I am fond of movies that gear on the world coming to an end, especially when the goal of the film is to be heartfelt, witty, and silly. The Tomorrow Man is that movie with those exact three qualities. The film has an odd premise, a boring environment, and focuses on a man who is not on board with the advanced technologies that people are using today. The film’s focus is on Ed, played by well-known actor, John Lithgow. Lithgow is mellow, funny, and laid-back as he usually is in his films or shows. The Tomorrow Man is not very memorable, but it is a charming flick about a man in fear of the world ending one day while he is still alive.

During the movie, Ed spends his days gathering food and supplies for a disaster that may never happen. He is in solitude almost all the time, but that changes when he meets Ronnie (played by Blythe Danner). Ronnie works in a store and is not sure what she wants in life. Ed makes a connection with Ronnie, and they start to become close friends and invite each other into their lives. They watch movies, go on small dates, and share their lonely lives together. However, Ed is still holding onto his belief that a disaster may occur and that he needs to be ready for that. Ed also has some estrangement issues with his son Brian (played by Derek Cecil). Ed and Brian have had many problems over the years. Most stem from Ed’s OCD behaviors related to his belief that the world is coming to an end and how Ed believes to an extent that the way the world operates is wrong. Both father and son have very different opinions about why they feel they are right. Ed does not give up on his family, even though he is obsessed with the world ending. He wants to make things right with both Brian and Ronnie. In The Tomorrow Man, the world ending is not the primary focus, but actually is on connecting again. It is centered around what sitting in solitude can do to an individual (especially one that lives in a small town).  Throughout the movie (even though it does tend to drag), Ed begins to slowly rebuild his social life. He does so by visiting stores and making friends with people in public in addition to building his relationships with Brian and Ronnie.

For Lithgow, it is always enjoyable to see him as someone who displays a positive message and is rarely angry. In the Tomorrow Man he has some mixed emotions but still wants to show that he has confidence with his own self and those he cares about. Even though it may seem people in his family resent him for his beliefs, he does not act rebellious or mean about that. In those moments, he is heartfelt and genuine. Lithgow plays a man that wants to live his life, but not let it impact others. Danner’s character is the same way, but she is more social than Ed is. That is because she interacts with people in a store most of the time. Lithgow’s character only goes out when he needs to get something done, or if he wants to. Lots of his time is spent in his home being introverted.

For Noble Jones, this is the second movie that he has directed. His first one was 10 Days Out: Blues from the Backroads (a documentary that focuses on music). After directing his first documentary, he was a second unit director for David Fincher’s The Social Network (2010). Jones has a bright future ahead of him. Now I would not define The Tomorrow Man as brilliant, but it is a dark comedy that is thought-provoking.  It depicts what it is like for people who withdraw from society due to obsessions or fear.  During The Tomorrow Man I laughed at many moments, yet there were other moments that I almost wanted to cry.  This was due to the outstanding performances by Lithgow and Danner.  Through their roles, they send messages about how to appreciate life and not envy others, but instead to be be thankful for the positive  aspects of our own lives.

The Tomorrow Man is good for those who are looking for something that will bring some happiness to their day. It is a ninety-minute ride of despair turning into something wonderful. People are let down and eventually come to their senses for forgiveness. People are opinionated and come to realize that their opinions have impacted the ones they love.  And, Lithgow and Danner find a real and meaningful connection. The Tomorrow Man has a door waiting to be opened for its viewers that is remarkable. Therefore, I give it three stars.

Now this Godzilla movie was one that I enjoyed. The special effects and action sequences were visually stunning, the other creatures besides Godzilla served an important purpose to the film’s conflicts, and I felt like I was watching a Godzilla movie for the first time. That is due mostly to the fact that what grabs the attention in a Godzilla movie is the destruction and battle scenes that do take up lots of this film.  In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the scenes of danger and suspense go on throughout the movie. On top of that, the graphics for Godzilla and the creatures alone are top-notch and creepy in an intriguing way. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a thrill ride. I saw this in IMAX and the clear imaging combined with feeling the loud sounds made the experience captivating and memorable.

In Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the story is fresh in its plot. The focus is on a crypto-zoological agency Monarch that comes to the realization that Godzilla and many other giant monsters are around in the world and going to cause destruction. The other giant monsters are Mothra and Rodan, but Godzilla’s biggest enemy is the three-headed dragon monster King Ghidorah. The characters that find themselves in a crisis with these creatures and that serve key roles in finding ways to survive are Mark Russell (played by Kyle Chandler), Dr. Emma Russell (played by Vera Farmiga), Madison Russell (played by Millie Bobby Brown), Dr Ishiro Serizawa (played by Ken Watanabe), Dr. Rick Stanton (played by Bradley Whitford), Dr. Vivienne Graham (played by Sally Hawkins), Jonah Alan (played by Charles Dance), Sam Coleman (played by Thomas Middleditch), Chief Warrant Officer Barnes (played by O’shea Jackson Jr.) and Admiral William Stenz (played by David Straithairn). All of them are placed in this crisis scenario and have different beliefs as to what may be the right answer to solve the issues. Many believe in finding cover for long durations until the destruction passes, but others believe they can find alternative strategies to make battle sequences happen between Godzilla and his other monster enemies.  Throughout the movie, viewers will wonder if our main characters can survive.

For this Godzilla film, I like how it is fresh and something different and not really continuing from Gareth Edwards Godzilla (2014).  Although I enjoyed that Godzilla film, I like Godzilla: King of the Monsters slightly better. That is because the 2014 Godzilla movie took its time to build up to its action moments and for the audience to see the actual Godzilla creature. The main character in the 2014 film (which was Bryan Cranston) died much earlier than anticipated in the movie.  I believe that particular Godzilla film tried too hard to build the anticipation for its fans to keep waiting in excitement for Godzilla to show up Godzilla: King of the Monsters, however, gives its fans what they are wanting and that is non-stop action, multiple peril moments, new action scenes with more violent consequences, and just more danger with a fight sequence expected to be around every corner.

Godzilla’s enemies are also creepy enough to make fans feel they are part of the film’s suspense. The moment when King Ghidorah came into the scene where both that creature and Godzilla had a showdown, I was dazzled and captivated by the powers they use for attack and how it even got suspenseful when the characters are right in the middle of that fighting sequence. I was wondering who was going to be impacted by the battle of Godzilla and King Ghidorah and who is going to win that showdown. Of course, Godzilla is dangerous, but he is still viewed like he is the protagonist, given the other creatures come later and the fans are eagerly awaiting Godzilla’s arrival.

The film is attention-grabbing and worthy of seeing in a theatre. I like how director Michael Dougherty took his time with this movie and made this Godzilla movie enticing for his audience. He put together the perfect lineup of science and other creatures to make Godzilla: King of the Monsters entertaining. Having the movie take place in a variety of locations in multiple countries also adds to the film.  This added to the suspense by bringing the viewers to new places for more catastrophes to happen. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is a rollercoaster ride of thrills and full of new arrivals that viewers will not expect and therefore, I give it three and a half stars.

I did attend the closing night of the Chicago Critics Film Festival at the Music Box theatre and got the opportunity to see Paul Harrill’s Light from Light. I would describe Light from Light as a drama that is combined with melancholy, quietness, and desolation set in Knoxville, Tennessee. The film stars Marin Ireland and Jim Gaffigan, the one who the world knows for his clean and hysterical comedy and his tagline HOT POCKETS! However, Gaffigan is not the funny man in this film, he is the widower who is deep in thought after a series of dramatic events. The film is about connection and finding the answers to unanswered questions after the death of someone. As you might guess, the film is not very positive.

Marin Ireland plays Sheila and she is a paranormal investigator that is hired to search for potential ghosts at the request of others. She meets Richard (Gaffigan) and he feels that there has been strange paranormal activity going on at his farm after the passing of his wife, Susanne.  She died in a plane crash a year prior to the odd activities happening in his home. Richard wants Sheila to try and figure out why his lights have been going on and off their own, and why his items move when he sets them places. This makes Richard start to believe that their may be a ghost in his home and that it may be because of his wife or that perhaps it is her at his home.

The weird activity causing Sheila to be at Richard’s home begins to make them grow closer as friends. The film had a few moments where they question themselves and are curious if they are alright in the lives they have, or if they feel they need more friends or more support from someone. The film focuses on support and feeling like people are still together. Even the person who has died is still around, just invisible.  The film helped me to realize that people who truly care about someone do not let them down. That is because Sheila does not give up on Richard’s home.  She wants to come to a solution to determine if it is really his wife that is still there for him even past the time of her death. Light from Light is vast with beautiful scenery and solitude that will grasp viewers in the moments of loneliness and connection between Sheila and Richard.

Light from Light has received all kinds of press while it has been screened at other festivals. It seems that many viewers have had mixed emotions. I did as well, because the film is not great nor horrible.  It is just set to be how it is which is enticing in its solitude and geared on Sheila and Richard. The focus is their feelings and attitudes towards how the paranormal activity around them makes them feel. Overall, I give Light from Light three stars.