I like heist films, and this one helpfully applies many of the genre’s greatest hits, but it’s mostly a miss.
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‘Blitz’ | Technically Brilliant, Emotionally Lacking
It’s nearly flawless in its production and art direction, but why don’t I have the feels?
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Emilia Pérez | Early Awards Contender
The few dips into melodrama are forgiven as a natural part of this genre hybrid.
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‘Hippo’ Review | Hard to Handle
Unpleasant to watch, and peopled with characters ranging from shrill to creepy.
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‘My Name is Alfred Hitchcock’ | Treat for Fans
The doc assumes you already have at least some familiarity with the Hitchcock catalog, and it is most enjoyable for fans who are ready to get granular
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‘The Apprentice’ | Not Shtick, Not Comedy
This ain’t no SNL skit, it’s an engrossing character study of Trump.
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‘The Radleys’ | Biting Humor from the Burbs
There comes a time when teenagers learn something new about their parents. Sometimes it’s gross out-bedroom facts, for instance. And sometimes it’s that their folks are…vampires. The Radleys are a normal, mundane, suburban family in Scotland (I think, but it might be England) who go to work and school each…
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‘Monster Summer’ | Mild Tween Thriller
Borrows heavily from Goosebumps to Goonies, but should entertain the YA audiences at whom it’s aimed.
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‘Lover of Men’ | Was Abe Lincoln Gay?
Schools definitely didn’t address this question when I was coming up, but Ivy League historians appear with the receipts.
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‘Lee’ | Kate Winslet Goes to War
Gives Kate Winslet an extraordinary main character to inhabit. It should do well in arthouse theatres.
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‘Will & Harper’ | Surprisingly Moving
Seeing the real Ferrell break down and cry is just one of the many surprises on this road trip through America with a 61-year-old in a dress?
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‘Merchant Ivory’ | Kings of Costume Dramas
Like Currier and Ives, just the names Ivory-Merchant conjure a specific brand of images.
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‘The Other Laurens’ | Two Better Than One?
Intriguing, nevertheless, doesn’t quite stick the landing. But it’s close.
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‘Between the Temples’ | Small Film, Big Heart
A big-hearted romance with a mildly eccentric perspective, and a cutely odd disposition
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‘Skincare’ | 3 out of 4 Stars | Elizabeth Banks
It’s not easy to put this film neatly into a box;, fortunately, the great Elizabeth Banks is a constant and a grounding presence.
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‘Cursed Waters: Creature of Lake Okanagan’
First the good news: the deep lake creature known as Ogopogo makes his home (or not) in a stunningly gorgeous lake that I’d never heard of before.
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‘Trap’ | 2 ½ out of 4 Stars | Spoiler-Free
He sh*ts the bed about as often as not, but I like the way that M. Night Shyamalan swings for the fences.
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‘The Last Front’ | Mixed Period Drama
A mostly worthy art house release that has moments bordering on melodrama, but a game cast rise to the occasion in an otherwise slow-moving period drama.
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‘Dance First’ | Beckett Bio with Byrne
Gabriel Byrne’s known strength at underplaying works well for this biopic of literary genius Samuel Beckett, but the screenplay is lacking.
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‘Girl You Know It’s True’ | 2½ out of 4 Stars
This fictionalized version is still a story that seems impossible yet true. These guys were canceled before we used that word in this context.
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‘The Instigators’ | Frenemies Damon & Affleck
I don’t want to make a big thing about it – it’s just an action-comedy, not an Oscar hopeful. But this movie is a good example of what it is.
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‘Elizabeth Taylor: The Lost Tapes’
The most enjoyable aspect is just listening to her dish. She’s a delicious gossip, even about herself. Heck, mostly about herself.
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‘Kneecap’ | Belfast’s Beastie Boys?
It’s counterintuitive to call a film full of sex, drugs, and profanity “delightful,” but here we are. It is.
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‘National Anthem’ Film Review
At their best, films can transport us to a place we’ve never been before and introduce us to people we probably would have never met
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‘Clear Cut’ | Definition of B-Movie
At less than 90 minutes long, this thriller overstays its welcome, in spite of some cool crossbow shootings and an exploding meth trailer.
