Leonard Wechsler

3 weeks ago | gotowncrier.com | Leonard Wechsler

The Marvel Cinematic Universe, although finally creating a winner, has confused things by changing the name of Thunderbolts* to *The New Avengers. However, just the name changed. After many films that seemed to go nowhere, Director Jake Shreier created a winner that deals with the “losers” of the MCU. What haunts them, why are they broken, what makes them lost, lonely souls searching for a reason to go on? There is a major problem, however.

1 month ago | gotowncrier.com | Leonard Wechsler

‘I’ On CultureI was shocked when I learned that The Accountant 2 would be made. The first movie, following the violent actions of an autistic money laundering money man, was at best so-so. Since a key element in any good film is character development, that first film, despite good action scenes, fell flat. The sequel is more fun through its dealings with family tensions that even bring a bit of humor to the whole thing. As a result, it’s a pretty decent movie, albeit one with more than a few flaws.

1 month ago | gotowncrier.com | Leonard Wechsler

‘I’ On CultureRami Malek’s new film The Amateur is not really that new. It is a remake of a 1981 film, and things have changed a lot since then. The movie is competent, very well done with good action scenes, but also brings in a new sense of ambivalence to the genre. Ironically, the lead bad guy seems more sympathetic than some of the hero’s supposed allies. As such, this is a thinking person’s revenge action flick.

2 months ago | gotowncrier.com | Leonard Wechsler

‘I’ On CultureThe new Jason Statham film, A Working Man, is perhaps not surprisingly similar to his very popular The Beekeeper, made last year. That movie did very well at the box office, which led to this one, not a sequel, but one that also focuses on the old-fashioned notion that justice should win out and strong men can take care of finding that justice in a corrupt system. Levon Cade (Statham) is a former heroic Royal Marines commando who now works as leader of a construction team in the US.

2 months ago | gotowncrier.com | Leonard Wechsler

There have been many movies over the years centered on hookers. Camille, Rain, Anna Christie, Klute, Irma la Douce and Pretty Woman, for example. In some cases comedies, and others tragedies. Anora, an independent film from Sean Baker, can join the club and bring along its Oscar for Best Picture of the Year — along with ones for star Mikey Madison and a group of them for producer/writer/director/editor Baker. It is officially a comedy/drama, and that fits.