movie reviews
Movie Review: Drive-Away Dolls
3.5 stars out of 5 “Does anybody remember laughter?” as Mr. Plant once asked. The comedy film, once a reliable staple of the multiplex, has become nearly extinct. Sure, there are humorous elements in the increasingly crummy Marvel movies, and there are rom-coms but they more rom than com. For those of us who truly […]
Movie Review: Madame Web
3.5 stars out of 5In late December, I saw a confusing trailer for Madame Web starring Dakota Johnson. No interest whatsoever. In late January, however, when Ms. Johnson hosted Saturday Night Live, I learned that her Madame Web character mentors Sydney Sweeney’s character. Total interest; saw the film on opening day. This is one of […]
My Highly Subjective List of the Best Films of 2023
Over the past couple of months I’ve noticed people in pajamas at the movie theater. At first I was annoyed (“People used to dress for Broadway!”), but I suppose whatever gets people to the cinema these days is OK by me. And I dare say that crowds are slowly returning even though A) films are […]
Movie Review: The Iron Claw
2.5 stars out of 5The Von Erichs were heroes to some but didn’t mean shit to me. I was a WWF kid: Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito, etc. When I was a bit older there was some second-rate wrestling federation on WTBS; I associate that with Saturday nights, […]
Movie Review: Ferrari
4 stars out of 5 I think the last movie I saw directed by Michael Mann was Heat back in 1995. And prior to that, Manhunter in 1986. But I was a big Miami Vice fan, and perhaps unfairly associated Mann with style over substance. And while the racing scenes here give Mann plenty of […]
Movie Review: Poor Things
3.5 stars out of 5 Dear Poor Things:Where The Wild Things Are called; it wants its font treatment back. OK, on to the review! For the first 30–45 minutes, I was entranced by this film, laughing out loud, prepared to re-order my top movies of the year, and ready to hand the Best Actress Oscar […]
Movie Review: Godzilla Minus One
4.5 stars out of 5 It’s the waning days of war in Japan, and Koichi Shikishima is a failed kamikaze pilot; you’d think the situation couldn’t get any worse. Ah, but you forgot about Godzilla, didn’t you? Frankly, no one would blame you. In 1998, the American film conglomerate tried to reboot the big scaly […]
Movie Review: May December
4.5 stars out of 5 I have gone on record as being a big fan of both Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman (who once guest-edited an issue of my magazine). For Todd Haynes, I had to play a little catch-up, but he’s become one of my favorite directors. So I had high expectation for this […]
Movie Review: The Marvels
1.5 stars out of 5 The credits list three screenwriters but I have to think ChatGPT was behind this script, because it does not make a lick of sense. (Keywords: SUPERHEROES + NOT-YET-BLED-DRY YOUNG FEMALE AUDIENCE + OUTER SPACE) I’m a big fan of Brie Larson and the first Captain Marvel movie was… eh, mostly […]
Jack Silbert, curator