A coming-of-age tale, a compelling directorial debut, and a slight corrective regarding both teen movies and the American Muslim experience, writer-director Minhal Baig’s Hala opens with the sound of du’a voiced over a shot of an empty room. Then it introduces its title character (played by Blockers’ standout Geraldine Viswanathan) …
Read More »'The Irishman' Review: Scorsese's Goodbye to Goodfellas
After decades apart, director Martin Scorsese is back conducting Mob business with Robert De Niro (the two haven’t worked together since 1995’s Casino). Add Joe Pesci, Harvey Keitel, and Al Pacino to the mix, and prepare for fireworks. Can you believe Scorsese and the Scarface star have never joined forces? …
Read More »'David Crosby: Remember My Name' Review: Laurel Canyon's Lion in Winter
At 77, the white-haired troubadour David Crosby can boast an enviable career as a founding member of both the Byrds and Crosby, Stills and Nash, as well as a prolific solo artist. Just don’t expect pretty pictures. Directed by A.J. Eaton and produced by Cameron Crowe, the doc doesn’t skip …
Read More »'Shadow' Review: Swords, Doubles and Curiously Boring Bloodshed, Oh My!
It is a time of turmoil for “a great walled city” (any resemblance to China is completely not coincidental) in some undefined long-ago era. Three clans fight for control of the territory; two team up to defeat the third. Then a warrior for one of these last dynasties standing, the …
Read More »'High Life' Review: Robert Pattinson's Spaced-Out Sci-Fi Will Stun You
As the vampire stud of the Twilight franchise, Robert Pattinson hit multiplex paydirt. Since then, he’s been raising his personal bar in the indie sphere (Good Time, Damsel). The star does himself proud in this elusive but bracing brainteaser from Claire Denis, the great French filmmaker (Beau Travail, Trouble Every …
Read More »'The Highwaymen' Review: Bonnie and Clyde Who? Meet the Men Who Killed Them
In 1934, Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker drove into an ambush in Bienville Parish, Louisiana. They had come there with the intent of laying low while visiting fellow gang member Henry Methvin’s family home. A number of policemen — and two Texas Rangers — opened fire on them as their …
Read More »'The Front Runner' Review: Rewind to the Moment That Politics Went Tabloid
When was it exactly that politics went tabloid? Try 1988, when Gary Hart (Hugh Jackman), a married Democratic senator from Colorado, thought the media buzz about his alleged affair with model Donna Rice (Sara Paxton) could escape scrutiny as he ran for the White House. The press turned a blind …
Read More »'The Nutcracker and the Four Realms' Review: Tchaikovsky Is Rolling In His Grave
Slow torture for kids and grownups alike, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms gives a bad name to the very concept of family entertainment. What went wrong? Where to begin?!? On the surface, this Disney debacle seems like a no-brainer for the holidays: It’s an 1816 gothic fairytale by E.T.A. …
Read More »'Mr Inbetween' Review: Hit Man Drama Is Fast, Funny and On the Fence About Its Killer
“I wouldn’t say I enjoy hitting people,” Ray Shoesmith explains. “If I hit somebody, I generally got a pretty good reason.” Ray, the main character of the Australian drama Mr Inbetween, which debuts Tuesday on FX (I’ve seen all six episodes) is many things: divorced father to elementary schooler Brit …
Read More »'Assassination Nation' Review: Faster, Pussycat! LOL! LOL!
Fear not, ye sensitive viewers who have stumbled into writer-director Sam Levinson’s story of four young women who go from shamed, blamed, framed victims to avenging angels: You’ll get a brief roll-call montage of “trigger warning” alerts before the insanity kicks in. Part PSA and part sneering at the P.C. …
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