Scott McDaniel

Jan 17, 2025 | thestatehousefile.com | Scott McDaniel

We’ve seen the pitfalls of fame. Freddie Mercury, Johnny Cash, Amy Winehouse—drugs, alcohol, sex—the literal highs and lows of being rich and famous. “Better Man” is that same familiar tale—one regularly highlighted in cinema in recent  years. However, this is the first biopic to display the featured artist as a CGI chimp. Yep, British pop star Robbie Williams is portrayed as a chimp. Williams himself said he sometimes felt like a monkey being dragged up on stage to entertain.

Dec 10, 2024 | thestatehousefile.com | Scott McDaniel

“Moana 2” offers a visually stunning adventure that will surely delight families this holiday season, though it falls short of the original in nearly every way. After being visited by her ancestor in a vision, Moana (Auli’i Cravalho) puts together a quirky team to sail far away and find the lost island of Motufetū to reconnect the people of the islands before it’s too late.

Nov 27, 2024 | thestatehousefile.com | Scott McDaniel

Whereas some musical adaptations flop, “Wicked” defies gravity and soars into the cinematic spotlight. “Wicked” already crescendoed to a $114 million opening, the third-best start of the year. And with Thanksgiving around the corner, it’s gonna be pop-u-lar. Stephen Schwartz’s 2003 Broadway hit has entertained audiences for decades now, but film director Jon M. Chu (“Crazy Rich Asians” and “In the Heights”) has finally brought the Tony Award-winning classic to the big screen.

Nov 22, 2024 | thestatehousefile.com | Scott McDaniel

In the '90s, Hugh Grant’s warm smile at the door meant you were in for a charming rom-com. In 2024, it means you’re face to face with a monster hell-bent on destroying your faith. “Heretic” is a wonderfully crafted new horror thriller starring Grant, and it may be one of the most original movies you’ll see in 2024. Two young, naive Mormon missionaries find themselves in a sketch situation when they pick the wrong house to spread the gospel to.

Nov 16, 2024 | city-countyobserver.com | Scott McDaniel |Johnny Kincaid

If “Venom: The Last Dance” is actually the last adventure for Eddie Brock and Venom, I’m concerned about who will take the helm to continue this wide open story. Because by the end of this film, I still couldn’t tell you who the majority of the featured characters are or why I should care. Venom and Eddie (Tom Hardy) are closer than ever and back to their familiar antics. In fact, as the sappy montage at the end shows, this film included a lot of the same old stuff.