“You’re taking my arms?” This question confronted me at a recent yard sale as I walked toward the puzzled seller holding his creepy mannequin arms in my normal human ones. My answer raised his eyebrows further. “Yes," I said, "they’re for my daughter.” Then I explained that my 14-year-old daughter, Lindsay, is a filmmaker who specializes in short horror films with a touch of humor. She loves creating these films, and I’ve learned that I love to find scary props to support her vision. Filmmaking has become an unlikely source of father-daughter bonding for us. As the stay-at-home dad … [Read more...]
‘Gifted’ Actors Discuss Roles, Movie About Raising a Genius
I had the pleasure of recently attending the press junket for the movie Gifted about young man unexpectedly into the role of protector and father figure for his math-genius niece. The talent of the film's actors -- Chris Evans, McKenna Grace, Octavia Spencer and Jenny Slate -- is a testament to director Marc Webb's vision and all those that were part of this magical production. Gifted is a heartwarming and heart-wrenching story about Frank (Evans), an uncle raising his 7-year-old niece, Mary (Grace). Frank vows to give her a normal life even though Mary shows extraordinary mathematical … [Read more...]
‘Gifted’ Director Marc Webb on Being a Father Figure
How does a man handle being thrust unexpectedly into the role of protector and father figure? That is one of the issues addressed in the movie Gifted, opening in select theaters April 7 and nationwide April 21. Frank Adler (Captain America actor Chris Evans) is a single man, whose attempting to give a "normal" life to his 7-year-old, math-prodigy niece (Mckenna Grace) who he is raising. His plans are threatened by his mother Evelyn (Lindsay Duncan) who wants to separate them and put the girl's skills to work. City Dads Group members sat down with Gifted producer and director Marc … [Read more...]
‘Brothers’ Documentary: A Moving Family Journey on Sundance Now
Editor's Note: See special offer to receive a free trial of the Sundance Now channel at the end of this review. When you look back, what will you remember? That is a question asked in various forms in the documentary Brothers, an internationally award-winning documentary currently available to watch on Sundance Now. The film follows two brothers over the course of a decade from young children to young adults. Consider this gem of a film about life, reflection, maturation and parenthood. Norwegian filmmaker Aslaug Holm records her two sons, who are already accustomed to her … [Read more...]
‘Star Wars’ Focus on Fatherhood, Abandonment
As the latest movie in the four-decade-old Star Wars saga continues to the fill theaters with old and new fans alike, The Modern Dads Podcast focuses on the role fatherhood and parenting plays in George Lucas' space opera. This special discussion is led by two of our more pop-culture oriented NYC Dads Group members. Chad D. MacDonald, who recently penned his own epic on the subject of dads and Star Wars for our NYC blog, and Lorne Jaffe analyze the fathers of Star Wars through eight movies, including the new Rogue One film. They dig deep into the decisions various fathers and father figures … [Read more...]