Winning ‘GREEN BOOK’ a Necessary Read
‘Green Book’ works pretty much however you break it down. Viggo Mortensen and Mahershala Ali are divine as a traveling odd couple, Peter Farrelly's directorial skills are in sharp focus, and…
REVIEW
REVIEW
Avada Kedavra! ’THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD’ Kills Harry Potter Spin-Off Series Before It’s Even Started
Where once magic thrived, ‘Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindlewald’ spells are but a black-hole of wonder. The opposite of alchemy, the spin-off sequel turns what was once gold into…
REVIEW
‘RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET’ a Sporadically Clever, Nostalgia-Bombed Delight
Disney’s ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ is the cinematic equivalent of clickbait - you just can’t help yourself but follow it down the rabbit hole. Its easy nostalgia-fueled laughs, clever world-building,…
REVIEW
‘WIDOWS’ Subverts Heist Movie Expectations with Searing Performances, Artful Direction
‘Widows’ is a vicious, female-led retooling of the heist movie, mounted with great depth by Steve McQueen and Gillian Flynn; one that puts performance as much in the driver’s seat…
REVIEW
‘THE GRINCH’ Remake a Colorful, Cuddly Update With Less Bite
This 2018 update to Dr. Seuss’ holiday classic is more colorful and snappy than ever, losing a bit of The Grinch’s evil edge and termite-filled smile to deliver a more…
REVIEW
‘THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB’ Trades Moodiness, Soul for Faux-Edgy Thriller
The Girl in the Spider’s Web erases the angry avenging angel elements of Lisbeth Salander to make way for a bland-washed pastiche of the character, only to then embroil her…
REVIEW
Marital Fidelity Creaks in Powerfully-Acted ‘WILDLIFE’
Paul Dano’s directorial debut puts a 1960s nuclear family under the burner and watches them squirm with three strong performances from Carey Mulligan, Jake Gyllenhaal and Ed Oxenbould lending this…
REVIEW
‘CAN YOU EVER FORGIVE ME?’ Showcases a Maturing Melissa McCarthy, Not Much Else
An inoffensive literary-tinged distraction well-suited for older crowds and book clubs on hiatus, ‘Can You Ever Forgive Me’ finds Melissa McCarthy flexing more dramatic muscles than we’re used to seeing,…
REVIEW
Dramatically Inert ‘BOY ERASED’ Afraid to Get Angry
‘Boy Erased’ takes a difficult subject - a teen's experience with gay conversion therapy - and turns it into a lulling, don’t-rock-the-boat drama, devaluing the trauma of the subject matter…
REVIEW
‘SUSPIRIA’ Remake a Horrifyingly Inauspicious Chore
Daring to make an American remake even less accessible to mainstream audiences, Luca Guadagnino’s 'Suspiria' is a tedious, overreaching chore.