Acclaimed actor Dave Franco should be garnering plenty of kudos for his debut as a director with the new IFC horror movie THE RENTAL that opens today…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: DAVE FRANCO MAKES A SLY DIRECTORIAL DEBUT WITH “THE RENTAL””

Original caricature by Jeff York of Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti in PALM SPRINGS (copyright 2020) PALM SPRINGS made quite a splash when it debuted at Sundance…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: FIVE REASONS “PALM SPRINGS” IS THE YEAR’S BEST COMEDY”

While watching the compelling new Netflix documentary FATHER SOLDIER SON, I couldn’t help but think about the bounties Putin is paying for Afghanistan rebels to assassinate American…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: A SOLDIER’S SACRIFICE DRIVES THE EARNEST “FATHER SOLDIER SON””

At first blush, THE OLD GUARD, a movie about centuries-old immortals working as secret mercenaries for worthy causes, seems outright silly. It’s an odd mix of comic…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: NETFLIX’S “THE OLD GUARD” TAKES THE TROPES OF ACTION VERY SERIOUSLY”

Dramas with a war-time backdrop and Tom Hanks continue to be a crackerjack combination with GREYHOUND, the new WWII thriller that premieres on Apple TV + this…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: TOM HANKS COMMANDS A TENSE AND TAUT THRILLER IN “GREYHOUND””

  Ostensibly, the new French-language film THE TRUTH is about the relationship between an aging mother and her adult daughter, but really, it’s about actors. The way…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: DENEUVE & BINOCHE SEARCH FOR “THE TRUTH” IN FAMILY MATTERS & SHOW BIZ”

Some documentaries have such a dramatic subject, they don’t need any filmmaking bells or whistles. Such is the case with the new Netflix documentary ATHLETE A, directed…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: “ATHLETE A” EARNS AN “A” AS ONE OF THE YEAR’S BEST DOCUMENTARIES”

Jon Stewart is arguably the greatest political satirist of the last 20 years, so why does his new film IRRESISTIBLE feel like such a pulled punch? He’s…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: “IRRESISTIBLE” RESISTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE POLITICALLY SCATHING”

Trying to tell a single-setting story in real-time is asking for trouble. Such narrative handcuffs limit the arsenal of a filmmaker and the new Amazon release 7500…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: THE NEW HIJACK THRILLER “7500” FAILS TO MAKE ITS STORY SOAR”

Original caricature by Jeff York of filmmaker Spike Lee flanked by his cast of DA 5 BLOODS. (copyright 2020) In any other week, the opening of Spike…… Read more “New from Jeff York on The Establishing Shot: BLACK SOLDIERS’ LIVES MATTER IN “DA 5 BLOODS””