Reviews and commentaries about classic movies, long-forgotten titles, and new releases.
Solo: A Star Wars Story (movie 2018) review: Ron Howard adventure is kneecapped by The Force of (Disney’s) Corporate Pressure. Alden Ehrenreich and Emilia Clarke star.
Trouble Is My Business (movie 2018) review: Tongue-in-cheek film noir homage evokes memories of classic Hollywood crime dramas like The Maltese Falcon.
Detroit (movie 2017) review: Kathryn Bigelow and Mark Boal’s skillfull and well-intentioned docudrama is unsatisfying as both cinema and history. John Boyega and Will Poulter star.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (movie 2017) review: Despite Chris Pratt, this particular Marvel franchise is already starting to feel a bit stale. James Gunn directed.
The Great Wall (movie 2016) review: Matt Damon and Zhang Yimou’s Sino-American monster thriller gives globalization a bad name. Also in the cast: Jing Tian and Pedro Pascal.
Barry (movie 2016): Former U.S. President Barack Obama and the author have a number of things in common, as discussed in this film commentary. Devon Terrell stars.
Sully (movie 2016) review: Tom Hanks personifies the ‘all-American hero’ as idealized by director Clint Eastwood in this drama that distorts real-life events. Laura Linney costars.
Star Trek Beyond (movie 2016) review: Justin Lin’s action sci-fier is the new series’ most satisfying entry, but John Cho’s gay Sulu is a problem. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto star.
The Strongest (1929) movie review: The first feature (co-)directed by Alf Sjöberg is a visually splendid Arctic adventure that moves at glacial speed.
It’s So Easy and Other Lies (movie 2016) review: Guns N’ Roses bassist Duff McKagan is the subject of the biographical documentary geared to fans.
X-Men: Apocalypse (movie 2016) review: Despite Bryan Singer, latest entry is marred by a cartoonish villain and an overabundance of superheroes.
Money Monster (movie 2016) review: Jodie Foster thriller is marred by a phony social conscience, but George Clooney and Julia Roberts are stellar.
The Boss (movie 2016) review: Melissa McCarthy wastes her talent in dreary comedy directed by husband Ben Falcone. Kristen Bell and Peter Dinklage costar.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (movie 2016) review: Zack Snyder adds grim smugness to the DC Universe. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill star.
L’Inhumaine (movie 1924) review: Uniquely modernistic Marcel L’Herbier silent mixes sex melodrama, revenge thriller and science fiction.
Chi-Raq (movie 2015) review: Spike Lee effectively provides a 21st-century setting to Aristophanes’ 2,400-year-old play. Teyonah Parris is Lysistrata.
Room (movie 2015) review: Starring an effective Brie Larson, Lenny Abrahamson’s psychological drama provides an uncomfortable experience.
Truth (movie 2015) review: Cate Blanchett delivers a great star turn in this engrossing but less than objective docudrama. Robert Redford costars.
Bread and Butter (movie 2014) review: Indie comedy-drama provides evidence that late-life virginity is detrimental to your emotional health.
Ant-Man (movie 2015) review: Paul Rudd is both genial and superficial in Peyton Reed’s ‘just okay’ entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
In Stereo (movie 2015) review: Sharp and well-acted romantic comedy feels like a throwback to edgy American indies of years past.
Bert Williams: Lime Kiln Club Field Day (movie 1913) review: Long-forgotten silent offers a rare look at black people’s lives in the early 20th century.
The Cave of the Silken Web (movie 1927) review: Long thought lost Chinese blockbuster remains intriguing thanks to its focus on some fierce women.
The Donovan Affair (movie 1929) review: Frank Capra’s largely forgotten first all-talkie is now a silent. Jack Holt and Agnes Ayres star.
Ménilmontant (movie 1926) and Emak-Bakia (1927) reviews: Avant-Garde Paris’ memorable offerings for those willing to take a chance.
Teacher of the Year (movie 2014) review: Indie comedy presents its views on education in a cleverly humorous manner. Matt Letscher stars.
Avengers: Age of Ultron (movie 2015) review: Joss Whedon entry works well enough as a ‘stand alone’ title, but the MCU is starting to feel stale.
Interstellar (movie 2014) review: Christopher Nolan sci-fier is a grandiose achievement that ultimately fails to fulfill its thematic promise. Matthew McConaughey stars.
Transformers: Age of Extinction (movie 2014) review: Latest Michael Bay entry in his loud and dumb franchise is the least irksome so far. Mark Wahlberg and Jack Reynor star.
Jersey Boys (movie 2014) review: Clint Eastwood prosaically tracks the humdrum rise and fall of Frankie Valli (John Lloyd Young) and the Four Seasons.
Midnight Madness (movie 1928) review: One hour of unadulterated fluff fails to justify the titillating title of this late silent era release. Clive Brook and Jacqueline Logan star.
Song of the Fishermen (movie 1934) review: Cai Chusheng drama depicts the dehumanizing results of China’s stratified class system.