Author Archives: Jack Poessiger
Jack Goes Confidential: Christopher Nolan’s ‘TENET” Finally Arrives
It was to have been the sci-fi action-epic of the spring—and then the summer… But like so many other 2020 tentpole titles “TENET” was pushed back on Warner Brothers’ release schedule to coincide with the ever fluid state of the … Continue reading
New Jack City: Politically Correct—Or Just The Right Thing To Do?
Toronto, Berlin and Cannes… All home to some of the world’s most popular and competitive film festivals. Now the BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL takes its annual event to the next level. Beginning with its 71st edition in 2021 the Berlin … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Hang On To Your Ticket Stubs—The Movies Are Back!
No way it was planned this way. Who could have predicted a formulaic action flick like UNHINGED would be the post pandemic gateway back into movie theaters? But because of major release shifts due to the coronavirus—it is this week! UNHINGED … Continue reading
New Jack City: Drive-Ins All The Rage in Covid Land
You’ve probably heard about the big comeback of drive-In theaters… But let’s not put the cart ahead of the horse. For example, why DID so many of America’s Drive-Ins shut down since their heyday in the 1950’s and 1960’s? Real … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘The Way Back’—A Long And Winding Road
Ben Affleck has been struggling with the demons of alcoholism for some time and has been quite public about it… Now he brings those deeply personal aspects of his life to the big screen in a story that in some … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: Re-Imagined ‘Invisible Man’—Looking Good
It is not always wise to overproduce a classic sci-fi/horror thriller… Throwing millions of dollars into special effects doesn’t necessarily enhance the end product—sometimes doing just the opposite. Which brings us to H.G. Wells’ iconic 1933 thriller “THE INVISIBLE MAN” … Continue reading
New Jack City: Game On, Deplorables vs. Elites Movie Released
Back in the year 2019 Universal Studios was poised to release a satirical thriller called THE HUNT… It was scheduled to open on September 27—but DIDN’T! The reason? The release date fell during a compressed time period in which several mass shootings … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘The Call Of the Wild’ Goes To The Dogs
Say goodbye to 20th Century Fox and hello to 20th Century Studios… —a division of the Walt Disney Company. Permit me to explain. “THE CALL OF THE WILD” is probably the last major motion picture produced by 20th Century Fox, … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Downhill’ Misses Mark
If you’re expecting a rip-roaring Will Farrell comedy, “DOWNHILL” is not for you… “DOWNHILL” instead is the Americanization of the 2014 Swedish thriller “FORCE MAJEURE” by Ruben Ostlund. What we end up with is a (somewhat) biting, dark dramedy that desperately … Continue reading
New Jack City: And the Winners Are…
The 92nd annual Academy Awards goes down this Sunday… This year’s (again) hostless event kicks off at 7:00 p.m. on ABC. And while my picks are generally 80% to 97% accurate, take this year’s top six category winners with a proverbial grain … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: “1917”—An Immersive Odyssey In Filmmaking
What a thrill it was to see my favorite film of 2019, 1917, win Best Picture and director honors at The Golden Globes Sunday… But how could that be? The movie hasn’t even opened here yet! Permit me to explain. … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: “Uncut Gems”—Adam Sandler’s Razor-Sharp Chaos!
We haven’t seen Adam Sandler quite like this since PUNCH DRUNK LOVE…. And that was back in 2002! His latest big screen outing is a hard-hitting crime thriller called “UNCUT GEMS” directed and written by Josh and Bennie Safdie. The … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Bombshell’ Takes On The Fox News Empire
Ever wonder about Fox News see-through glass news desks for women anchors? Hey, let’s get real…former Fox News boss Roger Aisles knew exactly what he was doing and how to get ratings. Then along came the #MeToo movement which would … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘RICHARD JEWELL’—Saint Or Savage?
Clint Eastwood can STILL make your day… He made mine the other night at the screening of Eastwood’s latest docu-drama, “RICHARD JEWELL,” which he directed and co-produced alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill. And let’s be real. If it were not for … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘DARK WATERS’—Yes, it DID Happen!
From Marvel’s Hulk to meticulous practitioner, Mark Ruffalo adapts well to just about every role that comes his way… He proves it again in “DARK WATERS” in which he plays a corporate defense attorney who usually practices on behalf of … Continue reading
New Jack City: Hollywood’s Holiday Sizzle Reel!
While we’re in the midst of Tinseltown’s Thanksgiving offerings, a look ahead to what the studios will be serving up as Kansas City’s 2019 holiday fare… Here are highlights, as they’ll premier in December on local screens. (As always, opening … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Ford v Ferrari’—This is no Nascar!
What we have here is not so much a racing movie… It’s more of solid storytelling of a competitive friendship set AGAINST the world of racing—and marketing. FORD v FERRARI takes place in the early 1960’s when Henry Ford II saw … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Battle Of “MIDWAY’ For Vets Day Weekend
One has to wonder if there REALLY was a need to remake 1976’s star-studded war epic MIDWAY? Probably not, especially when you consider that the original’s ensemble of A-list talent included the likes of Charlton Heston, Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford, … Continue reading
Jack Goes Confidential: ‘Current War’— Battle of AC vs. DC
Into AC/DC? Well, don’t expect ‘Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap’ on the soundtrack to this movie. This is “THE CURRENT WAR” and who would eventually would end up winning it. The cutthroat race between electricity titans Thomas Edison and George … Continue reading
New Jack City: Could ‘DIRECT’ Service To Europe Be The Ticket?
So I won my bet even though I didn’t want to win it… The bet? That Icelandair non-stop service from KCI to Reykjavik—despite guarantees, incentives and marketing dollars granted—wouldn’t last. I thought that with Iceland being more or less a … Continue reading