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‘Widow Clicquot’ Review
gorgeously shot, but may be too quiet for some movie-goers.
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‘Dandelion’ | When a Film is Perfectly Chill
Quiet and leisurely paced, though pulsing with a distinct rhythm, Dandelion is a showcase for its star, Kiki Layne.
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‘Cottontail’ | A Heartfelt Tale of Loss | 4 Stars
A quiet, moving film. Cottontail follows a widower from Tokyo to England to scatter his late wife’s ashes.
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Murder Company | Kelsey Grammer and Co.
The poster sets your expectations for a moving War movie. Unfortunately, the actual film is dull and never realizes its potential.
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‘A Man of Reason’ | Showdown in K-Town
Korean Cinema is just as diverse as Hollywood’s films, including violent action flicks that compare to Tinsel Town’s releases.
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‘Daddio’ | Sean Penn and Dakota Johnson’s Intimate Ride
There’s something liberating about a conversation someone you’ll never see again. You can spill your secrets or invent a whole new personal history.
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‘Hit Man’ Low Stakes, High Payoff, Good Film
This good-natured romance/action film is what I will now think of when I tell someone about a good movie on Netflix to watch.
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‘Ezra’ | Likeable Dramedy for These Fraught Times
A sweet, good-natured little film
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‘You Can’t Run Forever’ Review | A Casual Killer
If it didn’t have a promising start and a gleefully chilly performance by J.K. Simmons, you could simply write it off as a low-budget B movie.
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‘Evil Does Not Exist’ | Art House Flick from Genius Director
Hamaguchi’s follow up to Drive My Car, is far less accessible, excruciatingly slow, and rather oblique in its final act.
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‘Monkey Man’ John Wick Meets Bruce Lee
The violence is graphic, gory and absolutely delightful (remember this is only a movie). The story has enough unique elements to stand on its own.
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‘Sunrise’ Review; What’s at Stake?
He looks like a sad drifter – not a pathetic homeless person but a rambling guy who may or may not have someplace specific to go and something to do that is almost like a mission. That’s Alex Pettyfer in the new horror(ish) flick, “Sunrise.” Taken in by a kindly…
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‘Dumb Money’ | Smart Movie
Sometimes movies die a quiet death at the box office for no good reason. Maybe the promotional budget was small or a bigger title opened on the same Friday.
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‘Roadkill’ | Middle of the Road Grindhouse
Meant to look like a classic early 80s Grindhouse splatter flick with one twist you can see from 6 exits away and another that’s a genuine surprise.
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‘Saltburn’ | Is it For You?
Can you like a movie without really liking any of the characters in it? If you can, you might just get a kick out of this off-center story.
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‘The Best (and the rest) of 2023’
Here are my best films, plus Best Horror, Best Animated, etc.
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‘The Holdovers’ | 4 Stars | One of the Year’s Best
Almost 20 years later, Payne delivers the perfect companion piece to Sideways, even though the stories, settings and most of the cast are completely different.
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‘The Disappearance of Shere Hite’ | Seventies Icon of Sexuality
She was among the most famous names in the country with as many detractors as fans
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‘The Killer’ | A Bullseye for Boredom
You think the assassin’s job is boring? Try watching a movie about his days.
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‘King Crimson at 50 | Film Celebrates Prog Rock Pioneers’
The Legendary Band King Crimson Hits Big Screen Before Going to On-Demand Soon.
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‘The Burial’ | Gentle Courtroom Drama Worth a Look
Contrary to its title, it’s NOT a scary movie. More like a gentle Tuesday night view at home.
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‘Why Scorsese’s New Film Isn’t Among His Top 5’
There isn’t a better example of bravura filmmaking than director Martin Scorsese’s new Killers of the Flower Moon. It is almost unrivaled in every facet of the art and surely one of the best of the year. But is it really his best, as some have suggested? “Almost unrivaled” because…
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Russell Crowe Makes ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ Better Than it Had to Be
The shopworn title makes it sound like just another schlocky horror, but it uses subtle wisecracks and from Russell Crowe to make it worth a watch,.
