
6 minute read
Entertainment
Movie Reviews and Upcoming Release Dates
By A.D. Beal
IN THEATERS
“Sundown”
A man stays in the country he vacations in after his family leaves. At best, you can say that “Sundown” is a lovely looking film with nothing on its mind that repeats itself endlessly to get past that 70-minute mark. At worst, it’s a shallow take on the wealthy’s fear of the “other” that shows you the protagonist destroying his life without actively challenging him. But realistically, director and writer Michael Franco just wanted to travel for a month or two and tried to stitch together a narrative. Tim Roth and Charlotte Gainsbourg, two usually fantastic actors, seem bored here, restricted by the lack of material. Repetitive storytelling is not inherently bad, but there still must be some brains behind it. There’s nothing to be found with “Sundown.”
“Moonfall”
A group of misfits go on a high-risk mission to stop the moon from falling to Earth. It’s called “Moonfall,” and it’s exactly what you think it is - a bombastic film with not a lot of brains but surprisingly a fair amount of heart. Halle Berry and Patrick Wilson carry the film, giving emotionally flawed characters that could be stale but are helped by the actors’ charm, which make up for the dull supporting cast. But what you’re here for is the spectacle, and thankfully the film doesn’t disappoint. It shows some visually impressive and exciting moments of destruction, with the most creative one being a car crash that happens on earth. It also has some of the most bizarre but weirdly intriguing world building. It’s a lost 90s film in the best and worst ways, but if this is your kind of film, it’s one to seek out.
“Jackass Forever”
The “Jackass” gang reunites, with some new faces, for one last rodeo. “Jackass” has gotten its legacyquel moment, and even as someone not as into “Jackass,” it is a great film. It clearly has that feeling of friends getting back together for the first time in years and they’re happy to see each other again. With their reunion we see the stunts and pranks they’re known for, managing to still one-up themselves in disgust, hurt and humor. The new recruits also are a lot of fun, fitting in with Johnny, Steve-O and company while bringing a new personality to it. Most of all, what’s surprising is how detailed the filmmaking is—really capturing each injury and hit in as much detail as possible and bringing a strange sense of scale. It’s an absolute blast of a picture.
“Death On The Nile”
Hercule Poirot finds himself in a new mystery while on holiday in Egypt. There’s an aura of tragedy all over “Death On The Nile,” paralleled with its themes of doomed love. There are multiple couples in the film, almost all of whom (save for our main one unfortunately) have undeniable chemistry, making you fear for their safety as the mystery progresses. A full half of the film is spent before the murder happens, which can make or break the film for some, but I believe it utilizes it well to establish our characters and make you suspicious of them. The lovely views of the Nile contrast the dark atmosphere well too. It takes a second to get going, but Kenneth Branagh’s second Poirot mystery is an improvement.



NEW RELEASES
March 4
• “The Batman” • “After Yang”
March 18
• “Downton Abbey: A New Era” • “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre” • “The Unbreakable Boy” • “X”
March 25
• “The Lost City” • “Everything Everywhere All At Once”

Neighbors
Hello Neighbor!
HI, MY NAME IS... Ashley Richards.

I’VE LIVED IN SCOTTSDALE FOR 14 MONTHS AND I LOVE IT BECAUSE… I am a third generation Arizona native, but I have called Scottsdale home for the last 14 months after moving from Phoenix. We love our new home and community because of the incredible mountain views, wildlife, weather, and wonderful schools for our two children.
A TYPICAL DAY IN MY LIFE
INCLUDES… I like to call my days “organized chaos.” As a business owner, wife, and mom to two adorable kids, there is not a dull or slow moment in the day. My days include making lunches, taking the kids to school, a lot of meetings and Zoom calls with my team and wonderful clients, followed by pick up, sports, dinner and homework. I typically finish my day with work emails and a bubble bath.
MY FAMILY IS… My everything! My husband, Brandon, who works in IT, and I have been married for 10 years. We have two adorable kids: Ellie, who is seven and loves gymnastics and Barbies, and our son, Eli, who is five and a huge fan of Star Wars and baseball. We also have our adorable pup that we rescued from the Humane Society, Kona.
ONE THING I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT
IS… Bubble baths. I take one daily in the evening as it helps me relax and unwind from the day.
WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I WANTED TO
BE… A CEO, and here I am achieving that goal! I own E Squared Marketing, a boutique digital marketing agency always willing to go the extra mile for our clients (esquaredmarketing.com). I remember going into my stepdad’s office and filing his paperwork, pretend answering his phone, and would pretend to fax papers to clients. Although the technology has changed over the years, those pretend tasks are still things I do today.
THE SONG I WOULD SING AT
KARAOKE NIGHT IS… Nothing says karaoke like Bon Jovi, so any of his jams.
THE ONE PERSON WHO MOTIVATES
ME IS… My sister, Mindy. She is my best friend and someone I look up to. She encourages me on the tough days and celebrates accomplishments with me. She is incredible and someone I admire so very much.
THE LAST THING THAT MADE ME
LAUGH OUT LOUD WAS… My kids. They are at the fun age of exploring and learning, and they say a lot of funny things all of the time.

THE PERFECT DAY… I would spend the perfect day outside in our amazing desert on a hike with my family while teaching all about nature, bugs and animals, followed by a home cooked meal.
MY FAVORITE LOCAL NONPROFIT IS…
Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children. Their mission is to provide social, emotional, and financial support directly to families managing the health and wellbeing of a loved one with pediatric cancer. The impact they are making on these families is incredible. Other favorites include ZimZam Global, Starry Night Foundation, and Family Promise. MY LIFE IS… So very wonderful. I am blessed with the most amazing family and to do what I love every single day.
THE BEST GIFT I’VE EVER RECEIVED
WAS… Anything personalized. I have a makeup bag with my name on it that is still one of my favorite gifts.
MY DREAM VACATION WOULD BE… A trip around the world with my family. I would love to introduce them to new cultures and landmarks across the globe.
THE BEST PIECE OF ADVICE I’VE EVER
RECEIVED... “Don’t sweat the small stuff, and it is all small stuff.” There is also a book on this quote, and it is true! Often our thoughts are stuck on something that may not be a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
