Review: Jumanji: The Next Level
This one’s easy. If you saw and liked the 2017 film, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (which I rented this week as a primer), then it’s totally worth taking a…
Review: Knives Out
I caught this one at Middleburg, and sadly it was my biggest disappointment of the festival. As whodunits go, the jig is up pretty early on. But it has so…
Review: Synonyms
Based on the real-life experiences of writer-director Nadav Lapid (The Kindergarten Teacher), Synonyms is the strange story of a young Israeli man named Yoav (Tom Mercier) who comes to Paris to escape…
Review: Charlie’s Angels
The new Charlie’s Angels movie is not quite a reboot. Or a sequel. Or even a reimagining of the classic franchise. It’s more of a continuation, expansion and rebranding of…
Review: Last Christmas
Romantic comedies and dramas are few and far between these days, so when a decent one does come along, it’s generally worth celebrating, even if it's just so-so. Such is…
Review: Jojo Rabbit
Just when you thought there couldn’t possibly be a new way to tell a World War II / Nazi story on film, along comes Jojo Rabbit, to serve as both…
Review: Britt-Marie Was Here
We've seen this one before. An older woman finds out her husband has been having an affair and leaves him. First she struggles with it and then she finds herself.…
Brittany Runs a Marathon
Brittany Runs a Marathon starts off strong and finishes with a flourish of feels. But the “inspirational comedy” – inspired by true events - veers off course a few times…
Review: Ready or Not
I wasn’t exactly ready for Ready or Not. Horror movies are not my thing. But with IT Chapter Two waiting in the wings, I thought it best to ease into…
Review: The Peanut Butter Falcon
Most movies with Down syndrome characters treat them with kid gloves, painting them as lovable but limited people. But in The Peanut Butter Falcon Zak (Zack Gottsagen) is anything but…
Review: Good Boys
Good Boys. From the creative minds behind Superbad, Pineapple Express, Neighbors and Sausage Party... Need I say more? Actually, I do. ‘Cause this movie isn’t nearly as outrageous, raucous and…
Review: Blinded by the Light
I’m a devoted Springsteen fan. I’ve seen him in concert several times, recently spent a boatload of cash to see him on Broadway – twice – and easily recall popping…
Review: Tel Aviv on Fire
You might not think that there's much humor to be found in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi has crafted a very amiable farce that spans the borders…
Quickie Review: Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw
Some films – like Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood - require a great deal of thought and dissection and debate. They are the full-course meal that swirls around the…
Review: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
I wish I could say I was a ‘Tarantino fan’. But sadly, I am not. Mostly because I’m generally squeamish when it comes to violence, and decidedly traditional when it…