In director RaMell Ross’ adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s celebrated 2019 novel The Nickel Boys, we’re denied the whole picture in more ways than one. First, there’s the literal sense of visual deprivation: Ross shot the movie in the square 1:37:1 aspect ratio, meaning it leaves voids of black space on both sides of the movie screen. Secondly, for a film that is inspired by the … [Read more...]
‘Hamilton’ on Disney+ close to glory of stage show
If you were growing up in the late 1950s, like I was, you probably were enthralled by a Disney film about a Revolutionary War apprentice silversmith, Johnny Tremain. But from here on, when the Disney name is mentioned with our War of Independence, it will be because the entertainment conglomerate paid $75 million for the rights to a video recording of the award-laden, … [Read more...]