The Bearded Trio

Brad’s April Escape - Part 19 April 29 - Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Each weekday this month, I’ll screen a film from The Bearded Trio Cinematic Universe and list 10 random scenes, characters, musical cues or performances that I particularly enjoy and look forward to upon every viewing. I’d love to hear similar little things you enjoy about these films, and hope you join me in this escape from the present-day world. Next up is the final entry in the Skywalker Saga, coming out on Disney+ next week, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019). The Rise of Skywalker - An Introduction This was it. The last film in the Skywalker Saga was finally upon us, just a few short months ago. The story of Rey, Finn and Poe came to a conclusion in a film that can only be described as "big." Big settings, big stakes for our characters, big implications on the rest of the saga. I'll be up front with this - the sequel trilogy, as a whole, did not resonate ...

OPERATION FINALE Starring Oscar Isaac, Ben Kingsley, Mélanie Laurent, Lior Raz, Nick Kroll,  Haley Lu Richardson, Joe Alwyn, Peter Strauss, Greta Scacchi , Greg Hill Written by Matthew Orton Directed by Chris Weitz Reviewed by Patrick & Paul Gibbs    Out of Four Obersturmbannführe r   Adolf Eichmann, one of the major organizers of Holocaust,  facilitated and managed the logistics involved in the mass deportation of Jews to ghettos and extermination camps  in Nazi-occupied Eastern Europe during the second World War. he was also one of the highest ranking Nazis to escape judgement at the Nuremberg trials, where various SS officers, including Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss, divulged damning evidence about Eichmann. Operation Finale dramatizes the story of Peter Malkin (Oscar Isaac) and the rest of the Mossad team tasked with apprehending Eichman in Buenos Aires in 1960, and bringing him back to stand trial in Israel. ...

ANNIHILATION Starring Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh,  Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Tuva Novotny  and Oscar Isaac based on the novel by Jeff VanderMeer Screenplay by Alex Garland Directed by Alex Garland Reviewed by Patrick & Paul Gibbs  Out of Four Despite the cerebral, Kubrickian, hard core science fiction feel of writer-director Alex Garland's brilliant thriller  Ex Machina , it's hard not to go into a science fiction film called Annihilation  that is marketed with images of people walking into the jungle with machine guns and not expect something more in the vein of Aliens than 2001: A Space Odyssey. Consequently, some audiences are going to be pretty unhappy with the cerebral, deep science and existential nature of this film, and that is understandable. But if you're prepared for something different and you don't mind a movie a movie being more than a little weird, there's a lot to be said for Garland's adaptation of ...

STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI Starring Mark Hamill,  Carrie Fisher, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Andy Serkis, Lupita Nyon'go, Domnhall Gleeson, Anthony Daniels, Gwendoline Christie, Kelly Marie Tran,  Laura Dern and Benicio del Toro Written and Directed by Rian Johnson Reviewed by Patrick Gibbs & Paul Gibbs   Out of Four A couple of years ago, in theaters not at all far away, Star Wars: The Force Awaken s took the entertainment world by storm by bringing the beloved franchise back to its place as the hottest property on the planet (Earth) and becoming the highest grossing film of all time worldwide. For some, it was much needed apology for the lackluster prequels, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, some dismissed it as merely a point by point rehash of  A New Hope. We can honestly say that   we sympathize with both feelings, but ultimately do not subscribe to either point of view (you're going to find that a great ma...

MIld spoilers for Star Wars, but no rumours here! A Star Wars Story or a Star Wars Anthology? Have the spin off movies been re-named? http:// makingstarwars.net/2015/08/a-star -wars-story-or-a-star-wars-anthology/   … Complete rundown of EW's 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' week of news http://www. ew.com/article/2015/0 8/17/complete-rundown-ews-star-wars-force-awakens-week   … “Cast Member” auditions are beginning for Disneyland’s  new  Star Wars  Launch Bay attraction!  http:// makingstarwars.net/2015/08/cast-m ember-auditions-are-beginning-for-disneylands-star-wars-launch-bay/   …   JJ explains why someone might want to join The First Order in the upcoming  The Force Awakens  http://www. latimes.com/entertainment/ herocomplex/la-et-hc-jj-abrams-star-wars-empire-d23-20150817-story.html   …     J.J. Abrams Picks His Favorite New Star Wars Character from The Force Awakens http:// flw.tc/02...