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Bummer Summer or Sizzlin’ Cinema? Quick Seasonal Wrap
Barbie may live in a pink world, but she was red hot at this summer’s cinemas.
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‘The Angry Black Girl and Her Monster’
Yep, that is the actual title, and it explains itself about as literally as you could possibly do.
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‘Joyland’ | Love and Tragedy in Dysfunctional Family
Whether because of, or in spite of, the conservative repression tied to society and religion in those countries– artful films coming out of Iran and Pakistan have been surprisingly multi-dimensional,
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‘Khandahar’with Gerard Butler| No Khan-Do
Gerard Butler, bless his heart, seems to be slipping into that Hollywood purgatory where Nic, Liam and Mickey reside; a place where mediocre movies get sold
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Grateful Dead Meet-Up at the Movies Coming Soon
This 11th Annual Meet-Up takes us to their 1991 concert at Soldier’s Field in Chicago for 3 hours.
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‘Air’ | Quality “Hang Time” with Affleck and Damon
somehow manages to makes us lean in and feel as if we have a stake in a sports shoe company. It’s quite a feat (feet?)
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‘A Little White Lie’ | Eclectic Cast, Delightful Results
A Little White Lie comes out of the gate poised to crash and burn or be a pleasant surprise. It’s nice when it’s the latter.
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‘Wild Life’ | Love in Patagonia, Life at the World’s Edge
It’s the human stories, the imperfection of good people, the goodness of imperfect people—and back around again.
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‘Mafia Mamma’ | Toni Collette’s ‘Family’ Film
Hey, it ain’t best picture material, but it’s nice to have an easy to digest comedy for a few laughs and a couple hours.
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‘A Handful of Water’ | Gentle, Moving Story with a Message.
A thoughtful film that makes points without making a lot of noise – taking us to a location we don’t know and giving us characters we’d like to know
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‘Ride On’ New Movie Gleefully Plays Jackie Chan’s Hits
Chan fans will stand and cheer. If you only know the name it serves as a sort of greatest hits of Chan’s lengthy career
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“Fist of the Condor’ | Balletic Butt-Kicking
Despite the fact that the dialog is straight off a coffee mug or a social media meme, it excels where it needs to: with kick fight choreography that is next level.
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‘Summoning Sylvia’ | Queen Scream
The new Horror comedy, Summoning Sylvia has zero scares but scores of laughs. Mostly little snarky, self-aware lines that effortlessly drop like faux pearls,
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‘Malum’ | Head Bangin’ Bits of Blood and a Rising Scream Queen
It’s her first night on the job and she’s all alone in a closing police station. Well,,not ALL alone.
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‘The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu’: Moms, Daughters, Quiet Storms
When I say “this is a film my Mom would like,” she knows it isn’t meant to be derogatory toward the film in any way (and, obviously, not toward her).
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‘Last Sentinel’ | Intense Postapocalyptic Thriller is a Pulse-Pounder
Kate Bosworth stars in this post-apocalyptic thriller that borrows a lot, but succeeds
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‘Unwelcome’ | Missing a Bit of Lucky Charm
Although I didn’t dig Unwelcome, I have friends—MANY friends who will love this blended mix of genre flicks.
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‘The Little Mermaid’ First Look at Official Trailer, Poster
The Oscars Ended Less Than 24 Hours ago – Time Now to Look Ahead to This Year’s Sure-Fire Smash
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‘Pi’ Returns: 25th Anniversary IMAX Screening with Aronofsky
I’m sure I saw this at some point – I mean, probably 25 years ago! This might be an opportunity for a refresher?
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‘Hunt Her Kill Her’: Cat & Mouse Reversal in Bloody Thriller
Imagine Home Alone, but instead of a cherubic-faced Kevin, the victim is a single Mom alone in a factory.
