Cinema Royale

Paul Schrader, the legendary writer of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and others returns to his dark roots with First Reformed. Starring Ethan Hawke as a priest experiencing a crisis of faith, the film finds Schrader at his most challenging and controversial, but also at his best.   Schrader took a few minutes to talk with me for an episode of Cinema Royale, and discusses the decades-long path to bring...

Ryan Reynolds is back and suited up for DEADPOOL 2, the anticipated sequel to the highest-grossing R-rated comic book movie ever. But can this one top the bullet-riddled bloodsoaked heights of the original? And will there be a DEADPOOL 3 or just an X-FORCE movie? I'll be joined by Jeff Lyles of Lyles' Movie Files to talk about Deadpool's future on the big screen.  Plus we'll delve into rumors of a...

After a welcome post-Infinity War break, Cinema Royale is back with a review of Melissa McCarthy's new comedy, LIFE OF THE PARTY! Hannah Buchdahl of the Cinema Clash podcast joins me to give the film a passing grade, or send it to detention with some of McCarthy's other comedies.  Plus, I'll talk BILL & TED 3, new casting on Quentin Tarantino's ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, a GI JOE spinoff movie...

"Dread it! Run from it! Destiny still arrives!" It's Avengers Day!!! Later tonight millions will be flocking into theaters for the long-awaited AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR! I've seen it, and so have my guests Jeffrey Lyles of Lyles' Movie Files and Matt Razak of Flixist, and we're going to talk about everything that worked, which heroes stood out, which ones didn't, what worked, what bombed, but we won...

On this week's Cinema Royale, I'm joined by Hannah Buchdahl, one half of the Cinema Clash podcast right here on Critical: The Movie Critics Network. We'll take a look at Amy Schumer's new comedy I FEEL PRETTY and if it's deserving of all the backlash it's been getting. Plus, Hannah will talk about the acclaimed drama THE RIDER because I still haven't seen it for reasons I'll talk about later. Plus...

On a special episode, Cinema Royale talks with Jason Liles, stunt performer and motion capture actor on his role as George the gorilla in RAMPAGE, the new action film starring Dwayne Johnson. Liles talks about his career, the extensive training he received from legends Andy Serkis and Terry Notary, and much more. 

On this week's Cinema Royale we'll take a look at two big films that already have people buzzing. First up is John Krasinski's A QUIET PLACE, a horror that has everybody too spooked to say a word.  Plus, the teen sex comedy BLOCKERS may be one of the funniest movies of 2018, but is it as sex positive as it wants to be?  We'll be joined by my homie Wilson Morales of Blackfilm.com to talk about both...

On this week's show, me and Matt Razak of Flixist.com will dive into the Oasis and review Steven Spielberg's READY PLAYER ONE! Is too much turning back the clock a bad thing? Can Spielberg capture the magic of Ernest Cline's geeky pop culture novel? Plus, we'll look at the hilarious controversy surrounding Donald Glover's cancelled DEADPOOL series, Colin Trevorrow returning for JURASSIC WORLD 3, a...

On this week's show I'll be joined by my northern buddy Chris Bumbray of Joblo.clom and The Beard and the Bald podcast to review PACIFIC RIM UPRISING! Does the these giant robots need retooling without Guillermo Del Toro? Or is John Boyega enough to pilot this sequel to greatness? Chris will also hang around to talk about the TOMB RAIDER reboot and if it's the start of a new franchise or a dud. Pl...

There's so much going on this episode I don't know if I can fit it all in! I'll be joined fellow PDCer Roxana Hadadi to talk A WRINLKE IN TIME, Ava DuVernay's anticipated adaptation of the classic children's book. Does it live up to the hype? I have a feeling we won't see eye to eye on this one! Later, we'll talk about Disney's BLACK PANTHER, which has now earned over $1B and is rumored to be gett...

It's the time of year when everybody you know is asking you, "So who is going to win Best Picture"? I'm as sick of it as you are, but it all ends this weekend with the 10hr+ Academy Awards. And before that happens I might as well answer the question, right? So here are my picks for every movie that will win in the categories anybody cares about.  Not only that, but I've got something to say about...

I've just returned from my second trip to Wakanda, and now I think it's a good time to talk BLACK PANTHER! I'll be joined by my buddy, fellow WAFCA and BFCA member, and president of the Black Reel Awards, Tim Gordon, to talk about Marvel's first major film in years to feature a black superhero. We'll talk about the film and the potential cultural impact, as well, and whether we should cool our hee...

Not so fresh from Park City and recovered from a week long bout of the Sundance Flu, I can finally get back to the business of Cinema Royale! And on a week where the only new movie was Helen Mirren's WINCHESTER, which they didn't even bother to screen for us, it's as good a time as any to recap the best from Sundance! My home Chris Bumbray of Joblo.com will be joining me because he's the only guy...

