The Alternate (2022) movie review: Partly set in a seemingly rosier parallel universe, Alrik Bursell’s sci-fi thriller is both clever and gripping.
Tim Cogshell
Tim Cogshell
Tim Cogshell is a veteran film critic and journalist with over 30 years of experience. He works with NPR, KNBC, Spectrum News, the Los Angeles Times, and Alt Film Guide. He's a regular on KPCC's FilmWeek and a co-host of the CineGods podcast. Tim is a member of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA) and the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA).
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Made and set during the COVID-19 era, Pandemic Pillow Talk and Sylvie of the Sunshine State are both thoughtful and funny.
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The Forty-Year-Old Version (2020) movie review: Radha Blank’s midlife-crisis tale evokes memories of Woody Allen and Paul Mazursky.
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Black Panther (2018) movie review: Chadwick Boseman and Michael B. Jordan star in Ryan Coogler’s history-making entry in the superhero genre.
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Detroit movie (2017) review: Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s skillfull and well-intentioned docudrama is unsatisfying as both cinema and history.
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Christian Movies: Religious propaganda or mainstream entertainment? Especially since American cinema has always had major Judeo-Christian slant.
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Barry (2016): Obama movie commentary focuses on the various things the author has in common with the former American president. Devon Terrell stars,
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Captain America: Civil War
(2016) movie review: Chris Evans and Robert Downey Jr star in Joe and Anthony Russo’s clever take on superhero warfare. -
Chi-Raq (2015) movie review: Spike Lee effectively provides a 21st-century setting to Aristophanes’ 2,400-year-old play. Teyonah Parris is Lysistrata.
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Trumbo (2015) movie review: Bryan Cranston delivers a phenomenal performance as the blacklisted Hollywood screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.
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Bread and Butter (2014) movie review: Indie comedy-drama provides evidence that late-life virginity is detrimental to your emotional health.
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Lord Montagu (2013) movie review: Real-life victim of British anti-gay bigotry went on to become a successful businessman and popular jet-setter.
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In Stereo (2015) movie review: Sharp and well-acted romantic comedy feels like a throwback to edgy American indies of years past.
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Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) movie review: Charlize Theron is the de facto ‘hero’ in George Miller’s post-apocalyptic actioner. Tom Hardy costars.
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Selma (2014) movie review: Ava DuVernay’s ‘Martin Luther King Jr. in Alabama’ drama is a reminder that Civil Rights events remain disturbingly relevant.
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Whiplash (2014) movie review: Damien Chazelle directs a visually and aurally accomplished drama that gives J.K. Simmons a devil of a role.
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Boyhood (2014) movie review: Richard Linklater brilliantly tackles the effects of the passage of time. Ethan Hawke and Ellar Coltrane costar.
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Jersey Boys (2014) movie review: Clint Eastwood prosaically tracks the humdrum rise and fall of Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young) and the Four Seasons.
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Edge of Tomorrow (2014) movie review: Tom Cruise single-handedly brings to gripping life Doug Liman’s otherwise absurd sci-fi actioner.
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Nymphomaniac: Vol. I (2013) movie review: Lars von Trier shows once again his cinematic genius in this starkly funny effort. Shia LaBeouf stars.
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The Lunchbox (2013) movie review: Ritesh Batra’s Mumbai-set debut feature weaves an epistolary ‘socio-romantic’ narrative. Irrfan Khan stars.
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Captain Phillips (2013) movie review: Tom Hanks’ American seaman is the wrong central character in Paul Greengrass’ unsatisfying political thriller.
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Only God Forgives (2013) movie review: Ryan Gosling and a malevolent Kristin Scott Thomas star in Nicolas Winding Refn’s sadistic thriller.
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Un Flic (1972) movie review: Alain Delon and Catherine Deneuve are perfectly cast in this great Jean-Pierre Melville neo-noir. Richard Crenna costars.
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The East (2013) movie review: Zal Batmanglij and Brit Marling’s thriller suffers from an overabundance of self-importance that derails its message.
Trouble Is My Business (2018) movie review: Tongue-in-cheek film noir homage evokes memories of classic Hollywood crime dramas.
Don’t Breathe (2016) movie review: Don’t wet your seat while watching Stephen Lang and Dylan Minnette in Fede Alvarez’s clever horror thriller.
Room (2015) movie review: Starring an effective Brie Larson, Lenny Abrahamson’s psychological drama provides an uncomfortable experience.
Teacher of the Year (2014) movie review: Indie comedy presents its views on education in a cleverly humorous manner. Matt Letscher stars.
Love Is Strange (2014) movie review: John Lithgow and Alfred Molina add depth to Ira Sachs’ moving gay romantic drama. Marisa Tomei costars.
Nymphomaniac: Vol. II (2013) movie review: Lars von Trier delivers sequel that is more daring and philosophical. Charlotte Gainsbourg stars.
Blue Jasmine (2013) movie review: Woody Allen shows he’s pissed in this mordantly thoughtful and beautifully acted social satire. Cate Blanchett stars.
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