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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‘Cruel Intentions’ | New Adaptation is Nasty Fun
I wasn’t sure at first if I could enjoy such dastardly doings, but, hey, it’s just a fictional streaming series, so why not?
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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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‘Call Me Ted’ | You’ve Probably Watched His Channels
Billionaires today are weird (Elon Musk) and creepy (Jeff Bezos), but there was a time when we settled for eccentric, and that was Ted.
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‘Breath of Fire’ | Grifting Gurus
Growing up, her friends knew her simply as Katie Griggs. A gregarious All-American, she was destined to become the leader of something.
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‘Classified’ | Aaron Eckhart as Action Hero
Eckhart has been a dependable journeyman for more than twenty years already. Here he is tasked with leading- hero status.
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‘The Last of the Sea Women | Goes Deep
Women in their 60s, 70s, plunge off a Korean island of. It is punishing, hard work, and even dangerous, but they love it.
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‘The Wait’ | Classy Thriller 3 out of 4 Stars
The Wait is really more like a terrific episode of Twilight Zone in an unusual location.
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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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‘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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‘Wolfs’ | Clooney and Pitt Make it Look Good
There’s not much to it, but damned if the hunks don’t carry the whole thing on their broad shoulders and square jaws.
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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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‘Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos’
Who would’ve guessed that the key to the already legendary series is within the dysfunctional relationship between the creator and his mother?
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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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‘Jackpot’ | Only Half-Full
There’s something a little endearing about this slapdash, frenetic chase movie :John Cena and Awkwafina, the co-stars.
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‘Chimp Crazy’ | These People are Bananas
There is no denying that groups of people who have “special” relationships with exotic animals, from chimps to tigers, are their own special breed.
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The Beautiful Summer | 3 out of 4 Stars
Lush and sensuous, this period drama will be right at home with art house fans.
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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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‘Batman: Caped Crusader’ | Vintage & New Mixed
A reimagining, takes us back to the earliest days of the comic, but with modern twists in the characters.
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‘The Last Breath’ Review | Snark Week
Perhaps a low budget reduced the screentime of the shark in this one, but you don’t miss it.
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‘Charlie Hustle & the Matter of Pete Rose’
He must be the most beloved figure who actually isn’t easy to like. At age 81, he is a tragic figure. Is redemption too late?
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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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‘The Outlaws” | It’s Almost a Crime
Alas, this Western suffers from a budget that didn’t allow for better elements
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‘Cora Bora’ | Star Vehicle or Hoopty?
Straining as hard as it can to display “Indie Cred,” the film gets good but you’ll have to wait to get there.
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‘Quad Gods’ | This Is How They Roll
Everything from gunshots to a popped tire unexpectedly brought them to this place. But don’t count their future out.
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Tiger Stripes | The Horrors of Adolescence
Director Amanda Nell Eu takes us to a village in Malaysia, where the mean girls are just as mean as they are in the U.S.
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‘The Mandela Effect Phenomenon’ | Forget It
Forest Gump didn’t say “Life is Like a Box of Chocolates” and Darth Vader didn’t say “Luke, I Am Your Father”
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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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‘Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer ‘ Series Review
True Crime is surely the hottest genre in the country at the moment. This profile of the lady who pioneered catching killers is worth a look.
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‘Latency’ | Woulda Been a Better TV Episode
A timely concept, this thriller never quite reaches its potential, but it looks quite cool.
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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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‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’ | Heat Still On?
It’s clear that nostalgia is going to carry this 4th installment of the franchise. That’s not a bad thing.
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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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John Woo’s “First Real Film” Newly Restored and Released
It’s been 40 years since famed director John Woo made this cheerfully violent, gleefully bloody film that’s been restored to digital 2K
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How to See Lady Gaga’s Chromatica Ball Concert Film
I may not buy her next record, but I’d definitely go to her next concert
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‘Jim Henson Idea Man’ | Gentle Genius
If I’m doing the math right, my generation was possibly the first to have Sesame Street as a part of everyday life.
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‘Creation of the Gods I: Kingdom of Storms’
As the old saying goes, “This is the sort of thing you’ll like, if you like this sort of thing.”
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MoviePass, MovieCrash | If It Seems too Good to Be True…
MoviePass went from a Wall Street darling to almost literally worthless within 8 years.
