWII hero, Will Smith protecting the White House, or Matt Damon as Jason Bourne keeping our CIA honest, Hollywood has supplied us with incredible Patriotic Films. The Reel Corner challenges you to a Patriotic Films “Find the Film Words Challenge”

How much influence has Hollywood had on how we define Love? Whether it be a historical romantic film, drama, thriller, comedy, or fantasy, when love is portrayed on the screen, it sends a message. Love has been portrayed in a variety of ways over the years in film and has evolved over time. Thus, it is often debated whether films influence society or society influences film. While you contemplate this thought try to match a well-known love quote to its movie.

Born to a US Army Captain and a contract player for Paramount Pictures, Field got her start on television as the boy-crazy surfer girl in the sitcom Gidget (1965–66). Her big break was playing Sister Bratille in The Flying Nun. She went on to more formidable roles, which won her two Academy Award Best Actress awards and several Golden Globes.

Her role as “Doris” in Hello, My Name is Doris shows that her talent has endured the test of time.

A few years ago, researchers at Yale University sent out a fictional application to science professors at top U.S. research universities asking them to evaluate an applicant. There was one variation in what the professors received—the name of the applicant for some was Jennifer and, for others, it was John. Both male and female professors showed a significant bias toward John in their evaluations of competency, hireability and salary to offer. This study came ten years after a study at Harvard University that asked students to share impressions of an entrepreneur—named either Heidi or Howard—with similar results. These studies disclosed unconscious bias—a bias that you are unaware of and, therefore, unable to control. This is not just a gender bias issue. Studies have confirmed that unconscious bias applies to numerous other factors including race, nationality, height, weight, accents and beliefs to name a few.

“To describe our growing up in the low country of South Carolina,” his alter-ego narrator wrote in “The Prince of Tides,” “I would have to take you to the marsh on a spring day, flush the great blue heron from its silent occupation. Scatter marsh hens as we sink to our knees in mud, open you an oyster with a pocketknife and feed it to you from the shell and say, ‘There. That taste. That’s the taste of my childhood.’ I would say, ‘Breathe deeply,’ and you would breathe and remember that smell for the rest of your life, the bold, fecund aroma of the tidal marsh, exquisite and sensual, the smell of the South in heat, a smell like new milk, semen and spilled wine, all perfumed with seawater.”

Even though the cool weather is behind us and more outside activities are drawing us to cleaning out our garages or planting new shrubs, don’t forget to allow time to catch a good film or two this month.

Films about families can be powerful in many ways: Reminding us not to take our relatives for granted; showing us the love of a parent is never ending; missing those who are departed; or that it’s okay to make a statement that’s not always popular in order to move on.

Whether a drama, comedy or offbeat romance, films about families are often cathartic and offer the viewer a double dose of escapism and self-reflection.

Films about families can be powerful in many ways: Reminding us not to take our relatives for granted; showing us the love of a parent is never ending; missing those who are departed; or that it’s okay to make a statement that’s not always popular in order to move on.

Whether a drama, comedy or offbeat romance, films about families are often cathartic and offer the viewer a double dose of escapism and self-reflection.

Underrated is a difficult term to use when referring to actors and actresses. Appreciation for a tangible work of art—a song, a painting, a movie—is easy to label.

Spies are everywhere in pop culture, including tons of spy movies and TV shows. So why are we so obsessed with secret-agent madness? Is it nostalgia, or a reflection of new, real-life preoccupations?

Jurassic World, a theme-park populated with cloned dinosaurs, begins 22 years after the incident at Jurassic Park on the same island. Owen Grady (Pratt) trains the park’s four Velociraptors, who consider him their alpha. The head of security believes raptors can be trained for military use, but this is disputed. Brothers Zach and Gray Mitchell are sent there to visit their aunt, Claire Dearing (Howard), the park’s operations manager. Claire’s assistant is their guide, while Claire recruits corporate sponsors with a new attraction—a genetically modified dinosaur called Indominus rex. The dinosaur has the DNA of several predatory dinosaurs and modern-day animals, designed to satisfy the public's demand for ever-higher-levels of dinosaur excitement. Chief geneticist Dr. Henry Wu keeps the exact genetic makeup classified.

Since comedy is not a science, but an art, there are no rules and it can be very subjective. The original meaning of the word comedy was merely a dramatic play that featured a happy ending, basically the opposite of tragedy.