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“Juniper” Review | An Odd Couple You Haven’t Seen Before
The difference is the understated performances, the pretty New Zealand locations and the way first time director Matthew J. Saville has put his own personal spice in the mix
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Metallica Release New Album in Cinemas for One Night
All the info is here, except prices. Hopefully will be same as movie tix.
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‘Condor’s Nest’ | Revenge Flick with an Epic View
Lately, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by modestly budgeted features with no stars, but solid journeymen and solid production.
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‘Out of Exile’ | Greatest Heist Hits in One Movie
Out of Exile checks off all the “heist” boxes of the genre, but darn if it doesn’t do so in an entertaining way.
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‘Alice, Darling’ | A Tense Wind-Up and Then..Pffft
I will not spoil whether it’s a “happy” ending or not. I’m just saying it couldn’t have been more anti-climactic.
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Watch These 3 Great Weird(ish) Films Now
” Good weird” means I’m watching an unconventional story, but at least I’m watching a comprehensible narrative told in an artful way.
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Critics Choice Awards Complete Winners List
We’ve always been the #1 predictor of Oscars. More accurate than the Globes and SAGs. But there are always surprises, right?
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‘Chess Story’ | If You Liked Shutter Island, It’s For You
One man’s descent into madness keeps us guessing what’s real and what is in his troubled mind. (Not about Chess)
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‘The Old Way’ | Nic Cage Saddles Up and Succeeds
He’s been in more than 100 films and you could argue he was miscast in 75% of them. But that is the fun of watching Nic Cage
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‘A Man Called Otto’|Hard to Hate the Hallmark
You’ll know from the first frame that you’re being manipulated, so decide early whether you can go with it.
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I Just Didn’t Get It | 2022’s Hits That Missed with Me
I didn’t hate all of these hit films below, it’s just that I couldn’t get as juiced about them as so many others did.
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The Top 10 Films of 2022 | The Best Of List
Best Films of 2022, Best Movies of 2022, Aftesun,
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The Absolute Best True Crime Films of 2022
Here are some of my personal standouts. What were yours?
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The Absolute Best Horror Films of 2022
It was an exceptionally good year for Horror. A few of these titles actually elevated the genre. See if you agree.
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‘Empire of Light’ | Moody and Much Maligned
Not a Magic of the Movies film – a character study with a devastating Olivia Colman. More Eleanor Rigby than nascent Spielberg.
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‘Women Talking’ | Be Quiet and Eat Your Vegetables
When a film cannot find a way to exist as an entertainment, it’s doomed. You can’t receive a message if you’re asleep.
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‘White Noise’ | Adam Driver & Greta Gerwig’s Suburban Snark
Almost too clever by half. But this swing at satire lands a few pops, even as it swerves all over the road.
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‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ | Fun Heeling of the Sole
I’ve probably gotten more chuckles from this film than any other this season. Its sly, irreverent humor carries it throughout.
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‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ is Kind of Perfect
An Award-worthy film that just happens to be a mainstream mystery romp.
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‘Babylon’ | Bask in the Glow of the Dumpster Fire
The old adage is “sell the sizzle, not the steak.” Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie give this overcooked slab plenty of sizzle.
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‘Emancipation’ | There’s a Will, But…No Way
Fuqua has taken a somber story and turned it into a Hollywood action flick, to include Will wrasslin’ a gator.
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‘Return to Seoul’ | An International Film Star is Born
Adopted children get curious and seek out their biological parents with widely varying results. That is but one strand in this complex character’s journey.
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Why All the Hate for “The Whale”? | Brendan Fraser’s Triumph
Some equate bleak subject matter with bad art. Maybe we should only hang paintings of kittens in the museum?
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‘Nanny’ | A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
One of my favorite performances by an actress this year, is the quietly mesmerizing turn by Anna Diop in Nanny
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‘The Fabelmans’ | Spielberg’s Sublime Sentimental Dramedy
Any other director, any mere mortal, could never get away with Steven Spielberg’s naked sentimentality, but he can and he does.
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‘Bones and All’ | Ridiculous Romp or Artful Oddity?
Here’s the thing: you just have to go all in. if you remove yourself even slightly from the film, it plays like camp. If you immerse yourself in its universe and its characters, you’ll be rewarded.
