ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS Review — An Unflattering Reflection
Alice Through the Looking Glass starts out with one of the best, most riveting pirate ship chases I’ve ever seen, promising Alice (Mia Wasikowska) as a kickass heroine on a first rate adventure. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t keep that promise.
THE NICE GUYS Review — Boogie, Booze, Broads, Brilliance
THE NICE GUYS Review by Lisa Johnson Mandell Even if you didn’t grow up in the ’70’s, you’ll love this retro cop comedy starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling. And if you did grow up in the ’70’s? You’ll love it even more. The music, the clothes, the cars, the hair, the banter — even the…
X MEN APOCALYPSE Review — Too Too
X Men Apocalypse Review by Lisa Johnson Mandell Of all the multitudinous superhero movies out this summer, X-Men: Apocalypse is certainly one of them. Not as dark and dreary as Batman vs Superman, but not as fun and clever as Captain America: Civil War.
MONEY MONSTER Review — A Great Investment
Money Monster is my kind of movie — talented, proven actors, lofty subject, twisty script and tight direction. But while I immensely enjoyed the film, and think you will too, the one element I anticipated would be its biggest asset turned out to be it’s biggest disappointment. George Clooney, one of my all time favorites, simply does not…
CAPTAIN AMERICA – CIVIL WAR Review — One of Marvel's Best and Brightest
One of my biggest concerns about superhero movies is that the main characters zip around, crashing and bashing bad guys, and leave a trail of collateral damage and decimated cities in their wake. No one seems to address that…until now. In fact, taking responsibility for the casualties is the very essence of Captain America – Civil…
KEANU Review — The Latest from Key and Peele is Totally Pawsome
You take one of today’s funniest comedy duos and team them up with an adorable kitten, and you have the makings of a film that could be even more popular than cat videos on YouTube. But does Keanu live up to the hype and expectations? I’m delighted and surprised to tell you that it exceeds them!
HIGH RISE Review — What Donald Trump Doesn't Want You to See
You will not hear Donald Trump saying that the new film High Rise is “Gonna be great! It’s gonna be huge! Trust me, they’re all saying this is gonna be the biggest film ever!” Why? Because High Rise is all about class struggle in a luxury sky scraping apartment building, where life rapidly descends into…
A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING Review — Tom Hanks Makes the Movie
I’ll never forget finishing Dave Eggers’ much celebrated novel A Hologram for the King and thinking, “Well THAT was six hours of my life I’ll never get back.” I found it desultory, dull and desperate. So I was surprised when the novel was optioned for a film, and even more surprised when Tom Hanks signed on to…
MOTHER'S DAY Review — Strike it From Your Gift List
If you’re thinking of taking your Mom out for dinner and a movie to celebrate Mother’s Day this year, get advance tickets online for Elvis and Nixon, A Hologram for the King, or even Keanu, if she doesn’t mind a little swearing. Only take her to see the film Mother’s Day if you’re still trying…
ELVIS & NIXON Review — Truth That's Stranger and Funnier Than Fiction
I like my comedies like I like my men — dry and tasty. Seriously, how can you not enjoy a film that has a tagline of: “On December 1, 1971, two of America’s greatest recording artists met for the first time”? The meeting between the beloved and befuddled king of rock-n-roll and the unloved and unctuous President…
