CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME Review — The Tender and Terrific Tale of a Misanthrope
Can You Ever Forgive Me review — Melissa McCarthy gives the performance of her life as prickly protagonist you hate to love. Who would have believed a film about an acerbic, alcoholic misanthrope, played by an actress known for her raucous, broad comedies, could be so moving, intimate and ultimately sublime? Can You Ever Forgive Me became…
FIRST MAN Review — He Thinks It Scored, She Thinks It Bored
First Man Review — The Sci-Fi Rock Guy Loved It as you’ll see in his video. His Wife At Home In Hollywood? Not So Much. Jim’s take: Lisa’s take: I didn’t intend for this to be a he said/she said type First Man review, but really, I can hardly believe we were watching the same…
BEAUTIFUL BOY Review — Raw, Relentless and Repetitive
Beautiful Boy review — Stellar performances have difficulty breaking through the excruciatingly glum cycle of addiction, recovery and relapse. Along with cooler temperatures, falling leaves and hurricanes, autumn ushers in a time of solemn, serious and significant films at your local cineplex, or, more accurately put, your local art house theater. These are films about…
BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE Review — Dark, But Not Quite Delicious
Bad Times at the El Royale Review — The drama simmers, but doesn’t quite break into a rocking and rolling boil. At first, this film’s potential seems so great you might be tempted to make a date immediately and buy tickets. Bad Times at the El Royale has: A powerful cast, including Jeff Bridges, Jon…
A STAR IS BORN Review — A Classic is Born Again and Better Than Ever
A Star is Born Review: Possibly the only remake I’ll ever rave about. In preparation for the release of what looks to be one of the biggest films of the year, I re-watched the 1954 version of A Star is Born with Judy Garland and James Mason, and the 1976 version with Barbra Streisand and…
GOOSEBUMPS 2: A HAUNTED HALLOWEEN Review — The Second Verse is Better Than the First
Goosebumps 2: A Haunted Halloween Review — Winston asks what more could you want than humor, wit and monsters? Goosebumps 2: A Haunted Halloween has humor, wit, and monsters. What more could you ask? Even though it’s a lot like the first one, it’s even better. The film is about two friends named Sonny (Jeremy Ray…
THE OLD MAN & THE GUN Review — Robert Redford’s Lovely Last
The Old Man & the Gun Review — Robert Redford goes out in a blaze of story Imagine how you’d feel if you were a director and the iconic Robert Redford asked you to direct what could well be his last film. Speechless? Intimidated? Honored? Scared shirtless? In a casual reception on the Fox Lot…
SMALLFOOT Review — 10-Year-Old Betty Likes the Layered Look
Editor’s Note: 10-year-old critic Winston Ordoña has a twin sister, Betty, who is stepping in today to write this Smallfoot review The animated Smallfoot is good if you want to have a nice time watching a movie with Yeti, slapstick, and songs in it. And if you want a deeper meaning, you’ll find that, too. A…
LIFE ITSELF Review — Tears for Fears and Jeers
Life Itself Review: A slow and sappy slog through every emotionally manipulative device known to filmkind Amazing the cred and license you’re granted when you’re intricately involved in a network mega-hit like This Is Us. Dan Fogelman, writer, director and executive producer of the aforementioned NBC drama series, has taken his slick and soapy sensibilities…
COLETTE Review — Kiera Knightly’s Timely Take On the Gifted French Author
Colette Review —17 years in the making, there’s no time like the present to tell this scintillating tale The real life Colette, Ernest Hemingway’s third wife Martha Gelhorn and the Glenn Close character in The Wife are three literary women who have much in common. All were extraordinarily talented writers who had to fight their way…
