Adam Graham Detroit News Film Critic Published 10:27 PM EST Jan 3, 2019 As a trailblazing figure, Ruth Bader Ginsburg deserves a knockout biopic about her life. Instead she gets "On the Basis of Sex," a serviceable, but by no means extraordinary origin story of a pre-Supreme Court RBG as she begins to shape her legacy. Felicity Jones ("Star Wars: Rogue One") plays Ginsburg, her thick Brooklyn accent providing a hurdle the British actress doesn't always clear. But elsewhere Jones captures RBG's inner fire, as she challenges societal norms and enacts radical social change while, uh, arguing tax law. Sure, tax law isn't the most sexy cinematic subject, and director Mimi Leder ("The Peacemaker") is limited by a script that largely unfolds inside courtrooms. Legal settings are a necessary evil when the subject is law, of course, but it's been a long time since a courtroom scene has really popped on screen, and they don't … [Read more...] about Review: ‘On the Basis of Sex’ plays by rules
W9 hits 2018
U.S. sales rise 2.2% in Dec; SAAR hits 2018 high
U.S. auto sales rose 2.2 percent in December, capping a year that saw overall volume rise 0.6 percent even as automakers endeavored to counter slumping car demand with higher light-truck deliveries. December -- with sales of 1.639 million -- turned in the second-best month of the year on a volume basis. And the seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of sales in December -- 17.72 million -- was a high for the year, providing automakers with some momentum and optimism heading into 2019. The final sales tally for 2018 -- 17.33 million cars and light trucks -- also makes it the fourth-biggest year on record. The robust December SAAR came in above a forecast of 17.3 million based on a survey of 10 analysts by Bloomberg. It easily topped December 2017's SAAR of 17.44 million and November's 17.55 million sales pace. "New vehicle sales were surprisingly strong in 2018 despite late cycle headwinds from higher interest rates and more nearly-new competition in the used market," Cox Automotive Chief … [Read more...] about U.S. sales rise 2.2% in Dec; SAAR hits 2018 high
2018 Los Angeles Auto Show: Hits, Misses, and Revelations
LOS ANGELES, California — Like the New York International Auto Show that capped last season, the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, or L.A. Automobility if you must, remains big and relevant even as all the major exhibitions of new sheetmetal contract. The L.A. debuts included the low-volume halos and icons and the high-volume models that keep the industry running, and there were even a couple of concept cars (remember those?) unveiled, too. Alt-fuel environmentalists claimed auto-show victory with the number of hybrid and fully electric vehicle premieres, while enthusiasts hailed the latest Porsche 911 and Jeep’s new Wrangler-based Gladiator pickup. Contrary to our skeptical character, we found little not to like from the vehicles preferred by either camp—but there were a few misses. Read on to find out what they were, plus more on our favorites. HIT: Jeep Gladiator This is a hit for so many reasons, but chief among them are … [Read more...] about 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show: Hits, Misses, and Revelations
TCF Reviews: F1 2018 Game – The F1 Gaming Franchise Hits Top Gear
Codemasters Studios over the last few years have produced some of the best Formula 1 games to date. This year’s edition, F1 2018, maybe one of the best F1 games all round for it’s realism, challenging and dynamic racing that will leave F1 fans licking their lips for more. F1 2018 is Codemasters Studio’s eleventh Formula 1 Title since earning the rights back in 2009. Each game has seen improvements to the gameplay, graphics and modes to satisfy racing fans on their consoles. Since the move to modern consoles like the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Codemasters have pushed the boundaries for F1 games and F1 2018 takes that boundary to another level. MAKING HEADLINES Formula 1 Games by Codemasters’ main single-player feature is the career mode, where the player enbarks on an F1 career to become world champion in a full season with any team of their choice. This year’s edition sees the return of press clippings, a popular feature from F1 2010 that kick started the … [Read more...] about TCF Reviews: F1 2018 Game – The F1 Gaming Franchise Hits Top Gear
PREVIEW: 2018 Vodafone Rally de Portugal – WRC hits the European gravel
Another classic rally steeped in history, the Vodafone Rally de Portugal is the FIA World Rally Championship’s first visit to European gravel in 2018 and marks the point in the season when things traditionally begin to hot up. Early season cobwebs have been well and truly banished, the new crop of cars are up to speed and reaching the apex of their development cycles, and the title charge (as we’ll soon see) already appears to have narrowed to a three horse race. Let’s have a look at what makes the Portuguese round such a beguiling spectacle for drivers and spectators alike. 2018 Vodafone Rally de Portugal – The Rally Rally Portugal has a long history of World Rally Championship level competition having been on the calendar since the inaugural 1973 season, but of course it hasn’t always been a positive association. Shocking, near criminally negligent levels of crowd control in the mid ’80s meant Portugal hosted Group B’s darkest hour, and it … [Read more...] about PREVIEW: 2018 Vodafone Rally de Portugal – WRC hits the European gravel