Author Archives
Josh Lasser is a freelance entertainment reporter/critic. His work has appeared in print, online, and perhaps one day in book form.
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On Writing Less and Enjoying More
Although there have been fewer reviews written here of late, that ought not imply in any way that there has been less watching taking place. Curiously, I’ve also had the sense that I’ve been enjoying watching movies more and that… Read More ›
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Turning red over “Turning Red”
There is always the new outrage, the latest threat, the thing people are getting upset about now. This week, with the streaming and blu-ray release of “Turning Red,” we’re looking at one of the dumber things that folks got upset… Read More ›
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Timelessness and “West Side Story”
You can’t necessarily control your initial reaction to something — there’s a level of programming/instinct in there you can’t always instantaneously short circuit. What you can do, however, is reassess after that knee-jerk response. On this week’s podcast, we talk… Read More ›
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Movie Review: “The Bad Guys” (2022)
Years ago, NBC offered up reruns by explaining, “if you haven’t seen it, it’s new to you.” The same sort of notion is present in DreamWorks Animation’s latest, “The Bad Guys.” Rather than just recycling an old episode though, what… Read More ›
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“Marry Me” may not be Deep, but it Succeeds
There is a certain inescapable affability to the Jennifer Lopez-Owen Wilson film, “Marry Me.” The whole thing is a tale of two people who lead very different lives falling in love, and though love is undeniably important, the stakes in… Read More ›
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Movie Review: “Sonic the Hedgehog 2”
In my review of the first “Sonic the Hedgehog” movie, I suggested that the film had managed an incredible task – it had exactly the same amount of good and bad within it and therefore somehow hit a neutral state…. Read More ›
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The Beauty of Branagh’s High Gloss Hercule Poirot
It may have been delayed by Covid, but Kenneth Branagh’s second Hercule Poirot film, “Death on the Nile,” was in theaters earlier this year and is out today on Blu-ray and streaming. That makes this this the perfect moment to… Read More ›
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“Ordinary People” and Three-Dimensional Characters
I read or heard or was told a while back something that struck me. Essentially it’s that we see ourselves in shades of gray that we fail to recognize in others. We understand better than anyone else (even if not… Read More ›
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The Beautiful Dream that is “Nightmare Alley”
I do not love everything that Guillermo del Toro touches. I’ll admit that. There is something in the way so many of his tales unfold that does not work for me. What I will tell though is this, he is… Read More ›
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Movie Review: “The Outfit” (2022)
“You had me at hello.” Renée Zellwegger’s line from “Jerry Maguire” has become something of a punchline (maybe it was a punchline from the moment the film came out), but there is still truth in there. Sometimes, from the moment… Read More ›
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Movie Review: “John and the Hole”
Is there a reason for it? Even if we don’t know why someone in a movie acts in a specific manner, or takes a specific action, does the character have a reason for taking the action? If the answer is… Read More ›
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“The King’s Man” and How I’m the Problem
The third entry in the “Kingsman” franchise, “The King’s Man,” is now out on Blu-ray and digital. To say that I’m disappointed by it is both true and yet somehow misses the mark. Yes, what we have here is another example… Read More ›
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“Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” and Never Just Being Happy
Gone is the Paul W.S. Anderson version of “Resident Evil,” or at the very least, it’s been relegated to the shadows as the Johannes Roberts directed “Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City” has now reinvigorated the franchise. Out now on… Read More ›
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“Summer of Soul” and Winters of Discomfort
The Oscar nominated documentary from Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, “Summer of Soul,” is currently available on digital and DVD. It is a film which looks at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival and the world in which the concert series took place…. Read More ›
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Movie Review: “Dog” (2022)
You have almost undoubtedly heard the saying, “Chocolate and peanut butter — two great tastes that go great together.” Reese’s wasn’t wrong, the peanut butter cup is delicious, but there’s something important there in that idea at the saying’s core… Read More ›
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“Wayne’s Word” Parties on 30 Years Later
“Wayne’s World,” that “Saturday Night Live” sketch turned feature film series is celebrating an anniversary this year. Yes, the first of the two movies featuring Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar is now 30 years old. Naturally, there’s a new Blu-ray… Read More ›
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Movie Review: “Blacklight” (2022)
Liam Neeson, as we always note, has a very particular set of skills. It isn’t just Neeson’s on screen characters that do, it’s the man himself. The actor has the ability to portray aging killers with a heart of gold… Read More ›
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The Indie Family Drama that is Marvel’s “Eternals”
It is all too easy to sit there and get angry at the superhero genre for taking over the box office. It is all too easy to shake your fist at what the MCU has done to the world. But,… Read More ›
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Singing the Praises of “Encanto”
There is so much to love about “Encanto.” This is a film filled with great performances and tremendous songs. It is fun and funny. But, at its core, this is a movie that explores what it means to truly reveal… Read More ›
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Movie Review: “Sundown” (2022)
Some movies are stuffed to the gills, packed with quick cuts and a constantly shifting camera, overloaded with dialogue and characters and plot twist after plot twist. There is often a sense with such a film that they are trying… Read More ›
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