REVIEW: ‘It Chapter Two’ terrifies with impressive finale to saga


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On a warm Wednesday night, crowds poured into the School of Cinematic Arts’ George Lucas Building 30 minutes early in anticipation of  the “It Chapter Two” early screening. Spirits were high, and chatter filled the concourse. Doors finally opened at 6:30 p.m., and they were promptly closed six minutes later as the room had already […]

REVIEW: USC alumni-produced horror film blends thrills with satire


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In the post-“Get Out” era of horror-comedy, it’s difficult to see new films without the veil of the movies’ shadow. “Ready or Not,” a horror comedy produced by USC alumnis Tripp Vinson and James Vanderbilt, is no freer of that burden than any other new horror film. From the moment the camera pulls away from […]

REVIEW: ‘Toy Story 4’ sends off beloved characters


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When audiences saw Andy give away Woody and the rest of the gang to Bonnie at the end of “Toy Story 3,” many fans likely  assumed it was the perfect swan song for the beloved characters. That’s why skepticism lingered over the idea of another entry in the “Toy Story” franchise. However, “Toy Story 4” […]

‘Last Black Man’ tackles social tensions in Bay Area


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In the first few minutes of Joe Talbot’s 2019 film “The Last Black Man in San Francisco,” best friends Jimmie and Mont are doubled up precariously on a skateboard, cruising alongside the water toward the Fillmore district. Small waves from the bay lap up onto the rocks under a crystal blue sky, clear enough to […]