Chuck Koplinski

Wish a solid Disney product The curse of the long-time artist is that you’re initially celebrated for your uniqueness, chastised from deviating from your established norm and ultimately condemned for doing the same old thing. I was thinking of this as I watched Disney’s Wish, the 62nd animated feature from the Mouse House, released to […]

Snakes effectively revives Games Far better than anticipated, Francis Lawrence’s Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, proves to be a worthy addition to the franchise. Taking place some 60 years before the adventures of Katniss Everdeen, the Hunger Games, a gladiatorial event used to keep the masses in check, is in trouble. […]

Marvels a dull afterthought While contempt has not yet set in, the familiarity of the Marvel Films is starting to wear on me. Much has been written about superhero fatigue, a feeling that’s being borne out by the diminishing box office returns of the studio’s latest efforts. Their latest, The Marvels, will not be seen […]

Bloated script keeps Moon from achieving greatness Flawed yet compelling, Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon is a portrait of unconscionable greed and willing compliance, an examination of one of the most heinous crimes of the 20th century and a metaphor for the corruption in the United States. Based on the book by David […]

Dance defies expectations Based on the novel by John MacKay, Richie Adams’ The Road Dance, avoids the melodramatic approach that material such as this is usually rendered in. Taking a more grounded approach, he creates a genuinely moving film, one that benefits greatly from the fierce performances of the cast and a degree of realism […]

Bland Believer a trial Blandly executed and featuring little in the way of new ideas, sitting through The Exorcist: Believer is a chore that proves dispiriting, as it contains little in the way of thrills or intelligence. Eschewing the concept that less is more, the film deals with two possessed 12-year-old girls, rather than one. […]

Now Streaming |Chuck Koplinski Workplace politics the focus of Fair Play Fierce and volatile, Chloe Domont’s Fair Play is a slow-burn drama that examines how the relationship of two lovers is altered when one is promoted over the other. From the start, we’re made quite aware that Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) is head over heels for […]

Lives a cautionary tale of assimilation A bracing cautionary tale about the dangers of assimilation, Bishal Dutta’s It Lives Inside draws on Indian culture to create one of the more thoughtful and effective horror films of the year. Deft and subtle, this low-budget affair embraces its threadbare aesthetic, stumbling only at the end when Dutta […]

Bernal drives colorful Cassandro In lucha libre (Mexican professional wrestling), an exotico is a male fighter who performs in drag. This is an outsized entertainer that’s purposely campy, their purpose being to undercut the inherent machismo of the sport. Their attire is flamboyant, often consisting of feather boas, tight, suggestive clothing and sequins, all bolstered […]

Post-modern approach makes Love worthwhile I’m happy to report that Vanessa Caswell manages to find some new life in the rom-com with Love at First Sight. An adaptation of the novel by Jennifer E. Smith, there are more than a few overt fairy tale elements sprinkled throughout, simultaneously making light of the genre while contributing […]