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‘Stax: Soulsville, U.S.A.’ Review | Groove Was in the Heart
If Motown was slick and unbeatable as a crossover label, Stax Records was greasier and more soulful.
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‘Run!’ | A Horror Chase in the Desert
There are seeds at the core of the horror-thriller Run! That, with a few tweaks and a couple of casting changes, would make for a very good movie.
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‘She is Conann’ | Kill Me Now
There are a good many positive reviews of She is Conann. You can see them at this link. Unfortunately, my own experience sitting through this French, gender-reversing take on the story was just too weird, too silly, and even at a modest hour and 47 minutes, too long. Conann, our…
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‘Unfrosted’| Seinfeld’s Silly Story Just Ok
Just ask Madonna, there’s
nothing like a feature film to humble someone who is otherwise great at their preferred craft.
People Are Still Discovering ‘Baby Reindeer’ and Loving It
The most common description I’ve seen of Baby Reindeer is “disturbing.” That’s not wrong, but this thriller with some comedic touches is so much more.
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The Greatest Night in Pop| Behind the Scenes of the Biggest Stars Coming Together
Some said it sounded like a Pepsi commercial. Others said is sounded like a Disney tune. And those were some of the artists involved.
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‘A Creature Was Stirring’ Review | Wait for It
Stay for the whole thing and you may decide that you‘ve actually just viewed a decent psychological thriller.
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Kevin James: Irregardless | The Comedy Special Drought is Over
Kevin James, basically working clean, crushes the latest streaming stand-up specials by miles. I was getting really tired of preaching instead of joke-telling
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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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‘The Mummy Murders’ | Terrible Title, Decent Horror Flick
This smart psychological thriller/horror is not about mummies, it’s about a present-day serial killer and the journalist with whom he shares his secrets.
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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 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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‘Do Not Disturb’ | Love Bites, Love Bleeds
The dread is in the air – it’s thick…kinda like the blood will be later on in this B-movie (ish) Horror flick
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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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‘Screwdriver’ | A Half-Empty Toolbox
Comes out with great, creepy energy, but doesn’t have the juice to go all the way.
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‘Blackberry : When a Good Movie Bombs, Fight Back & Rent It.’
The palm device was everywhere…until the iPhone came. Great David & Goliath story and unfairly overlooked at the box office.
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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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‘AGED’ | Spooky Flick That Doesn’t Get Old
A sprinkle of predictability and a pinch of déjà vu actually work well for a film like “Aged.”
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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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How to Watch Every Episode of ‘Columbo’ for Free
I feel like a kid again. Falk lived from 1937 to 2011, but his character might just live on forever. Sometimes the Internet turns up a treat.
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‘Being Mary Tyler Moore’ | She Turned the World On
there has never been a night on network TV as out-of-this-world as Saturday nights in 1973.
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‘Influencer’ | Mean Girls at a Whole Other Level
Don’t you love it sometimes when rooting for the villain is almost kind of the honorable thing to do because the presumed hero is not nearly as cool of a person?
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‘Love to Love You, Donna Summer’ | Deep Dive with the Queen of Disco
Donna Summer was huge when I was coming up through school. I thought she was sexy and a great performer with a powerful voice, but that was it. Not anymore.
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‘How to Create a Sex Scandal’| Intense and Infuriating
Intense, infuriating and somewhat predictable, this gripping docuseries uncovers the evil underneath the Idyllic surface of Mineola, TX.
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‘To Catch a Killer’ Shailene Woodley Miscast in Dull Cop Film
I honestly thought she was still a teenager, Woodley’s youthful appearance and demeanor make her entirely unbelievable as a cop.
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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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‘The Tutor’ | New Twist on an Old Twist
The set up looks like an easy mystery to solve- not a bad thing. But a twist on a twist in the final third of the film keeps us on our toes to the end.
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‘On the Edge’| European Crime Thriller: 3 ½ out of 4 Stars
Takes a lot of tropes of the genre and twists them into a fresh way of storytelling.
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‘From Black’ | Good Looking Take on a Low-Budget Horror
Solid production and cast that belie what is surely an ultra-low budget flick, Doesn’t reach the high bar, but keeps the viewer curious, if not exactly rapt.
