A Real Pain
A Real Pain is a dramedy written and directed by Jesse Eisenberg. David (Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) are cousins. They've always had a close relationship. But Benji has had…
Thelma
I’m late to the party on this nonagenarian action-comedy, but better late than never! June Squibb (Nebraska) is an absolute gem as Thelma Post, a feisty 93-year-old grandmother who falls…
The Substance
Women age, but rarely gracefully in the eyes of our celebrity obsessed public. A wrinkle here, a gray hair there, and we're relegated to the dustbin in favor of the…
How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies
I haven't seen many (any?) films from Thailand, but this one has apparently been a "runaway hit" in East Asia, so I thought I'd give it a go. The tale…
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
…Beetlejuice. And just like that, he’s back! Michael Keaton steps back into the iconic horror-comedy bio-exorcist role he possessed in 1988 under the direction of the supernaturally imaginative Tim Burton.…
The Falling Star (L’étoile filante)
This droll French comedy caper is from Abel & Gordon, the writing/directing/acting duo behind one of my favorite films from a few years back, Lost In Paris. It begins with…
The Instigators
You cast a couple of very bankable star leads and a strong contingent of other big name actors in cameos, and you start with a pretty good premise. And then,…
Problemista
This utterly delightful comedy is written and directed by and stars former SNL writer Julio Torres as Alejandro, a Salvadoran immigrant with big dreams of becoming a toy designer. His…
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
As a sequel, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire is serviceable, but nothing special. It picks up where Ghostbusters: Afterlife left off, with the next generation of ghostbusters-- including Callie (Carrie Coon), Trevor…
Wicked Little Letters
Wicked Little Letters is a wicked good film that lands firmly in the category of small indie gems that don't get enough marketing but are thoroughly entertaining. It features two…
Golden Years
In this Swiss comedy, Alice (Esther Gemsch) and Peter (Stefan Kurt) are moving into the next phase of their lives together with Peter's retirement. As a retirement gift, their kids…
Driving Madeleine
Driving Madeleine is one of those small films that takes you by surprise. So no spoilers here! The main characters are Charles (Dany Boon), a taxi driver obsessed with his…
Mean Girls (2024)
The movie adaptation of the Broadway musical that was based on the 2004 movie Mean Girls is quite entertaining. Phew! I had my concerns after feeling a stage-screen disconnect a…
American Fiction
American Fiction is a winner. It's sharp, sometimes dark, and often witty satire that will make you laugh, cringe, laugh, cringe, and laugh again. Or laugh and cringe at the…
Fallen Leaves
Finland's entry for the 2023 Oscars is one of my favorite films of the year. This romantic dramedy from Aki Kaurismäki feels like a mash-up of a color-drained Wes Anderson and…