Morning Reel

"Love & Basketball" shows the life of two people who are not only in love with each other but in love with basketball. The ticket to freedom, success and being wanted for them is basketball but they later realize what they have is far much greater. This films deals with the ups and downs of trying to be a success especially dealing with family and peers. I talk about why I like this film due to a great sctipt, how complex and insightful these characters are and how this theme of love is carried. Enjoy.

#love&basketball #valentinesday #film

"Elvis" is a wild ride. It definitely complimented the craziness of Elvis through it's elaborate editing, sound design, to the sloppiness of the screenplay itself along with casrting choices. I enjoyed the film for it's beauty of cinematography, production design, and honestly, it's screen direction because it is tough to show a concert being done even it's all filmmaking. Enjoy.

#elvis #morningreel #bazluhrmann

Steven Spielberg has done it with this film called "The Fabelmans" which is roughly his autobiography. Everyhting he cherishes about filmmaking and being vulnerable is right here. I briefly talk about why this film is a masterclass in filmmaking, I give credit to the casting and the actors who played these great and realistic characters, and I also briefly bring up how the plot of the film plays to even modern times, splitting your work life and family life, art vs passion. This is a film that everyone will enjoying especially those who are career-driven individuals. Enjoy.

#thefabelmans #stevespielberg #morningreel

Danny DeVito directed Matilda, who gave us a lot to think about and a lot to be grateful of. It's visually striking, the dialog is very snappy and a bit dark at times, especially with Principal Trunchbull, she's a riot. Matilda is a smart girl, almost too smart for your own good and a lot of power of the film comes from that understanding. We all want to belong, believe it or not. I briefly talk about DeVito's visual style in this film in particular, the character development of Matilda and some of the characters, and lastly the comparison of fantasy and reality.

#matilda #dannydevito #morningreel

This film review was a request by orlyb2012 Thank you orlyb2012 !


Waking Life is Richard Linklater's love letter to his whole filmography: the meaning of life. Is there magic in the world? Are we actually alive? Linklater various films explore those themes, of existentialism, reality, in a lot of his films and he doesn't really go deep on them but in this film in particular, he goes BALLS DEEP and I like that. This is not your typical drama or action film. It's a film that demands your attention and your mind because it does take you to an animated world where it obviously looks incomplete, but much like how we dream, the reversal or reality is limitless and almost shapeless at best. Listen to why I like the film as far as how it's ideas are explored especially with the people involved in them. I also briefly talk about its box office sales and how the timing of this film resonates it. Enjoy!

Alfonso Cuaron started his studio film career with A Little Princess in which I enjoyed especially with the cinematography and great acting from the cast that you wouldn't expect to see. You can tell that Cuaron has a knack for visuals and it shows in the dream sequences that the set has created that looks very inviting, fluid, and imaginative, which is the subtext of the film, belieivng in reality's magic. Enjoy!

#alittleprincess #alfonsocuaron #morningreel

New Year's Eve is a Garry Marshall directed film and somehting happened to where stories don't go no where but somehow captivate the heart. Not mine, that's for sure. Here's a film where an ensemble cast could have done better if the treatment was better for them in the first place. FInd out why I gave this film TWO tokes in terms of story selection, writing in general and the cheesiness of it. Enjoy.

#newyearseve #garrymarshall #morningreel

Aftersun is a brave film written & directed by Charlotte Wells that focuses on the dynamic between single parents and their children especially when dealing with depression coming from the parent. It's a simple in its plot but complex as to what the characters go through in an emotional and physiological level. I love it for the writing, the acting and stage direction Wells was able to successfully accomplish, as well as how the cinematography presents the dynamics. Enjoy!

#aftersun #charlottewells #a24

A Charlie Brown Christmas is the first TV special of the Peanuts gang and it's great for kids and adults to watch. The short is still reltable to today's time especially how it mentions commercialism and greed, especially from a child's perspective. I loved the humor, seeing Charlie Brown as a play director is great and Snoopy steals the cel throughout. Watch it on Apple +, sadly it's not broadcasted to the public audience, but do please see it whenever it's on your screen.

#acharliebrownchristmas #morningreel #charlesmschulz

Elf is directed by Jon Favreau and he did a great job guiding a cast to cheer and jubulation. It's a well balanced film that I would consider a modern Christmas film and at this point it is a classic. Listen to me talking about the team between James Caan and Will Ferrell, how develop from each other, how music embodies Christmas, and how to relates to certain people who think they got it all but if family ain't there, you got nothing.

#morningreel #elf #willferrell