THE HUNGER GAMES Prequel Review — Dystopian Fantasy for Fans and Newcomers
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Hunger Games prequel review says The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes will satisfy both fans of the franchise and newcomers alike. You know what I love about prequels? You don’t have to remember everything about the previous films to enjoy them. You don’t have to have read the entire book or…
THE MARVELS Review — This is the Best Marvel Can Do Now?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Marvels review says it’s so frantic, garish and overstuffed with hackneyed tropes that even a consummately engaging cast can’t redeem it. Since it’s the holiday season, I’m going to get a bit metaphorical with my The Marvels review. You’ve waited all year (or at least since September) for the unveiling of…
NYAD Review — Go Harder, Stronger, Faster
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Nyad review says the riveting performances by Annette Bening and Jody Foster do justice the the harrowing story of superlative athlete Diana Nyad. Those who achieve supreme mastery of any field, from fine arts to mathematics to tech, seem to have something in common: a supreme and total focus that often renders…
DON’T LOOK AWAY Review—A Mass Murdering Mannequin Movie for Horror Geeks
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Don’t Look Away review says it’s a welcome relief for horror fans who are fed up with remakes and franchise spinoffs. Don’t Look Away is an inventive micro-budget supernatural thriller that’s the perfect “spooky season” alternative to showier, name-known horror flicks like Five Nights at Freddy’s and The Exorcist: Believer. What makes it…
FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’S Review — A Little Slice of Hell
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Five Nights at Freddy’s review says it will probably satisfy fans of the video game, but this animatronic pizza parlor “horror” movie is plain cinematic junk food for everyone else. It’s not often that I’ll thoroughly trash a movie. Out of respect for the hard work and best efforts of the actors…
KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON Review — Too Intense for the Masses?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Killers of the Flower Moon review says there is cinematic brilliance here, but it’s marred by a relentlessly long and stultifying journey into unabated cruelty and ignorance. It’s not for everyone. There is no doubt that Martin Scorsese is among the best directors of all time. His cinematic vision is brilliant, distinctive…
THE BURIAL Review — The Prime Alternative to Concert Movie Chaos This Weekend
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Burial review says that if you can’t bear to watch the squealing Swifties who are sure to crowd the cineplex this weekend, stay home and enjoy this lively courtroom comedy/drama on Prime Video. Talk about savvy counter programming! While the Taylor Swift: Eras Tour movie storms the cineplex this weekend, filling…
5 Easy Halloween Costumes Based on Movies and TV Shows. You’ll Be a Hit!
5 Easy Halloween Costumes Based on Movies and TV Shows From Barbie to Elvis to Wednesday Addams to The Little Mermaid and The Last of Us cast, these 5 easy Halloween costumes based on Movies and TV are sure to be a big hit. Get ready to dress to impress this Halloween! Whether you’re…
THE CREATOR Review — Should AI Robots Inherit the Earth?
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s The Creator review says the special effects are brilliant and and the design superb, but the plot is so full of puzzling holes it’s hard to embrace. The Creator sets up impossibly high hurdles for itself from the very beginning—it wants us to believe that AI robots are good and Americans…
DUMB MONEY Review — A Gangster Wall Street Takeover
Lisa Johnson Mandell’s Dumb Money review says that if you liked The Big Short, you’ll love this David and Goliath accounting of how little Main Streeters beat billionaire Wall Streeters and changed the way stocks are traded. Warning: The more sensitive among you will probably be shocked and aggravated by the music playing behind the…
