Inspired by the Swedish film, “Force Majeure,” Nat Faxon and Jim Rash’s “Downhill” is a comedy. Nominally speaking it’s a comedy anyway. In many cases I employ the “in a tragedy everyone dies and not everyone dies in this movie… Read More ›
review
Movie Review: “Sonic the Hedgehog”
Based on the video game franchise, the new “Sonic the Hedgehog” film manages a truly amazing critical feat – as a whole it hits an absolutely neutral state. That is, the movie has good parts (Ben Schwartz as the voice… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Portrait of a Lady on Fire”
Some films are beautiful. There is no more clear, more simple, more honest way to describe them than beautiful. Writer-director Céline Sciamma’s “Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is one such film. This tale of love between a painter, Marianne… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn)”
For a, relatively speaking, light and airy movie, “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of one Harley Quinn)” sports an exceptionally unwieldy title. It is a title that feels designed to do a lot of heavy lifting for the… Read More ›
Movie Review: “The Rhythm Section”
Advertising materials for “The Rhythm Section” are very quick to point out that the movie is from the producers of the James Bond films and that is accurate. The movie is produced by Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson and… Read More ›
Movie Review: “The Last Full Measure”
It has been stated fairly regularly that war is hell, and still, no matter how often it is depicted on film, it always seems like there is more to say about that hell. Movies like “The Last Full Measure” from… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Dolittle”
editor’s note: this review will indeed involve specific details about what occurs in the movie. In a climactic moment of “Dolittle,” our hero sticks his hands up a dragon’s rectum and begins pulling out bones and armor before the dragon… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Bad Boys for Life”
The new entry in the “Bad Boys” franchise, “Bad Boys for Life,” does not feature Michael Bay at the helm. Even so, the man known for his particular brand of action—affectionately or not, known as “Bayhem”—is certainly in evidence here… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Like a Boss”
tvWith Rose Byrne, Tiffany Haddish, and Salma Hayek leading the cast, there is certainly the necessary on screen talent for the new comedy, “Like a Boss,” to be one truly hysterical ride. That sense is only enhanced with addition of… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Les Misérables” (2019)
An alternate version of Ladj Ly’s new film, “Les Misérables,” would end without the final 20 minutes. It would be a powerful and sad film, one which gets its point across and makes the viewer contemplate. With those last 20… Read More ›
Movie Review: “1917”
editor’s note: We spoke to the cast and crew of “1917” at New York Comic-Con earlier this year. Be sure to listen to the interviews on our podcast. One of the things we have been told about Sam Mendes’ new… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Just Mercy”
The act of discussing an important issue in a film does not magically confer exceptional status to the movie itself. That is, making a movie about an important topic doesn’t necessarily make the movie important, nor does it make the… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Cats” (2019)
In the movie (and presumably play, but I’ve never seen it) “Six Degrees of Separation,” a con man claims to be the son of Sidney Poitier, and that Poitier is working on a film version of “Cats.” The explanation of… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Little Women” (2019)
There is a beautiful, incredible, level of truth which bursts forth from Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women.” It is there in every in every frame, in every line, in every face. This is not to say… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Jumanji: The Next Level”
editor’s note: I feel it essential to state before this review is read that I was under the weather for the screening and while I still believe my take on the movie to be accurate (or I wouldn’t publish it),… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Uncut Gems”
As the credits started to roll on “Uncut Gems,” the new Adam Sandler film written and directed by the Safdie brothers (Ronald Bronstein also has a writing credit), I checked my pulse. That is not hyperbole. My watch monitors my… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Bombshell”
Read any critic long enough and you’ll notice that they have certain hobby horses. They will tell you over and over again about how various movies fail or succeed at something that they find particularly interesting, or regularly return to… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Grand Isle” (2019)
Nicolas Cage appears in a lot of movies and while they are sometimes here-and-gone affairs, the actor regularly brings an intensity to his roles that makes them highly watchable. This intensity is certainly present in his latest film, “Grand Isle.”… Read More ›
Movie Review: “Knives Out”
In an unusual turn of events, I was able to see Rian Johnson’s “Knives Out” more than once prior to release. There first time through, I was, for a time, slightly disappointed. That disappointment was not in evidence during the… Read More ›
Movie Review: “21 Bridges”
The new Chadwick Boseman film, “21 Bridges,” takes its name from the 21 bridges that lead on/off the island of Manhattan. The basic notion of the film is that an NYPD detective, Andre Davis (Boseman), is tasked with finding robbers… Read More ›
The TV and Film Guy's Reviews 