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…
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘The Best (and the rest) of 2023’
Here are my best films, plus Best Horror, Best Animated, etc.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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
Read More‘The Killer’ | A Bullseye for Boredom
You think the assassin’s job is boring? Try watching a movie about his days.
Read More‘King Crimson at 50 | Film Celebrates Prog Rock Pioneers’
The Legendary Band King Crimson Hits Big Screen Before Going to On-Demand Soon.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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…
Read MoreRussell 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,.
Read MoreBummer Summer or Sizzlin’ Cinema? Quick Seasonal Wrap
Barbie may live in a pink world, but she was red hot at this summer’s cinemas.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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,
Read More‘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
Read MoreGrateful 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.
Read More‘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?)
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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
Read More‘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
Read More“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.
Read More‘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,
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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).
Read More‘Last Sentinel’ | Intense Postapocalyptic Thriller is a Pulse-Pounder
Kate Bosworth stars in this post-apocalyptic thriller that borrows a lot, but succeeds
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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
Read More‘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?
Read More‘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.
Read More“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
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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)
Read More‘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
Read More‘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.
Read MoreI 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.
Read MoreThe Top 10 Films of 2022 | The Best Of List
Best Films of 2022, Best Movies of 2022, Aftesun,
Read MoreThe Absolute Best True Crime Films of 2022
Here are some of my personal standouts. What were yours?
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery’ is Kind of Perfect
An Award-worthy film that just happens to be a mainstream mystery romp.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read MoreWhy 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?
Read More‘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
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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
Read MoreWhat if a Band Made a Record Using Artificial Intelligence?
The Facebook group I affectionately named Music Nerds was meant for people kinda like this
Read More‘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…
Read More“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.
Read More‘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
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read MoreDarryl 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
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More‘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.
Read More“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
Read More‘Blonde’ | Artful, Controversial Take on Marilyn Monroe
You don’t have to like the film, but it absolutely cannot be dismissed. Expect Oscar noms
Read More‘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.
Read More‘Clerks III’ | Final Curtain Call for Franchise?
It still has juvenile dialogue and amateur acting, but you can’t be mad at it. The nostalgia is real and feels right.
Read Morea-ha | Not A One-Hit Wonder! New Music and New Film Coming
They sound more robust, rich vocals and gorgeous orchestration. The cinematography is stunning.
Read More‘Fall’ | Guilty Pleasure -Preposterous Fun
You won’t believe much of it for a second, but Fall offers a bit of guilty pleasure fun and thrills.
Read More‘Hockeyland’ Doc Review | “Rocky” On Ice is Surprisingly Moving
You don’t have to like hockey – it’s the story of the most fraught time of life: senior year of high school. Just try not to get a lump in your throat at the end.
Read More“Samaritan’ Review | Sylvester Stallone Can Still Kick It
I don’t care if he’s had a dozen facelifts and got new knees, it will always be fun to watch him kick people’s asses.
Read More‘Surrogate’ Horror Review | Single Mom in Ghostly Peril
Spoiler-Free take on the latest horror flick to put children in the spotlight
Read More‘Burial’ Film Review | What’s in the Box?
Cool female lead. Lots of shots fired and quite a bit of blood. Has its moments.
Read More‘The Runner’ Movie Review | Familiar Storyline Told in a New Way
At first you think there’s no way you’re going to be able to empathize with the plight of the protagonist in The Runner. After all, California teen Aiden is rich, good-looking and has never worked.
Read More‘Bullet Proof’ | Exhilarating Action & Bad Guy Vinnie Jones!
Hits the ground running and doesn’t screw around, keeping the action going for a tight 90 minutes.
Read More‘Emily the Criminal’ | Aubrey Plaza in Cool Crime Take
The cool thing is that Plaza is using a completely different set of acting muscles than what you’ve previously seen and she surprises you.
Read More‘Breaking’ | Intense Standoff Heightened by Great Cast
Not being a Star Wars franchise expert, I didn’t realize how amazing British lead actor John Boyega is at his craft. He is totally believable as an American vet.
Read More“Bliss” | Love Blooms in a Berlin Brothel
Here is a movie that involves sex workers, same sex love, and lots of nudity without making a big deal about any of those things.
Read More‘Nope’ Movie Review | Jordan Peele Slides Just Under His High Bar
So promising that you wish he had made a few adjustments so we can lean into the story more.
