This film feels like the checklist of a movie studio focus group: Hollywood’s hottest leading man (Chris Pratt) and hottest leading woman (Jennifer Lawrence) tossed into a promising science fiction story with awesome special effects. But they forgot one thing – a decent story. It starts off well enough, as our stars awaken 90 years […]
This Jacqueline Kennedy biopic, focusing on the days immediately following the 1963 assassination of President John F. Kennedy, is short on story and long on iconic imagery well-spliced with archival footage from that historic nightmare. Natalie Portman exquisitely channels the then First Lady’s enigmatic look, voice, and mannerisms, far exceeding the film’s unevenly-paced plot (how […]
An aspiring actress and a jazz pianist navigate their feelings for one another with their dreams of success in this very contemporary love story set in Los Angeles and adorned with the look and feel of the antiquated, sparkling musicals of the 1940s and 50s. A couple of out-of-place moments aside, Damien Chazelle’s film is […]
Prem is a 24-year-old high school dropout terrified of learning English who now works at an antiquated cassette tape music recording shop. When his family arranges for him to marry a large girl, his disappointing life seems to be going even worse. But this smart, confident girl turns out to be a big surprise, teaching […]
This prequel to the original Star Wars film stars Felicity Jones as an unlikely leader of an equally unlikely rag-tag group of rebels seeking to destroy the Empire’s newly-created super weapon, the Death Star. Super fans eagerly awaiting this franchise spinoff will be delighted with the spectacular visuals, well-choreographed battle scenes, clever tie-ins to other […]
An uncharacteristically unsexy Colin Farrell stars in this socially subversive satire about a world where people are forced to find soulmates based on superficial characteristics – or be turned into an animal of their own choice (hence the title). The strange, symbolic-laden premise pokes fun at human nature – more specifically, the reckless choices made […]
This Japanese animated film, about magical powers bestowed upon a young boy and his two-stringed musical instrument during a quest to determine the fate of his late samurai father, is an unusual juxtaposition – a sad, melancholic story, stunningly gorgeous animation and an odd choice of celebrity voiceovers (Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey). The first half […]
This modern day knockoff of The Big Chill, co-starring, written and directed by Clea Duvall, features four couples meeting up for a weekend getaway designed to be a surprise marriage intervention for one of the more unhappily married couples. When the intervention goes awry, drama and presumably comedy, ensues. Despite solid performances from Duvall and […]
What can only be imagined as a documentary initially intended to chronicle the comeback of disgraced U.S. congressman Anthony Weiner in his run for mayor of New York City, this is an uncomfortably fascinating, behind the scenes look at an individual oblivious to his own hubris as yet another sexting scandal deals the final blow […]
Fans of the prior Bourne films, which has Matt Damon starring as a rogue spy on the run from nefarious elements within the CIA, will no doubt enjoy the trademark frenetic fight and chase scenes in exotic locales, interspersed with similar frenetic scenes of people sitting behind computer screens energetically tracking his every move, but […]