Pan may be the origin story nobody wanted but it is certainly not the disaster I was expecting. The idea that Peter Pan had to have come from somewhere is one that, I admit, I had never pondered, but Pan tells that story in a way that has much to offer for both kids and […]
Category: Movie Reviews
Sicario – Idealism Versus Pragmatism in an Ugly World!
This weekend, Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario opens in wide release. Sicario, the film tells us, is the Mexican word for hitman. It also tells us that it was the Hebrew word for the one who hunts the ones who killed us (i.e. Romans – it’s a very old word). Sicario is a deeply disturbing film about […]
The Walk – A Charming Ascent into a Kind of Madness!
On August 6th, 1974, Philippe Petit, a French high wire artist, hung a wire between the twin towers of the World Trade Center and walked it not once, not twice, but three-and-a-half times. The story of the famous walk was the subject of an Oscar®-winning documentary, Man on Wire. The Walk tackles the subject somewhat […]
The Intern: On the Importance of Handkerchiefs!
The Intern is that buddy movie where the buddies are a man and a woman. It’s also a paean to being contemporary without sacrificing the best what the past has given us – and about the idea that a woman can or at least should be able to have it all. It’s also about grey […]
WildLike – 1 Scared, Scarred Girl + 1 Scarred, Tired Old Man = 1 Sweetly Melancholy Movie!
Mackenzie has had a pretty awful year – her father died (in what manner is not specified) and her mother has fallen apart. Now, she has been shipped off to stay with her uncle in Alaska while mom goes into wilderness treatment rehab. Could things get worse? Yes. Yes they could.
Black Mass Showcases Dazzling Performance By Johnny Depp!
The story of James ‘Whitey’ Bulger is one that, if it weren’t true, would be thought too ridiculous to film. The kingpin of Boston crime was actually an FBI informant when the FBI was trying to take down the Boston Mafia – by playing the FBI he helped take them down while being given the […]
Black Mass a Tedious Mob Movie Michelle’s Review!
To say that Johnny Depp’s performance, as Boston Mobster James ‘Whitey’ Bulger in Black Mass is his best performance in years, really isn’t saying much. The number one problem with this film is that there’s no range in his performance and you can almost see him thinking “This is going to get me some award […]
Everest – The Mountain Always Has The Last Word!
Everest is not a movie you want to see in IMAX if you have a problem with heights – the 3D is terrifyingly good, even when the big storm hits. Otherwise, it’s a movie that is easy to appreciate – even if ‘enjoy’ might not be the exact word to describe the experience you’ll have […]
Cooties: The Kids Are NOT Alright!
Cooties is, for the first hour, a refreshingly odd take on zombie movies. The idea is that infected chicken carries a virus that only turns kids (it leaves adults with a nasty, short-lived flu) – turning a fort chicken grade school into a scene of mostly humorous carnage. The film comes from SpectreVision, the production […]
The Visit – Rod Serling-esque Twist Wasted!
After seeing M. Night Shyamalan move into the television arena so well with the very good Wayward Pines, The visit comes as more than a bit of a letdown. True, it has a lovely, elegant twist – one of Shyamalan’s best – but you have to wade through a lot of boring to get there.
Rebuilding Trailer: Demolition – You Can Buy Almost Anything On eBay!
Ten minutes after his wife dies, a hospital vending machine refuses to give Davis his M&Ms – setting off a chain of events during which he reexamines his marriage and his life. Demolition stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Naomi Watts and Judah Lewis. It is directed by Dallas Buyers Club’s Jean-Marc Vallée. Check out the trailer after […]