Recent Reviews
These are our latest reviews of movies at theaters, at the art house, or at festivals.
In the Titans Cinematic Universe, Godzilla vs. Kong is a knock-out.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League
**1/2Zack Snyder
After watching this extended exercise, there’s an overwhelming desire to go outside and hug a tree.
Zack Snyder’s Justice League fixes the most egregious problems with the Joss Whedon cut, but it also introduces a fresh round of troubles.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier
***1/2Kari Skogland
It starts with a pretty wild, whiz-bang aerial rescue.
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier take flight as the Marvel Cinematic Universe continues its expansion.
The Courier
***2021, Dominic Cooke
In The Courier, positive change happens by building trust, not by controlling thought.
The Courier delivers an important, timely message: “this is how things change.”
If only somebody had smacked Cherry upside the head while he was growing up and making stupid decisions, the world could’ve been spared having to endure this movie.
What a mess.
Wow. Director Doug Liman’s career epitomizes the notion of peaks and valleys. It’s already been seven years since Liman paired Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt in a big-budget sophisticated sci-fi action flick, Edge of Tomorrow. That one was great and a sequel with the unwieldy title of Live Die Repeat and Repeat is in the works. The low-budget dramedy Swingers put Liman — along with his stars Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau — on the map back in 1997. Those movies are money, baby.
Some of the animation and visuals are so exquisite, Raya and the Last Dragon should be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Nomadland takes a seemingly very simple idea and turns it into something much more complex and rewarding.
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Tom and Jerry (2021)
*1/22021, Tim Story
A soulless endeavor that struggles to find a tone and a pace matching the efforts of Hanna-Barbera.
Tom and Jerry is about as much fun as walking barefoot across a floor covered with mouse traps.
The Mauritanian
***2021, Kevin MacDonald
At the heart of all this is what should be a major breakout performance from Tahar Rahim.
Mohamedou Slahi’s autobiographical account of being held at Gitmo in the aftermath of 9/11 is a disturbing tale of revenge disguised as justice.
Flora & Ulysses
***2021, Lena Khan
The movie offers a timely reminder the world is still full of wonder and magic.
Flora & Ulysses is a cute little family comedy that’s pushed over the top by a cast that manages to sell both the goofy humor and the heartfelt message.
Wonder Woman 1984
***1/22020, Patty Jenkins
It’s a movie that pretty much has it all. Heart. Humor. Action.
Elevated by a strong emotional core, Wonder Woman 1984 takes the mythology of Diana Prince and flies to new heights.
Promising Young Woman
***1/22020, Emerald Fennell
At the core of this Promising Young Woman’s DNA is black comedy.
It’d be nice if more revenge flicks had the smarts of Promising Young Woman.
Maybe now’s not the right time for a global disaster movie.
Wild Mountain Thyme feels like a badly needed Christmas hug.
Back in 1987, John Patrick Shanley made quite a splash as the Oscar-winning screenwriter of Norman Jewison’s Moonstruck. What followed has been an interesting ride through the theatrical and cinematic arts. A mere three years after Moonstruck, anticipation was sky high for Shanley’s directorial debut, Joe Versus the Volcano, which opened with a thud but has quietly gained a greater appreciation over the years.