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Trials to Triumph | A Good Fit for Christian Summer Camps
will play well at church summer camps this season or in Sunday schools. With the right audience, the film is going to be received in a whole different light.
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‘100 Foot Wave’ | Dude. Gnarly, Tasty Waves
100 Foot Wave made me give a damn about people who surf giant waves year round. That’s admirable. That’s great filmmaking.
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‘Saint X ‘ | Crime Mystery in the Caribbean
Busting out of the chute with great creative force, Saint X is immediately suspenseful and promising before setting down with too soft a landing.
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‘The Diplomat’ is a Goodwill Programming Ambassador
The vibe of The Diplomat is kind of an amalgamation of shows I’ve liked: The Crown, Madam Secretary, and West Wing,
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‘One of These Days’ | American Dream or Nightmare?
One of Those Days tells the story of twenty East Texans who, if lucky enough, have their name drawn; get to compete for a new pick up
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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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‘My Name is Mo’Nique’| Not Worth the Wait, the Years or the Tears
As a stand-up comedienne, Mo’Nique is an amazing actress. Even a decade later, her Oscar-winning turn towers above this monotonous loop.
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‘Jason Isbell: Running with Our Eyes Closed’
It’s so personal, so intimate, that it’s almost awkward to see him lay himself so bare. But it’s so good.
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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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‘Hunt Club’ | Bikinis, Bare Knuckles, Bad A$S Babes
It plays like a 1970s exploitation flick that you’d have seen at a Drive-In. One big difference – the tables turn in the ladies’ favor.
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‘Big Mack: Gangsters and Gold’ | True Crime, Heavy Time
They called him the most peculiar character in Germany’s legal history. He was certainly the heaviest- at several hundreds of pounds. He was everywhere
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‘Monumental: Ellie Goulding at Kew Gardens’
I think i only knew one song of hers but this intimate setting and sonic excellence have turned me into a fan. And i’s free to watch.
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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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‘Adalynn’ | Sometimes the Scares are from Within
this isn’t her first time at motherhood. She previously had a baby called Miles who died. She is continually haunted by the shattering experience.
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‘Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues’
there’s a tiny bit of bait & switch going on, since Stevie Ray is only a small portion here. But it turns out that Jimmie Vaughan can spin a good yarn
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‘Swarm’ | Blunt Force Drama| 3 ½ out of 4 Stars
So extreme is her devotion to singer Ni’ Jah, that she harshly judges, doing horrifically violent things to those you have wronged her or Ni’ Jah.
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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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‘Reggie’ | Deep Homers, Deep Man in Surprising Doc
Lately, sports docs have been notable for how they tell the parts of the story that have nothing to do with sports. This is totally compelling.
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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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‘The Strays’ | Solid Thriller, Horror-Lite
Are they victims or victimizers or a bit of both? The Strays gets its thrills with these questions
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‘You’ Season 4 | A Jolly Good Improvement!
A change of scenery to jolly ole’ England and a fresh cast of characters to root against makes all the difference
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‘Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal’ Deeper Than Headlines
Burned out by all the coverage? This gripping doc comes with more details and new angles.
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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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‘Bordello’ | The Old West Goes Limp
With a title like Bordello, you figure, “hey if the movie is crap, at least there might be some prurient content to soften the blow. But, no.
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‘Shrinking’ | Try It On For Size
Harrison Ford and Jason Segel are an unlikely pair, but they make this gentle comedy series a surprisingly satisfying watch
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‘Attachment’ | When Evil Forces Try to Ruin a Romance
Will it give you chills ? No. Not even. And yet, it’s a solid watch. Some eerie elements, but enough about the mother-in-law.
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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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‘The Stalking Fields’ | Kill or Be Killed
So long as you don’t take the concept too seriously, and just enjoy it as a modestly budgeted entertainment, it’s a well-paced action thriller.
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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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‘The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker’| Meme to Murder
The guy with the great sound bite is obviously mentally ill. But we threw appearance fees and free beer at him.
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‘Those Who Call’ | Wait For It…Wait For It
There is a satisfying final act payoff to Those Who Call, but you must patiently steel yourself for a challenging wait for something to happen.
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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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The Top 10 Films of 2022 | The Best Of List
Best Films of 2022, Best Movies of 2022, Aftesun,
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