Crowd of Full Pockets

Movie and Music Analysis from One Lacking Any Credentials to Provide It

  • Movie Review: “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (J.J. Abrams, USA 2015)

    When I was a kid, I loved Star Wars. I would correct people at even the slightest misquoting because I had memorized every scene of the films. I probably watched Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi (Richard Marquand, USA 1983) 20 times, and it was my least favorite of the series. Then, Star Wars: Episode 1–The Phantom…

  • Movie Review: “Creed” (Ryan Coogler, USA 2015)

    Nostalgia can be difficult to use in a film. Making references to earlier films, characters, etc. can be a great nod for older fans but can be empty for newer viewers. And if you’re borrowing too much, the winks and nods turn the film into a rehashing of the past. Look at the Back to the…

  • Movie Review: “Spotlight” (Tom McCarthy, USA 2015)

    In the early days of the synchronized sound motion picture, Hollywood had to seek out people to write dialogue. It was no longer a matter of the occasional title card, so the writing had to be stronger than it had been before. Lacking a substantial pool of established writers in the forms that the new…