Read More‘The Gray Man’ | Better Than You’ve Heard | Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling proves to be the perfect antidote to the self-serious spy thrillers, even as it steals from the same template.
Read More‘Elvis’ Movie Review | Busy Bio A Shallow Splash
Austin Blake is a revelation as Elvis, but director Baz Luhrman never met a bread roll he couldn’t turn into a five-tiered wedding cake.
Read More‘The Black Phone’ a 70s Horror Throwback Minus the Scares
It goes from a reality-based narrative to one with supernatural elements. I wish it had stayed with one or the other.
Read More‘We Are the Thousand’ | How They Got Foo Fighters to Play Their Town
Remember that video of hundreds of musicians in an open field, playing in sync to get the attention of Foo Fighters? Here’s the story.
Read More‘Machination’ Movie Review | Pandemic or Paranoia?
if this were a half-hour episode of an anthology series, say Twilight Zone – it would have been a worthwhile view.
Read More‘Hold Your Fire’ | Arresting Doc More Relevant Than Ever
tension mounts, the path seemingly uncertain, and the kinds of colorful characters that could only come from the streets of Brooklyn:
Read More‘Foxhole’ Review | Tight, Intense, and Provocative
It’s all about subtle facial expressions, not so subtle conversations and scared young men, wrestling with their mortality.
Read More‘Castro’s Spies’ | Intriguing Doc Reveals Things You Didn’t Know
“We are all villains in someone else’s story,” These guys were ours, but they were elite heroes in their country.
Read More‘Happening’ | Unflinching Film at the Right Time
As tough as parts of it are to watch – the film keeps our rapt attention with a compelling character and an honest story.
Read More‘Pompo the Cinephile’ Review | Anime Goes Hollywood
If it weren’t for Speed Racer and Sailor Moon Re-runs, I wouldn’t know squat about Anime – but this one is accessible and interesting.
Read More‘Firebird’ Review | True Story of Forbidden Love in Cold War Russia
Handsomely crafted and well produced, aims to interest LGBTQ+ audiences, but the best bits will engage everyone and the weak bits not redeemed by designation.
Read MoreHow to See the Global Release of ‘George Michael Freedom Uncut’
Here is the official trailer and link to tickets for the June 22nd theatrical release.
Read More‘Memory’ Review | Liam Neeson Officially Out of Rut
Like Willis, Liam has been in a string of films not worthy of his talent. This one is in a different class, and it fits our Senior action star like a glove.
Read More‘Charlotte’ Review | Tragic True Story with Keira Knightly
The slow bits and heavily stylized animation are countered by a moving true story that stays with you.
Read More‘Torch’ a Revealing Look at Blues Legend Buddy Guy
He’s been described as the last man standing among the Blues legends of the past century. He is living music history.
Read More‘A Peloton of One’ Review | Pedaling for a Powerful Message
You may think you’ve seen all you can take of this topic – it isn’t easy. But you will learn shocking information that you can personally do something about.
Read More‘Gasoline Alley’ Review | Neo-Noir gets 2 out of 4 Stars
yet another flick in which Bruce Willis spent more time at the photo shoot for the movie poster than for his actual part in the film.
Read More‘CODA’ Oscar Nominee Returning with FREE Tickets
Apple Original Films is Re-Releasing ‘CODA’ in Theaters with Free Tickets, while supplies last. It’s a lovely movie.
Read More“Blacklight” Movie Review | A Liam Neeson Comfort Food Flick
If there is a cinematic version of comfort food, Liam Neeson is surely the Chef-not a criticism.
Read MoreThe Envelope, Please. Here are the Oscar Nominations, Snubs and Surprises
For anyone who thought that 2021 wouldn’t yield many great movies because of the pandemic and all, these Academy Award nominations will quickly school them. It was actually a great year – many, many top notch films did NOT get nominated today. Hey, there are only a few slots available,…
Read More‘The Long Night’ Horror Review | Don’t Cross These Cultists
It’s not just a home invasion flick, it turns out there’s a point. The reveal will let us know why the character is fulfilling an ancient prophecy.
Read More‘The Other Me’ Review | Weird in a David Lynch Way
I can’t honestly say I always knew what the hell was going on in this movie. But I always wanted to know, and that means that something was going right.
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