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‘Bad Axe’ Review | All-American Families Look Like This
What is an “all-American” family? Do you think of an immigrant family struggling to keep their small business afloat during the pandemic.? You will now.
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‘Wendell & Wild’ | Amazing Animation, Not for Young Kids
The Stop Motion animation is artful and eye-popping, but the storyline is too dark for younger kids and almost too plot heavy.
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Complete List of Critics Choice Documentary Awards Winners
As a voting member, I am proud of our nominees and our winners, which were announced last night. Winners and trailers here
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‘The Pay Day’ Review | Pretty Faces, British Accents Rule
You can’t take it seriously; virtually every plot point defies the laws of probability. But I’m a sucker for a pretty face and a British accent.
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‘Causeway’| Jennifer Lawrence Shines in Quiet Art Film
Go in expecting a subtle character study that doesn’t have major highs or lows, and you’ll appreciate the performances and the story.
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‘Silent River’ | Hypnotic Neo-Noir is Sexy, Stylish
Some truth in advertising from your humble critic: it isn’t going to be for everyone. You kinda have to know yourself as a viewer going into it.
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‘Black Adam’ | Sights, Sounds! Where’s the Story?
The most likable guy in Hollywood worked hard to develop his acting chops – now he’s back to monotone one-liners that sound like Arnold
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What if a Band Made a Record Using Artificial Intelligence?
The Facebook group I affectionately named Music Nerds was meant for people kinda like this
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‘Sinphony: A Clubhouse Horror Anthology’
I was not familiar with the audio-based social media app Clubhouse until yesterday, but they must be a big deal because the new horror anthology, Sinphony, was conceived of and curated entirely on that platform. It’s not the worst horror anthology out this week (V/H/S/99 we’re looking at you), but it’s a bit…
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“Halloween Ends’ | Missed Opportunities, Graceful Exit
I was 15 years old when I saw Halloween in a packed theater in Sacramento, CA. on opening night in 1978. It was the most scared I’d ever been at the movies.
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‘Spirit Halloween the Movie’ | What’s in ‘Store?’
I guess if they can make movies about toys and video games, then they can make a movie that takes place in a beloved retail store
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‘She Will’ | Atmospheric Revenge Thriller| 3 ½ – 4 Stars
More atmospheric than scary and more high-class than horror, but a compelling journey to a place we’ve never been to with characters rarely seen.
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‘Dark Glasses’ Horror Review | Deserves All the Shade
Director Dario Argento has his fans, but I can’t imagine many of them digging this latest by the 81 year old.
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Darryl Jones: In The Blood | Rolling Stones Bassist’s Story
You drink a shot of whiskey every time someone describes Darryl Jones as “In the pocket,” you’ll be flat on your face in the first 20 minutes. Stones LOVE him
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‘Barbarian’ | A Higher Class of Horror Film
Absolutely NO spoilers here, but a solid recommendation not just for Horror fans, but for movie lovers of all stripes.
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‘Smile’ Review | Worthy Film in Strong Year for the Genre
It follows every convention of the genre, but does it better, smarter, than most. It’s got issues, but it often works well.
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‘The Good House’ | Yes, They Still Make Movies For Grown-Ups
Sigourney Weaver is at her best in a rare movie for grown-ups. And it’s nice to see her with Kevin Kline, too.
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‘The Innocents’ and the Other Best Horror Films of 2022
The Innocents is the highest rated Horror film this year, and it’s very good. Here’s a list of all the others.
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“Woman King’ #1 at the Box Office | Worth the Watch?
Like a corny Sword and Sandal pic from Old Hollywood at times, but with characters and a setting you have never seen before and crackling performances
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‘Blonde’ | Artful, Controversial Take on Marilyn Monroe
You don’t have to like the film, but it absolutely cannot be dismissed. Expect Oscar noms
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‘Flux Gourmet’ | Weird? Dude, You Have No Idea
But don’t listen to me; the film has an 84% approval on Rotten Tomatoes as of today.
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