Film

Emotionally, Here never gets there As an art installation, Robert Zemeckis’ Here might have worked. As a movie, it’s a noble failure. From the prehistoric era to modern day, the film touches upon various stories that occur over this period, all of them taking place in the same spot, which would eventually become a spot […]

Pugh, Garfield overcome Live’s gimmick It’s fortunate director John Crowley has Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield in his new film We Live in Time. Though its story goes down a well-worn path, we’re invested in the outcome thanks to the genuine, poignant work the duo delivers. Their ability to bring forth intimate details about their […]

Keaton, cast excel in moving Goodrich In Goodrich, Michael Keaton gives a standout performance as a man finding hope, when reason tells him there is none. A California gallery owner, Goodrich’s wake-up call comes when he gets a phone call from his wife (Laura Benanti), telling him she’s checked into a 90-day rehab center, and […]

Apprentice: A portrayal of narcissism run amok Donald Trump and his advisers have made it very clear they would sue any film company that would have the temerity to distribute Ali Abbasi’s The Apprentice. Credit Briarcliff Entertainment for taking a flyer on the film, which is taking advantage of some fortuitous timing, releasing it only […]

Old an unexpectedly moving look at hope and regret Promoted as a “coming-of-age” story, Megan Park’s My Old Ass is far more than a ribald teen comedy.  Rather, it’s a film for those who’ve lived with regret, those who wish they could turn back the clock to, what have become in retrospect, key moments in […]

A bracing reminder of the power she brings to the screen, Angelina Jolie delivers a deeply moving performance in Pablo Larrain’s Maria, the director’s third biopic focused on a significant female figure of the 20th century. Much like Jackie and Spencer, this feature examines the withering effects of being consistently in the spotlight. Constant petty […]

There’s little in the way of substance to Jon Watts’ Wolfs, and that’s just fine. An exercise in post-modernism, the film is a running commentary on movie stardom and its trappings, featuring, arguably, the most popular actors of their generation, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. Though they play “fixers,” in reality they’re just being their […]

Substance’s pointed message trumps flawed ending With The Substance, director Coralie Fargeat manages to do something genre classicists John Carpenter and David Cronenberg would never allow – letting the special effects she uses overwhelm the story and lessen its impact. Which is a shame, as The Substance has a great deal to say about sexism […]

Speak effectively pushes viewers’ buttons While I’m often weary of American remakes of foreign films, on rare occasion this approach produces a worthy feature that can stand on its own.  Such is the case with James Watkins’ Speak No Evil, a redux that borrows its premise from Christian and Mads Tafdrup’s 2022 Dutch horror feature. American […]

Stumbling out of the gate, Tim Burton’s long-awaited Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice eventually rights itself and delivers the unique brand of horrific dark humor fans of the previous film embrace. However, it’s a bit of a clumsy, overly long haul before we get to the inspired hijinks that carry the third act. Cluttered with extraneous characters and […]

Slingshot’s journey an unexpected trip inwards The seed is planted early in Mikael Hafstrom’s Slingshot that something is amiss. We’re made to know that the side effects from the drugs used on the astronauts in question can be severe, hallucinations being at the top of the list. R. Scott Adams and Nathan Parker’s script exploits […]

Strange Darling a nonlinear thriller When Stephen King refers to a film as “a clever masterpiece,” I can’t help but be a bit curious if he’s on to something or if this is just hyperbole, wisely placed on the respective promotional materials.  Such is the case with J.T. Mollner’s Strange Darling, an independent thriller that […]