With the 2018 Sundance Film Festival right around the corner, it's time for me and Joblo.com's Chris Bumbray to rap about all of the movies that you'll be talking about for the rest of the year. Except we'll have seen them mad early. After freezing our asses off under tents.  Plus we'll review PADDINGTON 2 and the return of the world's most lovable bear! And the not-so-lovable Liam Neeson is back...

As we get deeper into awards season now is the perfect time to talk with film director Paul McGuigan about his latest, FILM STARS DON'T DIE IN LIVERPOOL, which finds Annette Bening in possible Oscar-contending form again. She plays Hollywood star and Oscar winner Gloria Grahame, with Jamie Bell as her young lover Peter Turner, who cares for her in the final months of her life. 

Well, 2017 was quite a thing, wasn't it? I mean, thank goodness it's over because 2018 has to be less crazy, right? The one thing we can all agree on is what the best movies of the year were. Right? RIGHT!?!?  Of course there will be no agreement here, but I'm going to countdown my 10 favorite movies of 2017 anyway! I may even do the entire top 20 if it doesn't take too long! Will your favorite mo...

Before Santa comes barreling illegally down the chimney, Cinema Royale has a couple of gifts of its own under the tree. Rogerebert.com's Susan Wloszczyna joins me so we can perform a duet review of PITCH PERFECT 3! Then we do our due dilligence and review Steven Spielberg's THE POST because they'll murder us here in DC if we don't.  Plus I'll give my thoughts on the reactions to STAR WARS: THE LAS...

Christmas has come early! STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI is here and we've got a lot to talk about! I'll be joined by Flixist.com's Matt Razak to spoil EVERYTHING!!!! Okay no, we won't. Seriously, we will try not to ruin anything in our extreme excitement to talk Star Wars. No promises! I mean, that thing Kylo Ren does is sick! That lightsaber fight is just....whoa!!! We can't wait to tell you about the...

Can there be a really good, perhaps Oscars worthy movie about one of the worst movies ever? And can it be done by James Franco? This week on Cinema Royale I'll be reviewing James Franco's THE DISASTER ARTIST about the making of Tommy Wiseau's bizzare, atrocious THE ROOM! And I'll be saying "Oh hai Hannah Buchdahl" as the co-host of The Cinema Clash joins in on the fun.  Plus I'll run down by five...

 It's the second episode of Cinema Royale this week! Who says you don't have anything to give thanks for??  Now, are these movies worth being thankful for? I'll be joine by my homie Chris Bumbray of Joblo.com to review Denzel Washington's legal thriller, ROMAN J. ISRAEL, Esq.  That will be followed by Gary Oldman's much talked about performance as Winston Churchill in DARKEST HOUR. And finally, Lu...

WONDER author RJ Palacio and director Stephen Chbosky chose kindness and joined Cinema Royale to talk about their adaptation of the bestselling book. The film stars Jacob Tremblay, Julia Roberts, and Owen Wilson, in the story of 10-year-old Auggie, a boy with facial deformities who is starting his first year of public school. 

Does JUSTICE LEAGUE unite the League or destroy? Following the success of WONDER WOMAN can Warner Bros. keep the momentum going with JUSTICE LEAGUE? On a very special episode of Cinema Royale, I'll be joined by Matt Razak of Flixist.com and Jeff Lyles of Lyles Movie Files for a spoilery review of the anticipated superhero flick! We'll talk about the film's Rotten Tomatoes score, box office prospec...

Halloween may be behind us but on this week's Cinema Royale we're going to look at one of the most chilling movies of the year. Yorgos Lanthimos' The Killing of a Sacred Deer stars Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, and the creepy Barry Keoghan from Dunkirk. He was creepy then, he's a million times creepier now! Plus, Woody Harrelson dons a ton of freakish makeup as Lyndon Baines Johnson but is LBJ his...

Waking up from Odin-Sleep just in time for THOR: RAGNAROK! On this episode of Cinema Royale I'll be joined by Jeff Lyles of Lyles' Movie Files to talk about the Asgardian thunder god's third (and best?) solo adventure! With Taika Waititi at the helm this one's expected to be one of Marvel's funniest movies yet, but does it live up to the hype? And what does it mean for the future of the Marvel Cin...

I've been busy the last couple of weeks but it hasn't been for nothin'. Last weekend I attended the Middleburg Film Festival for the fifth time in its five-year history, and spent time chatting with Greta Gerwig about her directorial debut, LADY BIRD, starring Saoirse Ronan and Laurie Metcalf. The semi-autobiographical film follows a Sacramento girl as she prepares for college and leaving the nest...